Hi,

I hope you enjoy my new component - Neural.Synapse - which is a simple to use yet powerful string to bitmap converter.  Whether you use it for reports that must be perfectly aligned without regard to browser or resolution adjustments or if you are creating banner ads - this is the perfect tool.  For white and black bitmaps, I also include my "Monotize" feature that converts it to a monochrome bitmap for reduced size and increased download times.  

This program is SHAREWARE!  I believe in everyone getting a chance to use a software program without charge until they decide if it is useful or not, but PLEASE let me know if you are finding this program useful by sending me $35.00 per CPU that this program is used upon (contact me for company-wide installation licenses), especially if you continue using this program after you decide to include it in an application:

Neural.Synapse c/o Patrick Stauber
21 Iron Horse Road
Conway, AR 72032

I also do customization of this program for specialized needs.  Just email me at patrickstauber@alltel.net for more information.

INSTALLATION:

To install the program, simply click on the setup.exe file.  The program will then lead you through the rest of the steps.  Neural.synapse is a DLL, and will be registered automatically by the setup program.  The VB6 runtime files needed for this program can be found at this URL:  http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net/win95/dll.html.  However, I would imagine most people needing this program already has this installed, since it is not a standalone application.  As a DLL, it must run from another COM compliant language, such as Visual Basic or Visual InterDev.


LICENSE:

This program is shareware.  Extended use (over 100 test runs or inclusion in an application) requires payment as set forth above.  This program is freely     distributable as long as this Text file accompanies the DLL.  In no event may this program be used in a commercial setting without payment of the license fee.

CONTACT THE AUTHOR:

The author may be contacted by mail at:


Neural.Synapse c/o Patrick Stauber
21 Iron Horse Road
Conway, AR 72032

or by email at:

patrickstauber@alltel.net

THANKS:

Let me know if you run into any problems.  I have tested it quite a bit, but there may be an application out there that I didn't try on it that it has problems with.  

FEATURES:

Here's just a few features:

FileName property - A string that allows you to set the filename to save your bitmap to.  Prevents you from having multiple entries of the same filename.  How ingenious. You can also save over another filename, if needed.  (Neural.FileName = "C:\Test.bmp")

FinalBold property - A boolean that tells whether the text for the following PrintText should be bold or not.  (Neural.FinalBold = True)

FontName property - A string to set the font for the following PrintText method call.  (Neural.FontName = "Courier New")

FontSize property - An integer telling what point size for text in the following PrintText method call.  (Neural.FontSize = 20)

LineSpacing property - This is to control the height of the final bitmap.  If you send lots of lines of text, this should increase accordingly.  Just use 15 as a rule of thumb for each line - assuming you aren't using ridiculously large fonts.  (Neural.linespacing = 100)

FontWeight property - Because Patrick wanted to get this software in a hurry, he was unable to find the point size to pixel conversion charts.  Never fear - here is a way to make sure your text prints correctly.  To increase the width of the picture, just add a little to the fontweight property.  The program looks to the maximum string size to keep this relative, so once you find a good # for this for a particular sized font, it should work correctly for all future projects with that same font and size.  Version 2.0 will do this automatically.  Contact me for details.  (Neural.FontWeight = 88)

MaximumStringLength - A method that passes the longest string in your picture.  You should keep in mind that although sizing does take into account your font size, it does not recompare other lines.  A maximumstringlength of 20 characters at 10 point size may not be as large as another string of 10 characters at 36 point size.  Keep this in mind.  (Call Neural.maximumstringlength("Hi, this is my longest line of text.  What do you think?")

SidePadding - A method that tells the program how much padding to have on the edges.  This is used for absolute positioning.  (Call Neural.SidePadding(1))

TopPadding - A method that tells the program how much padding to have on top and bottom.  This is used for absolutely positioning.  (Call Neural.TopPadding(1))

PrintText - The workhorse method of the project.  This adds a new line of text to the picturebox and increases the height accordingly.  You also pass the exact coordinates for x and y planes.  These are in pixels and originate from the top left corner (in positive increments).  Be sure and set all other properties before calling this, as it only uses properties set to this point.  You must call this before you call Monotize.  These should always be the last 2 calls for each program.  You may only call this once without overwriting the picture.  To send multiple lines of text, simply add chr(13) to your text string between each line.  Don't forget to adjust your toppadding accordingly, though.  (Call Neural.PrintText("Hi, I am another line in this picture.", 0, 0))

ForeColor - This property allows you to set the forecolor of text to any common color (Red, Blue, Black, Magenta, Cyan, etc.).  (Neural.Forecolor = "Red")

Monotize - This method takes your picture and transforms it into a monochrome image.  You should run this last.  You must pass the program the filename you wish it saved to (useful if you wish to have both a color image and a monochrome image).  (Neural.monotize("C:\MonoTest.bmp")

