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VB Image Map ActiveX Control - ReadMe File
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Copyright 2003, Jay Alman, Silverband Software
Website:  http://www.silverbandsoftware.com
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Table of Contents:
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1. General Information
2. Key Benefits
3. System Requirements
4. Installation
5. Contact Information
6. How to order the Full version


General Information
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The VB Image Map OCX is an ActiveX Control designed to provide your applications with the ability to display interactive images. "Hotspots", or specially designated areas on your image, can be defined that will react to users' mouse events. It is easily integrated into your existing applications - just drop the control on a form, assign a background picture, and assign the hotspot coordinates. The VB Image Map Control uses standard HTML syntax, so any image map editor can be used to visually create hotspot coordinates. Complete HTML pages can be used as coordinates files, including any and all HTML tags - the VB Image Map OCX will automatically locate the map coordinates within the page. There is nothing else like it available!

It is ideal for Visual Basic applications, but should be able to be used by any programming language that supports ActiveX controls, as long as the Visual Basic 6.0 runtime files are included with the package. Note that it has not been tested with other languages, and use with other programming languages is not supported. The Visual Basic 6.0 runtime files can be downloaded from http://download.microsoft.com/download/vba6/Utility/1/WIN98/EN-US/vbrun60sp3.EXE


Key Benefits
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1. Easily make your images interactive.
2. It does NOT require Internet Explorer or any other web browser to be installed on your clients' computers.
3. Simple properties, methods, and events make it easy to use in your projects. All of the hard work has been done for you.
4. HTML client-side image map syntax takes the burden out of defining hotspots in your image. Use your favorite image map editor to draw the areas on your image.
5. If you can download web pages from the Internet (by using the Microsoft Internet controls or any other method), you can use those pages as your coordinates for your hotspots, without parsing or otherwise touching the HTML.


System Requirements
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Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT4/Me/2000/XP
Visual Basic 6 Runtime Files


Installation
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To install the Demo version:
1. Download the file http://www.silverbandsoftware.com/download/vbimdemo.zip
2. Remember where you saved it on your computer then run the file.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
4. During the setup process you will be asked to choose a directory in which to place the help, support, and sample project files. We suggest using the default choice (C:\Program Files\VB Image Map Control) or creating a new directory. Do not select your Windows\System directory; the VBImageMap.ocx file will automatically be copied there.

To install the Full version:
1. See http://www.silverbandsoftware.com/order.html for information on how to order the full version.
2. Download the file.
3. Run the file.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.
5. You do not need to uninstall the Demo version before installing the Full version. The installation for the Full version will overwrite the Demo version if it is installed into the same directory. When asked if you want to overwrite the file VBImageMap.ocx, choose "Yes".


Contact Information
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Sales, Distribution, and General Enquiries:
silverband@silverbandsoftware.com 

Support Issues and Bug Reports:
support@silverbandsoftware.com

Feedback on our Website:
webmaster@silverbandsoftware.com


How to order the Full version
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Visit http://www.silverbandsoftware.com/order.html for information on how to order the full version.

