1. Presenter: Brynjar Hasle, Chemistry as
– Extending the ABL UI – by using Windows Common Controls and other C++ components
James Lee Williams
Presenter: Brynjar Hasle, Chemistry as

2. Background
First release released in 1998 for Windows Common Controls
Expanded 2007 for other C++ components

3. Benefits
Easy to use
Easy to deploy
Great look and feel
Proven concept: Used in production for almost 10 years

4. Architecture ABL procedure Create instances Set properties
Call methods
ABL frame
Coordinates
Events
Frame trg
External procedures
Create Instances
Propery settings Method calls
Events
C++
James’ wrapper dll
Treeview
Progressbar
Listview
And more..
Tabfolder
Nav.bar
Ribbon ctrl

5. Controls Dll for Progress
The “controls.dll” is a lightweight wrapper for some of the Windows common controls and other C++ controls. It takes the standard progress frame widget, known as the ProFrame window class, and replaces its procedure with one which routes messages back to the progress procedure as character and mouse messages. Although is may seem an awkward way to get messages from the controls, it is a good method for doing it. All mouse events are routed back as mouse events on the frame. All other control messages are routed back as character events.
The DLL manages all memory cleanups when it is unloaded from the process or when the progress frame is destroyed, typically when the procedure is closed.
The DLL has one global font and one global image list that can be shared among all window control instances. Each individual control also has it’s own font and image list that it may use instead of the global font and image list.

6. Demo screen shots

7. More screen shots..

8. And more..