DAX FAQs

Explanations and Code Examples about the
Delphi 3 ActiveX Class Framework

by Conrad Herrmann - last updated June 22, 1998.

Articles

New! What's new in Delphi4's ActiveX framework
An overview of new features in the DAX class library in Inprise's forthcoming release.


New! Using ActiveForms with Internet Explorer 4.01
An article describing how to get your ActiveForms to work in IE4, including workarounds for bugs in IE4.01 and Delphi 3.02. Includes code.

WebTurd example
This is a tiny COM object embedded on a web page that plays a sound when you download it. It's intended to demonstrate how to build a very small control that has no user interface. It's basically an automation control with siting capabilities that allows it to communicate with its container.

Borland Conference paper
If you missed my talk at the 1997 Borland Conference, you can still read my conference paper. You can also download the conference sample code.

Questions

Q: How can I convert a Delphi form to an ActiveForm?

Q: I have problems getting my ActiveX control or ActiveForm to download to other machines. How can I diagnose what's going on?

Q: How do I override an interface method that's already implemented in a superclass with a static method?

Q: How do I know if my ActiveX control is in design or run mode?

  • (This is a good example of retrieving ambient properties.)

    Q: How do I retrieve properties from an HTML page?

    Q: How do I obtain my control's site?

    Q: How do I mark a control as "safe for scripting"/"safe for initializing"? What does that mean?

  • (Also, this is a good example for how to add registry entries for your control.)

    Q: I want to use my favorite ActiveX control, but it seems not to work in Delphi 3. What interfaces are required for my control to work?

    Q: How does the ActiveX Control wizard control convert properties? Which properties are converted and which aren't? How can I have my TBitmap property converted?

    Q: I've built an ActiveX control that can be put in the Internet Explorer. How do I cause it to send the browser to another URL?

  • This link also answers: How do I get the current page's URL from inside an ActiveForm? And contains sample code for retrieving the IE's automation interface from inside an ActiveForm.

    This page is definitely under construction; I will be adding more information as time goes on.

    Got a question? Ask questions about how to write controls at news://forums.borland.com/borland.public.delphi.activex.controls.writing and questions about using them at news://forums.borland.com/borland.public.delphi.activex.controls.using

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