Copyright: Copyright (c) 2001 Macromedia


ActiveX Xtra Help contents

Select an option to learn more about the ActiveX Xtra:

Overview

How to

Scripting functions

User interface

Copyright © 2001 Macromedia, Inc. All rights reserved. The information in this help system may not be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or converted to any printed, electronic or machine-readable form in whole or in part without prior written approval of Macromedia, Inc.


ActiveX Contents
Macromedia ActiveX Xtra

Select a topic to learn more about the ActiveX Xtra:

Overview

How to

Scripting functions

User interface

Copyright © 2001 Macromedia, Inc. All rights reserved. The information in this help system may not be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or converted to any printed, electronic or machine-readable form in whole or in part without prior written approval of Macromedia, Inc.


Overview

The ActiveX Xtra lets you use most ActiveX controls within an Authorware piece. Before you get started, you'll need to know more about the Control Xtra for ActiveX's features:

What does the ActiveX Xtra control do?

ActiveX components

Properties

Methods

Events

Callstrings

Constants


How to

The following topics provide instructions for using the ActiveX Xtra:

Inserting an ActiveX Control

Editing property values

Examining methods and events

Downloading ActiveX controls within an Authorware piece


Inserting an ActiveX control in Authorware
Inserting an ActiveX control

With the ActiveX Xtra (a type of Sprite Xtra), you can place ActiveX controls (formerly known as OLE/OCX controls) within an Authorware piece. Once inserted, the ActiveX control functions as a Sprite Xtra.

To insert an ActiveX control on the flowline:

1	Make sure that the ActiveX controls you want to use within Authorware are installed on your system.

Most controls have their own installation utilities provided by the controls' manufacturers. You can also download and install an extensive variety of sample controls from the Microsoft ActiveX Gallery at http://www.microsoft.com/com/tech/activex.asp.

2	From within Authorware, place the pointer on the flowline where you want to insert the Sprite Xtra.

3	Choose Insert > Control > ActiveX.

The Select ActiveX Control dialog box is displayed.

4	Select the desired ActiveX control then click OK.

The ActiveX Control Properties dialog box is displayed.

If the ActiveX control does not appear on the list, the system may not have installed the control properly. You can attempt to verify this by viewing the list of ActiveX controls in another application such as Visual Basic.

5 	Set the values for each property in the ActiveX Control, then click OK.

The selected ActiveX control is contained within the Sprite Xtra icon that is inserted on the flowline. The icon is automatically named 'ActiveX.' In addition to editing each property for the ActiveX control within the ActiveX Control Properties dialog box, you can also view information regarding each method the control supports and each event the control can generate. See the following topics for more information:

Editing property values

Examining methods and events

6	Continue to develop your Authorware piece as usual.

Set up an Event response type symbol to respond to the events generated by the ActiveX control.


Editing property values in Authorware
Editing property values

You can edit control property values using the ActiveX properties. For more information about properties, see: ActiveX Control properties.

To edit ActiveX control property values:

1	Choose the control to edit in the Select ActiveX Control dialog box, then click OK.

The ActiveX Control Properties dialog box is displayed.

2	Click on the property whose value you want to change.

The value appears at the top of the list.

3	Modify the property value using one of the following methods:

•	Enter a new value in the edit box.

•	Choose a value from the dropdown list.

•	Click the ellipsis button, [image] to display and modify Custom settings.

4	Click on the next property to modify, or click OK to save your changes.

Your changes are saved when you select a new property.


Examining methods and events in Authorware
Examining ActiveX properties

You can examine the properties associated with ActiveX controls. This is useful when you're using a control that does not have documentation.

See also:

Methods

Events

Active X control Callstrings

Constants

To examine ActiveX properties:

1	Choose the control to edit in the Select ActiveX Control dialog box, then click OK.

The ActiveX Control Properties dialog box appears.

2	Click one of the following:

•	Click the Properties tab.
The ActiveX Control Properties dialog box is displayed

•	Click the Methods tab.
The ActiveX Control Methods dialog box

•	Click the Events tab.
The ActiveX Control Events dialog box is displayed.

•	Click the CallString tab.
The ActiveX Control CallString dialog box is displayed.

•	Click the Contstants tab.
The ActiveX Control Constants dialog box is displayed.

4	Click OK when you're finished examining the properties.


Downloading ActiveX controls within an Authorware piece

You can download an ActiveX control dynamically from within an Authorware piece as it plays. When the end user encounters the portion of the movie or piece that specifies a download, the control is downloaded.

To download controls dynamically:

1	Choose the control to download in the Select ActiveX Control dialog box, then click OK.

The ActiveX Control Properties dialog box appears.

2	Click the URL button.

The ActiveX Control URL dialog box appears.

3	Enter the full URL of the control to download.

The specified URL must match the URL for the ActiveX control exactly. If it does not, the download fails.

4	To use the latest version of the control, keep the default -1, -1, -1, -1 for the version number.

If you want to download an older version of the control, enter the version number. The version number must match a version exactly. If it does not, the download fails.

5	Click OK.

When the end user encounters the portion of the piece that specifies a download, the application tries to retrieve the control. If the URL and version number are correct, the application downloads the control. The system confirms that the user wants to install the control before installing it.

Note: If the URL is incorrect or the control's version number is not available, the download fails.


Select ActiveX Control dialog box

The Select ActiveX Control dialog box lets you select and insert a control.

Control description	Lists the ActiveX controls installed on your system.
Search	Lets you scroll to an installed control. Enter the name of the control, then press Enter. The first occurrence of the name is highlighted. Pressing Enter again displays the next occurrence of the name.
OK	Inserts the selected control and closes the dialog box.
Cancel	Closes the dialog box without inserting the selected control.
Help	Displays Help for the dialog box.


ActiveX Control Properties dialog box

The ActiveX Control Properties dialog box lets you examine and modify control property values.

Properties tab	Displays the Active X Control Properties dialog box. This is the default tab.
Methods tab	Displays the ActiveX Control Methods dialog box.
Events tab	Displays the ActiveX Control Events dialog box.
CallString tab	Displays the ActiveX Control Call String dialog box.
Constants tab	Displays the ActiveX Constants dialog box.
Edit box	Lets you edit the highlighted property value. Your changes are saved after you click a different property. You can modify the property value using one of the following methods:  Use one of the following methods to enter a new value in the edit box.  • Choose a value from the dropdown list.  • Click the ellipsis button, [image], to display and modify Custom settings.
Select	Lets you select a different control.
OK	Saves your changes and closes the dialog box.
Cancel	Closes the dialog box without saving your changes.
URL	Displays the ActiveX Control URL dialog box.
Custom	Displays a dialog box showing Custom properties for the control. Some controls may not provide this feature.
About	Displays information about the control. Some controls may not provide this feature.
Control Info	Displays information about the control. Some controls may not provide this feature.
Ctrl Help File	Displays Help for the selected control. Some controls may not provide this feature.
Help	Displays Help for the dialog box.


ActiveX Control Methods dialog box

The ActiveX Control Methods dialog box lets you examine control methods.

Properties tab	Displays the ActiveX Control Properties dialog box.
Events tab	Displays the ActiveX Control Events dialog box.
Description box	Displays information about the method.
List	Displays the control methods.
Select	Lets you select a different control.
OK	Saves your changes and closes the dialog box.
Cancel	Closes the dialog box without saving your changes.
URL	Displays the ActiveX Control URL dialog box.
Custom	Displays a dialog box showing Custom properties for the control. Some controls may not provide this feature.
About	Displays information about the control. Some controls may not provide this feature.
Help	Displays Help for the dialog box.


ActiveX Control Events dialog box

The ActiveX Control Events dialog box lets you examine control events.

Description box	Displays information about the event.
List	Displays the control events.
Select	Lets you select a different control.
OK	Saves your changes and closes the dialog box.
Cancel	Closes the dialog box without saving your changes.
URL	Displays the ActiveX Control URL dialog box.
Custom	Displays a dialog box showing Custom properties for the control. Some controls may not provide this feature.
About	Displays information about the control. Some controls may not provide this feature.
Help	Displays Help for the dialog box.


ActiveX Control URL dialog box

The ActiveX Control URL dialog box lets you specify that a download of an ActiveX control will occur dynamically from within an Authorware piece as it plays. When the end user encounters the portion of the movie or piece that specifies a download, the control is downloaded.

Download from URL	Enter the full URL of the control to download. The specified URL must match the URL for the ActiveX control exactly. If it does not, the download fails.
Version to Download	Enter the version number of the control to download. To use the latest version of the control, keep the default -1, -1, -1, -1 for the version number. If you want to download an older version of the control, enter the version number. The version number must match a version exactly. If it does not, the download fails.
CLASSID	Displays the class ID of the ActiveX control. The value displayed here can be copied and pasted into the Control Xtra for ActiveX Scripting Functions.
OK	Saves the specification and closes the dialog box. When the end user encounters the portion of the movie or piece that specifies a download, the application tries to retrieve the control. If the URL and version number are correct, the application downloads the control. The system confirms that the user wants to install the control before installing it. If the URL is incorrect or the control's version number is not available, the download fails.
Cancel	Closes the dialog box without saving the download specification.
Help	Displays Help for the dialog box.


Scripting Functions

The ActiveX Xtra provides information about its status and control over features (such as security and downloading) through a set of scripting functions. These functions can be called from within Authorware. They are implemented as global functions in a Scripting Xtra within the ActiveX Xtra.

The global functions provided by the Control Xtra for ActiveX are: ActiveXControlDownload, ActiveXControlQuery, ActiveXControlRegister, ActiveXControlUnregister, ActiveXDownloadSetting, ActiveXInstalled, ActiveXSecurityDialog, and ActiveXSecuritySetting.

ActiveXControlDownload

Syntax: ActiveXControlDownload ("CLASSID", "URL", VER1, VER2, VER3, VER4 )

Description: Downloads a particular version of the specified ActiveX control from a URL.

Returns: -1 if the download succeeded, otherwise 0.

CLASSID	A string that is the unique 64-bit identifier for the control. For example the following values is the CLASSID for the Microsoft Calendar Control: "{8E27C92B-1264-101C-8A2F-040224009C02}"
URL	The URL from which to download and install the ActiveX control. It can be a local file URL as well. If the value is just the filename of the control installation file, it must be found on the application search path for Director or Authorware.
VER	The version parameters specify the version of the control to be installed, or these parameters can all be set to -1 to use the latest version of the control.
ActiveXControlQuery

Syntax: ActiveXControlQuery ("CLASSID")

Description: this handler can be used to determine if an ActiveX control is currently installed on the system.

Returns:  -1 if the ActiveX control is installed, otherwise 0.

CLASSID	A string that is the unique 64-bit identifier for the control. For example the following values is the CLASSID for the Microsoft Calendar Control: "{8E27C92B-1264-101C-8A2F-040224009C02}"
ActiveXControlRegister

Syntax: ActiveXControlRegister ("FILENAME")

Description: Locates the specified control file on the application path and calls the DllRegisterServer entry point. Typically, this will install an ActiveX control that is self registering.

Returns: -1 if the install succeeded, otherwise 0.

FILENAME	The full path to the self-registering ActiveX control
Because this handler does not download an ActiveX control, it is not affected by the ActiveX security settings.

ActiveXControlUnregister

Syntax: ActiveXControlUnregister ("FILENAME")

Description: Locates the specified control file on the application path and calls the DllUnregisterServer entry point. Typically, this will uninstall an ActiveX control that is self registering.

Returns: -1 if the install succeeded, otherwise 0.

FILENAME	The full path to the self-registering ActiveX control
Because this handler does not download an ActiveX control, it is not affected by the ActiveX security settings.

ActiveXDownloadSetting

Syntax: ActiveXDownloadSetting ( )

Description: This setting allows the user to specify whether the download of ActiveX content is allowed, regardless of the ActiveX security level.

Returns: ActiveX download setting: 'Enabled' or 'Disabled'.

Enabled	Download of ActiveX controls from a URL is enabled.
Disabled	Download of ActiveX controls from a URL is disabled.
If a multimedia title attempts to download and install an ActiveX control when the download setting is disabled, an error message will be displayed to the user warning that the control could not be accessed.

ActiveXInstalled

Syntax: ActiveXInstalled ( )

Description: Determines whether ActiveX support is currently installed on the system. If ActiveX support isn't installed, the multimedia title shouldn't use the Control Xtra for ActiveX.

Returns: 1 if ActiveX support is installed, otherwise 0.

ActiveXSecurityDialog

Syntax: ActiveXSecurityDialog ( )

Description: Displays a dialog box for the user to set ActiveX security settings. This dialog box is modeled after the security dialog boxes within Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02.

Since the Control Xtra for ActiveX does not allow the system security settings to be changed from a script handler, displaying the security dialog box is the only way to dynamically change the settings in a multimedia title. Only allowing the user to modify security settings is done for obvious reasons.

Typically, a multimedia title that uses ActiveX controls will use the ActiveXSecuritySetting and ActiveXDownloadSetting handlers to determine the current system security settings. If the settings are inappropriate for the multimedia title, the user can be asked to adjust the security settings to the desired level from the ActiveX Xtra security dialog box.

ActiveXSecuritySetting

Syntax: ActiveXSecuritySetting

Description: This setting is used by the system when ActiveX controls are downloaded and installed from a URL.

Returns: ActiveX security setting: 'High', 'Medium', or 'None'.

High	The ActiveX control referenced by the URL must be a digitally signed with a valid signature before the control is installed into the system. Otherwise the download and installation for the control fails and a warning is displayed to the user.
Medium	The ActiveX control referenced by the URL does not have to be digitally signed with a valid signature before the control is installed, but the user will be warned if the signature is missing or invalid. If the user elects not to install the control, the download and installation fail.
None	There is no security enabled and the user may not be warned about dangerous content when an ActiveX control is downloaded and installed on the system.
NewObject

Syntax: NewObject ("ActiveX")

Description: Creates a new instance of the ActiveX Xtra.


Scripting functions

The ActiveX Xtra provides information about its status and control over features (such as security and downloading) through a set of scripting functions. These functions can be called from within Authorware. They are implemented as global functions in a Scripting Xtra within the ActiveX Xtra.

The global functions provided by the Control Xtra for ActiveX are: ActiveXControlDownload, ActiveXControlQuery, ActiveXControlRegister, ActiveXControlUnregister, ActiveXDownloadSetting, ActiveXInstalled, ActiveXSecurityDialog, and ActiveXSecuritySetting.

ActiveXControlDownload

Syntax: ActiveXControlDownload ("CLASSID", "URL", VER1, VER2, VER3, VER4 )

Description: Downloads a particular version of the specified ActiveX control from a URL.

Returns: -1 if the download succeeded, otherwise 0.

CLASSID	A string that is the unique 64-bit identifier for the control. For example the following values is the CLASSID for the Microsoft Calendar Control: "{8E27C92B-1264-101C-8A2F-040224009C02}"
URL	The URL from which to download and install the ActiveX control. It can be a local file URL as well. If the value is just the filename of the control installation file, it must be found on the application search path for Director or Authorware.
VER	The version parameters specify the version of the control to be installed, or these parameters can all be set to -1 to use the latest version of the control.
ActiveXControlQuery

Syntax: ActiveXControlQuery ("CLASSID")

Description: this handler can be used to determine if an ActiveX control is currently installed on the system.

Returns:  -1 if the ActiveX control is installed, otherwise 0.

CLASSID	A string that is the unique 64-bit identifier for the control. For example the following values is the CLASSID for the Microsoft Calendar Control: "{8E27C92B-1264-101C-8A2F-040224009C02}"
ActiveXControlRegister

Syntax: ActiveXControlRegister ("FILENAME")

Description: Locates the specified control file on the application path and calls the DllRegisterServer entry point. Typically, this will install an ActiveX control that is self registering.

Returns: -1 if the install succeeded, otherwise 0.

FILENAME	The full path to the self-registering ActiveX control
Because this handler does not download an ActiveX control, it is not affected by the ActiveX security settings.

ActiveXControlUnregister

Syntax: ActiveXControlUnregister ("FILENAME")

Description: Locates the specified control file on the application path and calls the DllUnregisterServer entry point. Typically, this will uninstall an ActiveX control that is self registering.

Returns: -1 if the install succeeded, otherwise 0.

FILENAME	The full path to the self-registering ActiveX control
Because this handler does not download an ActiveX control, it is not affected by the ActiveX security settings.

ActiveXDownloadSetting

Syntax: ActiveXDownloadSetting ( )

Description: This setting allows the user to specify whether the download of ActiveX content is allowed, regardless of the ActiveX security level.

Returns: ActiveX download setting: 'Enabled' or 'Disabled'.

Enabled	Download of ActiveX controls from a URL is enabled.
Disabled	Download of ActiveX controls from a URL is disabled.
If a multimedia title attempts to download and install an ActiveX control when the download setting is disabled, an error message will be displayed to the user warning that the control could not be accessed.

ActiveXInstalled

Syntax: ActiveXInstalled ( )

Description: Determines whether ActiveX support is currently installed on the system. If ActiveX support isn't installed, the multimedia title shouldn't use the Control Xtra for ActiveX.

Returns: 1 if ActiveX support is installed, otherwise 0.

ActiveXSecurityDialog

Syntax: ActiveXSecurityDialog ( )

Description: Displays a dialog box for the user to set ActiveX security settings. This dialog box is modeled after the security dialog boxes within Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02.

Since the Control Xtra for ActiveX does not allow the system security settings to be changed from a script handler, displaying the security dialog box is the only way to dynamically change the settings in a multimedia title. Only allowing the user to modify security settings is done for obvious reasons.

Typically, a multimedia title that uses ActiveX controls will use the ActiveXSecuritySetting and ActiveXDownloadSetting handlers to determine the current system security settings. If the settings are inappropriate for the multimedia title, the user can be asked to adjust the security settings to the desired level from the ActiveX Xtra security dialog box.

ActiveXSecuritySetting

Syntax: ActiveXSecuritySetting

Description: This setting is used by the system when ActiveX controls are downloaded and installed from a URL.

Returns: ActiveX security setting: 'High', 'Medium', or 'None'.

High	The ActiveX control referenced by the URL must be a digitally signed with a valid signature before the control is installed into the system. Otherwise the download and installation for the control fails and a warning is displayed to the user.
Medium	The ActiveX control referenced by the URL does not have to be digitally signed with a valid signature before the control is installed, but the user will be warned if the signature is missing or invalid. If the user elects not to install the control, the download and installation fail.
None	There is no security enabled and the user may not be warned about dangerous content when an ActiveX control is downloaded and installed on the system.
NewObject

Syntax: NewObject ("ActiveX")

Description: Creates a new instance of the ActiveX Xtra.


ActiveX Control Constants

The Constants tab shows a list of constants and their values that are defined for the selected control. This list is useful for determining the values to use for property and method parameters in a CallString.


ActiveX Control Contstants dialog box

The Constants dialog box shows a list of constants and their values that are defined for the selected control. This list is useful in determining the values to use for property and method parameters in a CallString.


Active X Callstrings

A CallString allows access to the deeper levels of ActiveX controls using dot notation. This helps resolve support for all the ActiveX controls that you always wanted to use. The CallString tab shows you second-level properties and methods and helps you to build up your CallString for use in calculation icons.

The #CallString method can be used in a CallSprite call on an ActiveX control. It takes one string argument: the CallString. A CallString is a string that contains concatenated property/method calls, separated by a dot:

CallSprite(@"SpriteIconTitle", #CallString, "string")

A range of ActiveX controls contain only properties and methods that return simple types (integers, reals, strings). Those properties and methods are displayed in the Properties and Methods tabs of the ActiveX Control Properties dialog box.

Some ActiveX controls, however, have properties and methods that return complex types, such as references to interfaces of other controls. Those properties and methods are not displayed in the Properties and Methods tabs, because nothing can be done with those types using Authorware, except by using the #Callstring method.

The #CallString method provides a means to access all properties and methods. This is done by passing the return value of one call as a parameter to the next. This way, the properties and methods returning a complex type can be accessed.

Using a CallString in a calculation

To use a CallString in a calculation icon, enter a line like the following in the calculation icon:

CallSprite(@"SpriteIconTitle", #CallString, "string" )

Enter the sprite icon title and paste your CallString as the argument for CallSprite. If needed, edit the parameters in your CallString. Your CallString is a text string and must be enclosed within double quotes.

Within a CallString, use single quotes for string parameters (in stead of double quotes).

Within string parameters, use double backslashes (in stead of single backslashes).

About the CallString tab

If a property or method returns a "dispatch", it is not possible to get more information from the type library at edit time. If you double-click this property or method in the CallString tab, the properties/methods list will be empty. This does not mean, however, that during run time the properties and methods of the returned dispatch interface cannot be called in a CallString.

For example, the Windows Media Player v1.0 has a property "ActiveMovie", which "Returns the ActiveMovie player object". When the ActiveMovie properties and methods are known from a source other than the CallString tab (for example, in this case from http://www.microsoft.com/developer/tech/ amov1doc/), those properties and methods can be called at run time (here, the media player ActiveX control icon name is "mediaplayer"):

  ActiveMovieVolume :=  CallSprite(@"mediaplayer",#CallString,"ActiveMovie.Volume")

Nesting CallStrings

You can nest CallStrings one level deep. This means that if a CallString has a parameter of a certain type, another CallString, which returns that type, can be put at the position of that parameter. The return value of the nested call will then be fed as the parameter value.


ActiveX Control CallString dialog box

The CallString tab shows you second-level properties and methods and helps you to build up your CallString for use in calculation icons. This helps resolve support for all the ActiveX controls that you always wanted to use. The CallString allows access to the deeper levels of ActiveX controls using dot notation.

See also:
Active X control Callstrings
Active X control Constants

How to use the ActionX Control CallString dialog box:

1.	Double-click a property or method to add it to the CallString field at the bottom of the dialog box.

2.	If the last item added to the CallString returns a reference to an interface, this interface will be shown, making it possible to add another property or method (from this interface) to the CallString. If the last item added to the CallString does not return an interface, the list will be empty and no more properties or methods can be added.

3.	Click Back to remove the last item from the CallString.

4.	Click Copy to put the CallString on the Clipboard for pasting into calculation icons.

5.	For information on the possible values of the parameters, select the control help file (if installed, this file can be launched with the Ctrl Help File button), and in case of an enumerated constants parameter type, select the constants in the Constants tab these constants are not defined in the calculation icon—the numerical values should be used there and not the constant names).


 dialog box


activex control events authorware
ActiveX Control Events

Each ActiveX control typically generates a variety of events. For example, a button ActiveX control might generate a click event when the button is pressed and a calendar ActiveX control might generate a dateChanged event when the calendar date is changed. The ActiveX Xtra automatically converts any event generated by the ActiveX control to a Sprite Xtra event that Authorware can handle.

When an ActiveX control is inserted in an Authorware piece, you can view the events exposed by the control by selecting the Events tab of the Control Properties dialog box for the ActiveX Xtra. The ActiveX Xtra lists each method exported by the ActiveX control along with a description of the parameters for each method.

To respond to an event generated by the ActiveX control, you must create an event response type symbol within Authorware.

To set up an event response type symbol:

1	Set up an interaction icon if you haven't already done so.

Refer to the Authorware documentation regarding how to set up an interaction icon.

2	Drag an icon to the right of the interaction icon.

The icon determines what happens when a user clicks the button you're setting up.

If you haven't planned in detail what you want to happen, use a map icon, because they're the easiest to modify. The Response Type dialog box appears automatically as soon as you release the icon if it's the first one you've added to the interaction. If it's not the first, Authorware doesn't display the dialog box because it assumes that you want to use the same response type symbol you last chose. If the Response Type dialog box doesn't appear automatically, Control-double-click the response type symbol to display it.

3	Select Event, then click OK. The response type symbol on the interaction flowline changes to the event symbol.

4	Give the result icon a name.

To select the event(s) you want the event type symbol to recognize as its target response:

1	Double-click the event response type symbol.

The Event response properties dialog box appears. Make sure the event card is currently active. The names of all the Sprite Xtras that exist in the Authorware piece appear in the Sender list.

2	Double-click the Sprite Xtra icon to whose event(s) you want to respond.

An x appears to the left of the Sprite Xtra name to indicate that it has been selected. You can select multiple Sprite Xtras. All the events generated by the selected Sprite Xtras appear in the Event Name list.

3	In the Event Name list, double-click the event names(s) that you want to respond to.

An x appears to the left of the event name to indicate that it has been selected. You can select multiple event names. Instructions on the suggested usage of the event that is currently selected may appear in the Description field below the Event Name list.

4	Enter the settings for the response card, then click OK.


What does the ActiveX Xtra do?

Use the ActiveX Xtra to employ ActiveX controls within an Authorware piece. The range of uses for the ActiveX Xtra is as limitless as the variety of ActiveX controls available. For example, you can:

•	Browse the Internet from within a multimedia production using the Microsoft Web Browser Control (installed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher.)

•	Create and access spreadsheets using the FarPoint Spreadsheet Control

•	Explore virtual worlds using the InterVista VRML control

•	Build and simulate complete windows applications within Director or Authorware using MicroHelp's extensive library of Window widget controls

The ActiveX Xtra functions as a Sprite Xtra within Authorware and manages application resources for the hosted ActiveX control. This resource management includes property, event, and window management, along with the filing of properties and resources used by the ActiveX control within the Authorware piece itself.


activex control properties authorware
ActiveX control properties

An ActiveX control describes its information through properties, which are named characteristics or values such as color, text, font, and so on. Properties include not only visual characteristics, but also behavioral ones. For example, a button can have a property that indicates whether the button is a push button (it can be pushed on or off).

An ActiveX control's properties define its state. For an ActiveX control, some or all of these properties can be persistent. A control can change its own properties. In addition, the container holding the control can also change a property. In response to the container’s property change, the control could change its state, user interface, or other information.

When an ActiveX control is inserted in an Authorware piece, you can view and edit the properties exposed by the control by selecting the Properties tab of the Control Properties dialog box for the Control Xtra for ActiveX.

The ActiveX Xtra lists each property exported by the ActiveX control along with the current value of the property. You can edit a property value by clicking the existing value with the mouse. For most properties, such as numeric or string values, you can enter the new value directly using the keyboard.

All methods exported by an ActiveX control are exported automatically by the ActiveX Xtra as properties of the corresponding Sprite Xtra.

The generic Authorware calc language syntax for setting an ActiveX control property is:

 SetSpriteProperty (@"Icon Title", #PropName, Value)

The generic Authorware calc language syntax for getting an ActiveX control property is:

 Value =GetSpriteProperty ( @"Icon Title", #PropName)

For example, if the Microsoft Access Calendar control is inserted as a Sprite Xtra into an Authorware piece with the icon title "Calendar", the following Authorware calc language statement sets the Year property of the Calendar control to the specified year:

 SetSpriteProperty (@"Calendar", #Year, 2001 )

To get the Year property from the same Calendar Control and place it into an Authorware variable named CalendarYear, you can use the following calc language statement:

 CalendarYear =GetSpriteProperty ( @"Calendar", #Year )

Some ActiveX control properties are read-only. In this case, an attempt to set a read-only property is not allowed.


ActiveX Control Methods

An ActiveX control describes its functionality through methods. Methods are functions implemented in the control that can be called from Authorware to perform some action. For example, an edit or other text-oriented control supports methods to allow Authorware to retrieve or modify the current text, and perform such operations as copy and paste with that control.

When an ActiveX control is inserted into an Authorware piece, you can view the methods exposed by the control by selecting the Methods tab of the Control Properties dialog box for the Control Xtra for ActiveX. The ActiveX Xtra lists each method exported by the ActiveX control along with a description of the parameters for each method.

All methods exported by an ActiveX control are exported automatically by the Control Xtra for ActiveX as calc functions for the corresponding Sprite Xtra.

The following is the generic Authorware calc language syntax for calling an ActiveX control method:

 RetValue := CallSprite( @"IconTitle", #MethodName, param1, param2, ... )

For example, if the Microsoft Access Calendar control is inserted as a Sprite Xtra into an Authorware piece with the title "Calendar", the following Authorware calc function call on the Sprite Xtra would increment the year displayed within the Calendar control:

 CallSprite (@"Calendar", #NextYear )

For the same Calendar control the following Authorware calc function call on the Sprite Xtra would decrement the year displayed by the control:

 CallSprite (@"Calendar", #PrevYear )

Parameters passed to the ActiveX control are converted from their Authorware data types to an equivalent ActiveX data type by the ActiveX Xtra. The return value is converted automatically from an ActiveX data type to an equivalent Authorware data type.


ActiveX Components

To ensure that the runtime component is as small as possible for redistribution,the ActiveX Xtra consists of two MOA Xtras:

ActiveX.X32

ActXPriv.X32

Both components should be installed in the Xtras folder when you using Authorware to create an interactive title.

After the interactive title has been packaged, you should distribute only the runtime component, ActiveX.X32 with the piece.

Important: Under no circumstances should you distribute ActXPriv.X32 with a packaged Authorware piece.

The files listed below are also provided with the ActiveX Xtra. These are self-installing executables provided by Microsoft that upgrade a Windows environment to run ActiveX components. These files are called by the installation for an interactive title that uses the ActiveX Xtra:

APRXDist.EXE

AXDist.EXE

WinDist.EXE


User Interface

The ActiveX Xtra interface consists of a number of dialog boxes:

Select ActiveX Control dialog box

ActiveX Control Properties dialog box

ActiveX Control URL dialog box