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* Hpattl! Delphi Component                                                    *
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Unit alias:       BlinkyLabel
Name:             Blinky Label
Version:          2.02
Requires:         Delphi 2.0/3.0/4.0
Files:            Blinkylabel.pas, BlinkyLabel.dcr, Blinkylabel.txt
Last revised:     March 13th, 1999
Notes:            FreeWare!
Updates under:	  www.neveprise-inc.de
Mail to:	  mail@neveprise-inc.de

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* Blinky Label Copyright 1997-'99 by Neveprise Inc., SD                       *
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1. Description
2. How to install
3. Working with TBlinkLabel
4. Disclaimer






1. Description
================================================================================

TBlinkyLabel provides two major functions: a) it is a label capable of blinking
(wether toggle on/off or by switching between two colours) and b) it can be used
as a link to a website or to an eMail address. So if you specify an URL and
click the label once, it calls a webbrowser or eMail client, depending on the
URL string. If desired, BlinkyLabel takes the URL directly from the caption.


2. How to install
================================================================================

Shall be very simple:

First, copy the files "Blinkylabel.pas" and "Blinkylabel.dcr" into a special
folder, e.g. "C:\Data\Delphi Progs\Components".
If you haven't already, start your Delphi IDE and select "Components|Install
components". In the dialog displayed, select wether "Into existing package"
(recommended) or "Into new package" (if so, type in a new package filename and
-folder). Click the upper button labeled "Browse" and select the BlinkLabel
file in the location you copied it to.
When done, click "Ok" and let Delphi compile the whole package in the next
dialog. Close this window and TBlinkyLabel should have been installed.


3. Working with TBlinkyLabel
================================================================================

First, let me show new properties introduced by TBlinkyLabel:

- bool       Blink:                 toggles blinking on/off
- [custom]   BlinkMode:             defines how the label blinks (visible/not
                                    visible or by colour)
- cardinal   BlinkRate:             the blinkinterval in millisecs
- bool       CaptionAsURL:          tells if the caption equals URL or eMail
- TColor     FontColor2:            the second blinkcolour if BlinkMode is set
                                    to blColorSwitch
- string     URL:                   specifies eMail or website if CaptionIsURL
                                    is set to false

All these properties can be set visually through Delphi's Object Inspector.

When dragged the new component onto a form, please commence setting those props:

First specify it's caption. If you want the label to blink immediately when the app
is started, set the "Blink" property to "true". By default, the label should blink
now when you run the app with a regularity of 1/4 a second. This is cos
"Blinkrate" is set 250 ms, so if the label is intended to blink faster, put in
a lower number. The larger this num gets, the slower the Label blinks.

If you do not want to blink the label anymore, you can set "Blink" to "false" or
"true" at any time by your code.
TBlinkyLabel knows another mode of blinking: instead of changing it's visibility,
it can change between two colours. If it needs to do so, change "BlinkMode" to
"blColorSwitch" and specify the second colour via "FontColor2". Now it should work
the way you want.

Extra function:

BlinkyLabel can also be used as "link" to webresources such as a website or an
eMail address. There are two possibilities of specifying the URL:

a) if the caption of the label equals the address, set "CaptionAsURL" to "true".
b) if the caption is different, set "CaptionAsURL" to "false" and type in the
correct address into the "URL" property

When running the app, the label has become underlined. By moving the mouse over
it, the handpoint cursor appears and clicking causes the component to call an
appropriate app, e.g. a webbrowser calling the address.
If you specify an eMail address as URL, BlinkyLabel will realize the difference
and calls an eMail client app.

I think that's it for now, so have fun with dis component! For bugreports or
proposals for enhancement eMail me via address above.



4. Disclaimer
================================================================================

This component is freeware, meaning you can freely use and redistribute this code.
If you do so, please do only copy the original .zip file. If you perform any
modifications to code or documentation, please make a clear note into dis document!

Cos TBlinkyLabel is freeware, the author

a) claims that dis ware is "as is" and that there is NO guarantee that it will
work correctly, as it was intended to work.

b) is NOT responsible for ANY direct or indirect damages dis software may cause.

Notice that Neveprise takes great care with it's products, so any bad malfunction
is very unlikely.

							Blazko, February 1st, 1999

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