Things You Should Know

 

TFrameViewer, ThtmlViewer, and TFrameBrowser

The HTML component set consists of the ThtmlViewer, TFrameViewer, and TFrameBrowser components. All three are HTML document display components:

ThtmlViewer The basic component. ThtmlViewer displays single (non-frame) documents. It also forms the basis for the other two components.
TFrameViewer Displays both Frame and single HTML documents. TFrameViewer is oriented more for local disk file use.
TFrameBrowser    Also displays Frame and single HTML documents. However, TFrameBrower is oriented toward Internet style protocols and URL usage. Additional code and/or components are generally required to use TFrameBrowser.

If you know that your appication will not be using Frames, you can save a fair amount of code overhead by using ThtmlViewer rather than one of the Frame components. Many operations are also simpler using ThtmlViewer.

PNG Image Support

Starting with version 9.4, the HTML Components will use the GDIPLUS.DLL for displaying PNG images if that DLL is present. This will allow proper rendering of PNG images with Alpha transparency. If the GDIPLUS.DLL is not present, PNG images will still be displayed but without the Alpha transparency capability.

The GDIPLUS.DLL is present on all WinXP systems and has often been loaded on other systems by other applications. If it is not present on your system, it can be downloaded (at no charge) here.

Version 9.45 Compile Time Options

Version 9.45 has several possible compile time options controlled by defining symbols. You can find these in the HTMLCONS.INC file. None of these symbols are initially defined. To make any one (or all) of these symbols active, remove the "." from the {$.Define XXXX} sequence and recompile the code.

The possibilities are:

NoOldPNG

Defining NoOldPNG removes the backup PNG Image code. This option should not be used unless it is certain that the GDIPLUS.DLL is present or if PNG image capabilies are not required.

NoGDIPlus

The gdiplus.dll provides alpha transparency support for PNG images. If, for some reason the use of the gdiplus.dll is undesirable, define NoGDIPlus

NoTabLink

Defining NoTabLink disables the ability to Tab between Links. This may be desirable for documents with a great many links.

Quirk

Defining Quirk makes changes which simulate some of the quirks of other browsers. It may be desirable to define this constant if you expect to be displaying HTML which might depend on these quirks. Currently, Quirk forces the font color and size to return to default values in each table cell.

UseTNT or UseElpack

Defining one of these allows the Unicode TNT or Elpack controls to be substituted for Delphi controls for Form controls. See the file, htmlcons.inc, for more details.

NoMetafile

Metafiles may be displayed by undefining this constant. NoMetaFile is defined by default to emphasize the fact that Metafile display and some printing operations are currently incompatible in Win98. For applications where printing is unimportant or Win98/95/ME need not be supported, undefining this constant will allow Metafiles to be displayed.

OpOnChange

Without this definition, the <select> form controls (TListbox and TCombobox) will issue the OnObjectChange event only when the control loses the focus which is according to HTML specs. Defining OpOnChange simulates the way IExplorer does it, issuing the OnChange event immediately when a change is made.

Mouseover Images

A Mouseover Image is one that changes when the mouse passes over it. The HTML components use a special syntax to implement mouseover images. It's done with the <img> tag as follows:

With the Active attribute, the GIF will normally just display the first frame. When the mouse passes over, it will display the second frame and when left clicked will show the third frame. If there are more than 3 frames, the GIF will animate when the mouse passes over.

Printing Table Headers and Footers

Starting with Version 9.3, <thead>, <tbody>, and <tfoot> are supported when printing with some restrictions. In a table definition, these tags define header, body, and footer sections of the table. If the table is split between pages when printing, the table portion on each page will have its own header and footer section.

For best results, note the following hints and restrictions.