
Rafe's Tip-Of-The-Day Dialog
----------------------------

Rafe's Tip-Of-The-Day Dialog offers the sort of functionality you
get in many software packages today. Features include:

	o "Standard" look
	o Changing main text

As this package is freeware it comes with no warranty of any kind.
However, if your computer does blow up as a direct result of using
it I'd enjoy hearing about the experience.

To install Rafe's Tip-Of-The-Day Dialog copy all the files (except 
this one) into a directory that's on your component path. 

To use Rafe's Tip-Of-The-Day Dialog add the unit TOTD to your 
uses clause. Then when you want to show a tip use something like the 
following block of code to call up the dialog:

  try
    fTipOfTheDay:=TfTipOfTheDay.Create (Application);
    fTipOfTheDay.CurrentTip:={set the number of the last shown tip here}
    fTipOfTheDay.cbShowTips.Checked:={set the last status of show tips here}
    fTipOfTheDay.ShowModal;
    {get the number of the last shown tip here}:=fTipOfTheDay.CurrentTip;
    {get the status of show tips here}:=fTipOfTheDay.cbShowTips.Checked;
  finally
    fTipOfTheDay.Free;
  end; { try }

I've left the storing and setting of the CurrentTip and ShowTips 
checkbox up to the user. I figured that this would be best as you'll
probably have a .INI file for your application already and you'll want
to use this.

The tips are stored in a file called TIPS.TXT and are of the form
{TYPE_CHARACTER}The tip to be shown. The TYPE_CHARACTER denotes what
the dialog box will have as the leading text and supported 
TYPE_CHARACTERS are:

    ^ : 'Today''s tip...'
    ? : 'Did you know...'
    ' : 'Today''s quote...'
    ! : 'Today''s joke...'
    # : 'Today''s message...'

There is an example TIPS.TXT file included.

Hope you like it and find it useful. Comments and suggestions are
most welcome. 

One final thing, if you do find this useful then PLEASE be kind 
enough to send me a sign of your appreciation (an e-mail, postcard, 
t-shirt, money, food etc.). None of this stuff magically appeared
overnight.

	Rafe

E-Mail: rafe@rcai.demon.co.uk
WWW: http://www.oxfordcc.co.uk/rcai
Surface Mail: 89 Sharland Close, Grove, Oxon. OX12 0AF. UK.
