CoolForm 1.3 component for Delphi 3.0


IMPORTANT

	You can download new versions directly at http://www.lawrenz.com/coolform/
	The website is finally up.

New Features:

	1.3.1998
		CoolButton included
	25.2.1998
		Fixed the Access Violation Problem
		Fixed the 'Canvas does not alklow drawing' Problem
		Improved the performance of the mask generator



Authors:

	Tim Lawrenz
	tim@lawrenz.com

	Max Muermann
	muermann@stud.uni-frankfurt.de


Legal Notice:

	This component is freeware for personal use, for commercial products contact the authors;
	no responsibilities taken whatsoever.


Installation:

	From the Delphi IDE, choose Components/install packages from the menu, Select
	'Add' (or something like that, only german version available here). Find Component\Cool.dpl,
	Click OK. There should be a new tab in the component palette named 'Cool'.

Usage:

	CoolForm 1.3

	Just drop the CoolForm component directly on a Form.
	Load a bitmap, just like with any TImage component.
	Double-click the Mask property. (the cool-looking mask editor appears)
	You can use the image you just loaded as a source for the mask, or you can load an
	external bmp to use as mask source.
	Clicking anywhere on the image selects the transparent color. This color is
	shown in the upper right corner of the window.
	The Ok-Button (checkmark) starts the mask generation (takes some time, no optimizations yet),
	but you'll have to do it only once. 
	Compile and start your program and marvel at the wonders to behold.
	If you want your form to be draggable, set the Draggable property to true, otherwise don't.
	You can place any standard delphi component on the CoolForm, just bear in mind that components
	outside the masked area don't show. We suggest using BitButtons with Flat set to true.
	Look at the demo.

	CoolButton 1.3

	The TCoolButton component is a button derived from a standard delphi SpeedButton - only cooler.
	The glyph *HAS* to contain four (4) equally sized bitmaps, of which the first describes the
	button in normal state, the second is the disabled button, the third one contains the image
	if the pressed button, the fourth one is displayed when the mouse cursor is over the button.
	We're drunk, so don't blame us.
	Oh, man, it's just a simple button! What do you want to know about it?




Future enhancements:

	Possibility to resize, rotate and shear the Bitmaps and masks 
	(We're just looking into the parameters of extCreateRegion and it's all there)


Bugreports:

	Please report any bugs you should encounter with a detailed 
	description (or even some source code) to any of the abovementioned EMail-addresses

MailingList:

	Write 'coolform add' (withou quotes) in the subject of the mail to coolform@lawrenz.com to get on or
	'coolform remove' to get off the list.




	Have fun.



