THPGBGPanel – Documentation
Overview
This component is a TCustomPanel descendant with a lot of new features such as:
? user definable transparent wallpaper tiled, centered or auto-tiling option
? 3D outlined caption which can be displayed at the top, bottom, left or right side and left/top, centered or 
right/bottom text alignment and free front and background color
? it is enabled to use either a resource name or number or an picture path for its wallpaper or even just use the 
image property editor to assign one at design time
? 3D border at the top, left, right or bottom side 
Requirements
You need Borland C++ Builder (Version 1.0 or better). Sorry, but Delphi will not work because the component 
is written entirely in C++. You can use BGPanel with either Window 95 (98)  and NT (4.0, 5.0).
Installation
Copy the files in the installation path
	BGPanel.obj
	BGPanel.dcr
	BGPanel.h
to the place where you store your VCL classes. 
>From inside C++ Builder select menu component and then install. Select cls_BGPanel as new component and 
then rebuild the library. Done.
Copyright
THPGBGPanel is Shareware. If you have registered you have the permission to use the component in all non 
commercial (Shareware, Cardware or something similary) software or package. You may not give this 
component to any other person. If you want to use the component in a commercial software package please 
contact the author for special conditions and package licenses.

For non-commercial use only:
The price for the component is 25$ (cash only). Delivery is done via email only. Send you registration the 
product you want to buy and the cash to the following address:

	Hans-Peter Guenther
	Glockenblumenweg 17
	34128 Kassel
	Germany

You will receive the component as object code and the header as .h file and the documentation in Microsoft 
Word and text file format. Also you got an example C++Builder project which demonstrates the use of 
THPGBGPanel either at design time and the dynamic creation of the component. You got also free updates and 
technical support for one year. 
Usage
Use the component like any other component. Add it at design time to any form or TWinControl descendant that 
accept child controls. Set the appropriated properties with the object inspector. Note there are some properties 
which cannot be set at design time (mainly the bitmap resource specific properties).
At runtime you can use the standard method to create dynamically generated components:
Example
	// This line can be put into the FormCreate event
	THPGBGPanel *th=new THPGBGPanel(this);
	th->Parent=this; // show the component in the form
	th->Align=alClient; // full size
	th->ResourceName=“MYBGRND“; // set the wallpaper
Component
THPGBGPanel owns all properties, methods and events from TCustomPanel plus the following additional ones:
Properties:

? Bitmap 
Graphics::TBitmap *Bitmap – this is the wallpaper (background picture) the panel should use.

Note: The wallpaper’s left and top will be adjusted to the left and top of the 
control, so you can put a THPGBGPanel into an THPGBGPanel and if both use the same Bitmap 
as wallpaper any patterns will be displayed correctly. Keep this in mind if you set the WallPaper 
property to wpOnce or wpAuto.

? Picture
AnsiString Picture – this is the path to the bitmap the panel should use as background picture. If you 
specify this any ResourceName, ResourceID or Bitmap definition will be cleared.

? ResourceName
AnsiString ResourceName – this is the Name of the bitmap in the resource file you want to use as 
background bitmap. The resource files have to be added to the project first.
Note: This property is runtime only and displays an error when you try to set this at design time

? ResourceID
int ResourceID – this is the Resource integer which represents the bitmap in the resource file you want 
to use as background bitmap.
Note: This property is runtime only and displays an error when you try to set this at design time

? CaptionType
enum THPGPanel::TCaptionType CaptionType – this specifies what kind of caption will be used.
TCaptionType is specified as follows:
	enum TCaptionType
{
ctNormal,
ctRaised,
ctLowered
};
	ctNormal	
just a normal display using the Font->Color color. No 3D display

	ctRaised 
3D outlined caption display which uses the FGColor property as foreground color and the BGColor as 
background color for the caption text

	ctLowered
3D outlined caption display which uses the FGColor property as background color and the BGColor as 
foreground color.

? CaptionBorder
enum THPGPanel::TCaptionBorder CaptionBorder – this specifies where the border and the caption 
will be placed
TCaptionBorder is defines as follows:
enum TCaptionBorder
{
		cbTop,
    		cbLeft,
    		cbRight,
    		cbBottom,
    		cbNone
};
	cbTop (default)
	the Caption will be displayed at the top as a title with a border line below the text

	cbLeft
the Caption will be displayed at the left of the panel. The text will be written from the top to the bottom
	
	cbRight
the Caption will be displayed at the right side of the panel the text will be written from the top to the 
bottom

	cbBottom
	the Caption will be displayed at the bottom of the panel as a bottom title

	cbNone
	Neither Caption nor Border will be displayed

? WallPaper
enum THPGPanel::TWallPaper WallPaper – this specifies how the background picture (if any) will be 
displayed.

enum TWallPaper
{
		wpWallPaper,
    		wpOnce,
    		wpAuto
};

wpWallPaper 
the picture will be tiled. See also the Note at property Bitmap.

wpOnce
the picture will be displayed once. If the picture is smaller than the actual height and/or width the 
picture will be stretched to fit in the client region if the picture is smaller the background color will be 
displayed at the left and/or right side

wpAuto (default)
the picture will be displayed tiled if the picture does not fit entirely into the client region of the panel 
else the picture is displayed once.

? FGColor
TColor FGColor (default: clWindowText)
This property specifies the foreground color of the Caption (only if CaptionType is set to ctNormal or 
ctRaised)

? BGColor
This property specifies the background color of the Caption (only if CaptionType is set to ctNormal or 
ctRaised)

? TransparentColor
TColor TransparentColor -  if you set Wallpaper to wpWallPaper and specify here any color but clNone this 
color will be used as transparent bitmap. 


Methods:
? __fastcall THPGBGPanel(TComponent* Owner);
	standard VCL constructor

? __fastcall ~THPGBGPanel();
	standard VCL destructor

Author
If you have any questions, suggestions or want to contact me send a message to the following address:
	hpgue@aol.com

Visit also my home page at
	http://members.aol.com/hpgue/hpgintl.htm


___