The full story, if anyones interested, goes like this.
We have about 10 client apps and a few server apps. They have similar user
interfaces based on previouly defined in-house standards. They also share a
large amount of functionality (error logs, todo list etc).
I decided that using a shell app with dynamically loaded add-in's would be a
good way to go as it 1) would remove a lot of ui code from each project, 2)
enforce better standards, 3) ease maintenance and 4) ease deployment (?)
So, I created the shell from an existing app by striping all the guts out
and leaving the ui code behind. I then created some 'interfaces' such as
IShell, IShellWindow & IAddIn.
I implemented these interfaces in TInterfacedObject classes inside the shell
exe and in the Addin DLL's. The DLL also had some standard startup code
such as Startup(IShell) -> IAddIn, Shutdown, etc.
So, the DLL would create the class and return the interface pointer to the
shell. The Addin could take to the shell via the IShell interface and the
IShell interface has a method called GetShellWindow which returns a
IShellWindow interface.
The Addin would display itself inside the shell by using
IShell.GetShellWindow.GetWorkspace which would return a TWinControl. This
all worked quite sweetly, I thought but I guess the redraw/resize problem
existed - I just didn,t notice it.
However, I was geting problems at shutdown - probably becaseu of unloaduing
the DLL's before I was finsihed or other sily problems. So I tried using
the Interface on COM objects inside a ActiceX DLL. The problem with this is
that standard COM can't marhsall a TWinControl so I had to use a simple
window handle. This also suffered from the same resizing errors but at
least the shutdown problems were solved.
I now have a mix of an ActiveX dll - which is really just a DLL with the
self registration functions - and TInterfacedObject classes inside it. The
code is a bit of a mess from all my experimentation so I need to do a clean
recode but I'm happy that it will now work.
>From: Bevan Edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: Multiple recipients of list delphi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: [DUG]: Loading forms from dynamic DLL's and enbedding them
>Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 19:56:56 +1200
>
>
>Ok, so I'm coming in a little late on this one, but here goes.
>Having read the other responses, and realising that you've gone for a
>bit of a manual resolution, is it possible that the DLL-based form
>doesn't realise what it's parent application is? How are you creating
>the form - in the DLL or in your EXE code? What do you pass in as the
>owner of the form?
>
>Just a few interesting ideas - hope they help in some way.
>
>Regards,
>
>Bevan
>
>
>Peter G Jones wrote:
> >
> > There's a virtual chocolate fish available to the person who can solve
>this
> > one.
> >
> > I have a DLL that includes a form that I want to display embedded into a
> > shell application. The DLL is dynamically loaded by the shell which
>then
> > calls a startup procedure that is exported by the DLL. To the startup
> > procedure it passes a TPanel.
> >
> > When the embedded form draws itself inside the panel, it get's confused
> > about it's size and the bottom and right of the form is lost outside of
>the
> > containing panel.
> >
> > I have created a small demo app and dll that demonstrates this which I
>can
> > provide on request.
> >
> > Has anyone else done this sort of thing succesfully cause this is
>driving me
> > nuts and I need it fixed, like, last month.
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________________
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> >
> >
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>
>--
>Bevan Edwards mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Achieve Software Limited http://www.achieve.co.nz
>Phone: (64-9) 444-4210 ICQ: 732011
>Fax: (64-9) 444-4201
>Mobile: (64-21) 979-603
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