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Setting up the control on your device
To register the control on your device follow
steps 2 through 9 above but select the Pocket PC (Default Device)
in the Control Manager and then navigate to the appropriate processor
when adding the control, for example:
\unzipped path\Pocket PC\Arm
Now we're in business.
The sample eVB code
Open the 'Sample VB code' directory
from within the unzipped folder and double-click the Keypad.ebp
file. You will see the following simple eVB screen:
The sample code covers all aspects of the
control and is very straightforward.
Keypad control Methods
The control has only one method - the GetInput
method which calls the Keypad control and returns True
or False depending on whether 'Enter' or 'Cancel'
was clicked.
retval = Keypad1.GetInput()
Keypad control Properties
There are 3 properties.
- Text
- which returns or set the keypad control's display.
- BackColor - returns or set the keypad
control's background color
- KeyColor - returns or set the keypad
button color
For example, to initialise a text box with
data from the control the syntax would look like this:
If retval = True Then
Phone.Text = Keypad1.Text
End If
Using the KeyPad Control in your own Projects
Add the control using the Project ->
Components menu. Check the HD keypad ActiveX Control
Module.
Testing on the Pocket PC
The keypad control behaved just as expected
on the actual Pocket PC device. The keypad buttons are nice and
large making for quick and easy data entry. Although the control
paints fast it is not instantaneous, astute observers will notice
the control buttons paint from lower left to upper right.
Conclusion
The HandData Keypad control is extremely easy
to use and the documentation is clear and simple. If you need
to implement a numerical keypad this is clearly an easier option
than custom coding a solution in eVB (see
Coding a Currency Converter - Part II). There is no doubt
it allows for quick numerical data input, with or without a stylus.
At $39.95 some might fell that it is expensive, however the control
works well and HandData obviously stands by their product since
the control is royalty free with a 30 day money back guarantee.
The control can be bought online from the HandData
web site.
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