HTML for desktop apps from SW Fox 2009

1. HTML for the Desktop

2. About Me
 President/Founder F1 Technologies since 1990
 Co-author Visual FoxExpress
 Speaker
 Consultant
 Xbase Developer since dBase III/FoxBase 1987
 Web Developer since 1994

3. Contact Me

4. Agenda
 Why Use HTML in Desktop Applications?
 How to Display Web Content in Desktop
Applications
 HTML Interface Uses
 HTML vs. OLE Automation

5. Why Use HTML in Desktop
Applications
 Create Interfaces not easily created with
standard VFP controls
 Leverage Pre-existing Web Interfaces
 Interact with Websites in Desktop Apps
 Minimize Need For Automation

6. HTML In the Interface – Getting
Started
 Requires use of ActiveX Control
 Most use MS Web Browser Control which is based on
IE.
 Mozilla Control Also Available (
http://www.iol.ie/~locka/mozilla/control.htm)

7. IE vs. Mozilla
IE Mozilla
 Commercial, made by MS  Open Source & inactive
 Does not conform to  Conforms to HTML
HTML standards standards
 Supports Design Mode  Does not support design
 10 MB+ Download mode
 Intellisense  4MB Download
 No Intellisense

8. Using the Web Browser
Controls
 Subclass or insert directly into container
 Navigate to blank page in init:
This.navigate([About:Blank])
Creates Document Object
 See Rick Strahl’s Article:
http://west-wind.com/presentations/shellapi/shellapi.asp

9. HTML in the Desktop
 FanList.SCX
 FanList.SCX is a sample data entry form. It’s
primary purpose is to illustrate how HTML can
provide a more user-friendly substitute for
grids when pictures and edit regions need to
be part of the grid.

10. HTML in the Desktop
 HTMLPreview.SCX
 Did you ever want to jump straight into data
from a report preview or drill down into more
detail from a report preview? That’s what this
form is all about.

11. HTML in the Desktop
 HTMLPreview2.SCX
 Email, Website and Image Links in report
preview

12. HTML in the Desktop
 Customer.SCX & ShowMap.SCX
 Integrate Google Maps with Desktop App

13. HTML in the Desktop
 HTMLEditor.SCX
 Basic HTML Editor
 Makes use of DesignMode

14. HTML in the Desktop
 MailMerge.SCX
 Reduce versionitis and API difference issues
between word processors.
 Use standards based language vs. proprietary
format.
 Enjoy the performance and simplicity of text
vs. automation.
 Get HTML Email as a bonus.

15. HTML in the Desktop
 WebDev.SCX
 The WebDev form is the form that was used
in my “HTML and Visual FoxPro” session.
This form makes use of the web browser
control and provides a great example of
performing local file based operations on
HTML and displaying them in the desktop.

16. HTML in the Desktop
 WebDevGecko.SCX
 This form is a Gecko (Mozilla based)
implementation of the WebDev form.

17. Conclusion
 Visual FoxPro is a rockin’ host for HTML
interfaces
 VFP’s DML, ActiveX support and text
handling abilities make it possible to do
things with HTML that you might not do on
the web itself.
 Fox Rocks!