SftTabs/DLL 6.0 - New Features

SftTabs/DLL 6.0 has just been released and adds these exciting new features to the product's list of already impressive features. Of course, SftTabs/DLL 6.0 is virtually 100% upward compatible from version 5.0 and earlier versions, so upgrading is extremely simple.

Click here to review the online web documentation for all product enhancements, with links to the topics describing each new property, method and event in detail.

The following major enhancements have been made available with SftTabs/DLL 6.0: 

• 9 new tab styles. 
• Now combines 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) editions into one product.
• Preliminary support for Windows 7.
• Tab pictures now support PNG, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, Exif, EMF+, EMF (GDI+ images) with full support for alpha-blended (translucent and semi-transparent) images (see SFTTABS_TAB, TabPicture and SFT_PICTURE structures).
• New SwitchTab function to make the next/previous tab the active tab.
• New notifications identifying which exact part of a tab was clicked (background, text or picture - SFTTABSN_LBUTTONDOWN_TEXT, SFTTABSN_LBUTTONDBLCLK_TEXT, SFTTABSN_LBUTTONDOWN_IMAGE, SFTTABSN_LBUTTONDBLCLK_IMAGE, SFTTABSN_LBUTTONDOWN_AREA, SFTTABSN_LBUTTONDBLCLK_AREA).
• Each tab now supports additional tab pictures when the tab is hot (flyby highlighting) or disabled.
• The SFTTABS_TAB structure now returns the location of the tab label and tab picture (see SFTTABS_TAB, rectPic, rectText).
• The exact height of one tab (tab row) can now be defined using the SFTTABS_CONTROL, forcedSize member.
• The new SFTTABS_CONTROL, fSwitchOnRelease member defines whether tab switching occurs as the user presses or releases the mouse button on a tab.
• The control now uses an even smoother painting method (on Windows XP and newer). Applications can still force the painting method used in older releases of the product using SFTTABS_CONTROL, fCompatibleRendering.
• The tab page border can be suppressed for the new button tab styles (SFTTABSSTYLE_BUTTONS_xxx), see SFTTABS_CONTROL, fNoBorder.
• The index of the tab currently highlighted (hot) due to flyby highlighting can now be retrieved using SFTTABS_CONTROL, highlightTabIndex.
• GDI+ specific support (SFTTABS_CONTROL, fGDIPlus, GDIPlusAvailable, LoadGDIPlusImageFromResource, FreeGDIPlusImageLoadedFromResource, DrawSelectionOutline).
• The SetControlInfo function now provides an error return value, making troubleshooting a bit easier (see SFTTABS_CONTROL, lastErrorValue).
• The drawing callback (SFTTABS_DRAWTABPROC) can now also be used when hidden tabs are present in a tab control.
• The drawing callback information provided in the SFTTABS_DRAWINFO structure has been exanded (AvailableRect, iRealTab, fShowAccel).

The following major enhancements have been made available with SftTabs/DLL 5.0:

• 6 new tab styles (SFTTABSSTYLE_MODERN_II).
• SftTabs/DLL 5.0 - Windows Mobile Edition:  Full support for Embedded Visual C++ 4.x, Pocket PC 2002/2003, SmartPhone 2002/2003, Windows CE, Windows CE .NET, Windows Mobile 5 on all platforms and processors supported by Embedded Visual C++ 4.x and Visual Studio 2005.  All features of the control are available.
• SftTabs/DLL 5.0 - x64 Edition:  Support for Intel 64-bit processors with EM64T, AMD 64-bit processors running Windows XP x64, Server 2003 x64, Windows Vista x64.
• DynamicHelp and online help integration with Visual Studio .NET 2002, 2003 and 2005.
• Static linking is now supported eliminating the need to distribute the Dll (see "Building Applications").
• New Close, Minimize and Restore buttons, with many new members in the SFTTABS_CONTROL structure, defining bitmaps, enabled/disabled status and alignment options.
• Tabs can now have gradient fill background colors. 
• The client area of each tab page can now have gradient fill background colors. 
• Built-in ToolTips for scroll buttons and the new Close, Minimize and Restore buttons.
• Enhanced multi-threading support by using RegisterApp for each thread that creates controls.
• The UNICODE DLL can now be used on all platforms (Windows 98 through Windows Vista) with all ANSI and UNICODE applications (SftTabs/DLL 5.0 does not require Unicows.dll).
• New SFTTABS_CONTROL structure member nCustomCode for custom features.
• New button style value (SFTTABS_CONTROL structure member buttonStyle), supporting MDI style Close, Minimize and Restore buttons.

To find out more about this product, download our product demo now. The demo offers a thorough overview of the product and includes source code for the sample applications, along with complete help files.

And, don't forget, the product includes free support and all major updates for one entire year.

Please see our Product Overview page for included options and supported operating systems.