ZeeImage is an extremely simple control that manages images for your application. The most basic function of a ZeeImage control is to get an image file from disk (JPG, GIF, TIF, PNG, BMP, ICO) and load it into the ZeeImage control as a Windows bitmap. The ZeeImage control manages an array of 256 of these bitmaps, and can display the images in the control. An image sequence can be loaded, then the display can switch instantly between any of the loaded bitmaps. The ZeeImage control also uses its own timer to display an animation of a sequence of the loaded images at a framerate of the programmer's choosing. Animations can define their starting and ending "frame", and the number of times the animation will loop to play again.
When ZeeImage is used to display images, they are resized to keep the same aspect ratio as the original, but adjusted in size to fill the client area of the control. Each image can be configured to expand in size to fill the controls client area, or display at the images resolution if it is smaller than the client area of the control.
For this example, we will create an image control that resizes with the application to occupy the full client area of the application. I will load 3 images and then have the 3 images automatically cycle repeatedly with a 1/2 second pause between each image.
As with all Zee control DLLs, the DLL for the ZeeImage control should reside in the directory of your executable file. This won't be the case while you're compiling your code in an IDE such as Microsoft's Visual Studio. I've found it needs to be in the same directory as my C++ code, but once compiled to your finished applicaiton, it will need to reside with your executable file, or at least be somewhere in the search path of your computer.
In your global variables section you will need to create the following:
#include "zeeimage.h" HMODULE hmod; //for result of LoadLibrary() function HWND himage; //window handle for the ZeeImage control.
In the window procedure, in the WM_CREATE section, we will need to load the DLL file with the LoadLibrary() function. We will then check the result of the LoadLibrary() function to determine if the load was successful. If LoadLibrary() fails, it's because the ZeeImage.DLL file is not in the correct directory. It should be in the same directory as your program's source code file.
case WM_CREATE:
hmod=LoadLibrary("zeeimage.dll");
if(!hmod)
{
MessageBox(hWnd,"Unable to load ZeeImage.DLL","Error",MB_OK);
PostQuitMessage(0);
}
break;
case WM_CREATE:
hmod=LoadLibrary("zeeimage.dll");
if(!hmod)
{
MessageBox(hWnd,"Unable to load ZeeImage.DLL","Error",MB_OK);
PostQuitMessage(0);
}
//if you’re here, then the DLL loaded successfully
himage=CreateWindow("ZeeImage","No Title",WS_CHILD|WS_VISIBLE,0,0,0,0,hWnd,(HMENU)700,hInst,NULL);
break;
case WM_SIZE:
{
RECT rect;
GetClientRect(hWnd,&rect);
MoveWindow(himage,0,0,rect.right,rect.bottom,TRUE);
}
break;
Before we load the images, we will set the transparency and background colors. These colors are white, RGB(255,255,255) by default.
I will set the tranparency color to red RGB(255,0,0) and the background color to blue RGB(0,0,255).
case WM_CREATE:
hmod=LoadLibrary("zeeimage.dll");
if(!hmod)
{
MessageBox(hWnd,"Unable to load ZeeImage.DLL","Error",MB_OK);
PostQuitMessage(0);
}
//if you’re here, then the DLL loaded successfully
himage=CreateWindow("ZeeImage","No Title",WS_CHILD|WS_VISIBLE,0,0,0,0,hWnd,(HMENU)700,hInst,NULL);
SendMessage(himage,ZIM_SETTRANSPARENTCOLOR,0,RGB(255,0,0)); // set the transparent color to red for any images loaded that support transparency.
// This will stay in effect until changed with another ZIM_SETTRANSPARENTCOLOR message.
for(int j=0;j<=3;j++) // loop through the first three image slots because we're loading 3 images
{
SendMessage(himage,ZIM_SETBGCOLOR,j,RGB(0,0,255)); // Set the slot [j] to have a blue background. The background for each image will
// default to white if not set with the ZIM_SETBGCOLOR message.
}
// Now load the three images...
SendMessage(himage,ZIM_LOADIMAGE,0,(LPARAM)"tree.tif"); // Use your own image here...Try using a TIF or PNG image that has transparency in it.
SendMessage(himage,ZIM_LOADIMAGE,1,(LPARAM)"image2.jpg"); // Use your own image here...Use a normal sized image, such as from your digital camera.
SendMessage(himage,ZIM_LOADIMAGE,2,(LPARAM)"image3.ico"); // Use your own image here...Try a very small image, such as a program ICON.
// Load more images if you want. The ZeeImage control will hold up to 256 images.
SendMessage(himage,ZIM_SETANIMATEDELAY,500,0); // Set the time to delay between each image to 500 milliseconds (1/2 second)
SendMessage(himage,ZIM_SETANIMATELOOP,-1,0); // Set the control to loop infinitely
SendMessage(himage,ZIM_STARTANIMATE,0,2); // Start the animation beginning with image 0 and ending with image 2
break;