AfxNova progress

[Paul Squires]

Hi José,

I have gotten back to updating Tiko code and am just about ready to post the version 1.3.1 update. I can grab your most recent AfxNova repository files now, or I can wait a bit longer if you'd like to add anything before I publish the Tiko update. Just let me know.

Thanks,
Paul

[José Roca]

Hi Paul,

Everything I have uploaded is working fine as far as I know, so there is no need to delay the release of the new version of Tiko.

As you can see, I'm working to provide access to the latest technologies, such as WebView2 and Direct2D. Direct2D, DirectWrite, and WIC can already be used if you manage the object lifetimes yourself and call the methods directly. I'm currently working on wrapper classes to make them easier to use by providing constructors, automatic memory management, and overloaded methods.

I have already finished wrapping the most important interfaces, but wrapping the entire set will take time, since Direct2D is a whole ecosystem. The advantages of Direct2D are that it is faster, offers higher quality, and is fully DPI‑aware — all essential qualities for modern 4K displays.

[Paul Squires]

Excellent, thanks! I will use your latest repository files. Very exciting new code you're working on! I look forward to using it when you are finished. AfxNova makes coding in FB so much easier and these new technologies will make it even better.

[José Roca]

My next step will be to take full advantage of the WebView2 control and turn it into a true "super control".
 
I'm planning to write a canvas class that allows drawing anything you need: graphics, images, text, shapes, and more. The idea is to expose a classic, easy‑to‑use API on the outside, while internally generating the required HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to perform the rendering.

This approach will make it possible to build all kinds of document‑related features:

- invoices and reports
- barcodes and QR codes
- embedded images
- tables and layouts
- previews and printouts
- charts and visualizations
- even animations

Basically, anything you can do on a modern web page will be available through a simple, traditional API.


The WebView2 control also has a localized context menu and/or shortcuts that allow to save, copy, rotate images, zoom and printing.