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I've been testing out some ActiveX controls in MMF. Most of the ActiveX controls I install show up in the ActiveX control list. I have one, though, that even though I successfully registered it in Windows, it doesn't show up on the list in MMF. I know MMF does a quick scan. I've tried on numerous occasions to do a full scan but that feature is still too unstable in MMF. Every single time it gets maybe 50% and then crashes. Is there any other way I can get MMF to see this installed ActiveX?
This is an ongoing problem for years with MMF. This will not be addressed until Fusion 3 or better comes out if ever. I reported the issue at least two years ago. No one to work on it was the message. Even if the activex shows up it may not fully work. Very buggy.
This is an example of why I want to see Clickteam put more programmers to work more on the "core product" and less on exports and platforms. They really need to get to Fusion 3 so the product and be grown and expanded.
Actually, to my knowledge, hardly anyone uses the ActiveX object in MMF2, so it isn't too much of an issue. Also, seriously? MMF2's exporters are one of its strong points. Focusing effort on an object that isn't used much isn't going to boost sales. The exporters will help boost sales, and I really like being able to make my games for things other than Windows (and I'm not the only one). MMF2.5 will help boost sales, and MMF2.5 focuses on the core product a lot and it improves on the exporters, even adding a new one (the HTML5 exporter). Recently you've been seeming to be against Clickteam's decisions a lot for whatever reason. I just don't get it.
One more point: if corresponding ActiveX is not found on the computer, the ActiveX object will not let you open your application (both standalone executable and MFA)!
Before Web Control Object came out, I was using ActiveX object to display Web pages (through Internet Explorer ActiveX). Nowadays I'm still using ActiveX object but only to display PDF files (through Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader). It's useful but effectively would need to be redesigned.
Do a search of the forum and you will find posts about activex going back to 2007. It is not used as much because it does not work correctly and no one has been assigned to fix it.
If it worked I am sure many would be using it. This is why more effort and programmers need to be assigned to the core product and less on fixing exports.
The last few feature release show a few fixes of the core product problems and massive fixes of exports issues.
droberson, I think there are much, much higher priorities than that, such as making the ScreenZoom object in MMF2.5 work in the Windows runtime. The runtimes got so many fixes because the runtimes that got fixed are a lot newer, and the Windows runtime is quite stable when compared to the other runtimes (some of the fixes were critical bug fixes, not just tiny bug fixes).
Also, there aren't very many people who are making Windows-only games for MMF2, and the ActiveX object can't work for those runtimes, and the ActiveX object is basically worthless for making games (maybe not for making applications, but for making games). There is also the problem that ouly has brought up: If your users don't have the ActiveX control, they can't even open your application at all. If you get a new computer and any one ActiveX control your game was using is no longer available anywhere for whatever reason, then you can't open your own source code.
Also, most people who are new to MMF2 don't know what the ActiveX object does, I'm guessing, as ActiveX is usually known as a feature of Internet Explorer, and it is also known as one of the major security vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, which means two things: 1. They won't know what it does. And/or 2. They will think it will make their program have the same security issues as Internet Explorer when it comes to ActiveX controls.
happwgreenfrog - I requested this FIVE years, then TWO years and now others are requesting it also. I don't think that is unreasonable to get it on the list. I agree with you to a point. It has been so long since the request FIVE years ago that Activex is now being replaced by .NET objects.
I'm not a game developer. I use MMF Dev for the development of applications. When an extension doesn't exist then the next best thing, to me, is an ActiveX control. For example, one project I almost completed has to be halted in MMF because the only extension that exists is very buggy. Posted to the paid forums almost a month ago as I'm willing to pay for the development of the extension I need and not a single reply. My only two options are:
a.) Find an ActiveX control that will work with MMF
b.) Create my software using Neobook as it does have the particular functions I need and the NeoBook scripting language is quite easy to learn.
I really don't want to move from MMF as I love how easy it is for me to create applications, however, when I see progress stagnating then I must do what is necessary to get the flow going. If it means moving to another RAD tool then so be it. For the issue of the end-user needing to have the ActiveX control installed it is up to the developer. I don't use just any ActiveX control I see in the list. I only use controls that I have installed and are meant to be used in a development environment. The only thing I have to do is in the install software make sure that the DLL is registered by the installer on the end-user's computer.
As for multiplatform I can see the advantage. When I get the time there is one application I plan on developing for Windows. The application will initially have a "reader" for the Android to read the information from the files saved from the Windows application. Maybe even go as far as one day being able to edit the files on the Android as well. This is all possible via the current features in MMF and the Android exporter.
Most of the ActiveX controls I download and install work fine with MMF. Every so often, though, I get one like this where it doesn't show up at all. What is frustrating is that for the 2+ years I've been using MMF Dev the answer has always been the same: some work and some don't. Nothing can be done about it.
I know your pain Kracker same for me over the years. MMF2 Dev version also.
Simple solution gentlemen. If you're using MMF2 to develop software applications, as I have done professionally for the last 3-4 years and you can't find an "ActiveX" to fit or you can't get MMF to read the ActiveX then either
a) Develop an extension yourself to do the job
b) Hire someone to develop an extension do to the job
c) Hire someone to develop an ActiveX that IS readable via MMF
It really doesn't get any simpler than this.
What list? The list of MMF2.5 features? MMF2.5 is way too close to release for such a thing to happen, at least for MMF2.5's launch (and weren't you the one who was complaining that Clickteam needed to release MMF2.5 sooner since it seemed to you that it was already ready for release?).Quote:
Originally Posted by droberson
So using your logic Danny...you buy a car and the radio in your new car does not work correctly. So you would
a) Develop a radio-like device yourself to do the job
b) Hire someone to develop a radio-like device to do the job
c) Hire someone to develop a radio that IS usable in the car.
Uh...I would just write the car manufacture and tell them to please fix the radio they sell as part of the car I just purchased.
It really doesn't get any simpler than this.
happygreenfrog - I agree MMF2.5 is way to close to release to have activex fixed now...you and I agree. THAT is why I REQUESTED the activex fix over FIVE YEARS AGO.
Today even...FIVE YEARS later...people, other than myself, still ask for it to be fixed.
The example I gave Danny about the car radio. If you purchased a car with a radio and it only half worked would you not asked it be fixed? Is that unreasonable? Same with MMF and the activex extension.
What you want is rather a universal adapter for the cigar lighter receptacle of the car.
Some external devices may work with the same adapter but you need almost as many adapter as there are devices on the market.
It is the same thing for ActiveX object: MMF recognizes some input/outputs but it cannot handle all of them. The only thing that we can expect is that it handles properly those that are embedded with MMF and it means that not all objects and all functions can be recognized.
Danny, I'm glad life is so simple for you. Unfortunately my life is not that simple.
My programming skills are not near up to par with the task of making an extension. I wish they were.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny
I posted my request in the paid forums almost a month ago on this website. Not a single reply to the post.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny
That may be an option. Can you recommend any places to post/request this?Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny
Hi Kraker,
I'm willing to help anybody out but people have to be willing to help themselves first. Multimedia Fusion 2 provides a core framework enabling you to develop software applications from. ActiveX is just one of those objects that extends the power of MMF2, however, ActiveX is not Clickteam's technology, it's Microsoft's. Secondly, it's now outdated and mostly redundant. The main use of ActiveX in this day and age is usually just hardware communication, nothing more, nothing less.
If I have a commercial application I'm trying to develop and I need to import an SDK or API for use, then I have to think about how I'm going to do that. I'm just thankful MMF2 gives me the opportunity to develop an external SDK/Api into an extension for use in MMF2, then enabling me to crack on with the project.
Kraker, sometimes the extension devs may not be interested in developing an extension, there isn't just Clickteam's community you can look to. You can look to outsourcing from any freelance website, as long as they have the skillset required (whatever language is needed) you can hire anyone to develop an extension and pass them Clickteam's SDK and files to develop that.
With regards to Droberson, your post is irrelevant in this case. Not meaning to sound harsh but a Radio comes as standard with a car. ActiveX didn't come as standard with Multimedia Fusion and Clickteam have never advertised MMF2 actively supporting ActiveX technology. It's just an extension that is there and could work.
I do agree with both of you, it would be an absolute godsend if it did work flawlessly, I too would be in my element, however because it doesn't it's not the be-all and end-all. MMF2 provides numerous ways for you to develop further and above I was just merely explaining how you could do that.
The extension I'm looking to have developed has already been developed for MMF but it's buggy. I've posted on the forums about it (a year or so ago) and no response. I'm guessing the project was quickly abandoned for whatever reason. My only option will be to post to sites such as ODesk and Freelancer to find a programmer, should I decide to stick with MMF for this project.
Kracker,
What is the extension which is buggy?
What did you want to do with it?
The PDF Object. When you add text to a PDF you cannot change the font. If you set the font it will not create the PDF. If you add text, even adding text to a new page, it creates the PDF just fine. I've tried regular Windows fonts to ensure it's not some issue with an odd font. I've tried setting the font to Arial and Courier New. Still no PDF creation. Another bug is adding external images. I tried to add an image and same issue, no PDF creation. There's the security feature of password, not sure if that's password to prevent opening or the password to prevent editing of PDF but setting of that prevents PDF creation. The other features appear to work (add text to page, add text to additional page, setting of title, author, creator, etc).
That was Stephen who developed that extension. Maybe worth dropping him a PM?
I just sent Stephen a PM in regards to the bugs. I normally don't PM developers as I don't like to bother them privately with support requests. However, my support post on the forums have gone unanswered (since May 2013).