In order to create a custom point, code must be compiled using a language capable of creating COM objects. PPCC custom points were written in C++, which can be compiled for both the PC and the various Pocket PC architectures.  Visual Basic (VB) can create COM objects on the PC, but unfortunately Embedded VB can only create interpreted .VB files, which prevents it from being used for these purposes.

Please download SliderCustomPoint.zip, a package which contains a fully compilable 'Slider' project.  It includes project files for PC and Pocket PC builds (Visual C++ and eMbedded Visual C++), plus the PPCCOM.h object model file. Examine the code to understand the custom point development process.

Custom points are very simple, and need to implement only one or two interfaces. All custom points should implement the ICustomPoint interface, which allows the point to provide standard PPCC functionality (setting properties, display on page, storage of information, etc). Additionally, most custom points implement the IPersistPropertyBag interface, which allows the custom point to store any properties it might have in the project file above and beyond the normal PPCC properties such as Caption, ID Name, etc.

In return, PPCC provides a reference to an ICustomPointSite interface via the ICustomPoint::SetSite() method. The ICustomPointSite interface is the access point which allows the custom point to interact with the project. At the most basic level it provides a simple means for querying the stock properties of the point, setting and querying the current value, and default handlers for most custom point functions. It can also be used to obtain a reference to the rest of the PPCC object model through GetApplication(), GetProject(), GetPage(), GetPoint().

Default implementations for many of the methods in ICustomPoint are provided in ICustomPointSite, for example ICustomPoint::Paint() can be reflected back to ICustomPointSite::DefaultPaint(). Through this mechanism you only need to provide full implementations for the methods where the custom point provides extra functionality. Everything else can be reflected back to PPCC to provide default actions (in this case, the default paint action simply draws the caption).

Unlike ActiveX controls, PPCC custom points are windowless by default, so all events are passed to your implementation of ICustomPoint. ICustomPoint::GetHeight() and ICustomPoint::Paint() are the core methods used to allow the custom point to paint itself. ICustomPoint::OnTap() is called to handle stylus taps landing on the custom point. If anything more sophisticated is required, it is possible to create a windowed custom point by creating a child window on ICustomPoint::Show(), and destroying it in ICustomPoint::Hide(). The parent window handle can be retrieved from the ICustomPointSite via GetHWND().

Finally, the custom points PPCC lists in its "Add New Point" dialog are enumerated by searching for COM objects which implement the PPCC custom point category. The GUID for this category is {EDF7BC-0AD0-42C8-8CB4-287A-D828EE12}. PPCC will also automatically register all DLLs it finds in its home folder upon start up, both on the PC and the Pocket PC. This allows custom point DLLs to be automatically registered without requiring an explicit installation step (provided they are self registering).

Note: We are always pleased to learn of PPCC custom points developed by others, so please contact CreativityCorp to advise of your creativity. There may also be a market for your custom point.

Custom Points and COM Ports