There are useful or fun RESTful Web Services that we can easily use in VB6 programs. Many are free or offer a free tier of use, but may require attribution and a link to "terms of service" or their home page. Some do not require this but it might be good manners to do so.
Easy enough for a web mashup, but more effort in a desktop application. This Attribution control shows how such a thing might be accomplished.
Here is an example of such an API: TheySaidSo Famous Quotes API
Free usage is limited to 10 requests per hour, and they ask for attribution. That's possible but clunky in VB6. We could make a small browser window but here is an alternative: Attribution.cls.
This Attribution control supports "hover highlighting" though not perfectly. If you want better mouseout detection there are alternatives you can use instead of the simplistic technique used here. Edit: altered this to use the SetCapture/ReleaseCapture API approach.
It has properties covering their ImgSrc, HRef, displayed Text, and of course ToolTipText can be used for their "powered by" title text.
Requirements
VB6 to compile the Project.
Windows Vista or later. Windows XP SP1 or later could be used if the redist version of WIA 2.0 has been previously installed.
Interaction with the API provider
When an instance of Attribution.ctl loads it:
When the Form loads it:
When the user clicks the "Get quote" button the Form:
If the users clicks on Attribution a link to the API provider's site is opened in the user's default web browser.
This was more of a "concept" Project rather than something "real." There is a lot of random stuff in this program. Maybe you can find some of it useful.
Easy enough for a web mashup, but more effort in a desktop application. This Attribution control shows how such a thing might be accomplished.
Here is an example of such an API: TheySaidSo Famous Quotes API
Free usage is limited to 10 requests per hour, and they ask for attribution. That's possible but clunky in VB6. We could make a small browser window but here is an alternative: Attribution.cls.
This Attribution control supports "hover highlighting" though not perfectly. If you want better mouseout detection there are alternatives you can use instead of the simplistic technique used here. Edit: altered this to use the SetCapture/ReleaseCapture API approach.
It has properties covering their ImgSrc, HRef, displayed Text, and of course ToolTipText can be used for their "powered by" title text.
Requirements
VB6 to compile the Project.
Windows Vista or later. Windows XP SP1 or later could be used if the redist version of WIA 2.0 has been previously installed.
Interaction with the API provider
When an instance of Attribution.ctl loads it:
- Requests the image at ImgSrc if this property is not empty.
- When the image is received, it is composited onto backgrounds to produce NormalImage and HighlightImage.
- NormalImage is displayed initially on the Attribution instance.
When the Form loads it:
- Makes a "categories" request.
- When received successfully, it displays them in a ListBox for the user to optionally choose one from.
- The "Get quote" button is enabled.
When the user clicks the "Get quote" button the Form:
- Makes a Quote Of The Day request, with or without a specified "category" depending on whether the user chose a category from the ListBox by selecting it.
- When received successfully, it extracts several value from the response including a background picture URL.
- Then it makes another request for the background picture.
- When the background picture is received it paints that into a PictureBox, and then it draws the text of the quote and related information extracted from the QOD response.
If the users clicks on Attribution a link to the API provider's site is opened in the user's default web browser.
This was more of a "concept" Project rather than something "real." There is a lot of random stuff in this program. Maybe you can find some of it useful.