Changing the font name of your hints

				
!**************************************
! Name: Changing the font name of your hints
! Description:This tip will tell you how to change the font and other properties of the hint window. You will also learn some things about TCanvas this way.
! By: Emiel Hollander
!
!This code is copyrighted and has! limited warranties.Please see http://www.Planet-Source-Code.com/vb/scripts/ShowCode.asp?txtCodeId=58&lngWId=7!for details.!**************************************

First, you need to make a descendant of the THintWindow type. I'll call it TAltHintWindow in this tip. The declaration goes like this: 
type
 TAltHintWindow = class(THintWindow)
constructor Create(AOwner: TComponent); override;
 end;
Please note that there is no semicolon after the second row. You need to place this declaration after the row which says 
{$R *.DFM} 
in the implementation part of the unit. Then you need to fill the constructor of the newly created TAltHintWindow to reflect the changed you would like to see made to the hint window. The first three rows will be like this: 
constructor TAltHintWindow.Create(AOwner: TComponent);
begin
 inherited Create(AOwner);
You always have to call the constructor of the class you have descended the new class from, because that class might also need to do some initialization. 
Next, you can make the changes you like to the canvas of this form. You can e.g. change the background colour, or the font name. Try the following for a red hint box with large Times New Roman letters: 
 Canvas.Font.Name := 'Times New Roman';
 Canvas.Font.Size := 18;
 Canvas.Brush.Color := clRed;
If you search Delphi's help for TCanvas you will find lots of other properties you can change to adjust the hintbox to your personal preferences. 
Then, in the Form.Create procedure you have to add the following three lines: 
 Application.ShowHint := false;
 HintWindowClass := TAltHintWindow;
 Application.ShowHint := true;
This code makes sure that the application uses the newly created type TAltHintWindow for the hint windows, instead of the usual THintWindow.