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#158462 - 2006-03-07 10:56 PM Text on desktop
ledzepe Offline
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Registered: 2005-12-06
Posts: 26
Hi everyone,
This may not be for this forum however my boss, during one of his visit in other offices, saw a sort of splash page that displayed like the list of activity for the day. Then the list became part of the desktop. Even if you change the background, the list stayed on the desktop.

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#158463 - 2006-03-07 11:10 PM Re: Text on desktop
NTDOC Administrator Offline
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That's cool, did you have a question?
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#158464 - 2006-03-07 11:26 PM Re: Text on desktop
ledzepe Offline
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Registered: 2005-12-06
Posts: 26
I'm still on vacation mode...

Can we do that or at least emulate the functinality using Kix?

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#158465 - 2006-03-07 11:32 PM Re: Text on desktop
NTDOC Administrator Offline
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Not that I know of. I'd have to see or know what program it was that did it.

BGINFO from Sysinternals is one method of putting data on the desktop, but if the user changes the desktop then it will go away as it is only a bitmap.

The only way I could think of would be to use Active Desktop and do something with that.

But I've not seen anything like that myself. Do you know what it is or have a link to the program?


Edited by NTDOC (2006-03-07 11:45 PM)

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#158466 - 2006-03-08 04:32 AM Re: Text on desktop
Glenn Barnas Administrator Offline
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Registered: 2003-01-28
Posts: 4396
Loc: New Jersey
I've used Kix + BGInfo to continually update desktop info, particularly on a performance testing machine where the ip settings were changed every few minutes. I'll see if I can locate the code and post it.

Glenn
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#158467 - 2006-03-08 05:18 AM Re: Text on desktop
NTDOC Administrator Offline
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That shouldn't be too hard Glenn, but he describes what would sound more like a 3d object like from Object Dekstop
http://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/

BGInfo will replace the desktop as it's a .BMP file. But as he describes a user can change his/her background and their desktop image would still remain. With BGINFO it would not, it would be overwritten.

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#158468 - 2006-03-08 08:22 AM Re: Text on desktop
Jochen Administrator Offline
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Registered: 2000-03-17
Posts: 6380
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Well, I could see a kixforms script that emulates this ... if only the richtextbox would be more developed and the whole thing could be made entirely transparent
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#158469 - 2006-03-08 09:40 AM Re: Text on desktop
Mart Moderator Offline
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Registered: 2002-03-27
Posts: 4672
Loc: The Netherlands
That would be sweet
Shawn?????
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#158470 - 2006-03-08 02:11 PM Re: Text on desktop
Benny69 Offline
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Registered: 2003-10-29
Posts: 1036
Loc: Lincoln, Ne
I agree with Jochen, i think that KiXforms could do this.
when you say activity could you elaborate, it would influence how a transparent form might be constructed.



Edited by benny69 (2006-03-08 02:14 PM)
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#158471 - 2006-03-09 06:17 AM Re: Text on desktop
Benny69 Offline
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Registered: 2003-10-29
Posts: 1036
Loc: Lincoln, Ne
Thanks to Shawn for modifying KiXforms.Net and both Shawn and NTDoc for giving good ideas and testing with me.

the transparent ability will only work on Win2k and up.

you will need MS.Net Framework 1.1 installed
you will need to get the latest KiXforms.Net.

this script will stay as a moveable form for 3 sec, then fade to the desktop.

minimize all other windows to see it after it goes transparent.

to move it, right click on the text and select 'Move Form'.
move the form where you want it then click the "OK' button to make it transparent again.

to close it, right click on the text and select 'Exit'.

try this script it ought to give you a good start:
Code:

Break On
$System = CreateObject("Kixforms.System")
If Not $System
$nul= MessageBox("KiXforms.Net Not Initiated. This Script Will Now Close.","Error",16)
Quit()
EndIf
$nul = $System.Application.EnableVisualStyles

$Form1 = $System.Form()
$Form1.StartPosition = 1 ;FormStartPosition_CenterScreen
$Form1.Size = $System.Size(500,200) ;(Width,Height)
$Form1.ShowInTaskBar = 0
$Form1.Text = "Transparent Form"
$FormColor = $Form1.TransparencyKey

$ContextMenu = $System.ContextMenu()
$ExitMenu = $ContextMenu.MenuItems.Add($System.MenuItem("Exit"))
$ExitMenu.Click = "ExitForm()"
$MoveMenu = $ContextMenu.MenuItems.Add($System.MenuItem("Move Form"))
$MoveMenu.Click = "MoveForm()"
$Form1.ContextMenu = $ContextMenu

$Label1 = $System.Label()
$Label1.BackColor = $System.Color.FromArgb("0,255,255,255")
;$Label1.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$Label1.Dock = 1 ;Top
$Label1.Font = $System.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif",24,0) ;Regular
$Label1.Height = 35
$Label1.TextAlign = 32 ;MiddleCenter
$nul = $Form1.Controls.Add($Label1)

$Label2 = $System.Label()
$Label2.BackColor = $System.Color.FromArgb("0,255,255,255")
;$Label2.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$Label2.Dock = 1 ;Top
$Label2.Font = $System.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif",24,0) ;Regular
$Label2.Height = 35
$Label2.TextAlign = 16 ;MiddleLeft
$nul = $Form1.Controls.Add($Label2)

$Label3 = $System.Label()
$Label3.BackColor = $System.Color.FromArgb("0,255,255,255")
;$Label3.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$Label3.Dock = 1 ;Top
$Label3.Font = $System.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif",24,0) ;Regular
$Label3.Height = 35
$Label3.TextAlign = 16 ;MiddleLeft
$nul = $Form1.Controls.Add($Label3)

$Label4 = $System.Label()
$Label4.BackColor = $System.Color.FromArgb("0,255,255,255")
;$Label4.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$Label4.Dock = 1 ;Top
$Label4.Font = $System.Font("Microsoft Sans Serif",24,0) ;Regular
$Label4.Height = 35
$Label4.TextAlign = 16 ;MiddleLeft
$nul = $Form1.Controls.Add($Label4)

$Button1 = $System.Button()
$Button1.BackColor = $System.Color.FromName("ActiveCaptionText")
$Button1.Click = "Accept()"
$Button1.Dock = 2 ;Bottom
$Button1.FlatStyle = 3 ;System
$Button1.Text = "OK"
$Button1.Top = 124
$Button1.Visible = 0
$nul = $Form1.Controls.Add($Button1)

$Label4.Text = "UserID : "+@USERID
$Label3.Text = "HostName : "+@WKSTA
$Label2.Text = "IPAddress0 :"+@IPADDRESS0

$Form1.AcceptButton = $Button1
$Form1.Show ;Displays the Form

DisplayDelay()

While $Form1.Visible
$Nul = Execute($Form1.DoEvents())
Loop
Exit 0

Function DisplayDelay()

$Label1.Text = "3"
Sleep 1
$Label1.Text = "2"
Sleep 1
$Label1.Text = "1"
Sleep 1
$Label1.Text = ""
$Form1.BackColor = $System.Color.FromArgb("0,255,255,255")
$Form1.TransparencyKey = $Form1.BackColor
$Form1.FormBorderStyle = 0 ;FormBorderStyle_None
$Form1.SendToBack
$Label2.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$Label3.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$Label4.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$=SetFocus("Program Manager")
$=SendKeys("{F5}")

EndFunction

Function Accept()

$Form1.BackColor = $System.Color.FromArgb("0,255,255,255")
$Form1.TransparencyKey = $Form1.BackColor
$Form1.FormBorderStyle = 0 ;FormBorderStyle_None
$Button1.Visible = 0
$Form1.SendToBack
$Label2.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$Label3.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$Label4.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("White")
$=SetFocus("Program Manager")
$=SendKeys("{F5}")

EndFunction

Function MoveForm()

$Form1.BackColor = $System.Color.FromName("Control")
$Form1.TransparencyKey = $FormColor
$Form1.FormBorderStyle = 1
$Button1.Visible = -1
$Form1.BringToFrount
$Label2.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("Black")
$Label3.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("Black")
$Label4.ForeColor = $System.Color.FromName("Black")
$=SetFocus("Program Manager")
$=SendKeys("{F5}")

EndFunction

Function ExitForm()
Quit()
EndFunction



Edited by benny69 (2006-03-09 01:49 PM)
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#158472 - 2006-03-09 06:27 AM Re: Text on desktop
NTDOC Administrator Offline
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Registered: 2000-07-28
Posts: 11623
Loc: CA
Just tried your latest demo there Benny.

That one works better than the last one I tried. Might actually be kind slick to use with a little more tweaking.

Thanks for taking the time to work on this.

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#158473 - 2006-03-09 06:39 AM Re: Text on desktop
Allen Administrator Online   shocked
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Registered: 2003-04-19
Posts: 4545
Loc: USA
Benny this is pretty slick.

I noticed that it was leaving a "Shadow" or a "trace" of the original window when I moved it. Added two lines to your function and that cleared it up.

Code:
 
Function Accept()

$Form1.BackColor = $System.Color.FromArgb("0,255,255,255")
$Form1.TransparencyKey = $Form1.BackColor
$Form1.FormBorderStyle = 0 ;FormBorderStyle_None
$Button1.Visible = 0
$Form1.SendToBack
$=SetFocus("Program Manager")
$=SendKeys("{F5}")
EndFunction




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#158474 - 2006-03-09 07:41 AM Re: Text on desktop
NTDOC Administrator Offline
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Registered: 2000-07-28
Posts: 11623
Loc: CA
ah! - you must have a cheap video card and / or driver Al

Yeah, we discussed that actually and knew that for some it might cause an issue.

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#158475 - 2006-03-09 07:46 AM Re: Text on desktop
Allen Administrator Online   shocked
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Posts: 4545
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Say What! What you talknbout? LOL.

Well...its a Radeon 9600XT... its not new anymore but it sure wasn't cheap when I bought it. Dang... can't have you busting on my computer... I haven't updated the drivers lately... but still... they have to be pretty recent.

{edit... Latest Drivers and it still does it.}


Edited by Allen (2006-03-09 08:17 AM)

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#158476 - 2006-03-09 08:35 AM Re: Text on desktop
NTDOC Administrator Offline
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Registered: 2000-07-28
Posts: 11623
Loc: CA
Wasn't meaning to bust your chops Al, but Benny and I worked on this with Radeon X1900 Series cards.

But hey I thought Benny or Shawn was already going to put in a refresh, but I guess they forgot about it in the end after the MSN discussions.
 

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#158477 - 2006-03-09 08:39 AM Re: Text on desktop
NTDOC Administrator Offline
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Registered: 2000-07-28
Posts: 11623
Loc: CA
Maybe you need a new video card update Al?

http://www.ati.com/products/crossfirexpress3200/index.html

Haven't got one of these yet, but looks good.
 

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#158478 - 2006-03-09 09:10 AM Re: Text on desktop
Björn Offline
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Registered: 2005-12-07
Posts: 953
Loc: Stockholm, Sweden.
How about using active desktop and a html-page?
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If it doesn't work - kix-it!

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#158479 - 2006-03-09 10:35 AM Re: Text on desktop
Richard H. Administrator Offline
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Registered: 2000-01-24
Posts: 4946
Loc: Leatherhead, Surrey, UK
Quote:

How about using active desktop and a html-page?




It's an option, and Doc mentioned it early on in this thread.

The difficulty with Active Desktop is that in my experience it is usually disabled in the corporate environment because of the problems it causes.

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#158480 - 2006-03-09 01:38 PM Re: Text on desktop
Benny69 Offline
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Registered: 2003-10-29
Posts: 1036
Loc: Lincoln, Ne
Allen your 'desktop refresh' works pretty slick, thanks
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#158481 - 2006-03-09 01:54 PM Re: Text on desktop
Benny69 Offline
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Registered: 2003-10-29
Posts: 1036
Loc: Lincoln, Ne
I have modified the code in the earlier post to reflect Allen's suggestion,
in addition i have modified it so that after the form goes transparent, the Font goes white.
black didn't look that good on my desktop.
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