can desktopx make a window?

If you are creating a widget there are several script commands that you can use to replicate the functionality of the widgets and provide additional user feedback.

Widget.Minimize, Widget.Restore, Widget.About, Widget.Close

These simply replicate the options available from the various widget menus to allow you to achieve the functionality via script.returns the current coordinates of the mouse cursor.

ok, but what about transparency?

for example in windows 7, the top handle of a window has a sortof transparency to it; what about something like that?

I mean is it possible to make an object, widget, or gadget that is completely integrated into windows environment as if it were a windows application?

I can widget.minimize and the other script commands and attatch them to the buttons that I make but it still wouldn't be a windows application; just something that has SOME windows functions right?

When you create a layer in DesktopX, you have the ability to give it a set opacity. Open the object properties; States tab -> Transparency -> Uniform Opacity.

This is possible. Just make a layer that looks like a titlebar and set the opacity to what you want.

Yes.

You can mimic almost any win app behavior of a window using DesktopX. Whatever you couldn't, you can actually make a plugin (if you're familiar with c++) to do anything you need.

Mike

Hi mike,

I've been trying to read documentation on SD plugins but am running into dead ends everywhere. Basically i've tried to download the clock and slider examples but they won't even compile as dll files using MS C++ (i get build errors everywhere)

TBH I am not really familiar with C++ but I am willing to learn or do anything to get this done. All I want is just an object that is just a simple window but still has properties of DX (meaning i can call it a parent object of other objects using dx script and so on)

I made a window that does exactly what I want but the only problem is that it's .exe file which means desktopx can open it, but not see it as a COM object.

From where did you create this .exe?

What kind of window properties did you want this DX object to have? (anything beyond min/restore/max?)

Mike

um i created it using MS visual studio--- its just a windows form

here is the file though

http://www.sendspace.com/file/r73ye8

beyond those properties there's also ability to be seen in the task bar, to follow the rules of windows snap in windows 7, the "semi-transparency" on the window's handle (if you're using windows 7 and you have the windows glass color scheme, you'll notice that the handles on windows have a transparency but also have an effect to them that sortof blurs the images underneath). the ability to folow the color scheme of windows (meaning if someone were to use windows blinds or if they were to use windows aero color scheme, the window would change appropriately to mimic other windows applications)

Does that make sense?

Basically, i want it to mimic that .exe file but i want it to be seen as an object.

Implementing semi-transparency is trivial. You just get an image for your layer and set the opacity on it.

To get a blur effect, however, this would be a lot more work. If what you want is a standard window, it's probably easier to write a plugin that spawns a window. That way, it will inherit all standard app properties and make your life easier. It's just writing all the desktopx interfaces to your window that would be additional work.

What were you looking to do with this window once you had it loaded in DesktopX?

Mike

Yea that's what I would like to do, but I just honestly don't know how.

Some clarification though, when you say " That way, it will inherit all standard app properties and make your life easier. It's just writing all the desktopx interfaces to your window that would be additional work."

Wouldn't writing a plugin that spawns a window just make an OBJECT that also inherits all standard windows app properties? Meaning an object where using DX script, I could find out it's position on the screen, give it children objects, put it in a group of objects, and ideally even interact with it's script?

Anyways, I was hoping to make a standalone gadget with a sort-of 'MS paint' feel to it. It wouldn't necessarily be a paint program but it would have the same design. 

Sorry, the program is sortof hard to explain but having a standard window as the parent object for the components of the program would go a LONG way in helping me complete this program the way I want it.