DesktopX: Creating a simple clock widget

A quick tutorial

from WinCustomize Forums

Alberto Riccio, the lead developer of DesktopX 3 has written this great little tutorial on how ot create a simple clock widget for DesktopX.

How to create a really simple clock widget

  • Make sure DesktopX is in authoring mode. Right click the DesktopX systray icon. If you see "Switch to Authoring mode", then select it.
  • Right click again the DesktopX systray icon and select "New Object".
  • A new object is created and the Properties panel for it is opened.
  • Go to into the States tab and changes the Appearance type to Text as shown below.

  • Tweak the font and text options as you wish.
  • Go back into the General tab and click New in the Script section.

  • The DesktopX Script Editor opens.

  • Now copy and paste the following code into the editor:

'Called when the scriptis executed
Sub Object_OnScriptEnter
Object.SetTimer 444, 1000
End Sub

'Called when the script is terminated
Sub Object_OnScriptExit
Object.KillTimer 444
End Sub

Sub Object_OnTimer444
Object.Text = Now
End Sub

  • Close the editor. Click Ok in the Properties panel.
  • The object should appear similar as this one:

  • Sure, there is more work to do regarding the formatting, but this is only a simple tutorial.
  • You want now turn it into a widget.
  • Right click on it and select Export...
  • Choose "Export as a widget". Click Next.
  • Enter some basic information like Widget name, Author and Accessibility.
  • Click Next and browse the Save as File name, then click Finish.
  • The beauty of Widgets is that they are stand alone applications, so they can be run without DesktopX running in background. You only need to have DesktopX installed. Plus they can be optionally accessed via System tray or Windows taskbar.
  • Close DesktopX now.
  • Run the newly created EXE.
  • You can see the widget appearing in the very same location.
  • You can right click and access widget options.

  • Most options should be pretty straightforward, however they are fully covered into the DesktopX documentation.


 

13,133 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Very helpful..thank you.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If only more people knew DX was THIS simple! Another great little tutorial. Thanks.
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you prefer JScript here is how the functions would be coded

//Called when the script is executed
function Object_OnScriptEnter()
{
Object.SetTimer(444, 1000);
}
//Called when the script is terminated
function Object_OnScriptExit()
{
Object.KillTimer(444);
}

function Object_OnTimer444()
{
Object.Text = String(new Date());
}
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
and what if i want to do a clock with a image

-=TYCUS=-
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
[TYCUS]
and what if i want to do a clock with a image


~That was my question. How do you make the widget if you have a background and frame and you want the clock inside it ?
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
as far as a regular time text there is an easier way that i used. In the DX Player plugin under text display there is a selection titled 'Time' or 'Time (24hour)' the same could be done with the date.
I had to look for those options in DX 3 because the plugin had been removed in the 3rd version.