BootSkin and XP style progress bars...

from WinCustomize Forums
I have found a way to produce original XP style progress bars for use in bootskin screens

the secret in making the seemless scroll is in the width of the actual bar's bitmap (the little dots, or pictures that scroll acrossed the screen). I made one that is 260 pixels long, made the "pattern blocks" one pixel from the end on either side and only made the pattern 22 pixels wide. This gives the illusion of a continous scroll not a scroll right re-load and repeat.

I have made a demo screen which you can use to see what I'm saying if you're confused however, because I do not have the ability to make a bootskin install file, I only have it zipped and would be willing to send it via e-mail if anyone is interested.

I also posted this in Help discussion as it kinda fits in both
skinning
1,123 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I appologoze about the first post, looking at it now it wasn't descriptive enough.
So to be more specific...

Make a "block", then put two of them on the same "bar" (copy the "block", stretch the "bar" out longer, and paste the "block" at the end).
what you would get is somthing like this
[][]
where the -'s are just blank backgroung color
The key is to make the total area between the two "blocks" far enough they don't repeat and look weird, and also make the whole "bar" just slightly longer than the progressbar width.

for example:

Bootskin.ini
ProgressBarWidth = 195

bar.bmp = 236 wide

but this also depends on the size of the "blocks". What I like to do is move the last "block" a couple of pixels at a time so that the second "block" on the refresh lands exactly where the first one leaves the screen.

so this is what you get
-[1][2]-
1 is the starting point for that block and 2 is the end
so if you put a second block exactly at the 2 now it looks seamless

just try it you'll see. hope I didn't bore ya or get too confusing
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ohhhh okay....I think I get what you're saying...
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