So you have skinned all possible programs...

Ah, so you are a VB programmer?
I have a question for you:
When you make the background of a round shaped program transparant, is it possible to not have it 'delayed' when you drag it?
I am working with some people to skin a program for a company and we wrote a script so we can drag it without the ugly blue bar, but now if we drag it you keep the 'old' position sticked in the transparant part.
is there a way to fix this?

It depends on how you created transparent areas?

Did you use api that basically makes click and drag anywhere on form ( other than controls ) acts like caption?

Styl use something like this:

ReleaseCapture();
SendMessage(hWnd, WM_SYSCOMMAND, MOUSE_MOVE, 0);

BTW, windows 2000 and XP have a better API for making transparent windows. When a window has the WS_EX_LAYERED style, you can use UpdateLayeredWindow().

Oooh! New XX prog. Been too long!!
Your progs are always fun to skin.

Hurray! Hurray! Where is it? Where's our christmas gift, X-man?

Rolf....where/what is it...we need to know immediately....no excuses...

XX it uses simple .bmp files with a background color that is also set as transparant.

I have hit a few snags so the release may be delayed for few days. It's also bit unfinished, I need to add some more things before I can release a beta.

For dragging window without caption:

Private Sub Fig_Mousedown(Button As Integer, Shift As Integer, X As Single, y As Single)
If Button = 1 Then ' Checking for Left Button only
Dim ReturnVal As Long
X = ReleaseCapture
ReturnVal = SendMessage(hWnd, WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN, HTCAPTION, 0)
End If
If Button = 2 Then PopupMenu Form1.Filey
End Sub

Hmm I used regions and draw.dll (comes with most of XX series programs) then clipped window's region. This is not illusion by drawing background but actual removal of unneeded areas. In vb.net it's much easier since it has native support for transparent areas.
[Message Edited]

Can't wait to check-it-out Rolf

ohhhhhhh....

I can't wait to learn VB.NET

and

ohhhhhhh....

I think I will try you proggy. Only because Hippy said so.

Just out of curiosity what type of program is it. Or will it be like a Christmas Present and be a big surprise when it comes out?

Yeah. VB.Net definely is powerful, but you will hit on differences repeatly. If you want to subclass, in vb6 and before you would have to go thur hoops and etc to get it, but with vb.net:

Protected Overrides Sub WndProc(ByRef m As System.Windows.Forms.Message)
Const WM_CLOSE As System.Int32 = &H10
If m.Msg = WM_CLOSE Then Msgbox("Oops Windows wants me to close. Goodbye and merry xmas, User!")
End
MyBase.WndProc(m)'Process other messages
End Sub

That's it. No extra controls. Nothing but pure vb.net.

Anyway, the new program is definely different, that's for sure. But it is not some kind of christmas program or something, although you can use it that way. Progress report: I got that much closer with first beta, since I finally cracked the puzzling program ( not so puzzling now. ). So I'm making progress on adding features.

Things to do:
1. Add certain features.
Currently hardcoded to single setting, some features still undone.

2. Make one window skinnable.
Still standard window, I will have to build new skinning engine, since vb5 code used in XXCalc, etc won't work at all. First beta will have this window unskinned, but two windows will have seprate skin format anyway, so this won't make a difference.

Don't forget your old beta testers....

Yeah.

Progress:

1. Add certain features.
Partially done now, just need to add one more feature then I'm done.
Eta: day or 2.

2: Make one window skinnable:
No progress on skinnable part, altough I finished the standard window so people can use it.

XX just visited your website Noticed the LDraw proggie. You wouldn't also happen to be a closet LEGO fan

Nah not a closet fan. I'm a proud AFOL. Check out my wallpaper in here related to my lego hobby.

My favorite theme is Castle
I've used the LegoMedia proggies and LDraw, but nothing was a much fun as parking it on the floor with boxes and boxes of LEGOs It's been four or five years though since I've had them out Probably get the urge again My wife won't say anything when I do 'cause she collects HotWheels

I *LOVE* Lego! It was great to find out about LDraw and all that. I've got it dl'd and am going to spend the rest of the night playing with it This is so cool.

Lol yeah. It's great, but when I wanted to use bryce and import ldraw models, I used dat2dxf, but it had limitions, so I made my own, LdrDat2Obj happened when I realized that Dxf format has limitions.

I just posted to news about new XX program.

New XX Program unveiled!

It has been a while since I made a new XX series program, but here it is.

This is a new skinable screensaver called XXSvgSaver. Basically, it reads play list ini file and plays Svg files like a movie. The configurion window will be skinable in later betas, so everything will be skinable.

Requirements for using XXSvgSaver:
Abode’s Svg Viewer http://www.adobe.com/svg/viewer/install/main.html
.Net framework. http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/technologyinfo/howtoget/default.aspx

Place to download XXSvgSaver: http://wave.prohosting.com/xxcoder/xx.htm

To install it as screensaver, first install those 2 requirements, then download and unzip XXSvgSaver, then right click and click ‘install’ and enjoy the show.

Nifty, huh? What do you guys think of this?

XX, The script you have is not for visual basic .NET.
Do you have any idea what it should be for the .NET version.

thanks

Yeah. I haven't made a new drag code for vb.net so I gave you vb5 code.

Sorry I wasn't clear before.

svg










svg

Update:

Skinnable configuration window is bit closer to being finished.
Things to do: make skinnable buttons.

Saver main window: Transations still unfinished.