Gui, Gadget, Docking question

[lordicast]

Hello folks,

Wondering if anyone had worked on anything to dock a Auto it Gui as a Windows Sidebar Gadget? Searched Gadget, Widget and docking onsite nothing that really matches up to nice anyone have any theories?

[Authenticity]

Franks Gadgets by AdmiralAlkex.

[lordicast]

Been there. Thats a whole new Windows docking system. Im just trying to write a add-on.

[Authenticity]

The main tasks to dock your GUI as a gadget is to use SystemParametersInfo with SPI_SETWORKAREA so maximizing another window won't be big as the entire screen hiding your gadget (or the taskbar for that matter). The rest is docking your window and disable it's default dragging support, title bar, etc..

Edit: Example:

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <WinAPI.au3>

Global Const $SPI_SETWORKAREA = 47
Global Const $SPI_GETWORKAREA = 48

Local $tRcWA = DllStructCreate($tagRECT)
_WinAPI_SystemParametersInfo($SPI_GETWORKAREA, 0, DllStructGetPtr($tRcWA))

Local $iWidth = DllStructGetData($tRcWA, "Right")-DllStructGetData($tRcWA, "Left")
Local $iHeight = DllStructGetData($tRcWA, "Bottom")-DllStructGetData($tRcWA, "Top")
Local $hGUI = GUICreate("", 120, $iHeight, 0, 0, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST)
GUISetBkColor(0x101050)
WinSetTrans($hGUI, 0, 170)

Local $tRcNewWA = DllStructCreate($tagRECT)
DllStructSetData($tRcNewWA, 1, 120)
For $i = 2 To 4
    DllStructSetData($tRcNewWA, $i, DllStructGetData($tRcWA, $i))
Next
_WinAPI_SystemParametersInfo($SPI_SETWORKAREA, 0, DllStructGetPtr($tRcNewWA), 2) ; SPIF_SENDCHANGE

GUISetState()
Do
Until GUIGetMsg() = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE

GUIDelete()
Exit


Func OnAutoItExit()
    _WinAPI_SystemParametersInfo($SPI_SETWORKAREA, 0, DllStructGetPtr($tRcWA), 2) ; SPIF_SENDCHANGE
EndFunc

Edited November 18, 2009 by Authenticity

[AdmiralAlkex]

Been there. Thats a whole new Windows docking system. Im just trying to write a add-on.

If you want a "sidebar" then I recommend the Appbar UDF (that's the method used in Franks Gadget), but if you want to build a gadget for Windows Sidebar you need to learn HTML, Javascript and shit. Guide here. Edited November 19, 2009 by AdmiralAlkex

[lordicast]

@AA I kind of figured it would have to be html and java just trying to get around it. Damn O well thanks guys

[zackrspv]

The main tasks to dock your GUI as a gadget is to use SystemParametersInfo with SPI_SETWORKAREA so maximizing another window won't be big as the entire screen hiding your gadget (or the taskbar for that matter). The rest is docking your window and disable it's default dragging support, title bar, etc..

Edit: Example:

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <WinAPI.au3>

Global Const $SPI_SETWORKAREA = 47
Global Const $SPI_GETWORKAREA = 48

Local $tRcWA = DllStructCreate($tagRECT)
_WinAPI_SystemParametersInfo($SPI_GETWORKAREA, 0, DllStructGetPtr($tRcWA))

Local $iWidth = DllStructGetData($tRcWA, "Right")-DllStructGetData($tRcWA, "Left")
Local $iHeight = DllStructGetData($tRcWA, "Bottom")-DllStructGetData($tRcWA, "Top")
Local $hGUI = GUICreate("", 120, $iHeight, 0, 0, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST)
GUISetBkColor(0x101050)
WinSetTrans($hGUI, 0, 170)

Local $tRcNewWA = DllStructCreate($tagRECT)
DllStructSetData($tRcNewWA, 1, 120)
For $i = 2 To 4
    DllStructSetData($tRcNewWA, $i, DllStructGetData($tRcWA, $i))
Next
_WinAPI_SystemParametersInfo($SPI_SETWORKAREA, 0, DllStructGetPtr($tRcNewWA), 2) ; SPIF_SENDCHANGE

GUISetState()
Do
Until GUIGetMsg() = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE

GUIDelete()
Exit


Func OnAutoItExit()
    _WinAPI_SystemParametersInfo($SPI_SETWORKAREA, 0, DllStructGetPtr($tRcWA), 2) ; SPIF_SENDCHANGE
EndFunc

Bravo, nice bit of example code there. Quick question, how does one get back the part of the desktop that the dock reserves. I had to force close it as it killed itself on my win7, and now that side of my desktop (left side) is kinda well empty, looks cool lol, but um, i'd like that space back