Help with beginner layered windows

[benzrf]

I'm very new to things such as layered windows, and I need some help. I understand that a layered window's clickability depends on its transparency, but how, exactly, do you change its transparency? Also, why does this code fail to display a button that seems to be floating in midair?

#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
$handle = GUICreate("", 800, 800, 1, 1, $WS_POPUP)
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)
$handle2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Click me.", 200, 200, 100, 100)
While 1
WEnd

I know that this would probably be obvious to anyone who knows anything about layered windows, but... I AM a noob.

[JohnOne]

Dont know anything about layered windows but the code you posted works fine and as expexted for me.

[Melba23]

benzrf,

This is how to use a layered window to get a transparent GUI:

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

$hGUI = GUICreate("Test", 500, 500, -1, -1, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_LAYERED)
GUISetBkColor(0xABCDEF) ; Set GUI back colour

$hButton = GUICtrlCreateButton("Click me to exit", 10, 50, 100, 100)

_WinAPI_SetLayeredWindowAttributes($hGUI, 0xABCDEF, 250) ; Make that colour virtually transparent

GUISetState()

While 1
    Switch GUIGetMsg()
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            Exit
        Case $hButton
            Exit
    EndSwitch
WEnd

All clear? Please ask if not.

M23

JohnOne,

Sorry - dinner not quite ready yet!

[JohnOne]

haha

I've had the kids round today so I got half of a chicken with my dinner

Instead of the standard turkey flavoured toastie topper.

[benzrf]

Uhhh... When I tried running your code, it said that the function _WinAPI_SetLayeredWindowAttributes was undefined...

[AdmiralAlkex]

Uhhh... When I tried running your code, it said that the function _WinAPI_SetLayeredWindowAttributes was undefined...

Then we must guess that your version of AutoIt is almost 2 (!!) years old. I recommend you update to latest version of both AutoIt and SciTE4AutoIt3. It's free after all so what's stopping you?

Either that, or you didn't copy all of Melba's code, as the function is defined in WinAPI.au3 which is clearly included.

Edited September 29, 2010 by AdmiralAlkex

[benzrf]

Ummmm... I have version 3.3.6.1...

And it claims that it's undefined...

[AdmiralAlkex]

So you're seriously saying that a script like this:

#include <WinAPI.au3>

$sToCall = "_WinAPI_SetLayeredWindowAttributes"
Call($sToCall, 0, 0)
$iErr = @error
$iExt = @extended

MsgBox(0, @AutoItVersion, Hex($iErr, 4) & Hex($iExt, 4))

Returns both 3.3.6.1 and says DEADBEEF?

[benzrf]

Well it don't say "DEADBEEF" but it do say 00000000 or whatever. That it?

o yea 3.3.6.1 yuh huh

[benzrf]

Hold on nvm it works now . Windows was just reinstalled; that's prob'ly it. TY anyhoo