[Solved] - GUI Design - Layering, transparency, _WinAPI_SetParent with GUICtrlCreatePic doesn't work

[IanN1990]

Hi All,

I am working on a new UI design to allow greater flexibility. 
Below is a my core concept but GUICtrlCreatePic causes it to fail and i am unsure why.

expandcollapse popup

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


Example1()
Example2()
Example3()


;Working - The second GUI is now within the first GUI and they are linked.
Func Example1()
    $hMainGUI = GUICreate("Main Background - Example 1", 500, 500, 0, 0)
    GUISetBkColor(0x000000)
    GUISetState()

    $hGUIOverlay = GUICreate("Test 1", 500, 475, 0, 0)
    GUISetBkColor(0x0000F4)
    GUICtrlCreateButton("C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Examples\GUI\mslogo.jpg", 50, 50, 255, 40)
    GUICtrlCreatePic("C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Examples\GUI\mslogo.jpg", 50, 100, 255, 40)
    GUISetState()
    _WinAPI_SetParent($hGUIOverlay, $hMainGUI)

    Do
    Until GUIGetMsg() = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
    GUIDelete($hGUIOverlay)
    GUIDelete($hMainGUI)
EndFunc


;Working - The second GUI is now transparent
;GUICtrlCreatePic commented out.
Func Example2()
        $hMainGUI = GUICreate("Main Background - Example 2", 500, 500, 0, 0)
    GUISetBkColor(0x000000)
    GUISetState()

    $hGUIOverlay = GUICreate("Test 2", 500, 500, 0, 0, -1, $WS_EX_LAYERED)
    GUISetBkColor(0x0000F4)
    GUICtrlCreateButton("C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Examples\GUI\mslogo.jpg", 50, 50, 255, 40)
    ;GUICtrlCreatePic("C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Examples\GUI\mslogo.jpg", 50, 100, 255, 40)
    _WinAPI_SetParent($hGUIOverlay, $hMainGUI)
    _WinAPI_SetLayeredWindowAttributes($hGUIOverlay, 0x0000F4)
    GUISetState()


    Do
    Until GUIGetMsg() = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
    GUIDelete($hGUIOverlay)
    GUIDelete($hMainGUI)
EndFunc

;Failed - Same code as above but GUICtrlCreatePic is now uncommented.
;Now nothing is shown
Func Example3()
        $hMainGUI = GUICreate("Main Background - Example 3", 500, 500, 0, 0)
    GUISetBkColor(0x000000)
    GUISetState()

    $hGUIOverlay = GUICreate("Test 3", 500, 500, 0, 0, -1, $WS_EX_LAYERED)
    GUISetBkColor(0x0000F4)
    GUICtrlCreateButton("C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Examples\GUI\mslogo.jpg", 50, 50, 255, 40)
    GUICtrlCreatePic("C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Examples\GUI\mslogo.jpg", 50, 100, 255, 40)
    _WinAPI_SetParent($hGUIOverlay, $hMainGUI)
    _WinAPI_SetLayeredWindowAttributes($hGUIOverlay, 0x0000F4)
    GUISetState()


    Do
    Until GUIGetMsg() = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
    GUIDelete($hGUIOverlay)
    GUIDelete($hMainGUI)
EndFunc

Does anyone have any idea why it is failing and / or how to correct it?
**The code Example 1 & 2 will only work on Windows 10 and anything less does not support layering of child windows. 

 

Why i am going down this route

1. This design would allow me to have videos playing in $MainGUI while not impacting / blocking other GUI elements layered over it.

2. Would allow me to create self-contained designed GUIs to be shown / hidden easily while having transparency. 

3. The reason i need it working with pictures instead of just buttons is because of the graphic options it provides. I tired a button with $BS_BMP but it had the same outcome.

4. The reason for _WinAPI_SetParent instead WS_EX_MDICHILD and Parent handle is because these are not truly "linked". If i did GUISetState(@SW_Hide, $MainGUI)  or winsettrans($MainGUI, "", 125) then $hGUIOverlay is unaffected. Though i could run the command on $hGUIOverlay this is twice the handle management and slows down ading animations.

For $i = 240 to 0 step -15
    winsettrans($MainGUI, "", $i)
Next

vs

For $i = 240 to 0 step -15
    winsettrans($MainGUI, "", $i)
    winsettrans($hGUIOverlay, "", $i)
Next

 

Edited January 11, 2020 by IanN1990

[IanN1990]

Sods law after creating a large post i end up making some headway! Seems the child-window needs to be moved into frame to be displayed correctly

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

Example4()

Func Example4()
    $hMainGUI = GUICreate("Main Background - Example 4", 500, 500, 0, 0, -1)
    GUISetBkColor(0x000000)
    GUISetState()

    $hGUIOverlay = GUICreate("Test 4", 500, 500, 0, 0, -1, $WS_EX_LAYERED)
    GUISetBkColor(0x0000F4)
    GUICtrlCreateButton("C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Examples\GUI\mslogo.jpg", 50, 50, 255, 40)
    GUICtrlCreatePic("C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\Examples\GUI\mslogo.jpg", 50, 100, 255, 40)

    _WinAPI_SetLayeredWindowAttributes($hGUIOverlay, 0x0000F4)
    GUISetState()

    _WinAPI_SetParent($hGUIOverlay, $hMainGUI)
    _WinAPI_MoveWindow($hGUIOverlay, 0, 0, 500, 500)

    Do
    Until GUIGetMsg() = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
    GUIDelete($hGUIOverlay)
    GUIDelete($hMainGUI)
EndFunc

 

Edited January 11, 2020 by IanN1990