I’m using WinMove($w,””,-10000,-10000) instead of @SW_HIDE, but I know it’s wrong

[JockoDundee]

I’ve been using WinMove to send windows silently to the outer unseen reaches, because it is so much easier than Hiding with ???SetState.

Why easier?  Because it doesn’t need a redraw after the @SW_SHOW and it even lets me draw on it when it’s off screen.

But I know in my heart it’s wrong.  I know I could also loop around waiting for GUI messages, but even that seems more complicated.

Is there a way to accomplish what I am doing without winmove but still has

1. No unnecessary redrawing 
2. No looping for repaint messages
3. Drawing on hidden objects

Because of this sites known lust for code, I am providing the following working code, and two .pngs.

The code is simplified, but represents a status bar indicator which is either Red, Green and either Hidden or Not Hidden. The Random generator is just used to simulate the various combinations and sequences of states that can occur.

Thanks!

expandcollapse popup

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WinAPIGdi.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <WinAPIShPath.au3>
#include <WinAPIFiles.au3>
#include <WinAPI.au3>
#Include <GDIPlus.au3>

Local $statusBar, $sGraphic

SRandom(@MSEC)

_GDIPlus_Startup()

Local $runningImage=_GDIPlus_ImageLoadFromFile("green.png")
Local $stoppedImage=_GDIPlus_ImageLoadFromFile("red.png")

CreateStatusBar()

DrawStatusBar($stoppedImage) 

Do 
   Local $isRunning=Random(False,True,1)

   If $isRunning Then 
     DrawStatusBar($runningImage) 
   Else
     DrawStatusBar($stoppedImage) 
   EndIf

   Local $isVisible=Random(False,True,1)

   If $isVisible Then
     WinMove($statusBar, "", 0, 0) 
   Else
     WinMove($statusBar, "", -10000, -10000) 
   EndIf

   Sleep(1000)

Until False

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Func CreateStatusBar()
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Local $tcolor=0x12356

$statusBar=GUICreate("STATUS", 100,100,0,0,$WS_POPUP,BitOr($WS_EX_LAYERED,$WS_EX_TOPMOST))
$sGraphic=_GDIPlus_GraphicsCreateFromHWND($statusBar)
_WinAPI_SetLayeredWindowAttributes($statusBar, $tcolor,255)

GUISetState(@SW_SHOWNA, $statusBar)

EndFunc

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Func DrawStatusBar($image)
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Static Local $lastImage=""

If $image=$lastImage Then Return

_GDIPlus_GraphicsClear($sGraphic,0xFF123456)
_GDIPlus_GraphicsDrawImageRect($sGraphic,$image,0,0,100,100)

$lastImage=$image

EndFunc

 

Edited October 12, 2020 by JockoDundee