Is it possible to highlight controls in GUI like in AutoIT-Info

[jlorenz1]

With what Autoit-command can I highlight controls in my own GUI or of other applications? There should be only a thick black border to highlight it and it should give the user a feedback, if he has choosen the correct control. Give me the command or the syntax, if I can't find it in the help file. Thanks in advance Johannes

;for example it should highlight the control "Edit1" of notepad.exe, which a user has given his focus
Dim $sTitle="Untitled -"
Dim $iAbsPosControl[2]

Run("notepad.exe")
WinWait($sTitle)
ControlSetFocus($sTitle, "", "Edit1"); user has choosen Edit1

$sTitle = WinGetTitle("")   ; title of the active window
$sText = WinGetText($sTitle) 
$sControl  = ControlGetFocus($sTitle, $sText)   ; handle of the choosen control
$hControl = ControlGetHandle($sTitle, $sText, $sControl) 
$iPosWin = WinGetPos($sTitle, $sText)
$iPosControl = WinGetPos($sTitle, $sText, $hControl)
$iAbsPosControl[0] = $iPosWin[0] +  $iPosControl[0]
$iAbsPosControl[1] = $iPosWin[1] +  $iPosControl[1]

; and now??? a new transparent window with thick black border over the position of choosen control 
; -  OR does a solution exist with is more elegant?

[MrCreatoR]

I can't actualy believe this, but i did it!!!

Here we go:

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#include <GuiConstants.au3>
Opt("GuiOnEventMode", 1)
HotKeySet("{ESC}", "QuitApp")

If Not IsDeclared("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED") Then Global Const $WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED = 0x0047

Global $ahGUI[4]
Global $Last_hControl = -1

Global $Frame_Color = 0x0 ;0xFF0000
Global $Frame_Width = 2

$Main_GUI = GuiCreate("Highlight Controls Demo")
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "QuitApp")
GUIRegisterMsg($WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED, "WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED")

GUICtrlCreateButton("Button", 20, 20)
GUICtrlCreateCheckbox("CheckBox", 20, 60)
GUICtrlCreateEdit("", 120, 60, 240, 150)


GUICtrlCreateLabel("Info: ", 20, 250)
GUICtrlSetFont(-1, 9, 800)
$Info_Label = GUICtrlCreateLabel("", 120, 270, 250, 80)

GUISetState()

While 1
    Sleep(10)
    
    $hCtrl = _ControlGetHovered()
    
    If $hCtrl <> 0 And $Last_hControl <> $hCtrl And Not IsHighLight_GUIs($hCtrl) Then
        $Last_hControl = $hCtrl
        $aCtrlPos = WinGetPos($hCtrl)
        
        GUICtrlSetData($Info_Label, _
            "X = " & $aCtrlPos[0] & @CRLF & _
            "Y = " & $aCtrlPos[1] & @CRLF & _
            "W = " & $aCtrlPos[2] & @CRLF & _
            "H = " & $aCtrlPos[3] & @CRLF & _
            "Control Data = " & ControlGetText($hCtrl, "", ""))
        
        GUISquareDelete()
        GUICreateSquare($aCtrlPos[0], $aCtrlPos[1], $aCtrlPos[2], $aCtrlPos[3])
    EndIf
WEnd

Func GUICreateSquare($X, $Y, $W, $H)
    $ahGUI[0] = GUICreate("", $W, $Frame_Width, $X, $Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)
    
    $ahGUI[1] = GUICreate("", $Frame_Width, $H, $X, $Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)
    
    $ahGUI[2] = GUICreate("", $Frame_Width, $H, $X+$W, $Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)
    
    $ahGUI[3] = GUICreate("", $W+$Frame_Width, $Frame_Width, $X, $Y+$H, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)
    
    For $i = 0 To 3
        GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $ahGUI[$i])
    Next
EndFunc

Func GUISquareDelete()
    For $i = 0 To 3
        If IsHWnd($ahGUI[$i]) And $ahGUI[$i] <> $Main_GUI Then GUIDelete($ahGUI[$i])
    Next
    
    $ahGUI = ""
    Dim $ahGUI[4]
EndFunc

Func IsHighLight_GUIs($hCtrl)
    For $i = 0 To 3
        If $ahGUI[$i] = $hCtrl Then Return True
    Next
    Return False
EndFunc

Func _ControlGetHovered()
    Local $aRet = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "WindowFromPoint", "long", MouseGetPos(0), "long", MouseGetPos(1))
    If Not IsArray($aRet) Then Return SetError(1, 0, 0)
    Return HWnd($aRet[0])
EndFunc

Func WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED($hWndGUI, $MsgID, $WParam, $LParam)
    If $hWndGUI <> $Main_GUI Then Return $GUI_RUNDEFMSG
    GUISquareDelete()
    $Last_hControl = -1
EndFunc

Func QuitApp()
    Exit
EndFunc

Edit: Fixed the issue with $Main_GUI movements.

Edited December 25, 2007 by MsCreatoR

[martin]

I can't actualy believe this, but i did it!!!

Here we go:

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#include <GuiConstants.au3>
Opt("GuiOnEventMode", 1)
HotKeySet("{ESC}", "QuitApp")

If Not IsDeclared("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED") Then Global Const $WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED = 0x0047

Global $ahGUI[4]
Global $Last_hControl = -1

Global $Frame_Color = 0x0 ;0xFF0000
Global $Frame_Width = 2

$Main_GUI = GuiCreate("Highlight Controls Demo")
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "QuitApp")
GUIRegisterMsg($WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED, "WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED")

GUICtrlCreateButton("Button", 20, 20)
GUICtrlCreateCheckbox("CheckBox", 20, 60)
GUICtrlCreateEdit("", 120, 60, 240, 150)


GUICtrlCreateLabel("Info: ", 20, 250)
GUICtrlSetFont(-1, 9, 800)
$Info_Label = GUICtrlCreateLabel("", 120, 270, 250, 80)

GUISetState()

While 1
    Sleep(10)
    
    $hCtrl = _ControlGetHovered()
    
    If $hCtrl <> 0 And $Last_hControl <> $hCtrl And Not IsHighLight_GUIs($hCtrl) Then
        $Last_hControl = $hCtrl
        $aCtrlPos = WinGetPos($hCtrl)
        
        GUICtrlSetData($Info_Label, _
            "X = " & $aCtrlPos[0] & @CRLF & _
            "Y = " & $aCtrlPos[1] & @CRLF & _
            "W = " & $aCtrlPos[2] & @CRLF & _
            "H = " & $aCtrlPos[3] & @CRLF & _
            "Control Data = " & ControlGetText($hCtrl, "", ""))
        
        GUISquareDelete()
        GUICreateSquare($aCtrlPos[0], $aCtrlPos[1], $aCtrlPos[2], $aCtrlPos[3])
    EndIf
WEnd

Func GUICreateSquare($X, $Y, $W, $H)
    $ahGUI[0] = GUICreate("", $W, $Frame_Width, $X, $Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)
    
    $ahGUI[1] = GUICreate("", $Frame_Width, $H, $X, $Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)
    
    $ahGUI[2] = GUICreate("", $Frame_Width, $H, $X+$W, $Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)
    
    $ahGUI[3] = GUICreate("", $W+$Frame_Width, $Frame_Width, $X, $Y+$H, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)
    
    For $i = 0 To 3
        GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $ahGUI[$i])
    Next
EndFunc

Func GUISquareDelete()
    For $i = 0 To 3
        If IsHWnd($ahGUI[$i]) And $ahGUI[$i] <> $Main_GUI Then GUIDelete($ahGUI[$i])
    Next
    
    $ahGUI = ""
    Dim $ahGUI[4]
EndFunc

Func IsHighLight_GUIs($hCtrl)
    For $i = 0 To 3
        If $ahGUI[$i] = $hCtrl Then Return True
    Next
    Return False
EndFunc

Func _ControlGetHovered()
    Local $aRet = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "WindowFromPoint", "long", MouseGetPos(0), "long", MouseGetPos(1))
    If Not IsArray($aRet) Then Return SetError(1, 0, 0)
    Return HWnd($aRet[0])
EndFunc

Func WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED($hWndGUI, $MsgID, $WParam, $LParam)
    If $hWndGUI <> $Main_GUI Then Return $GUI_RUNDEFMSG
    GUISquareDelete()
    $Last_hControl = -1
EndFunc

Func QuitApp()
    Exit
EndFunc

Edit: Fixed the issue with $Main_GUI movements.

Excellent MsCreatoR, it works!

Only one small point, this line

If Not IsDeclared("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED") Then Global Const $WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED = 0x0047

doesn't work, you need to do this I think

If Not IsDeclared("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED") Then Assign("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED",0x0047)

EDIT: Also, I think the frame is a bit offset, so I added this

Func GUICreateSquare($X, $Y, $W, $H)
   $X -= $Frame_Width
   $Y -= $Frame_Width
   $W += $Frame_Width
   $H += $Frame_Width

Edited December 25, 2007 by martin

[Lazycat]

I'm expected different solution, but this one work quite well!

[martin]

I'm expected different solution, but this one work quite well!

If the window which is framed is moved then the frame stays in the original place. This version stops that

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#include <GuiConstants.au3>
#include <misc.au3>
Opt("GuiOnEventMode", 1)
HotKeySet("{ESC}", "QuitApp")

If Not IsDeclared("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED") Then Assign("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED",0x0047)
Global $ahGUI[4]
Global $Last_hControl = -1

Global $Frame_Color = 0xff0000;0xFF0000
Global $Frame_Width = 2
Global $hCtrl
$Main_GUI = GuiCreate("Highlight Controls Demo")
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "QuitApp")
GUIRegisterMsg($WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED, "WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED")


GUICtrlCreateButton("Button", 20, 20)
GUICtrlCreateCheckbox("CheckBox", 20, 60)
GUICtrlCreateEdit("", 120, 60, 240, 150)


GUICtrlCreateLabel("Info: ", 20, 250)
GUICtrlSetFont(-1, 9, 800)
$Info_Label = GUICtrlCreateLabel("", 120, 270, 250, 80)

GUISetState()

While 1
    Sleep(100)

    $hCtrl = _ControlGetHovered()

    If $hCtrl <> 0 And $Last_hControl <> $hCtrl And Not IsHighLight_GUIs($hCtrl) Then
        if not _IsPressed("1") Then
            $Last_hControl = $hCtrl
            $aCtrlPos = WinGetPos($hCtrl)

            GUICtrlSetData($Info_Label, _
                    "X = " & $aCtrlPos[0] & @CRLF & _
                    "Y = " & $aCtrlPos[1] & @CRLF & _
                    "W = " & $aCtrlPos[2] & @CRLF & _
                    "H = " & $aCtrlPos[3] & @CRLF & _
                    "Control Data = " & ControlGetText($hCtrl, "", ""))

            GUISquareDelete()
            GUICreateSquare($aCtrlPos[0], $aCtrlPos[1], $aCtrlPos[2], $aCtrlPos[3])
        EndIf
    Else
        $aNewCtrlPos = WinGetPos($hCtrl)
        for $n = 0 to 3
            if $aCtrlPos[$n] <> $aNewCtrlPos[$n] Then
                GUISquareDelete()
                $hCtrl = 0
                $Last_hControl = 0
                ExitLoop
            EndIf
        Next
    EndIf
WEnd

Func GUICreateSquare($X, $Y, $W, $H)
    $X -= $Frame_Width
    $Y -= $Frame_Width
    $W += $Frame_Width
    $H += $Frame_Width
    $ahGUI[0] = GUICreate("", $W, $Frame_Width, $X, $Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)

    $ahGUI[1] = GUICreate("", $Frame_Width, $H, $X, $Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)

    $ahGUI[2] = GUICreate("", $Frame_Width, $H, $X+$W, $Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)

    $ahGUI[3] = GUICreate("", $W+$Frame_Width, $Frame_Width, $X, $Y+$H, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOPMOST+$WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)

    For $i = 0 To 3
        GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $ahGUI[$i])
    Next
EndFunc

Func GUISquareDelete()
    For $i = 0 To 3
        If IsHWnd($ahGUI[$i]) And $ahGUI[$i] <> $Main_GUI Then GUIDelete($ahGUI[$i])
    Next

    $ahGUI = ""
    Dim $ahGUI[4]
EndFunc

Func IsHighLight_GUIs($hCtrl)
    For $i = 0 To 3
        If $ahGUI[$i] = $hCtrl Then Return True
    Next
    Return False
EndFunc

Func _ControlGetHovered()
    Local $aRet = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "WindowFromPoint", "long", MouseGetPos(0), "long", MouseGetPos(1))
    If Not IsArray($aRet) Then Return SetError(1, 0, 0)
    Return HWnd($aRet[0])
EndFunc


Func WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED($hWndGUI, $MsgID, $WParam, $LParam)
    If $hWndGUI = $Main_GUI or $hWndGUI = $hCtrl Then
        GUISquareDelete()
        $Last_hControl = -1
    Else
        Return $GUI_RUNDEFMSG
    EndIf
EndFunc

Func QuitApp()
    Exit
EndFunc

[jlorenz1]

Thanks it works fine, a little bit strange to use for each side of rectangle one GUI, but that is not important . Johannes

[MrCreatoR]

doesn't work, you need to do this I think

It's work, it's just the syntax check probably not allows to use this since the variable already declared as constant.

I think the frame is a bit offset, so I added this

Yes it was, thanks...

I changed the example now, no need 4 GUIs anymore! i used Gui_Hole (i think by GaryFrost), and also i added _IdleWait() function, so the scipt will wait untill user do something.

The issue with windows movements is solved partialy, the part that i can not solve, is that when the window is behind another one, the frame is visible on top of that forground window, but maybe it's ok, maybe this how it should be (in Au3Info Tool the behaviour is different, the frame is hidden in the part where the toppest window are visible/on top)...

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#include <GuiConstants.au3>
#include <Misc.au3>
Opt("GuiOnEventMode", 1)
HotKeySet("{ESC}", "QuitApp")

If Not IsDeclared("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED") Then Global Const $WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED = 0x0047
;If Not IsDeclared("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED") Then Assign("WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED", 0x0047)

Global $hSquare_GUI     = -1
Global $hCtrl           = -1
Global $Last_hControl   = -1

Global $Frame_Color     = 0xFF0000
Global $Frame_Width     = 3

$Main_GUI = GuiCreate("Highlight Controls Demo")
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "QuitApp")
GUIRegisterMsg($WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED, "WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED")

GUICtrlCreateButton("Button", 20, 20)
GUICtrlCreateCheckbox("CheckBox", 20, 60)


GUICtrlCreateLabel("Info: ", 20, 150)
GUICtrlSetFont(-1, 9, 800)
$Info_Edit = GUICtrlCreateEdit("", 80, 150, 300, 220, $GUI_SS_DEFAULT_EDIT+$ES_READONLY)

GUISetState()

While 1
    Sleep(10) ;So the CPU will not increes "badly" while we play with the mouse cursor :)
    _IdleWait()
    
    If _IsPressed(1) Then
        GUIDeleteSquare($hSquare_GUI)
        While _IsPressed(1)
            Sleep(10)
            Check_Highlight_Controls_Proc()
        WEnd
        $Last_hControl = -1
    EndIf
    
    Check_Highlight_Controls_Proc()
WEnd

Func Check_Highlight_Controls_Proc()
    Local $hCtrl = _ControlGetHovered()
    
    If $hCtrl <> 0 And $Last_hControl <> $hCtrl And $hSquare_GUI <> $hCtrl Then
        $Last_hControl = $hCtrl
        Local $aCtrlPos = WinGetPos($hCtrl)
        
        GUICtrlSetData($Info_Edit, _
            "X = " & $aCtrlPos[0] & @CRLF & _
            "Y = " & $aCtrlPos[1] & @CRLF & _
            "W = " & $aCtrlPos[2] & @CRLF & _
            "H = " & $aCtrlPos[3] & @CRLF & @CRLF & _
            "Control/Win Handle: " & $hCtrl & @CRLF & _
            "Control ID: " & _HwndToID($hCtrl) & @CRLF & @CRLF & _
            "Control Data:" & @CRLF & ControlGetText($hCtrl, "", ""))
        
        GUIDeleteSquare($hSquare_GUI)
        $hSquare_GUI = GUICreateSquare($aCtrlPos[0], $aCtrlPos[1], $aCtrlPos[2], $aCtrlPos[3])
    EndIf
EndFunc

Func GUICreateSquare($i_X=-1, $i_Y=-1, $i_W=-1, $i_H=-1)
    Local $hSquare_GUI = GUICreate("", $i_W, $i_H, $i_X, $i_Y, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW+$WS_EX_TOPMOST)
    GUISetBkColor($Frame_Color)
    
    _GUISetHole($hSquare_GUI, $Frame_Width, $Frame_Width, $i_W - ($Frame_Width * 2), $i_H - ($Frame_Width * 2))
    
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE, $hSquare_GUI)
    
    Return $hSquare_GUI
EndFunc

Func GUIDeleteSquare($hSquare_GUI)
    If IsHWnd($hSquare_GUI) And $hSquare_GUI <> $Main_GUI Then GUIDelete($hSquare_GUI)
EndFunc

Func _ControlGetHovered()
    Local $aRet = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "WindowFromPoint", "long", MouseGetPos(0), "long", MouseGetPos(1))
    If Not IsArray($aRet) Then Return SetError(1, 0, 0)
    Return HWnd($aRet[0])
EndFunc

Func _HwndToID($hWnd)
    If Not IsHWnd($hWnd) Then Return SetError(1, 0, 0)
    
    Local $aRet = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "GetDlgCtrlID", "hwnd", $hWnd)
    If Not IsArray($aRet) Then Return SetError(1, 0, 0)
    
    Return $aRet[0]
EndFunc

Func _GUISetHole($hWin, $i_X, $i_Y, $i_SizeW, $i_SizeH)
    Local $aWinPos, $Outer_Rgn, $Inner_Rgn, $Wh, $Combined_Rgn
    Local Const $RGN_DIFF = 4
    $aWinPos = WinGetPos($hWin)
    
    $Outer_Rgn = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "long", "CreateRectRgn", "long", 0, "long", 0, "long", $aWinPos[2], "long", $aWinPos[3])
    $Inner_Rgn = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "long", "CreateRectRgn", "long", $i_Y, "long", $i_Y, "long", $i_Y + $i_SizeW, _
            "long", $i_Y + $i_SizeH)
    $Combined_Rgn = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "long", "CreateRectRgn", "long", 0, "long", 0, "long", 0, "long", 0)
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "long", "CombineRgn", "long", $Combined_Rgn[0], "long", $Outer_Rgn[0], "long", $Inner_Rgn[0], _
            "int", $RGN_DIFF)
    DllCall("user32.dll", "long", "SetWindowRgn", "hwnd", $hWin, "long", $Combined_Rgn[0], "int", 1)
EndFunc

Func _IdleWait($IdleSec=0)
    Local $iSave, $stLastInput = DllStructCreate("uint;dword")
    DllStructSetData($stLastInput, 1, DllStructGetSize($stLastInput))
    DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "GetLastInputInfo", "ptr", DllStructGetPtr($stLastInput))
    Do
        $iSave = DllStructGetData($stLastInput, 2)
        Sleep(20)
        DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "GetLastInputInfo", "ptr", DllStructGetPtr($stLastInput))
    Until (DllStructGetData($stLastInput, 2) - $iSave) > $IdleSec
    Return DllStructGetData($stLastInput, 2) - $iSave
EndFunc

Func WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED($hWndGUI, $MsgID, $WParam, $LParam)
    If $hWndGUI <> $Main_GUI Then Return $GUI_RUNDEFMSG
    GUIDeleteSquare($hSquare_GUI)
    Check_Highlight_Controls_Proc()
    $Last_hControl = -1
EndFunc

Func QuitApp()
    Exit
EndFunc

[martin]

It's work, it's just the syntax check probably not allows to use this since the variable already declared as constant.

Yes, if the variable is already declared (it is for me) then this stops the script from running so I think the Assign is better.

The issue with windows movements is solved partialy, the part that i can not solve, is that when the window is behind another one, the frame is visible on top of that forground window, but maybe it's ok, maybe this how it should be

I think this way is better, after all you are trying to outline the window so that's what it does. It's a question of how you sell it . In developing this product our researchers have come up with a way of showing the extent of the window even when it's partially hidden, and we are including this at no extra cost.

Looks pretty good now. I like the idea of using the Gui_Hole.