GUI Blinking Into Existance - Not Wanted

[YellowLab]

I have been using AutoIt for a while and have been hanging around the forums as a guest for a bit. Decided to join up - as there is a lot of good information and help available here. And I have a problem that is causing me to pull out what little hair I still have left

My problem? My GUI is blinking into existence - and it isn't supposed to. The behavior is such that an area where the GUI will appear is black for an instant, then the pictures kick in. But it causes an annoying flicker. I have tried and tried to get rid of it and can't seem to identify where it is coming from. Probably something stupid. My guess is I am missing something in the order the objects are displayed.

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#NoTrayIcon
#Include <GUIConstants.au3>
#Include <GuiToolBar.au3>
#Include <Array.au3>

;variable declaration
Const $MY_YOFFSET = 25
Dim $nTrans, $nMsg, $nCount, $nArrayLength, $nOffset, $nYPos
Dim $avElement, $avLabel
Dim $sFont, $sScriptDir, $sFolderName, $sTitle, $sExePath, $sScriptDrive, $sSettingsFile
Dim $temp

$sSettingsFile="settings.ini"
$sFont="Tahoma"
;psudeo running directories for working locally
;$sScriptDir="F:\PortableFolders\"
$sScriptDir=@ScriptDir
$sScriptDrive=StringLeft($sScriptDir,3)
$sScriptDrive="F:\";testing purposes only

$sFolderName=StringRegExp(@ScriptName,"(.*)[?: .???]",1)
;read from File
$nArrayLength=IniRead($sScriptDir & $sSettingsFile, $sFolderName[0], "Entries", "Not Found")
     ;error handling
$nCount=$nArrayLength+1
Dim $avLabel[$nCount]
Dim $avIcon[$nCount]

;create main GUI panel
$Form1 = GUICreate("Portable Folders Menu", 273, 573, 870, 417, BitOR($WS_SYSMENU,$WS_POPUP,$WS_CLIPSIBLINGS), BitOr($WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW, _ $WS_EX_LAYERED))
GUISetBkColor(0xFFFFFF)

GUISetFont(9.5,800,0,$sFont)
;add buttons
;window title
$avLabel[0]=GUICtrlCreateLabel($sFolderName[0],10,80,245,20,$SS_CENTER)
GUICtrlSetBkColor($avLabel[0],$GUI_BKCOLOR_TRANSPARENT)
;loop for other labels
For $nCount=1 To $nArrayLength Step 1
    $nOffset=$nCount-1
    $sTitle=IniRead($sScriptDir & $sSettingsFile, $sFolderName[0], "ExeName" & $nCount, "NotFound")
            ;error handling
    $sExePath=$sScriptDrive & IniRead($sScriptDir & $sSettingsFile, $sFolderName[0], "ExePath" & $nCount, "")
    $nYPos=110+$MY_YOFFSET*$nOffSet
    $avIcon[$nCount]=GUICtrlCreateIcon($sExePath,-1,15,$nYPos,20,20)
    $avLabel[$nCount]=GUICtrlCreateLabel ($sTitle,40,$nYPos+3,215,20,$SS_NOTIFY)
    GUICtrlSetBkColor($avLabel[$nCount],$GUI_BKCOLOR_TRANSPARENT)
Next

$Pic2 = GUICtrlCreatePic($sScriptDir & "Picts\button.bmp", 102,546,72,21,BitOR($SS_NOTIFY,$WS_GROUP,$WS_CLIPSIBLINGS))
$Pic1 = GUICtrlCreatePic($sScriptDir & "Picts\screencrop.bmp", 0, 0, 273, 573, BitOR($SS_NOTIFY,$WS_GROUP,$WS_CLIPSIBLINGS),$WS_EX_TRANSPARENT)

GUISetState(@SW_SHOW,$Form1)
GUICtrlSetState($Pic1, $GUI_DISABLE)

While 1
    If Not WinActive("Portable Folders Menu") Then 
        For $nTrans=255 to 0 step -1
        $nTrans-=1
        WinSetTrans("Portable Folders Menu","",$nTrans)
        Sleep(0.6)
        Next
    Exit
    EndIf

$nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    If $nMsg <> 0 Then
    $nCount=0
        For $avElement In $avLabel
            If $nMsg == $avElement Then
            $sExePath=$sScriptDrive & IniRead($sScriptDir & $sSettingsFile, $sFolderName[0], "ExePath" & $nCount, "NotFound")
                MsgBox(1,"Label Clicked",$sExePath);test
            EndIf
        $nCount+=1
        Next
    EndIf
    
    Select
        Case $nMsg = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            Exit
        Case $nMsg = $Pic2
            SysTray_ClickItem("Portable Apps Menu", "left", 1)
            Exit
    EndSelect
WEnd

;====================================================================================
;Function Name: _SysTray_ClickItem()
;Description:     Click on item in Windows system tray by any substring in the title
;Parameters:       $iTitle - The title of the item in Windows system tray (you can see the title of the item when mouse cursor hovered on item).
;                 $iButton - [optional] The button to click, "left" or "right". Default is the left button.
;                 $iClick - [optional] The number of times to click the mouse. Default is 2
;Return Value(s):  None
;Requirement(s):   AutoIt 3.2.10.0
;Autor(s):      R.Gilman (a.k.a rasim); Siao (Thanks for idea smile.gif)
;====================================================================================
Func SysTray_ClickItem($iTitle, $iButton = "left", $iClick = 2)
    Local $hToolbar, $iButCount, $aRect, $i
   
    If Not $iTitle Then
        MsgBox(16, "Error", "Please indicate title")
        Return 0
    EndIf
   
    $hToolbar = ControlGetHandle('[Class:Shell_TrayWnd]', '', '[Class:ToolbarWindow32;Instance:1]')
    If @error Then
        MsgBox(16, "Error", "System tray not found")
        Return 0
    EndIf
   
    $iButCount = _GUICtrlToolbar_ButtonCount($hToolbar)
    If $iButCount = 0 Then
        MsgBox(16, "Error", "Not found item in system tray")
        Return
    EndIf
   
    For $i = 0 To $iButCount - 1
        $cID = _GUICtrlToolbar_IndexToCommand($hToolBar, $i)
        If StringInStr(_GUICtrlToolbar_GetButtonText($hToolBar, $i), $iTitle) Then
            $aRect = _GUICtrlToolbar_GetButtonRect($hToolBar, $i)
            ControlClick("[Class:Shell_TrayWnd]", "", "ToolbarWindow321", $iButton, $iClick, $aRect[0], 5)
            $aRect = 0
            Return 1
        EndIf
    Next
    MsgBox(48, "Fail", "Required item not found")
EndFunc

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

Bob

Edited April 4, 2008 by YellowLab

[arcticflame]

Try moving GUISetState(@SW_SHOW,$Form1) to just above the While loop.

[YellowLab]

I have swapped the disable and show statements with no effect. I have also put a "Sleep" statement right before the show statement and the GUI still flickers. This made me suspect something goofy in how I have called the specific elements into existence.

I messed around and found out that my creation of Pic2 is causing the issue. Remove the creation of that element and the flicker goes away. Any ideas as to why that might be causing it?

Thanks,

Bob