Is it possible to link other programs to an object?

Thursday, August 16, 2007 by TrippHazzard | Discussion: Docks

Hey all,

Got an idea I want to run up to see if it's even possible:

Is it possible to link other programs to a DX object so they move as it does?

Specifically, I'd like to make Winamp and Rainlendar slide on/off screen along with a DX object I'm going to put them in front of. The goal is to have this panel slide out of the way when I click its control button, and take both of them with it.

Is this even possible? Can I somehow use DX to control the positions of these other items?

I want to stick with Winamp and Rainlendar rather than using equivalent DX objects because they offer more features/capabilities than the DX objects do at this time (AFAIK).

Thanks!
2 Reply 1 Referrals
SirSmiley
Reply #1 Thursday, August 16, 2007 9:47 PM
Short answer "no". DesktopX doesn't expose the full Win Api and for some obvious reasons.

Here's what I can tell you.

Rainlendar 2 is suppose to be or is scripting is being developed so, this may be within reach. Haven't been back to the forums over there in quite some time.

There are two ways to access or more accurately control an external window.

1. The easiest being the AutoIt3 com object which can be directly called from within desktopX. As I write this I just moved a Windows Explorer window off screen & back on. Animation isn't possible.

2. The second is via DynaCall or DynaWrap. This requires an intermediate or highter scripting ability or the patience of a monk? Someone was nice enough to code this little treasure that gives you the ability to call Win32 api. To quote WSH Bazaar

Basically it will allow you to call functions in other dlls (like any of the win32 API function)




http://freenet-homepage.de/gborn/WSHBazaar/WSHDynaCall.htm

TrippHazzard
Reply #2 Sunday, August 19, 2007 3:48 PM
Cool. Thx for that, SirSmiley.

What about other DX widgets/gadgets? Can we move them externally?

Or can we send just a show/hide to a gadget?

Or is there a way to make a gadget NOT respond to the universal show/hide hotkey?

I've got three gadgets on my desktop also. I'd like to be able to show/hide two of them, but not the third one. The universal hotkey hides/shows all three, as it's supposed to do. I know I can do it by clicking the tray icons one at a time ('though it can take two clicks, one to get its "attention", the 2nd to hide it), but I'd rather do both with one control, or with a single keycommand.

Any ideas?

Thx!

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