Translucent Windows
Tuesday, February 24, 2004 by DeusExAethera | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I'm using the Flexx skin by Morphium and it has a feature that puts a button on every window titlebar that makes the window turn translucent so you can see what's behind it. In and of itself, I think this feature is completely useless, as the mixing of window contents on the screen makes the translucent window unusable. But I have an idea and I'd like to know if anybody knows how it could be accomplished:
When you click on the Translucent button, the window turns translucent as normal, but it also becomes disabled, so that nothing in it can be manipulated. However, you CAN manipulate solid windows that are visible through the translucent window. When you click on the Translucent button again, the window solidifies and becomes enabled again.
It's important to note that the translucent window would not behind a solid window that is being manipulated, but would stay fixed in place in the ZOrder while it is translucent. In other words, if the window is in front of five other windows when it's made translucent, it would stay in front of those five windows until it is made solid again.
The basic idea is that you wouldn't have to minimize or move a window in order to use other windows that are hidden behind it. Good idea or no? Or maybe at least an idea worth exploring? Maybe StarDock can find a way to build this feature into their next release of WindowBlinds?
When you click on the Translucent button, the window turns translucent as normal, but it also becomes disabled, so that nothing in it can be manipulated. However, you CAN manipulate solid windows that are visible through the translucent window. When you click on the Translucent button again, the window solidifies and becomes enabled again.
It's important to note that the translucent window would not behind a solid window that is being manipulated, but would stay fixed in place in the ZOrder while it is translucent. In other words, if the window is in front of five other windows when it's made translucent, it would stay in front of those five windows until it is made solid again.
The basic idea is that you wouldn't have to minimize or move a window in order to use other windows that are hidden behind it. Good idea or no? Or maybe at least an idea worth exploring? Maybe StarDock can find a way to build this feature into their next release of WindowBlinds?
Sput
Reply #2 Tuesday, February 24, 2004 1:59 PM
Reply #2 Tuesday, February 24, 2004 1:59 PM
I like the idea! given that most people won't have enough screen realestate to have every window for every application visible somewhere at a useable size without having to layer them,, then being able to quickly look at what's behind the top windows and shuffle them without having to change where the top one is placed would be a nice cool addition.
Instead of using a button though, I'd like the ability to assign things like this to key+click combinations anywhere on the title bar...I usually have "roll up" associated with right click for instance, and if this could become CTRL+Right click then it's even better than having to hunt to click on a specific button for me....
Instead of using a button though, I'd like the ability to assign things like this to key+click combinations anywhere on the title bar...I usually have "roll up" associated with right click for instance, and if this could become CTRL+Right click then it's even better than having to hunt to click on a specific button for me....
MadPyro
Reply #3 Tuesday, February 24, 2004 5:00 PM
Reply #3 Tuesday, February 24, 2004 5:00 PM
wow, too bad i cant download it cuz i reached my 50 meg limit. the translucent idea is pretty nice though 
goodmorphing
Reply #4 Tuesday, February 24, 2004 5:08 PM
Reply #4 Tuesday, February 24, 2004 5:08 PM
If you have windowsFX, you have the ability to make any window with any skin transparent to any degree using any windowblind (if you have XP or 2000). You can make them click-throughable. I had problems with the latest installation of windowsFX so I reinstalled the previous version to the last update.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, February 24, 2004 12:32 PM