Windows Hot Corners?
Friday, December 9, 2005 by TouuuucanSam | Discussion: Customization Software
whats up Customizers... just was wondering if anyone knows of a good quality program for Windows that clones the Hot Corners fucntion on apple computers.
Any info would be appreciated
Any info would be appreciated
rabidrobot
Reply #3 Saturday, December 10, 2005 1:02 AM
Reply #3 Saturday, December 10, 2005 1:02 AM
Well it depends on what you want to happen when you put your mouse in the corner. But here's the basic idea.
Make an image. It doesn't matter really what it looks like, but a black square would keep it simple. Size isn't important, but you also may as well keep it small. For the sake of the example, make a 16x16 solid black square in your image editor and save as a png.
In DesktopX Builder, create a new object. Click the Change button next to the Default Appearance text on the General panel of the properties. Select your black square image.
Go to the Summary panel. Enter 0 (Zero) for Left and Top coordinates. This'll put the object in upper left corner. Set the Width and Height. A true Hot Corner would probably only be one pixel (1x1) but you can set anything. Let's do Width of 4 and height of 4.
Enter any other info you want on the Summary. The only other important one is the ObjectID--Name it "TL_Corner"
Click Apply and you have a 4x4 Black square in the upper left of screen.
Go to the States panel. Choose the transparency tab from the group at the bottom. Give it a Uniform Opacity of 1%. This'll make it undiscernable to the eye, without making it invisible to the mouse (a 0% transparency won't work).
Go to the relation tab. This is where the magic is. In the Start With box, select Mouse Over. To be thorough, also select Rectangular area in the Activation box and Always On Top from the Z-Order.
Click Apply again.
Now the object is set to do something when you mouse to upper left corner.
Do what exactly is up to you. But, just so we can see it work, go back to the General panel. Click Change button next to Object Type. Then select Shortcut. Select the Folder Shortcut radio button, Select My Documents from the drop down list, and check the open As popup menu box.
Click OK, then Apply.
Put your mouse in the upper left corner.
Now, be aware, this is a somewhat simple example. I really don't know what sort of things the Mac hot corners do. You can do a lot with just the panels and options there, and even more with scripting - for example, and I never miss a chance to plug my own stuff, play with this widget: http://rabidrobot.wincustomize.com/ViewSkin.aspx?SkinID=579&LibID=34&comments=1
You can set the opacity of the widget by right clicking->properties. Just don't set it to zero.
I hope that gets you started. It is a lot easier than my writing makes it sound.
Make an image. It doesn't matter really what it looks like, but a black square would keep it simple. Size isn't important, but you also may as well keep it small. For the sake of the example, make a 16x16 solid black square in your image editor and save as a png.
In DesktopX Builder, create a new object. Click the Change button next to the Default Appearance text on the General panel of the properties. Select your black square image.
Go to the Summary panel. Enter 0 (Zero) for Left and Top coordinates. This'll put the object in upper left corner. Set the Width and Height. A true Hot Corner would probably only be one pixel (1x1) but you can set anything. Let's do Width of 4 and height of 4.
Enter any other info you want on the Summary. The only other important one is the ObjectID--Name it "TL_Corner"
Click Apply and you have a 4x4 Black square in the upper left of screen.
Go to the States panel. Choose the transparency tab from the group at the bottom. Give it a Uniform Opacity of 1%. This'll make it undiscernable to the eye, without making it invisible to the mouse (a 0% transparency won't work).
Go to the relation tab. This is where the magic is. In the Start With box, select Mouse Over. To be thorough, also select Rectangular area in the Activation box and Always On Top from the Z-Order.
Click Apply again.
Now the object is set to do something when you mouse to upper left corner.
Do what exactly is up to you. But, just so we can see it work, go back to the General panel. Click Change button next to Object Type. Then select Shortcut. Select the Folder Shortcut radio button, Select My Documents from the drop down list, and check the open As popup menu box.
Click OK, then Apply.
Put your mouse in the upper left corner.
Now, be aware, this is a somewhat simple example. I really don't know what sort of things the Mac hot corners do. You can do a lot with just the panels and options there, and even more with scripting - for example, and I never miss a chance to plug my own stuff, play with this widget: http://rabidrobot.wincustomize.com/ViewSkin.aspx?SkinID=579&LibID=34&comments=1
You can set the opacity of the widget by right clicking->properties. Just don't set it to zero.
I hope that gets you started. It is a lot easier than my writing makes it sound.
TouuuucanSam
Reply #4 Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:22 AM
Reply #4 Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:22 AM
hey thanks for the incredibly specific instructions...worked like a charm.
the reason i'm trying to make hotcorners is because i want to basically mimic the Expose feature on apple computers. do you happen to know if there's a way to set that desktopx square we just made to do something like Expose?
the reason i'm trying to make hotcorners is because i want to basically mimic the Expose feature on apple computers. do you happen to know if there's a way to set that desktopx square we just made to do something like Expose?
rabidrobot
Reply #5 Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:46 AM
Reply #5 Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:46 AM
Well, after finding this, http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/expose/ I have an idea of what you're talking about. Expose has a lot of features, and looks pretty integrated with the OS, from my quick glance. I doubt you'll find anything as featured without spending some dough along the line.
The widget I linked earlier has some hidden features, you can Ctrl, Shift, or Alt click it to tile the windows, Horizontally, Vertically, or Cascaded, respectively. There is also a more convenient widget by CerebroJD for these particular functions: https://www.wincustomize.com/ViewSkin.aspx?SID=1&SkinID=643&LibID=34&comments=1
If you want to do one of these things with your Hot Corner Object, you'll need a script.
On the General tab, click the New Script button. Then replace everything in the script window with this code:
The apostrophes "comment out" lines. You can remove the apostrophes from one of the two Tile lines, but make sure to add one to the cascade line--just make sure only one is "uncommented".
Personally, I find these functions more trouble than tehy're worth. And to emulate other Expose features would of course add much more complexity.
The widget I linked earlier has some hidden features, you can Ctrl, Shift, or Alt click it to tile the windows, Horizontally, Vertically, or Cascaded, respectively. There is also a more convenient widget by CerebroJD for these particular functions: https://www.wincustomize.com/ViewSkin.aspx?SID=1&SkinID=643&LibID=34&comments=1
If you want to do one of these things with your Hot Corner Object, you'll need a script.
On the General tab, click the New Script button. Then replace everything in the script window with this code:
| 'Called when the script is executed Sub Object_OnScriptEnter End Sub Sub Object_OnStateChange(state) If state = "Command executed" Then Set objShellApp = CreateObject("Shell.Application") objShellApp.CascadeWindows 'objShellApp.TileVertically 'objShellApp.TileHorizontally Set objSellApp = Nothing End If End Sub 'Called when the script is terminated Sub Object_OnScriptExit End Sub |
The apostrophes "comment out" lines. You can remove the apostrophes from one of the two Tile lines, but make sure to add one to the cascade line--just make sure only one is "uncommented".
Personally, I find these functions more trouble than tehy're worth. And to emulate other Expose features would of course add much more complexity.
rabidrobot
Reply #6 Saturday, December 10, 2005 3:20 AM
Reply #6 Saturday, December 10, 2005 3:20 AM
Forgot to mention, turn off shortcut function before adding script! Object Type Change Button, select Layer
rabidrobot
Reply #8 Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:09 PM
Reply #8 Saturday, December 10, 2005 2:09 PM
Talk about synchronicity, or serendipity...or coincidence. Whatever. Right after visiting Hippy's link to WinPLOSION, I saw this thread on another forum: http://www.aqua-soft.org/board/showthread.php?t=30218
Which pointed out this http://www.winplosion.com/cupgame/3cups.html
That last link takes you to a Flash Shell Game (pun probably intentional?), where if you go 15 rounds and provide an email, they'll give you a free liscence for WinPLOSION!
I did it. Took me a few tries, but it can be done, my copy is now registered, and I'm going to take it for a spin!
Which pointed out this http://www.winplosion.com/cupgame/3cups.html
That last link takes you to a Flash Shell Game (pun probably intentional?), where if you go 15 rounds and provide an email, they'll give you a free liscence for WinPLOSION!
I did it. Took me a few tries, but it can be done, my copy is now registered, and I'm going to take it for a spin!
Chris TH
Reply #11 Saturday, December 10, 2005 5:49 PM
Hey RR thanks for the link! I was lucky enough to get it on the first try
Reply #11 Saturday, December 10, 2005 5:49 PM
| I did it. Took me a few tries, but it can be done, my copy is now registered, and I'm going to take it for a spin! |
Hey RR thanks for the link! I was lucky enough to get it on the first try
rabidrobot
Reply #12 Saturday, December 10, 2005 6:05 PM
Show off.
Reply #12 Saturday, December 10, 2005 6:05 PM
| I was lucky enough to get it on the first try |
Show off.
TouuuucanSam
Reply #13 Saturday, December 10, 2005 6:09 PM
Reply #13 Saturday, December 10, 2005 6:09 PM
yeah thanks RR... this is just what i was looking for.
scorpio-logic
Reply #14 Sunday, December 11, 2005 4:19 AM
Reply #14 Sunday, December 11, 2005 4:19 AM
Wow. That's cool. Thanks for the link to the free stuff. I love free stuff. Easy game too. This is nifty.
MarkMcQ
Reply #15 Sunday, December 11, 2005 8:25 AM
Reply #15 Sunday, December 11, 2005 8:25 AM
Nice one. Grabbed me a copy too now. Game is pretty easy, gets a bit tricky once you get past 10.
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Reply #1 Friday, December 9, 2005 10:48 PM