Visual Basic :: Aero Glass Window Effect With VB6

Vista Aero API (Glass)
Many months ago I was watching the Channel 9 videos on the Vista development, one of the big issues was how easy it was for developers to tie into the new Aero theme.

One of the points raised that Microsoft were going to release an API so developers can set certain areas of a form to be glass, just as the title bar is.

Has anyone seen this at all? Or was i dreaming?

Excluding Window From Transparency Effect
Hi, I've created an MDI application with several child windows.

I have also added the option of making the whole MDI client transparent (how transparent being up to the user) - However one of the windows does not go well with the transparency effect and I do not wish for it to be transparent.

Is there any way to exclude one MDI child window from transparency if I add the transparency effect to the main parent MDI client?

My Transparency code goes on the lines of:

Dim MDIOpacity As Byte

'Set the transparency level
MDIOpacity = 98

Call SetWindowLong(Me.hwnd, GWL_EXSTYLE, GetWindowLong(Me.hwnd, GWL_EXSTYLE) Or WS_EX_LAYERED)
Call SetLayeredWindowAttributes(Me.hwnd, 0, MDIOpacity, LWA_ALPHA)

Me.hwnd is the main MDI client. If I try this with each child individually excluding the window I don't wish to have transparency, none of the windows recieve transparency.

The Transparency only works if I apply it to the main MDI client - but how do I exclude one form?

Change Color Effect In Window
Sirs,

I have one MDI form & 6 child forms with border style none. plan form.

I want to change the back color of all windows white and forecolor of control to dim color except top active form. when i change the focus to other window color changes will be according. is there any simple way using API.

Regards
Rajeev

How To Make When Mouse Over A Form The Effect Is Active, Else Deactive Effect?
how to make when mouse over a form the effect is active, else deactive effect?

Aero Affect With Vb6
I saw this program that makes the Aero Glass effect in windows xp. I'm tryin to igure out how to do this with vb6.

Any ideas?

Here's the program:

[img=http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4490/aero6hq.th.jpg]

Aero Skin For VB
I remember seeing somewhere that someone had made a framework for VB that gave the Aero features from Vista. It was more of a PoC to see if Aero Glass could be achieved. It was really cool but I can't seem to find it and google is not cooperating. Does anyone know of anything like this??

Form Border In Vista Aero
I have a program that uses an oval form. In XP the form works fine. In Vista I get a square border around the form. I am using VB 6 and I am not ready to move to .Net yet and would like to use this form in Vista. How do I prevent the border from being displayed in Vista? I have attached a screen shot of the issue.

Hour Glass
Hi Guys,

Just a short one.

Why when i run my application, in this case a database, which works perfectly ok, I get an annoying hourglass cursor instead of the usual arrow pointer after I select another form within a form.

Also, I cant run my application on other PC's since its a multi user program. I noticed that everytime I run the program a "Microsoft Access Record-Locking Information" File appears on my desktop screen.

Any Ideas why this happens????........Any Help would be appreciated.

Kindest Regards

Nicholas Gonzalez
Gibraltar

How To Use Magifying Glass In Vb
Hello
I have created one form having image box I set the strech property to true.at runtime i can see the entire image.But that image covers the entire part of my form.S instead of this suppose can I use maginifying glass so that I can see that image withinn specific fixed size,but in zoom view , when I move my mouse over the image.
If it is possible than plz send me the code .

HOur Glass
Hi ,
In my program i am reading from a text file and then comparing it to a databse .. the text file is kind of huge .. so it seems like that the program is not doing anything for about a minute or so ..
I want to have an hourglass or somekind of a process indicator to let the user know that the file is being processed ...

the first thing that i wanted to ask .. how to change the mours pointer to an hour glass when i start processing the file and how to change it back to normal after i am done ..

The second question how to put in a process indicator that will tell how much is done and approximately how much is left ..

Thanx

Hour Glass
Hi guys
I'm wondering if anyone can tell me how to get a hour glass symbol to appear on my form, constantly turning for the duration of my project.
Thanks
JK

Help On Glass Optimizer
i am developing a software which would have glass pieces in a database and if a requirementv for a piece comes i have to search the database and cut the piece such that the utilization is maximum . wanted help

Zoom OUT IN (just Like Magnifying Glass)...
Zoom OUT IN (just like magnifying glass)...I have to develop a program using visual basic for my assignment. The function of the program will be something similiar to Microsoft Windows Image Preview, where user can zoom in and out as u like. But the main purpose of this program is to zoom in/out geographical map. I wonder how can i do that. Can i get any help? Any example? Any reference? I need to start doing at least. hehe Thank you

Magnifying Glass Cursor
Does anyone have a magnifying glass .cur file I could have?

A Picturebox With A Bitmap That Looks Like Glass
Is this at all possible and/or feasible?

I have these images that I would like to give the appearance that you are looking at them through a glass window.

Progress Bar Or Hour Glass
I have a program that generates reports. When the user clicks the button to generate certain reports it must query the whole database and this takes a moment while the program just sits there. I need to do something so the user knows that there is nothing wrong. Something to indicate that the function (processing the report) is going on so they don't start thinking that it's frozen or something and start clicking like madmen. How do I do this and does anyone have any good recommendations as to what is acceptatble for this type of thing.

Thanks again

Hour Glass Cursor
Dear friends,

I just finished buit a small VB program to copy a file from
one location to another location, but the file is large and it takes
total of 2-3 minutes to complete.

So I wrote the code screen.MousePointer = vbHourGlass to change cursor
shape but it seem like the hour glass cursor acting only in VB editor
environment. So is there a way I can make the cursor change? Or maybe
lock user from doing something else until the update complete?

Best regards

Andy

Magnifying Glass For Images
I'm looking for advice on developing a 'magnifying glass' for zooming onto sections of jpeg stills - using VB.net - and extending that to AVI. Thanks

The Sheet And Glass Problem
hi friends,
i have joined newly to this list of vb programmers.my name is vasudev kulkarni.i live in bangalore.i need ur help,friends.the problem is like this.
there is a huge glass sheet.several glass pieces of different standard dimensions should be cut in the glass sheet provided.also,the glass sheet may
be several in number and vary in dimensions just as the glass pieces.now,my objective is to cut several glass pieces in several sheets so as to minimise
wastage of the sheet.also,the different combinations of arranging glass pieces
in sheets should be worked out,drawn, with the efficiency of utilization listed
for each cut piece.i need the broad logic for solving this problem as well as the raw program that solves this problem in vb,friends.can any one help me out in solving this problem.i would be really greatful to all of u.my email id is vasu_kulkarni@dacafe.com.KINDLY MAIL ME.

thanking u,

sincerely urs,

vasudev kulkarni.N

Magnification Glass Zoom Source
Hello everyone,

I have a simple magnification glass source code that I would like to share, but since i can't post it in the code library, I don't know why here it goes. It is pretty simple and fun .

By

How Do I Force The Mouse Into An Hour Glass?
does anyone know how I can force the mouse into an hour glass? I've tried to use the mousepointer property but it doesn't always seem to work reliabley so if anyone know of another method or API please let me know
Thanks

Mouse Icon Does Not Change To Hour Glass
Hi there,

I am programming VBA and I tried to change the mouse-icon within a powerpoint presenation. Does anyone know how to do so?

Thx
Jeb

Difference Between Immediate Window , Watch Window , Localas Window
difference between immediate window , watch window , localas window ...?

How Do I Get This Effect?
How can I get the effect acheived by these people:

http://www.geisswerks.com/drempels/

?

No, not the nifty swirly texture effects, although that would be fun. I mean how can I put a dynamic image behind all the desktop icons and windows.
Setting a static image is easy using the SystemParametersInfo function, but that only loads images from a file (as far as I can tell) and would therefore be far too slow to get a decent frame rate. I've also tried bitblt, but that draws images over the top of icons and windows,not behind them.

Alphablending Effect
So ehm... I was wondering.... is it possible to get a nice, fading out effect with alphablending? For example, a big dot that you want to have fading out from the center. (like a gradient) Could this be done with alphablending? And if so, can I use this effect on any shape I want or am I restricted to the standard shapes like triangles, squares, circles, etc.? (I'm using bitblit by the way, not DX)

Cool Effect
Hi. I always want to make a routine that create an effect like the form is growing, like Macromedia Flash. I tried to make the Form.Height to minimun, and a bucle that increments that valor until the value of the Form.Height will be as I wish.

I added too the Timer, DoEvents and Refresh functions in the bucle for make this. But altough I tried differents values to Timer and how many the Hegiht values increases in the bucle I haven't created the effect well, because the form flicks (I hope this is the word that I'm searching for ... I'm Spanish and and I search this word in an dictionary)

I hope you understand me, 'cos I make me a mess. Thanks everybody

WindowBlinds Effect VB?
my checkers game uses OLEDragdrop to move pieces accross the board, everything works fine except for when I turn on windowblinds to change the scheme, anyone have any thoughts, suggestions?

How To Matrix Effect???
I desired to make a matrix effect even if a simple one.
But I havent exerienced graphics in vbasic.
So please let me know what to do first as a graphics beginner to do this.
And give me some basic idea.

May be you will be excited to do this for your self too.

I am attaching a matrix effect for you to understand clearly what I mean
,but this file is a very advanced sample.

sorry if I couldnt attach at first.

Edit: Attachment removed. No compiled binaries.
Source code only. See Posting Guidelines

Listbox Effect
Im not sure where to post this, sorry if its in the wrong section, but i believe it deals with interface to a degree.

I have a project, it contains a LISTBOX,TEXTBOX, and two command buttons SEARCH and REPORT.

Upon opening the program the LISTBOX contains 200 names listed.
The aim of the program is so that when a surname is entered in the TEXTBOX, and the user presses SEARCH, it searches the LISTBOX for a matching surname, and when finds it it highlights it.
This works fins so far.
But i want to make the program look flashy.
I want it so that when it is Searching through the LISTBOX, to highlight random names just for fun, so it looks good for the user,, as if it is looking through the whole names, and as though a huge serach process is flying everywhere, up and down the listbox.

Though how?

thankyou for your help.

hypnotik'

Gradient Effect!
Is it possible to have a gradient effect on a ssTab object?

Image Effect
Hi,

I have this problem: I’m doing some kind of desktop effect utility, it takes the image around the mouse, process it, and then paints it back to the screen.
The problem is in the image process part, i want to make image to "bend" it's content, some kind of a black hole effect where every thing is sucked to the center of image.

The image I’m working with are in an array: nPic(64,64) - the image i want to process is 64x64 pixels, and basically I need some kind of formula/algorithm to do the effect.

Any comments/links/code... are welcome!!

Xadais

Genie Effect
I would really love an example of a way to do the Genie effect like in Mac OS X when you minimize a window to the dock. I think the best way to do it would be in DirectX, but my DirectX knowledge is very small... In case you don't know what the Genie effect is, it's an animation that sort of looks like a genie going in to a bottle, like in the Aladdin movie, upon minimizing or restoring a window in Mac OS X. Please if you could help me with this, I would greatly appreciate it.

Glowing Effect
I'm praying to every deity I know that I won't need DX for this, but here goes...

I have an RPG battle system and I'm adding status effects at the moment. Some of the status effects are auras that slowly dim to their colours. For example: If one character casts a spell that creates a white aura, then the character is surrounded in an aura, which slowly becomes white, and then slowly returns to normal or to the next aura colour.
I think I might need to draw the lines around a person and keep alternating the colours in a timer. But I'm not sure how to code that.
That's the only solution I can think of, but maybe there's another solution. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

The Paperdoll Effect
Alright, I assume this has been asked a million times before, but I searched for it and couldn't find anything.

The paperdoll effect, where a sprite's clothing, items, and/or appearances change when putting on or taking off a piece of equipment.

I was trying to map out a way of doing this in my head, that is also orpg-friendly in the sense that having multiple people on the screen, all with a set of gear to be drawn on themselves, won't become a giant performance/error issue. I came up with nothing, and I was wondering if anyone could guide me in the right direction by means of explination.

And while I'm here and asking, I might as well ask a related question.
What makes C++ such an easier language to do things like the above mentioned Paperdoll effect? If there is an easy answer, I might just do that because I'm pretty fluent in C++, just not with DX for C++ or any other graphical API.

Glow Effect
Hello

Can any one help me archieving a glow effect. I know there is some property in the material stuff but that doesn't really make the object glow. What i mean for instance i got a planet and want to simulate the ozonlayer. So making a blow glowy bound around it. I tried creating another sphere, semitransparent, but this looked ugly cuz of the hard edges.
How would you archive an effect like this, do you need to use pixel/vertex shaders??? Are there any good tutorials on them.

ChoKamir thanks m8s

Chrome Effect?
Sorry for bother U guy wit my questions...
Is there a way to make the Chrome Effect in DirectX8. I saw thing called 'SphereMapping' in TrueVision3D that create amazing chrome effect. Is there a way to make Chrome effect in DirectX??

Overworld Effect
I'm looking to simulate a SNES 'Mode 7' style overworld effect, but I really don't know where to start. I assume Direct3D would be good for this, but I have no knowledge of it whatsoever. I'm using some code from the tutorial on Lucky's VB Gaming Site about the DirectDraw/Direct3D hybrid engine for alphablending effects and such, but I honestly don't know how to rotate it 'into' the screen so that it appears like a floor.

Any help is appreciated.

Blood Effect
how could i make an effect like goldeneye where u shoot somebody in the arm or whatever, and the clothes get bloody. i doubt u would use multiple textures since u could be shot anywhere and it would be hard to make that many textures. im guessing there is some way of doing it that i dont know. any help would help

Lighting Effect
I was wondering if there was a way to create the kind of misty effect for lights like in certain fps games, where u can see the lightrays in the air. im guessing this is done with a billboard effect or something, but i cant find a good way to do it, and im not sure which alpha blend functions i should use for the src and dest colors. im not even sure if billboarding effects are what i need, although i hope not, cuz id rather have an easier way of getting that kind of effect. either way, some1 plz help.

Why The Solitair Effect
why does my screen get the "solitaire effect" ( you know like when u win and the cards fall all over) one of my forms pops up during my code and i try to drag it around the screen (im gettin a tail to it...hence "solitaire effect")

How Can I Get This Kind Of Effect
Hi All

I am using VsFlexgrid 8, i have attached a screenShot of what im trying to do with the grid. I have mailed componentOne and they recon that it is possible to do this, i will need to use the ownerDraw property of the grid and an API call. But i just can't figure it out. Please could someone help me with this.

Many thanks in advance

Textbox Effect Is It Possible?
Is it possible to make text in a textbox appear letter by letter at a fast speed

i.e. for the words: Visual Basic

it would appear to the user in the textbox as so
v
vi
vis
visu
visual etc

so it would appear if it has been typed

meant if u were to program this effect so the user would see it appear like describe above; the user doesnt actual type anything just clicks a button to begin effect

grateful for any help

Button Down & Up Effect
I'm trying to get a button down &up effect (as a real click) when getting the keypress event.
Please help !

Special Effect
I have a label I want to flash (or blink) when it's visible. How do I go about doing so?

Thanks.

Tabs Effect
How can you achieve a TABS effect?

Like I would like 3 buttons at the top. When I click the first, the bottom of my program is something, when I click the second, the content change and same for the 3rd.

Can someone tell or give an example? If I was not clear enough, please tell it!

Thanks alot

Knowledge is the rule