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BigClock with Transparent Background

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19 Jan 2008CPOL1 min read 57.6K   2.8K   59   7
BigClock with Transparent Background based on the 7 segment LCD

Introduction

This is a transparent desktop clock based on the 7 segment LCD. I published a seven segment LCD article a while ago, and based upon that control, I quickly slapped together a transparent desktop clock. It is with pleasure I am sharing it with The Code Project community.

Background

One of my colleagues walked by and was very impressed with BigClock. He immediately requested a copy for himself, and I see it on his screen all the time.

medshot_blue.jpg

Using the Code

The 7 segment code worked without modification in a transparent environment. However I added a class interception snippet to erase the CStatic frames at runtime. This way, the controls in the dialog editor can have the 'sunken' style to see how big the controls are and where they are. This makes it easier to design the form for the control. Here is the code that does this:

C++
// Call this when the control is painted the first time
// The interception is archived by `maintaining a class variable called 
// 'firstpaint'

Clcd7::Clcd7()
    {
    .....
    firstpaint = true;
    .....
    }

if(firstpaint)
    {
    //TRACE("firstpaint\r\n");
    firstpaint = false;
      ModifyStyleEx(WS_EX_STATICEDGE | WS_EX_DLGMODALFRAME | WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE, 0);
    }

One would ask why do this in OnPaint? Well, the CStatic and CWnd based controls do not receive many messages. This way, we are taking advantage of the only message that even static controls cannot avoid: painting.

Features

I added 12/24 hour switch, seconds display on/off switch and small/medium/large size control. I also added AutoStart, OnTop, and window placement persistence.

Screens

Medium size setting on top of the silver theme:

bigclock

The small setting is ideal for a clock that is always on screen.

smallshot.jpg

This is how BigClock looks like on my development machine, in the upper right corner.

smabb_used.jpg

BigClock on large setting with the setup/config dialog:

bigclock.jpg

Points of Interest

The code snippet for creating transparent dialogs is as follows:

C++
// These defines are not in W32 SDKs
#define WS_EX_LAYERED     0x00080000
#define LWA_COLORKEY     1     // Use a color as the transparency color.

// Into the global space or class space insert:

//  Function pointer for the layering API is in User32.dll
typedef BOOL (WINAPI *lpfnSetLayeredWindowAttributes)
            (HWND hWnd, COLORREF cr, BYTE bAlpha, DWORD dwFlags);

lpfnSetLayeredWindowAttributes g_pSetLayeredWindowAttributes = NULL;


HMODULE hUser32 = GetModuleHandle(_T("USER32.DLL"));
    g_pSetLayeredWindowAttributes = (lpfnSetLayeredWindowAttributes)
                        GetProcAddress(hUser32, "SetLayeredWindowAttributes");

// Into the init dialog insert:

    // Set layered style for the dialog
    SetWindowLong(m_hWnd, GWL_EXSTYLE, 
        GetWindowLong(m_hWnd, GWL_EXSTYLE) | WS_EX_LAYERED);

   if(g_pSetLayeredWindowAttributes)
        {
        // Use green (0,255,0) as transparency color
        g_pSetLayeredWindowAttributes(m_hWnd, RGB(0, 255, 0), 0, LWA_COLORKEY);
        }
// After this initialization, anything painted in green will be transparent 

History

  • 20th January, 2008: Initial version, added taskbar hiding

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Software Developer (Senior) Self Employed
United States United States
C, C++, DSP, Graphical Apps, UNIX, LINUX

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralThanks Pin
Nud3l3-Nov-10 3:29
Nud3l3-Nov-10 3:29 
Nice program thanks for posting it.

I find A small Bug: If some one start at the program a few seconds after a hour it will show 00:00:12 and after 1 minute it goes to 14:01:00

I have also a question where i can't find the definition of the 3 in this Code

g_pSetLayeredWindowAttributes(m_hWnd, RGB(0, 255, 0), 125, 3);

With this code the numbers are transparent like the Alpha here 125
GeneralGreat Big Clock Pin
Mudhi27-Feb-08 6:48
Mudhi27-Feb-08 6:48 
GeneralRe: Great Big Clock Pin
lxa52016-Sep-10 23:57
lxa52016-Sep-10 23:57 
QuestionQuestion Pin
lxa52016-Sep-10 23:58
lxa52016-Sep-10 23:58 
GeneralNicely done.. minor suggestions Pin
Chamadness24-Jan-08 19:41
Chamadness24-Jan-08 19:41 
GeneralNice Clockage Pin
Julian Nicholls22-Jan-08 3:39
Julian Nicholls22-Jan-08 3:39 
GeneralNice work! Pin
Xiaoming Huang20-Jan-08 9:58
Xiaoming Huang20-Jan-08 9:58 

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