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System - Virtual Desktop Manager

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11 Aug 2009GPL32 min read 87.9K   2.1K   59   17
Xeno Innovations' - Virtual Desktop Manager allows you to run 4 different desktops without filling up the taskbar and minimized GDI usage. (virtual window manager vdm vwm)
Screenshot - visual-help2.png

Introduction

This is a Linux-like multiple desktop engine (virtual desktop manager) for your Microsoft Windows OS that allows the user to take a hold of the desktop environment. Many of the other programmers who made a Virtual Window Manager (VWM) simply moved your windows off screen to create this effect had trouble losing windows or could not move all windows in a program. Litestep and SharpE fell into this problem but would fix it through extra coding. However the method used here; hiding windows has a greater advantage of freeing up your taskbar items, memory usage as well as not losing the position of your workspace.

Like any multi-desktop environment, there are some programs that do not work well with either being moved to another location far off the screen (usually in a negative (x, y) position) or with being forced to hide (really rare). This is an issue that is fixed by allowing you to force specified windows to stay "sticky" - a method that allows windows to not hide on switch of desktop workspace.

Screenshot - screen-shot.jpg

Features

  • Automatic self-update
  • Windows 2000/XP Alpha Transparency
  • Changeable VWM refresh rate (VWM - Virtual Window Manager)
  • Memorize Start-Up Position
  • Startup with Windows OS
  • Lock Toolbar Window
  • Gather All Desktops
  • VDM Window Z-Order position
    • VDM-Toolbar OnTop
    • VDM-Toolbar Apart of Desktop
    • VDM-Toolbar No Z-Order
  • Custom Backgrounds on each desktop
    • Stretch, Center or Tiled
    • Custom Background Color per Desktop
  • EZ Sticky Window Editor
  • Presets:
    • WINAMP
    • Shell_TrayWnd (Windows Taskbar)
    • "Windows Task Manager"

Scripting Behind Sticky Windows & Wallpaper

The program contains a scripting file (sys-vdm.dat) which may be modified by hand if needed, but is not recommended. This file is very self-explanatory.

Under the [sticky]...[/sticky] section the parameter, line delimited. Both parameters may be used together on the same line:

  • [cls]...[/cls] - Holds the Class Name of the sticky window
  • [txt]...[/txt] - Holds the Window Title of the sticky window

Under Wall Paper, there are three parameters per line.

  1. Desktop Window Index Number
  2. Wallpaper Style
  3. Path to Wallpaper
[sticky]
  [cls]Shell_TrayWnd[/cls]
  [cls]Winamp v1.x[/cls]
  [cls]Winamp PE[/cls]
  [cls]Winamp EQ[/cls]
  [cls]Winamp Gen[/cls]
  [txt]Windows Task Manager[/txt]
  [txt]Virtual Desktop Manager - [VDM] Setup[/txt]
[end]

; ndx | style | path
;   xCenter  = 0
;   xTile    = 1
;   xStretch = 2
[wallpaper]
  1|2|G:\prog\sys-vdm\_skin\a gift of moonlight - blue.jpg
  2|2|G:\prog\sys-vdm\_skin\dereliction_1280x1024.jpg
  3|0|G:\prog\sys-vdm\_skin\heacarol7.jpg
  4|1|G:\prog\sys-vdm\_skin\AtlantesPulse.jpg
[end]

Dependencies

These critical files are for the Program & Self-Updating system (not included).

  • MSVBM60.DLL
  • MSWINSCK.OCX (sp6)
  • MSCOMCTRL.OCX (sp6)

[Download] - VB6 Run-Time Redistro Service Pack 6

History

  • 0.9.122: [2006-12-26]
    • Various Upgrades.. (can't remember right now)
  • 0.9.113
    • Applied background image switch with background color change, which is useful on Windows' systems earlier than 2000/XP
  • 0.9.100: [2005]
    • Losing windows during rapid switching fixed by disabling sys-vdm momentarily until switch of desktops is completely finished
  • 0.9.94: [2005-02-15]
    • Losing windows fixed through careless index number
    • 'Sticky Windows' upgraded.
  • 0.5.51: [2004-11-30]
    • Initial release

- Damian J. Suess of Xeno Innovations, Inc. [2000-2007]

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The GNU General Public License (GPLv3)


Written By
CEO Xeno Innovations, Inc.
United States United States
[ Exceeding the Limits of Imagination ]

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
AGCLR14-Jun-13 3:31
AGCLR14-Jun-13 3:31 
Generalimpressive work Pin
Miss_E30-Apr-08 3:02
Miss_E30-Apr-08 3:02 
Questionmultiple monitors? Pin
Dave Calkins8-Feb-08 5:37
Dave Calkins8-Feb-08 5:37 
AnswerRe: multiple monitors? Pin
Damian Suess8-Feb-08 6:18
Damian Suess8-Feb-08 6:18 
GeneralVery Cool, Thanks Pin
Matthew Faithfull4-Feb-08 23:36
Matthew Faithfull4-Feb-08 23:36 
Generalnew functionality Pin
stoler2-Oct-07 0:04
stoler2-Oct-07 0:04 
GeneralRe: new functionality Pin
Damian Suess28-Jan-08 6:35
Damian Suess28-Jan-08 6:35 
Questiondeveloping cd key Pin
youba raj25-Sep-07 19:08
youba raj25-Sep-07 19:08 
AnswerRe: developing cd key Pin
Damian Suess25-Sep-07 21:11
Damian Suess25-Sep-07 21:11 
GeneralRe: developing cd key Pin
LloydA11112-Aug-09 22:40
LloydA11112-Aug-09 22:40 
QuestionMissing module Pin
louiecliu21-Sep-07 8:22
louiecliu21-Sep-07 8:22 
AnswerRe: Missing module Pin
Damian Suess21-Sep-07 13:26
Damian Suess21-Sep-07 13:26 
GeneralMulti-desktop APIs Pin
David Howe16-Sep-07 21:42
David Howe16-Sep-07 21:42 
GeneralRe: Multi-desktop APIs Pin
Damian Suess21-Sep-07 13:58
Damian Suess21-Sep-07 13:58 
No not at all.. I tried to avoid the usage of the CreateDesktop() API in order to minimize errors of loosing windows and also program compatibility issues.

In some SDI (Single Document Interface) programs, you can loose the child windows. CreateDesktop() as far as my own experience when using it in the past was for Custom Shell programs. Sys-VDM is not a replacement for the Windows Explorer Shell.

Good question.

-code monkey-

GeneralOCX File Missing Pin
Paras Shah14-Sep-07 18:45
Paras Shah14-Sep-07 18:45 
GeneralRe: OCX File Missing Pin
Paras Shah14-Sep-07 18:47
Paras Shah14-Sep-07 18:47 
GeneralRe: OCX File Missing Pin
chehreghany15-Sep-07 21:34
chehreghany15-Sep-07 21:34 

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