I wonder if there's a way

A viewer for Screen Savers

from WinCustomize Forums
I was going through the libraries this morning seeing what new and fantastic things had been downloaded and I stopped in and looked at Screen Savers. If you haven't noticed there are alot of nice new very animated additions.

This got me to thinking about how the Vista folks have dreams to enjoy and I started to think how us XP people, and for that fact everyone, might enjoy Screen Savers a little more and use them in a different way.

I kept thinking about the picture frame widgets/objects that allow you to view pictures or wallpapers. Now if there such a widget/object that would allow you to do the same with Screen Savers, Mmmmmm. Could change the look of a desktop.

Now I haven't tried one of the picture frame widgets to see if it would work. Didn't want to be disappointed and if it was an option I think someone would have used it by now.

So folks, what do you think? Is it something that could be done? Is there a viewer that is already out there? Yeah I imagine it would eat up some resources or would it?

Feel free to run with this if you like. I'm not a person who would even come close to trying this. If someone can make something that would do this with maybe Stardock would be interested.  :NOTSURE: 

7,278 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
you asking if theres a way to build a full screen widget that could run animations and or video? good question...
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Good idea.

You could set up a widget frame to use avi providing it was lightweight. I think though whatever you tried the drain on resources would be heavy. XP isn't set up to channel stuff like this through the graphics card the way Vista is. That is what made Dreams possible and all the other nice things Vista is capable of.

Would be nice if someone could get it to work without eating resources though.

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well not necessarily full screen, sizable like the picture frames widgets. That would allow for more fexibility in working with the desktop.  :NOTSURE: 

Is this where we put a call out for RomanDA?
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I don't see why it can't be done. Imagine if you could run several of these. Hmmm...

 

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well lets see if anyone else has any ideas.  ;) 
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
DX could easily run a flash animation using the Web browser activeX control.  it could also run a animated GIF from the browser control.  You could run an AVI or MEPG using the WMP control.
I don't think it can run an *.scr in a window.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well maybe this is one of those things that has to thought about for a while.

Could be the answer is something other than using DX.

It maybe that it can't be done, or just the way to write the code to do it hasn't jumped out at anyone yet.

Ah, I'm just a user of the software, you smart guys are going to have to help here.

At any rate it would be nice to be able to run a screen saver on top of your desktop within a sizable viewer, someday.  ;) 
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Been thinking about this somemore and have another thought in mind, not that I wouldn't like to see an option for a Screen Savers viewer. I still think that would be something worthwhile to look at.

If I found animated wallpapers, would they play or work using the current DesktopX Picture Frame Widgets?  :NOTSURE: 
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nice question and ya it can be done, nicely. Your question just forces me to think about a dreamscene equivalent desktop on XP. I think Almost everything is possible through DX cause it allows scripting.

If one has a slideshow widget or object then in the script one can easily change the timer, means if one has a sequence of images which one want to run as an animation or something like that then setting the timer to lower value will be OK. If one wants the animations to be as a wallpaper than setting the object to the desktop level is fine and if one wants to run it as screensaver then set the object as always on top and following this script with some enhancement will do this..

Dim ocx, ocy, Xtime

Sub Object_OnScriptEnter
ocx = system.cursorx 'old cursor positions
ocy = system.cursory
Object.SetTimer 1, Xtime/1000 'Xtime is the time in seconds you want for the screensaver to pop up
End Sub

Sub Object_OnTimer1
If system.cursorX = ocx and system.cursorY = ocy then 'means the cursor positions remains same and the mouse is idle
Object.visible = true ' if you want some other object which is a flash or a video then just alter the name of the object.
Object.SetTimer 2, 100
Object.killtimer 1
End If
ocx = system.cursorX ' again setting the positions so that timer will examine them in next cycle
ocy = system.cursorY
End Sub

Sub Object_OnTimer2
If system.cursorX = ocx and system.cursorY = ocy then
'do nothing
else ' means the mouse has moved and isnt idle
object.visible = false
Object.killtimer 2
Object.SetTimer 1, Xtime/1000
End If
ocx = system.cursorx 'Resetting the positions again
ocy = system.cursory
End Sub

You can just replace the object.visible = true to resizing object to system.ScreenX and object.visble=false to a specific size which you want it to be when screensaver is off or you just have a resizer object or right click menu.

I m not pretty sure about the script because I havent tested it. The idea just popped up in my mind when i saw the question. There may be some other ideas but the basis will be same.

If I will get this correctly done then I will surely add the picture slideshow screensaver in my wallchanger which is in progress..
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for replying HAPTORK, now If only I was smart enough to take the information that you gave me and do something with it. DOH.  ;)