FreePlugin: Splash Image Transition Engine DLL

[RizlaUK]

OK Guys, here is the much awaited dll version of my spalsh transition engine, i was going to charge a small fee for the dll but as iv been "out of touch" for a while i had a change of heart and i want to give you guys something.....so here it is

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Splash Image Transition Engine DLL v1.0.0.4

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Programing: Dean Hall
Email: support@dnet-software.com
Website: www.dnet-software.com

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The Splash Image Transition Engine has undergone a complete overhaul, I scraped the old "AutoIt3" exe scripts that powered
the last version and completely remade the whole thing in DLL form with "Pure Basic", this makes the engine a lot more robust
and as its programmed straight off the winAPI it can now be used with any (Windows) OS, although iv only tested it on xp and vista.

And now it even supports ".tif" and ".tga" image formats.

This version also has a tray spalsh image, this enables you to show a animated image from the users system tray (like msn).

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Supported Systems: All Windows OS
Supported Image Formats: (jpg,bmp,png,tif,tga)

To include the transition engine into your project, add the below block of code to your
global functions and edit the path to where you have the files.

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-- Transition Engine Globals ---------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Path to the dll file --------------------------------------------------------------
STE_DLLPath = _SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Plugins\\TransitionEngine\\T-Engine.dll"; --
require(_SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Plugins\\TransitionEngine\\T-Engine.dll"); -------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- End Transition Engine Globals -----------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The functions
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Function: STE_ShowSplashImage()
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STE_ShowSplashImage(string ImagePath, : The path of the image file
number X, : X Position on screen (0 = Center of screen, -1 = Center of application)
number Y, : Y Position on screen (0 = Center of screen, -1 = Center of application)
number Enter, : 1 to 10 (see below)
number EnterTime, : Time of enter transition (ms)
number Delay, : Time to show transition (ms)
number Exit, : 1 to 10 (see below)
number ExitTime, : Time of exit transition (ms)
number Wait,) : Wait for user click (0 = no wait, 1 = wait)
number Hide) : Hide the app window (0 = no hide, 1 = hide)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Transitions
1 = Slides the image in from left To right
2 = Slides the image in from right To left
3 = Slides the image in from bottom to top
4 = Slides the image in from top to bottom
5 = Slides the image in from top left
6 = Slides the image in from top right
7 = Slides the image in from bottom left
8 = Slides the image in from bottom right
9 = Makes the image appear from its center
10 = Fades the image in
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exit Transitions
1 = Slides the image out from left To right
2 = Slides the image out from right To left
3 = Slides the image out from bottom to top
4 = Slides the image out from top to bottom
5 = Slides the image out from top left
6 = Slides the image out from top right
7 = Slides the image out from bottom left
8 = Slides the image out from bottom right
9 = Makes the image disappear to its center
10 = Fades the window out
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Returns: 0 = success, 1 = fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-- Function: STE_ShowTrayImage
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STE_ShowTrayImage(_SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Docs\\TrayImage.bmp",--ImagePath,
number Enter, : 1 to 10 (see below)
number EnterTime, : Time of enter transition (ms)
number Delay, : Time to show transition (ms)
number Exit, : 1 to 10 (see below)
number ExitTime, : Time of exit transition (ms)
number Wait) : Wait for user click (0 = no wait, 1 = wait)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Transitions
1 = Slides the image in from left To right
2 = Slides the image in from right To left
3 = Slides the image in from bottom to top
4 = Slides the image in from top to bottom
5 = Slides the image in from top right
6 = Slides the image in from top left
7 = Slides the image in from bottom right
8 = Slides the image in from bottom left
9 = Makes the image appear from its center
10 = Fades the image in
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exit Transitions
1 = Slides the image out from left To right
2 = Slides the image out from right To left
3 = Slides the image out from bottom to top
4 = Slides the image out from top to bottom
5 = Slides the image out from top right
6 = Slides the image out from top left
7 = Slides the image out from bottom right
8 = Slides the image out from bottom left
9 = Makes the image disappear to its center
10 = Fades the window out
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Returns: 0 = success, 1 = fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


And heres the apz......Enjoy :yes

[Dermot]

Very nice. SMall problem with the global code though.

This:
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-- Transition Engine Globals ---------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Path to the dll file --------------------------------------------------------------
STE_DLLPath = _SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Plugins\\TransitionEngine\\T-Engine.dll"; --
require(_SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Plugins\\TransitionEngine\\T-Engine.dll"); -------
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-- End Transition Engine Globals -----------------------------------------------------
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Should be:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Transition Engine Globals ---------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Path to the dll file --------------------------------------------------------------
STE_DLLPath = _SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Plugins\\TransitionEngine\\TEngine.dll"; --
require(_SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Plugins\\TransitionEngine\\TEngine.lua c"); -------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- End Transition Engine Globals -----------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also it does not seem to work if the image you use is in the AutoPlay folder and you build to Hard Drive Folder and rename resources. If you put the file outside the AutoPlay folder it works fine. At least that is what I have found.

[RizlaUK]

silly mistake on the global, i dont know what happend there, copy n paste happy i think, the global in the example is ok though, just a typo in the readme

the image must be in the docs folder, as ams compiles the contents of all folders except the docs to ".dat" files the dll cant find the file if its in the dat folder, and im not sure if/how i can access those files

in all my tests, i set the image paths as "AutoPlay\\Docs\\..." and global paths as "AutoPlay\\Plugins\\...", i compiled the app to folder and renamed the resource folder to "Data", and everything worked ok so im not sure whats gone wrong there,

ill crack open the files again tomoz and examine it in more detail

Cheers for testing it Dermot :yes

[Dermot]

I was testing with the image in the Images folder and not the Docs. Putting it in the Docs folder makes sense. :yes

[qwerty]

thanks for this :).... and Dermot too for the notes, that would have driven me round the bend, although i would have thought it would make more sense to have the image expected in the images folder rather than the Docs

[qwerty]

REQUEST:
~~~~~~

for the Tray Image, could you make it look to the location of the system tray and adjust accordingly ? ..... for example, if the system tray is at the top of the screen, could you make it slide down from the top of the screen, or from the side if the main system tray is docked at the side ? ... or give the user a 1 through 4 choice for its location ? ie, 1= bottom, 2= top, 3= left side, 4= right side ?

thanks :)

[RizlaUK]

mmm, yeah, i hadent tought of that, ill look at it a bit later, it shouldent be to hard to do,

the position of the tray image is set in the ams function, so if i give you the source to the function you might be able to adjust it your self............ill see what i can do

[qwerty]

is there a timer available for that tray image ? .. or do i have to use the page timer ?

EDIT: .. thx for the reply :)

[RizlaUK]

mmm, im not sure i get you, you can set a delay (in ms) or have the user click the image to close it.....

[qwerty]

ah, ok... there is a delay (in miliseconds) to auto close it... sounds perfect, i missed that option, too many things going on here and me not reading things properly :lol

[qwerty]

ok this is working good so far, just one small issue with dll compatibility clashes, i have another DLL that controls the fade in and out, and it has been known in the past to mess with the fade transition and slide transitions, basically if i leave the app control set to 1 and use your dll to control the splash image, if it over laps at all the main app loading flashes then disappears (real fast) then appears and fades in as normal, leave control setting to 0 and it seems ok.

couple of questions,

1. while your dll is doing its thing is the script in AMS paused ?
2. for the tray image, if i wanted to add text in there would i have to edit the image file and add the text that way ?


cheers for this btw :)

.. i forgot a question ... will this work in pre nt based OS environments, for example win98 ... for all transition effects ?

[RizlaUK]

basically if i leave the app control set to 1 and use your dll to control the splash image, if it over laps at all the main app loading flashes then disappears (real fast) then appears and fades in as normal

that might be something to do with the last arg (hide app window) make sure its set to 0 if you do not want to hide the app window, if that dosent work then get back to me

on your other points
1. while your dll is doing its thing is the script in AMS paused ?

ams is waiting for a return from the dll so the block of code that the function is called in will be paused

2. for the tray image, if i wanted to add text in there would i have to edit the image file and add the text that way ?

at this stage yes, i am working on some extra functions that will show text as well but im not happy with the results so far, i have had better results from editing the image......but i do plan on adding text at some point

will this work in pre nt based OS environments, for example win98 ... for all transition effects ?

yes, it will work on 98, 2k xp and vista


hope that helps you out

[qwerty]

you are correct, leaving it to 0 solves the problem, in my testing i didnt want it hidden so i could control the length of the splash image time in relation to load time (however your second answer makes idea that null and void)


1. - thats a shame, anyway to switch that so AMS doesn't wait for a return ? then it can be used to distract the user while the project is running code.

2. no problem, it's probably just as easy to edit the image with mspaint :p and bearing in mind that the user can select any image, making it fully compatible will be pretty hard

3. excellent :yes


thank you :)

[RizlaUK]

thats a shame, anyway to switch that so AMS doesn't wait for a return ? then it can be used to distract the user while the project is running code.

sorry, its the way ams dll calls work, it calls the dll and waits for a return, i dont think there is anyway to bypass this

[qwerty]

i thought it might be something like that, especially consodering even AMS cant do this directly :(
i guess the "return" can only be made after the dll has finished it's task ? .... no way to send a "fake" return ? no need to debug a popup message most of the time, it either appears or doesnt ! and there can only be a certain number of reasons why :p


bug report:

if you run the dll when your project is minimised (having already got the window handle for the project) ... when your project is returned from the minimised state, it fails to be on top of other windows, even this code fails to trigger it on top (this is what i used when i encountered this effect with mz's radio dialog)


Application.Restore();
Window.Show(handle); -- Ensure on top status


any thoughts ?

[RizlaUK]

ok, i cant seem to recreate the problem here

i just ran a test useing this code
Window.Minimize(Application.GetWndHandle());
Application.Sleep(1000);

DLLRet = STE_ShowTrayImage(_SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Docs\\TestImages\\WindowImage.bmp",--ImagePath,
3,--Enter
700,--EnterTime,
700,--Delay,
10,--Exit
700,--ExitTime,
1)--Wait,

Application.Sleep(1000);
Window.Restore(Application.GetWndHandle());

and everything works fine, i even added the app.sleep to slow things down and it still works ok

but i did notice 1 thing....i forgot to make the trayimage "on top" it was just getting lost behind other open windows, thats fixed now, ill attach the apz below

as i cant recreate the bug, can you show me the code that you using, or pm me the apz (if you dont want others to see it) and ill take a look at it

[mz241508]

This is just great fun, i made this really cool image slideshow. Thanks for this. :)

[RizlaUK]

yeah this version is just the ticked for a slide show, the old exe version stalled my system when i tried to do a slide show,

glad you enjoy using it as much as i enjoyed making it ;)

[qwerty]

nope cant get that to work at all, i was using application.minimize, just as a side note, my project is minimised, then a couple of other exe's are run and if i cancel out of one of these as is possible to happen, if i force an error or add a dialog box before the restore command, the message box is hidden behind other windows as well :(

this is bugging me, so i'm going to take a break and come back to it later (and yes, it does work ok without your dll call in it, and no using the splash image on preload does not have the same affect on the main app loading)

thanks btw, you made me realise about the ontop thing too, it is possible for my project to load behind other windows if they are clicked while it's displaying the splash image or in pre-load mode, so i'll have a look at that :)

[RizlaUK]

ok, take a break and go back to it,

if you have no luck i can add a extra argument to the dll that will make the parent app the active window when the dll has finished its work, this might solve the problem....if all else fails i will do it for you

[qwerty]

are you sure this line is correct at the end ??

Window.Restore(Application.GetWndHandle());


GetWndHandle ??????

it doesnt restore my app if i use your code, and also on an interesting note, using your code the app minimises initially to the bottom left of my screen, and then moves to the task tray using my animation settings in windows .. very strange

anyway, looking at your example made me think, i tried something a little different, i used Window.Hide and Window.Show, and that worked, however, that has other concequences visual stuff/animation in windows doesnt work, not to mention the Restore/Minimize option in the tray menu gets confused.

whats weird is while i was messing around it worked .. once, then stopped.

i'm starting to question if something hasnt gone wrong with the GetWndHandle function, it's almost like it has the wrong handle value

[RizlaUK]

yup "Application.GetWndHandle();" stright from the action editor.....strange :D


well, this is a little weird, but of course without seeing your project im still just guessing, only thing i can think is your animation dll is somehow interfering with my dll or vice versa (although i cant see how as once the dll has finished its work it is no longer in use)

using your code the app minimizes initially to the bottom left of my screen, and then moves to the task tray using my animation settings in windows .. very strange

yeah....thats weird, where do you have your animation code, it seems that when your app gets minimized its calling your animation dll (somehow) else it should just....minimize

i dont realy know what to suggest

[qwerty]

ok, i need to clarify something here, as i've confused you a little (my fault, by not explaining clearly)

This is the name of the DLL i use for fade in/out (i got it here)

wTrans.dll

if i use that for fade in, then the fade and slide page transitions will not work correctly, they get all jerky and crap, it seems AMS does not fully unload the DLL from memory after using it (or the DLL doesnt) this affect i have known about for a while, this project is single page only, so it is not an issue (normally!)

now the "animations" i was talking about -- i was referring to the standard windows display properties features/settings.

to describe the effect i got, you have to know that my taskbar is at the top of the screen by choice.

now lets see if i can describe the affect better....

ok, open excel, and minimise just the open workbook, so you keep the main excel app on the screen, you see how it minimizes the workbook to the bottom of the workspace and leaves only the window title bar ? .... well that is what that example you posted did, then it shot off to the task tray (my app minimises to the tray only in the AMS project settings) using the standard windows settings, which for me is animated menus, minimise/restore etc.


does that make any more sense ?


i'm not sure making the DLL make the parent app the active window will work, because it is minimized during this phase.

[qwerty]

it seems that when your app gets minimized its calling your animation dll (somehow) else it should just....minimize


you are at least 80% right, it is definitely connected with this other DLL, if i disable the fade in code, then using your tray image code and the minimise / restore code i already have it works fine ... restore the fade in effect, and the DLL is loaded into memory at startup, and my bet is it's not fully unloading and is still being referenced in some way :( and on restoring after using your DLL it wont go to being the active window

damit this is going to be tricky !

[RizlaUK]

ok, i can add worms wTrans function to my dll, its only a few lines of code....see if that works ? its up to you


EDIT....i might know what the problem is.....

as the dll only contains a few functions i dident protect the variables, if worm dident protect his vars as well thay might (i dont know if its possable but...) conflict with each oter

like i say...i dont know if its possable for 2 dll's to have conflicting var names but its the only thing i can think of right now

[gabrielfenwich]

Just a simple thank-you for you work.
Much appreciated.
Gabby:yes

[RizlaUK]

Hey, no problem Gabby, simple "thank yous" make the effort worth while :yes

[AudioSam]

Rizla I have no idea how you do it.
I am no pro for sure.
You make these things seem so easy.
This really nice.
Thank You for your great work.

AudioSam

[RizlaUK]

Hey, no problem mate :yes

[alban]

Hi. how can i make a random or customized transition effect before and after opening a timer page with this script or another similar script? I have a page with 5 buttons. Klicking on one of these buttons i want to open a new page with transition effect, for 7 seconds and autoclose with transition effect jumping on initial page.

Thanks

Sorry for my english.

[alban]

how can i hide cursor on splashscreen?

i have found this script:


function HideCursor(blnHide)
if blnHide then
nResult = DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 0, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);
else
nResult = DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 1, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);
end
end



How can i use this script?

[alban]

how can i hide cursor on splashscreen?

i have found this script:


function HideCursor(blnHide)
if blnHide then
nResult = DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 0, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);
else
nResult = DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 1, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);
end
end



How can i use this script?



problem resolved using on the splash script :
on top:
Hidecursor (true)
DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 0, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);

on the end:
Hidecursor (false)
DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 1, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);


on globals:

function HideCursor(blnHide)
if blnHide then
nResult = DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 0, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);
else
nResult = DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 1, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);
end
end

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Transition Engine Globals ---------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Path to the dll file --------------------------------------------------------------
STE_DLLPath = _SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Plugins\\TransitionEngine\\TEngine.dll"; --
require(_SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Plugins\\TransitionEngine\\TEngine.lua c"); -------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- End Transition Engine Globals -----------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------










the script is this:

-- A function that hide mouse
HideCursor(true)
DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 0, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);

--[[
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Function:ShowSplashImage()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ShowSplashImage(string ImagePath, : The path of the image file
number X, : X Position on screen (0 = Center of screen, -1 = Center of application)
number Y, : Y Position on screen (0 = Center of screen, -1 = Center of application)
number Enter, : 1 to 10 (see below)
number EnterTime, : Time of enter transition (ms)
number Delay, : Time to show transition (ms)
number Exit, : 1 to 10 (see below)
number ExitTime, : Time of exit transition (ms)
number Wait : Wait for user click (0 = no wait, 1 = wait)
boolean Backup) -- Backup with AMS splash image (just in case)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Transitions
1 = Slides the image in from left To right
2 = Slides the image in from right To left
3 = Slides the image in from bottom to top
4 = Slides the image in from top to bottom
5 = Slides the image in from top left
6 = Slides the image in from top right
7 = Slides the image in from bottom left
8 = Slides the image in from bottom right
9 = Makes the image appear from its center
10 = Fades the image in
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exit Transitions
1 = Slides the image out from left To right
2 = Slides the image out from right To left
3 = Slides the image out from bottom to top
4 = Slides the image out from top to bottom
5 = Slides the image out from top left
6 = Slides the image out from top right
7 = Slides the image out from bottom left
8 = Slides the image out from bottom right
9 = Makes the image disappear to its center
10 = Fades the window out

Returns: 0 = success, 1 = fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
]]

-- EXAMPLE
DLLRet = STE_ShowSplashImage(_SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Images\\gialla01.png",--ImagePath
0,-- X (0 = Center of screen, -1 = Center of application)
0, -- Y (0 = Center of screen, -1 = Center of application)
Math.Random(9), -- Enter (See Above)
1000, -- EnterTime (ms)
20000, -- Delay (seconds)
Math.Random(9), -- Exit (See Above)
1000, -- ExitTime (ms)
0, -- Wait for user click (0 = no wait, 1 = wait)
0)-- Hide the app window (0 = no hide, 1 = hide)




-- A function that unhide mouse
HideCursor(false)
DLL.CallFunction(_SystemFolder.."\\User32.dll", "ShowCursor", 1, DLL_RETURN_TYPE_LONG, DLL_CALL_STDCALL);

[Imagine Programming]

great work rizla, i really like it :D i've been searching for a systemtray notify plugin... but i couldn't find a free one:P ur the best!

[RizlaUK]

alban, sorry i wasent around to help, glad you got it in the end

CB programming, no problem :yes

you could also use worms PUN (not free but at the price it almost is and its well worth having) or reteset WindowEX plugin (free, but i think he should really ask for donations or something) to create a window from the system tray and animate it

this dll uses the same API calls as reteset WindowEX plugin "CreateWindowEX_, SetWondowLong_ and AnimateWindowEX_ among others) so its actions would be easy to replicate (create hidden window, apply image to window and animate it (#AW_ACTIVATE,Delay(),#AW_HIIDE)) that way you would have even more control.

[Imagine Programming]

great thanks:) i'll take a look :)

[DaSoulRed]

It will be Nice if some one get this one from his vault and reupload the final ver.

Thanks any one hope some one take the shoot Bye

[rexzooly]

just browsing and came across this, this would of been a great pop up replacement for a app i made a month or so back its clean fast and best of
all it works lol great work 10 ++ :yes

[DaSoulRed]

It will be great if some one can reupload thi final version off this with code updated and all.

hope some one take the shot thanks

[rexzooly]

It will be great if some one can reupload thi final version off this with code updated and all.

hope some one take the shot thanks

in what way do you mean about that?
from what i see its kinda updated and has all the code there.

[DaSoulRed]

Hey there im lost with this one it will be great if some one even you can reuload the final file.

i am really bad with code.

[rexzooly]

Hey there im lost with this one it will be great if some one even you can reuload the final file.

i am really bad with code.

this is the one from the post page one or 2 works fine for me if you get
any errors please state it for all of use to see.

[RizlaUK]

the typo was in the readme only, the example from my first post works ok.

[rexzooly]

the typo was in the readme only, the example from my first post works ok.

that it dose :) great work :) i think i might just have to rebuild a project to add
your great dll thanks for the hard work 10 ++ again lol

wish i could make dll's i have the demo/free version of purebasic and i am
lost to how to make one i think i will have to leave it to the smarter people lol


:yes

Thanks RizlaUK

[rexzooly]

the 3ed Mirror added to my site under you RizlaUK :)

Link:
http://jonny6.pap3rback.net/AMS/?page=RizlaUK#3

:yes