Example: Free tool : Dynamic Masking Tool

[clueless]

This tool is for mixing custom window masks dynamically. Its a command line tool written in visual basic 6 that takes the white elements from one bmp and then add/remove them from another bmp. This allows you make 'draws' that extend outwards from your main program window.
Eventually ill be making this into a DLL file.

Format:

Add the white elements of MaskA into MaskB. MaskB is then re-saved

DMT [Location of Draw Mask] [location of main custom mask]

Remove the white elements of MaskA from Mask B. MaskB is then re-saved
DMT [Location of Draw Mask] [location of main custom mask] [remove] Here's an example of how to set up the process in code;

function CompositeMasks(DrawNumb)

             ---------------------------
------------ initialise local variables ----------------  
local CheckFile = 0;
local FileSize  = File.GetSize(_SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Mix\\CustomMask.bmp");  

           -------------------------------------- 
------------ Run tool and pass the command line ----------------  
File.Run("AutoPlay\\Mix\\composite.exe", ConstructCommandLine(DrawNumb), "", SW_SHOWNORMAL, true);     -- run composite tool with commandline pointing to the mix folder

           -------------------------------------------------------------------  
------------ Check for main file to change size then use it for windown mask ----------------  

while CheckFile < 50 do                                           -- check 50 times then give up                                  -- Checks for a change in file size 50 times
      if File.DoesExist("AutoPlay\\Mix\\CustomMask.bmp")  and (File.GetSize("\\AutoPlay\\Mix\\CustomMask.bmp") ~= CheckFile) then -- File size check against value recorded before running the composite tool
         Window.SetMask(Application.GetWndHandle(), "AutoPlay\\Mix\\CustomMask.bmp", true, 0);                                    -- If the file has chaged size then set it as the new mask
         break                                                                                                                    -- Dumps out of the 'while' loop
      else
         CheckFile = CheckFile + 1;                                                                                               -- Increments the counter
         end
      end
end

-----------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 
------------ Set up the commandline -----------------------------
---------------------------------------------------  
function ConstructCommandLine(DrawNumb)

local CommandLine = -1;

    if DrawNumb == 1 then
       CommandLine = _SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Images\\Left.bmp";
elseif DrawNumb == 2 then
       CommandLine = _SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Images\\Bottom.bmp";    
elseif DrawNumb == 3 then
       CommandLine = _SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Images\\Right.bmp";      
       end
 
      CommandLine = CommandLine ..  "#";                                             -- Adding a space before adding the main mask location
      CommandLine = CommandLine .. _SourceFolder.."\\AutoPlay\\Mix\\CustomMask.bmp"; -- Adding the location of the main Mask

-- Only checking for  
if Draw[DrawNumb] == 1 then                         -- 
   Draw[DrawNumb] = 0                               -- Toggles draw open/close state
   CommandLine = CommandLine .."#";                 -- Adding a space
   CommandLine = CommandLine .."remove";            -- Add the flag to remove white pixels (by adding black) rather than write them
 else                                               --
   Draw[DrawNumb] = 1                               -- Toggles draw open/close state                               
   CommandLine = CommandLine .."#";                 -- Adding a space 
   CommandLine = CommandLine .."Add";               -- Add the flag to add white pixels rather than remove them
   end      
return CommandLine
end

Have fun ..

[clueless]

This tool has now been uprated to version 2 : Download the DMT v2.0 Info