New version v1.0.1883.29858
Bad packet fixed ... sorry

New version v1.0.1883.29858
Bug fixed....

New version v1.0.1853.39711
Ratio bug fixed by moviestar.

New version v1.0.1850.37399
This version has a new and improved way of sizing the images to
better keep the ratio.

Creadits to Moviestar for supplying the:
Moviestar.Windows.Appearance.Base.dll ver 1.0.1849.39329

New version v1.0.1849.19064
Some bugs fixed and built with the 88 version of the sidebar.

New version v1.0.1826.23364

Timer works when auto apply is off.
Some bugs fixed.
ListImages added.
No Double click when auto apply is on option.
Not changing image with rigth button.
Reboot works ......?

New version v1.0.1798.18887
* Added suport for ph*.wb1 files....

Remember to delete all the files and restat the sidebar befor you
try to install the new files.
Files to delete
DreamsSidebar.dll
Resource.dll
BasePlugin.dll
BrowePlugin.dll
DreamsWallpaper.xml

The SidebarPanal need to be at lest version 85
New version: v1.0.1797.32934
Hade some problems with registring the dll's do not know if any
one hade the same problem but here is a new version that sould
work better.
NOTE: you will have to go in to $(SIDEBAR) directory and
remove Resours.dll BasePlugin.dll BrowePlugin.dll and
DreamsWallpaper.xml before you install the new version.

New version: v1.0.1790.198893
* Name changed to wallpaper changer.
* Ability to specify size in AutoFit mode.
* Vertical/horizontal opetion in none AutoFit mode.
* Auto size in none AutoFit mode.
* Ability to turn of AutoApply (buttons still work as before
and if this feture is tured off singel click on the images
will move to next and double click will move to next and apply).

New version: v1.0.1790.198000
* Auto Fit added.
* Suport for wbz files added .... ( farly untested as i only hade on file to test with)


This is my first sidebar project so be nice

This app will let you change youre wallpaper by a click off a button
or by a timer.

If you would like to extend this it is easy! there is a short description
included in the package.

To start this you will need:
1. Click on the install package.
2. Select panel property.

--- 2.1. Click Select Plugin select $(SIDEBAR)browsplugin.dll
NOTE: This step sould not be needed if you have not
configured any other plugin......

3. Click Configure plugin and add a path to you image dir.
4. select the options you want.
5. close window.
6. you should be good to go !

I can't install the panel. I get an error message when I install it

Error is occurring because the DLL is not registered with regasm.

There is a new version ! I hop this works ......

Now I can see the panel but I get an error message saying that it can't create empty.jpg

Thats stranger ..... it will look for a empty.jpg in the startup dir. Can you check to se that you have a empty.jpg there ?

If you do can you try to copy it to the plugin dir and se if that works ? I need it in
the c:program files/desktop sidebar dir.

Do you install it for every one ???

Thanks

I'm sorry I reinstalled it now and it works Nice panel. It could have been better if we could choose exactly which files will be shown.

Yes, I found it just a few minutes after I posted the message. You could make it work automatically, I think. Thanks anyway

Ok i have updated it so it selects the browseplugin as default when it starts if nothing
else is configured. You will still have to configure the plugin.

Cool

Doesn't the slideshow plug in do this?, change wallpapers, so what is different with this plug in?

It does it too but with this panel you can change wallpapers by clicking on the panel and not only after a certain amount of time. There are some other nice options. I think that the developer better add a screenshot so people will understand.

For me the panel shows up all funky and when i right click and selectpanel properties it shows the wrong one.

What version of the sidebar are you running ?? I hade strange stuff happen when i tried to run it in the 75 version.

Im using version 85

I have tried to install it on a new pc and it seams to work fin ....
.... i do not know whats wrong for you .... sorry

Have you hade this problem with any of the other panals ???

no i have not

It would be nice if it could figure out if you have enough horizontal space to show the prev and next and if not, go vertical, or else just offer the option in the prefs.

My bar is only wide enough for the click, so most of the next image is off the screen.

'bird

P.S. It would be so neat if you could support WebShots (www.webshots.com). There is code out there that shows how to read their data format.

Ok i have hade the strange error happen to me ... and i think i know what causes it. It's the empty.jpg file that for some reason some times needs to be in the plugin directory. I will change the way this works.....

I will also look in to fixing the 'horizontal space' ! any preferens on whats best remove every thing at once ore only one image at the time ??

If you do not want the images to show up you can always remove them from the
preferens bar.

Hi thebirdman

Do you have a link to the doc that describes the webshot ??
Might be fun to do this over cristmas

I just searched the web one day for code to extract jpegs from webshots files.

Here is one of the many links with source code. This one seems particularly helpful.

http://www.planet-source-code.com/vb/scrip...=57318&lngWId=1

Regarding the image request...

Removing the image does not help, because the buttons are the same width as the images, so you are only saving vertical space there, and the next button would still be mostly off the screen.

The best thing would be to allow the user a preference of putting them on top of each other or you could just sense when the width is less than you need to display them both clearly. If you can't, if there is enough room, put the prev on top, next on bottom. A third option might be to have very small buttons for people who use very slim panels. I think the option is important because the panel doesn't look nearly as neat without the images.

I think I prefer letting the user choose which way to display best overall.

Thanks!

'bird

Thanks for the imput ! will se what i can do The code sample has some hard code values in it .... o well

New Version is out with suport for auto fit and the file format wbz webshot.

Yay it now works for me. Exellent plugin. I did find one bug though. When I have it set on no buttons The nest preview shows fine but the left show the default. The timed swithching and clicking still work however.

- I just noted a typo you spell Plugin Pluggin on the prefrences now i dont know if you did it on purpose. If you didnt well i suggest you fix it.

Hi from Germany!

The wallpaper changing is working but my desktop background does not refresh to the new picture. I think your plugin should should do that. Maybe it does but mine is not refreshing when the picture changed.
btw I have JPGs for my background.

EDIT: don't know if it is necessary but perhaps it helps to use a toggle between two DreamsWallpaper.bmp's....but maybe my windows is fucked up ^^

And I also have the problem that the second preview shows empty.jpg. Only when I close the option window it shows the next picture...but only until the first change happens.

Keep goin'

ciao!

Hi ! When the next image show the default image.. that normaly mean that
you have random on. And i do not know what the next image is. I probobly sould consider changeing that........ But in to what .. if it is random what is the next image, and if i hide it you will not be able to hit next....

Will look in to making the visual parts more configurable.....

The Selection of the $(SIDEBAR)/browseplugin.dll is not realy valid any
more i change it so it will come up as default if nothing else is configured.

Thanks for all the imput

Kappen

Thanks for making the vertical alignment work. It's great! I have a couple more items on my wish list if you are feeling in the mood to make changes. One quick thing about the redraw, it appears that it tries to draw horizontally once before it draws vertically so you see a quick flash of it horizontally, then it redraws correctly.

1) Can we have an option to apply using a button or click somewhere rather than it automatically applying each one you flip through as wallpaper? The reason is, I may just be looking for something new, but didn't find anything better, nonetheless I always have to go back and reapply the wallpaper I had before.

2) Can you center the prev and next graphics/buttons if they appear vertically?

3) Checked out the webshots stuff. Unfortunately all of my webshots files are stored in collectons (wbc extension), which I understand are comprised of images stored in wbz format. Is there any chance you could support webshots collections? Once again I know there is code out there, but haven't searched for it yet.

Thanks,

'bird

I just turned the side bar off....and then started it again.....all the settings were lost....I don't get it to be saved...OMG

You mean only this panel's settings or all Desktop Sidebar's settings?

JConner what version do you run and how do you start the sidebar application ??

Bird

I will lookin to fixing the center and if you can send me a collection of images
i might be able to figut out how it works. I can not find any description of the
format... but i might be able to figure it out with a hex editor.

Kappen

In looking closely at what is stored on my computer by WebShots I can tell you the following. It appears that wbc files are the old way of storing images in groups called collections.

I updated to the new version of Webshots today (Webshots Desktop) which does it in a different way. I am providing both types of files in a zipped archive so you can determine if you want to support both or just the more current of the two.

It appears the newer method stores a collection in a folder with an information file (text format) for the photos (it links the photos to their descriptive information) and one for the collection or album as a whole. The remainder of the files in the folder appear to be image files (2 for each photo, one is a thumbnail, the other is the full sized image. File extension is wb1).

I have enclosed the same set of photos in each of the two formats. It looks like this newer system should be easier to support than the old one since the image files are broken out and the information is available in a single text file. Hopefully the wb1 format and the wbz formats are similar.

Please rename the file extension to zip.

Good luck,

'bird

Im using 85 and the same thing happens to me with this panel and Dstaskbar.

Support fro dual monitors would be great...

I have two side by side and it would be nice to have different wallpapers on each which also changed.

I am currently stuck with only one moitor .... But when i get back to sweden i will fix the multi monitor as i have a 4 monitor pc at work there

Thanks for the sugestion
Kappen

Hay There is no way to set more the one desktop on standard windows

If i am wrong ... pleas let me know how to configur windows to have more the
one desktop........

Kappen

Hey Bird

Is it ok if you can singel click to change the thumbs and duble click to apply ??

There will be an option in the setup to turn the auto apply off.

One more thing ! do you have the extracted jpg for the file you sent me ??
Kappen

Yes, I think that would work just great (single-click to go prev or next, double-click to apply).

Here is the bmp that Webshots makes when it applies it as wallpaper. I am not sure if this will help. They change it slightly towards the bottom when they draw their logo on top of it, but perhaps if you convert it to the stored file type it will give you a place to start.

If this still doesn't help, I maybe be able to find something to extract it in its original form later on.

Please change extension to zip --

'bird

Or make it that the prev and next button is to switch and click on the picture itself to apply

New Version is out !

I am assuming you posted the new version on the first page of this topic. I am unable get it to work after installing several times. Here is the error message that I am getting.

same prob for me

Have you made made sure you deleted the BasePlugin.dll Resource.dll BrowsePlugin.dll and DreamsWallpaper.xml and the plugins/DreamsSidebar dir ??

Do not know where the stuff ends up if you do not install for every one !
Kappen

Hay Bird
Do all the pictures in the directorys have the extention ph in the begining ??

I guess you do not want to load bouth the thumb names and images so i
am looking to ignor the thumbs.

Kappen

I deleted all those files. I never had a plugins folder tho... and now it gives a pop up with
C:\Program Files\Desktop Sidebar\plugins\DreamSidebar\basePlugin.dll
After i click ok it tells me it it can't find the file- or assembly-name BasePlugin.dll

There is one prefix 'ph' for every picture and one 'th'. I am assuming the 'ph' is the full size image and the th is the thumbnail. I was thinking you might want to use the thumb for your small picture, but you could always use the large one for both.

'bird