RomanDA

Join Date 12/2003

+147

DesktopX Step-By-Step Tutorials #12

Stepping Thru States

Step-by-Step Tutorials

#12 - Stepping Thru States

A series by RomanDA

Listing of other DX Tutorials: Click here

Today's Lesson: "Stepping Thru States" is a very simple way to setup multiple states with a button to change between them.

In this lesson we will cover how to create a simple object, then add multiple states to it, and add a simple button to "step" thru the states.

For this and all the Step-By-Step DX Tutorials you will need to purchase DesktopX for $14.95 from Stardock.

See previous tutorials for how to load DX & create a new object.

Lets get started.

STEP 1 - Create the first object "state"

With DX loaded and running, add a new object, goto the "STATES" tab and here we will assign the object a new image and then rename the state to "1"

Browse to the 1st background image you want to use, and select it.
Then use the steps below to rename the state to 1.

RIGHT-Click on the
"Mouse Away" in the States window.
Click "Rename" and name the state "1".

We will be adding more states in the next step, and each one will be another # . IE: 2, 3, 4, 5.

STEP 2 - Create More States

Add a new STATE naming it "2" and assigning it to the next background image.

You would continue this for ALL the states you want to add.

In our case we will make the TOTAL 8 states.

Repeat - till you have all 8 states added.

"OK" it all when its done.

STEP 3 - Adding the code to step thru the states.

Edit the above object and click on "NEW SCRIPT". We will be adding the following script.

Code: vbscript
 Dim MaxStates, CurrentState
'Called when the script is executed
 Sub Object_OnScriptEnter
MaxStates = 2 '-- Set this to the max # of states
 '-- Pull Current State from object
CurrentState = Object.PersistStorage("CurrentState")
 '-- check CurrentState to see if it had any value
'-- if not set it to 1
 If len(CurrentState) = 0 Then 
CurrentState = 1
Widget.AddPreference("CurrentState")
 Widget.Preference("CurrentState").defaultvalue = 1
End If
Call SetState()  '-- See Function Below
End Sub
Function SetState()
object.state  = CurrentState
End Function
Sub Object_OnLButtonDown(x, y)
 CurrentState = CurrentState + 1
If CurrentState > MaxStates Then CurrentState  = 1
Call SetState()
Widget.Preference("CurrentState").value = CurrentState
 End Sub
'Called when the script is terminated
Sub  Object_OnScriptExit
End Sub
 

You could also add multiple "state" changes to other objects as well (things like Clock hands, or color changes to text objects, etc.

CONCLUSION

There is a lot more you can do with this, but these are the basic steps to setting up the Stepping Object State Changer.

This works great for clocks, and lots of other items where you want to have multiple looks/colors/layouts.

Enjoy,RomanDA
AKA: David A. Roman
http://romanda.wincustomize.com

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Black-Knight
sViz

Thanks for this Roman, just one question, how do you toggle through the states? is there an option to toggle?

Edit.. I'm an idiot Roman, that WAS for the button doh! <---

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yep.. the whole object is the button.

if you want to make a seperate button somewhere, just look at the code:

Code: vbscript
 Sub  Object_OnLButtonDown(x, y)
  CurrentState = CurrentState + 1 
  If  CurrentState > MaxStates  Then  CurrentState  = 1 
  Call  SetState()
  Widget.Preference(" CurrentState ").value = CurrentState 
End   Sub 

You would have to make some changes to this to make it work, but its not that hard. If you download and look at my "Kewl-Klock" it had all of this code in it.

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I've done it dear! just exporting it now, I'm still half asleep, that's my excuse , thanks again for this script, and for suggesting it to me hon, you rock

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RomanDA feels the Karma

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RomanDA must be related to HG, he also speaks in the third person

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Thanx David. BTW, How's that gadget coming? Or did I miss it's finish?

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HG_Eliminator

Join Date 07/2002

+354

RomanDA must be related to HG, he also speaks in the third person

HG_Eliminator thinks it must be a Dave thing.

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Tailsgirl means it affectionately

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Very nice!

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How's that gadget coming?

RomanDA wonders What gadget?

RomanDA thinks others should think like he does.

RomanDA likes to use '/ me'

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Tailsgirl is going to test /me out

Hey it works!! coolies

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RomanDA wonders What gadget?

Wincustomize Community Wall Gadget, of course!

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oh, Sorry.. no, it had a lot of issues with screen resolutions, and i just gave up at one point, it was just too time consuming to get working the way i wanted it to. sorry.. I can send you whats done if you want.

The main issues were with the "desktop" icons not showing with it setup, and that sorta defets the purpose of a "wallpaper"

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HG_Eliminator

Join Date 07/2002

+354

Roman couldit be set it up with layered pages like Lcars? one full of the Links as proposed and a second with Desktop Icons available, alternatively switched back and forth with a control button.

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I can send you whats done if you want.

Please do. I can't script like you do, but I can do a simple wall with the shortcuts and I may have to do several resolutions. I think it can be done with just DX, only not as slick as you were going for. Thanx for giving it a shot! Jim

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Anything I could do would , of course, require that desktop icons be hidden.

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The main issues were with the "desktop" icons not showing with it setup, and that sorta defets the purpose of a "wallpaper"

What I am proposing will not be a wallpaper, it will be a full screen gadget.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

What I am proposing will not be a wallpaper, it will be a full screen gadget.

My favorite DX desktop . . that was very gadget-y

https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=3223&libid=31

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Quoting PuterDudeJim,

reply 17

What I am proposing will not be a wallpaper, it will be a full screen gadget.

Crikey Jim, you're gonna need some horsepower to push something like that ..... or in my case, I'll need a LOT of extra mice to run in that wheel, that powers my CPU

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I uploaded it here: https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=1503&libid=34

its a DXPACK (in a zip file), its also HUGE (size). Its very complicated in the script, but if you want to take it apart, and try and make it work, its all yours. I just have not had the time (desire) to make it work. Maybe VAD could make it work, but i dont know its really a complext thing.

Sorry i never managed to get it 100%.

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Crikey Jim, you're gonna need some horsepower to push something like that ..... or in my case, I'll need a LOT of extra mice to run in that wheel, that powers my CPU

Actually, It shouldn't use any cpu at all. It will just be a wallpaper with built in shortcuts. The problem is in keeping from accidentally using those shortcuts. Probably set to double click. But you won't be able to use it with fences, probably.

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Update:

If you want to change multiple objects with 1 object/button just change the code to show:

Code: vbscript
Function SetState()
  desktopx.object("objname1").state = CurrentState
  desktopx.object("objname2").state = CurrentState
  desktopx.object("objname3").state = CurrentState
  desktopx.object("objname4").state = CurrentState
 End Function

Where "objectname1,2,3,4" are the names of the other objects you want to change the state of.

EX: Face,MinHand,HourHand,Background etc.

If you NAME your objects "Object1" "Object2" "Object3" and so on, you could do the code like this:

Code: vbscript
Function SetState()
 '-- 3 is the max number of objects you have
 for x = 1 to 3 
  desktopx.object("objname" & x).state = CurrentState
 next
End Function

Keep in mind that only 1 object needs the code, dont put all this code in every object.
The above tutorial is setup to use the above object as the button as well as the main code. Again, you could make 1 object a button (like i have in the above tutorial). Its always best to keep your code in one object.

Before you start messing with code, i would suggest looking over some BASIC Vbscript tutorials, and the first tutorials I created here as well. Scripting isnt hard, its about knowing what you want to do.

I hope this helps.

Keep in mind that the "State" name needs to be the same on ALL objects. If you used "1" "2" "3" then they all need to have "1" "2" "3". if one is missing a state or is named wrong the script will crash.

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Awesome David!!! It works great!! People get ready for Chameleon DX!!!!

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Sweet David, thanks for the update

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glad i can help.

now.. i need to beat Zubaz in Karma.. LOL

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