I'm trying to create a C# program, but I don't want the window to be active when I open it. I'd like it to open in the background, and the window to show up on top of my other programs, except I want my active window to stay the same. It's because I'm using full screen programs, and I don't want my little popup to take my out of the full screen mode.
Program Use (might help in understanding what I need): I'm creating a set of macros that turn a spare mouse into a media controller. The scroll wheel controls volume, left button controls play/pause, etc. I use Spotify for music, and I want to be able to change the volume of Spotify independently from my computer's global volume. I already have this figured out using code here. I want a popup to display telling me that when I use the scroll wheel, I'm changing the volume of Spotify opposed to global volume. I want to be able to activate the macro, display the popup, change the volume as I wish, and then deactivate the macro without exiting my full screen applications. Hopefully this helps, thank you!
Program Use Edit: Here's just an explanation video, should be easier than trying to explain. To clarify, I want the program to not change activated window when it starts and to always be top most, without me having to activate it first. Thank you!!! https://streamable.com/2pewz
I'm using a program called QuickMacros to open the popup and I've tried a few different settings in there but haven't had any luck. I don't have any experience with C#, so I haven't tried anything inside C#.
My code is unrelated to the issue, but here it is just in case. All this does is give me the ability to move the popup.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace SpotifyPopup
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void label1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}
private void Form1_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
this.Left += e.X - lastPoint.X;
this.Top += e.Y - lastPoint.Y;
}
}
Point lastPoint;
private void Form1_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
lastPoint = new Point(e.X, e.Y);
}
private void label1_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)
{
this.Left += e.X - lastPoint2.X;
this.Top += e.Y - lastPoint2.Y;
}
}
Point lastPoint2;
private void label1_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
lastPoint2 = new Point(e.X, e.Y);
}
}
}
Thank you for your help!
Your question is a little bit unclear but if I am right what you want is to start your application in minimized state, to do that simply use code below in your form constructor
this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
And when your event is fired and you want your app to be on top just use
this.TopMost = true;
this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
and for proper positioning of your form you can use this answer
Edit
Ok, now your needs are more clear, this a demo of what i think you want, in this example the form starts minimized and comes to top on mouse wheel, and then goes to background when idle, u can add more events to code and adapt it for your needs,
I used global hooks for this demo thanks to this link, so dont forget to add the proper nuget package based on the provided link.
here is the code:
using Gma.System.MouseKeyHook;
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
public class Form1 : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
private Timer timer;
private IKeyboardMouseEvents m_GlobalHook;
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.Run(new Form1());
}
public Form1()
{
Subscribe();
timer = new Timer();
timer.Interval = 1000;
timer.Tick += Timer_Tick;
// Set up how the form should be displayed.
ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 266);
Text = "Notify Icon Example";
WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
Rectangle workingArea = Screen.GetWorkingArea(this);
Location = new Point(workingArea.Right - Size.Width - 100,
workingArea.Bottom - Size.Height - 100);
}
private void Timer_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
TopMost = false;
}
public void Subscribe()
{
// Note: for the application hook, use the Hook.AppEvents() instead
m_GlobalHook = Hook.GlobalEvents();
m_GlobalHook.MouseWheel += M_GlobalHook_MouseWheel;
}
private void M_GlobalHook_MouseWheel(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
TopMost = true;
timer.Stop();
timer.Start();
}
public void Unsubscribe()
{
m_GlobalHook.MouseDownExt -= M_GlobalHook_MouseWheel;
//It is recommened to dispose it
m_GlobalHook.Dispose();
}
}
Have a look here: Bring a window to the front in WPF
This thread discusses the general mechanism of presenting, activating and showing windows with WPF.
Related
newbie here, my form is monitoring Caps Lock status but is using around 50% of CPU, I think this is related to Application.Idle += Application_Idle and Application.Idle -= Application_Idle. Once I've removed those my form is not monitoring Caps Lock state, any suggestions?
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace CapsLockChecker
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
Application.Idle += Application_Idle;
}
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}
void Application_Idle(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (Control.IsKeyLocked(Keys.CapsLock))
{
label1.Text = "CapsLock is On";
pictureBox1.ImageLocation = "C:\\Users\\user\\source\\repos\\CapsLockChecker\\CapsLockChecker\\if_Circle_Green_34211.png";
}
else
{
label1.Text = "CapsLock if Off";
pictureBox1.ImageLocation = "C:\\Users\\user\\source\\repos\\CapsLockChecker\\CapsLockChecker\\if_Circle_Red_34214.png";
}
}
protected override void OnFormClosed(FormClosedEventArgs e)
{
Application.Idle -= Application_Idle;
base.OnFormClosed(e);
}
}
}
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.KeyDown += CapsLockMonitor;
this.KeyPreview = true;
}
private void CapsLockMonitor(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
if (Control.IsKeyLocked(Keys.CapsLock))
{
this.label1.Text = "Caps lock enabled!";
}
else
{
this.label1.Text = "Caps lock disabled!";
}
}
}
This appears to not chew up all my CPU, I subscribe to the KeyDown event with my custom delegate.
Honestly, keeping the CapsLock status constantly monitored, even when the application is idle, looks like an overkill to me. I mean, I don't doubt it's a nice feature, but I don't know if it's worth the effort for implementing it.
If your application has to warn the user whenever he is typing something while his CapsLock is turned on, the best (and simpler) approach would be showing a tooltip or a little warning box somewhere as soon as the user focuses a Control that allows text editing. Even if the code is based on WPF framework, you have an excellent example of what I'm talking about here.
In order to perform what you are looking for, you need to set up a very complex system based on Global Keyboard Hook. Following this link you can find a very nice and detailed article ("Processing Global Mouse and Keyboard Hooks in C#") describing how to accomplish this task. The link also contains a demo code written in C# that you can deploy and try.
A little excerpt:
This class allows you to tap keyboard and mouse and/or to detect their
activity even when an application runs in the background or does not
have any user interface at all. This class raises common .NET events
with KeyEventArgs and MouseEventArgs, so you can easily retrieve any
information you need.
I'm working on a C# project using WPF. In my MainWindow I just got rid of the default windows border and made an own border instead with a png file. I just set this as the background of the MainWindow.
Now I made some kinda tricky way to make my window move:
private void Window_MouseDown(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e) {
mouseDown = true;
lastX = (int)e.GetPosition(this).X;
lastY = (int)e.GetPosition(this).Y;
}
private void Window_MouseUp(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e) {
mouseDown = false;
}
private void Window_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e) {
if (mouseDown) {
int xDiff = (int)e.GetPosition(this).X - lastX;
int yDiff = (int)e.GetPosition(this).Y - lastY;
this.Left += xDiff;
this.Top += yDiff;
}
}
private void Window_MouseLeave(object sender, MouseEventArgs e) {
mouseDown = false;
}
Now this doesn't really work properly. This way the user can move the window at all clear spaces, even on Labels and TextBlocks. Is there a way to give the background or a border these kind of events? Or is there a better way to integrate borders?
Thanks in advance!
As you said, behavior is erratic when done manually but there's a fix for it.
This is the method in the framework that is specially for doing that :
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.window.dragmove(v=vs.110).aspx
I try to make some form control like Minimize, Exit and drag form but seems not work. I think the problem with partial class but after searching, I can't find solution to make this work.
Note: I can't remove namespace and partial for some reason. What must I change, maybe declare etc?
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Threading;
using System.Net.Sockets;
using System.Net;
namespace test
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
//Minimize (Not Work)
private void Form1_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (FormWindowState.Minimized == this.WindowState)
{
notifyTray.Visible = true;
notifyTray.ShowBalloonTip(500);
this.Hide();
}
else if (FormWindowState.Normal == this.WindowState)
{
notifyTray.Visible = false;
}
}
//Exit (Not Work)
private void Form1_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
{
var window = MessageBox.Show("Wanna Close?", "Warning", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo);
if (window == DialogResult.No) e.Cancel = true;
else e.Cancel = false;
}
//Drag (Not Work)
public bool _dragging = false;
public Point _offset;
public Point _start_point = new Point(0, 0);
void Form1_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
_dragging = true; // _dragging is your variable flag
_start_point = new Point(e.X, e.Y);
}
void Form1_MouseUp(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
_dragging = false;
}
void Form1_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (_dragging)
{
Point p = PointToScreen(e.Location);
Location = new Point(p.X - this._start_point.X, p.Y - this._start_point.Y);
}
}
In VB that code works fine.
What Tony means is that in the Designer of your form you hook the handlers such as
this.FormClosing += new System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventHandler(this.FormClosing);
and this is where it's hooked.The problem is that probably you have it defined in several files (or didn't hook them).
Try to put the class in a different namespace and check if your InitializeComponent goes to the designer where you put the hooked functions.
The "partial" keyword indicates that the code for a class can be found in multiple files. The forms designer in Visual Studio automatically creates a Form1.Designer.cs class where it puts the code to create controls you dragged onto the form.
When you try to remove the partial keyword from Form1, the compiler will tell you that Form1.Designer.cs contains a partial definition for the same class.
When you change the namespace, the two become separate classes, but Form1.cs calls InitializeComponent() which is defined in the other class.
(Posted a solution on behalf of the question author)
Thank you for #Tony for point me. I need to add event handler manually in C# like
this.Closing += Form1_FormClosing; //for close button
I want a blinking LED -- alternately a lighted, then a dark image in a PictureBox -- to appear during a run (that I click a button to start). The image lights when the run starts, and goes dark when it the run finishes. That always works.
This code:
this.timer.SynchronizingObject = this;
this.timer.Interval = 250;
this.timer.Elapsed += (s, ea) =>
{
this.ledLit = !this.ledLit;
ShowInLog(this.ledLit ? "/" : "\\");
this.picMarking.BackgroundImage = this.ledLit ? this.imageStopped : this.imageRunning;
this.picMarking.Refresh();
};
works great to show a blinking LED image during the run...every other run.
On every even-numbered invocation, the display of alternating slashes shows that the timer is working, but the background image does not update (except perhaps a rare flicker).
Why? How do I make it to work on every invocation?
Here's some quick code I put together for your "blinking" effect:
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace Blinker
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
timer1.Interval = 250;
timer1.Tick += timer1_Tick;
timer1.Start();
}
void timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Console.WriteLine("Tick");
pictureBox1.BackColor = (pictureBox1.BackColor == System.Drawing.Color.Red) ? System.Drawing.Color.Black : System.Drawing.Color.Red;
}
}
}
I've used event handlers for the Tick event on the timer to trigger the blinking. You can adjust the image like I have with the BackColor property. It's a quick and dirty approach, but it gets the blinking effect achieved.
I found the answer to my problem here: Custom event handler is repeating itself...
My problem is that I subscribed to the tick event each time, rather than only once.
I'm making a C# WinForms application. The MouseMove and MouseClick events of the form aren't getting fired for some reason. (I'm probably going to feel like an idiot when I find out why.)
It is a transparent form (TransparencyKey is set to the background colour) with a semi-transparent animated gif in a Picture Box. I am making a screensaver.
Any suggestions?
EDIT:
MainScreensaver.cs
Random randGen = new Random();
public MainScreensaver(Rectangle bounds)
{
InitializeComponent();
this.Bounds = Bounds;
}
private void timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Rectangle screen = Screen.PrimaryScreen.Bounds;
Point position = new Point(randGen.Next(0,screen.Width-this.Width)+screen.Left,randGen.Next(0,screen.Height-this.Height)+screen.Top);
this.Location = position;
}
private void MainScreensaver_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Cursor.Hide();
TopMost = true;
}
private Point mouseLocation;
private void MainScreensaver_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (!mouseLocation.IsEmpty)
{
// Terminate if mouse is moved a significant distance
if (Math.Abs(mouseLocation.X - e.X) > 5 ||
Math.Abs(mouseLocation.Y - e.Y) > 5)
Application.Exit();
}
// Update current mouse location
mouseLocation = e.Location;
}
private void MainScreensaver_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
{
Application.Exit();
}
private void MainScreensaver_Deactive(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Application.Exit();
}
private void MainScreensaver_MouseClick(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
Application.Exit();
}
Excerpt from MainScreensaver.Designer.cs InitialiseComponent()
this.MouseClick += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.MainScreensaver_MouseClick);
this.MouseMove += new System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventHandler(this.MainScreensaver_MouseMove);
This isn't an answer to you question, but I'm leaving this answer in case anyone else stumbles upon this question while trying to debug this same issue (which is how I got here)
In my case, I had a class that was derived from Form.
I was also using TransparencyKey.
Some things I noticed
The events will not fire on the transparent parts of the form.
The events will not fire if the mouse cursor is over another control on the form.
The events will not fire if you override WndProc and set the result of a WM_NCHITTEST message. Windows doesn't even send out the corresponding mouse messages that would cause the .NET events.
My Solution
In my constructor, I had forgotten to call InitializeComponent().
Which was where the event handlers were being bound to my controls.
Events were not firing because the handlers were not being bound.
Are you sure that your form has focus? If your form does not have focus, the mouse events will not be fired.