NextPreviousHomeI have a Directx programming question please.

SamSaam | 11 years ago | 6 comments | 1,955 views

Dear Sir/michiel,
There are many beautiful Directx screensavers,
You know that screensavers have an option for showing them in parent with a handle for preview,
Now Is possible for you to add a function for showing them in the background or on a special layer with real time running?

Of course I know I can capture it and add an avi in background but for making some digital signage in my shop I need real time running.




Share this on FacebookShare this on X

I think you can create a screensaver by using the command line options. Take a look at the /W option:

outerspace-software.com...

michiel, 11 years ago


Is this the answer of my question really?
I want to show other applications in background of my BT show without capturing.

SamSaam, 11 years ago

Do you mean that you would like to capture an application and use this as a texture in BluffTitler?

I think this is impossible if this application is running in the background. You can only capture windows in the foreground.

michiel, 11 years ago


In non directx programming it is very easy to show a screensaver as a background of a form/window because
When Windows runs any screensaver, it launches it with one of three command line options:

/s – Start the screensaver in full-screen mode.
/c – Show the configuration settings dialog box.
/p #### – Display a preview of the screensaver using the specified window handle

it is very easy to find our form handle and give the value to the /p and start the screensaver,
I don't know is it possible for you and directx that give us the ability to show any screensaver with /p in the background of a BT show or as a layer?

for example:

Show Path ""
Size 640 x 360 pixels
Duration 3 seconds

Layer Parent Keys
1 0 0 Camera
2 0 0 Ambient Light
3 0 0 Point Light
4 0 0 Picture "c:\windows\screensaver1.scr"

when I play this show with BT it finds the handle of layer 4 and play the screensaver1.scr with /p with the handle,
with this method I can show a screensaver1.scr in the back and show my other layers in front of it.

I don't want to capture it I want only to show all these layers in real time.

SamSaam, 11 years ago

Thank you for your detailed suggestion.

I'm not sure if this is technically possible. Not all applications will be able/willing to render to an invisible window.

And allowing a bt show file to start other applications will create serious security issuses so it will never be part of the public version. If you want to turn this into a project please contact us by e-mail:

outerspace-software.com...

michiel, 11 years ago


At the first please test the possibility of that and let me know.
maybe some other guys need it too.

SamSaam, 11 years ago

Comment to this article

You must be logged in before you can comment to this article. Login | Register

More by SamSaam