Command-line parameters?

[kati42]

I'm trying to use DesktopCoral with Rainmeter, but because I'm a convertible tablet user, I have odd needs.    Basically, I need to move the reserved area depending on the screen orientation (landscape vs. portrait), and resize it based on that orientation as well.

If I could give DesktopCoral command-line parameters to set the size, location, docking, etc, then I could have a sidebar when in landscape mode, and a top bar in portrait mode (without having to go into DesktopCoral settings)...

The biggest challenge might be changing the current instance instead of creating a second one (ie, now when I run it twice I get two copies).

Actually, multiple instances would be nice too (but less critical) - there could be an ID given at the command line, and if it matches an active instance, it changes that instance.  If it doesn't, it creates a new instance with those parameters.

Anyway, this would be very helpful to me, and probably other Tablet users as well.

[mouser]

commandline support would be pretty easy to add, let me go ahead and do that.

[kati42]

That would be awesome, and would really help my tablet usability!

Thanks!!

[kati42]

When it's implemented, will the new version appear in the New Version thread, or will it be in a special beta area?

Thanks,

kati42

[mouser]

ill try to implement it this weekend and then make a normal release of it.

[kati42]

Sweet.  No problem if it's not the weekend, though - I have too many deadlines right now to do anything with it anyway. 

[mouser]

i changed my mind and put up a beta for testing before i release:

https://www.donation...esktopCoralSetup.exe

Available Commandline Options/Parameters:

-floatpos X Y WIDTH HEIGHT
-monitorid #
-placement float|left|top|right|bottom
-dockwidth #
-dockheight #

For example:

DesktopCoral.exe -monitorid 2 -placement left -dockwidth 100
DesktopCoral.exe -placement float -floatpos 20 30 600 480

[kati42]

Cool!  I have my deadlines, but there were a few others at the Rainmeter forum that were interested.  I'll point them here!

[kati42]

The command-line options work great!  Thank you.

But I think I need one more feature.  Let me give my usage scenario so that this makes sense.

I start off using my tablet in landscape mode.  I have a 48px wide sidebar implemented in Rainmeter plus DesktopCoral to reserve space for it.  I switch to portrait mode.  Rainmeter detects the resolution change (from 1280x800 to 800x1280) and swaps Rainmeter configs to an 18px high bar along the top of the screen. I need to move DesktopCoral from the right dock at 48px wide to a top dock at 18px high.

Right now, I end up creating an additional DesktopCoral instance every time I swap between landscape and portrait.

So I need to either modify an existing instance of DC, or I need to be able to close the current instance before running a new one with the new parameters. I think I could "kill" the process in Rainmeter, but that seems unfriendly.

Also, I'm fine with only a single instance of DC, but others may want more than one -- perhaps each instance could have an ID that is 1 for the first one invoked, 2 for the second, etc.?

Anyway - I would need something like:

// when switching to 1280x800 (landscape)
DesktopCoral.exe -close // (which wouldn't do anything if it weren't already open)
DesktopCoral.exe -placement right -dockwidth 48
// when switching to 800x1280 (portrait)
DesktopCoral.exe -close
DesktopCoral.exe -placement top -dockheight 18

OR:

// when switching to 1280x800 (landscape)
open)
DesktopCoral.exe -move -placement right -dockwidth 48
// or DesktopCoral -instance 1 -placement right -dockwidth 48
// when switching to 800x1280 (portrait)
DesktopCoral.exe -move -placement top -dockheight 18
// or DesktopCoral -instance 1 -placement top -dockheight 18

Presumably if an instance # does not exist when the command line refers to it, it would be created...

Anyway - any of those solutions would be sufficient for me.

Thanks for all your work; I made a donation a few months ago, and if this last feature is added, I'll make another because it will be so helpful!

[kati42]

Do you think this request is (reasonably) possible, or do you think I should find another way to solve my problem?

[mouser]

it's a bit tricky.. may i suggest you see if you can't use a commandline tool (or rainmeter itself) to kill any running instanced of desktop coral, and solve it that way?
and let is know if it works.

[flattery]

Should be able to detect the resolution change and then place it per the users settings for the different resolution I would think...

[liquidstate]

Available Commandline Options/Parameters:

-floatpos X Y WIDTH HEIGHT
-monitorid #
-placement float|left|top|right|bottom
-dockwidth #
-dockheight #

-mouser (June 27, 2009, 04:39 PM)

Would it be possibe for you to add a command line option to enable transparent mode?

[mouser]

seems like an easy enough feature to add.  can you share with us what you would be planning on using the feature to do?