OCX or API call to control notebook LCD brightness

[AmericanoInPhils]

I am wanting to either know how to use DeviceIoControl API so that I can instruct my monitor on my notebook to increase or decrease the brightness or to find an OCX that will enable me to do this.

The built in brightness controls do not work any longer because the manufacturer's driver does not work with XP

Literally, my eyes are being burned out of my head! Please Help?

Thanks in advance

[app103]

Is this what you are looking for?

http://msdn.microsof...2656%28VS.85%29.aspx

Alternatively you could try Skrommel's DimScreen and maybe save yourself some work.

[AmericanoInPhils]

WOW YOUR WONDERFUL!

just when I was giving up you saved me  

DimScreen is crude but totally effective.. dont lke the ini file on my desktop hehe
I still would like to write my own which would be slightly more pretty .... Its important to be ableto adjust contrast (luminosity) at same time as changing brightness plus I would build in another option needed for notebook

That microsoft article I have visited yes but I dont write in C and dont know how to apply it ... even if I did I dont have the values for all those IOCTL vars ... do you program in C and understand it?


 

[app103]

I think if given enough time and enough displays to ruin I might be able to figure it out (in Delphi), but I can't afford to find out.

[AmericanoInPhils]

UPDATE! DimScreen made with AutoHotKeys is a problem ... uses up serious CPU time and causes GUI interruption to the point windows will not move smoothly and scrollbars slip out from under mouse!!!!!!!!!!! Still searching for an answer

[app103]

Try one of these:

Miniature screen-brightness controller
Desktop Lighter
Volumouse (one of the non-sound components is for controlling the brightness of your screen)

[AmericanoInPhils]

Once again I thank you very much...

Miniature screen-brightness controller - doesnt work .. it is harware specific

Desktop Lighter - works great
Volumouse - works great

BUT! for others who may be reading this you should be aware of the following?
These two programs do dim the screen nicely and save on the eyes and volumouse will also control master volume as well as wave volume and more. HOWEVER both of these deal with the gama settings of the graphic driver card not the florescent tube called the backlight. Although the screen becomes more comfortable the florescent tube is still operating at 100% power and notebooks will find the battery runs down rapidly due to this. In short, this is not a true replacement for the manufacturers backlight driver.

I am still pursuing the intention of writing my own controller and it will control brightness by reducing power usage of the florescent tube. I am determined to eventually find a way to have a "stand-alone" software tool that is not hardware dependant the way the manufacurers do. Anyone who can assist in my 'dream' please let me know and it will be given to anyone who wants it totally free. (I would hope that might send the manufacturers a message to do a little better job of engineering)

[app103]

If you do write one, add a special setting for "off" and let this guy know about it. https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=11867.0

He has been waiting a long time for a utility to turn off his display, yet continue to accept input. (he's blind and wants to save power)

[AmericanoInPhils]

haha the first time I read your post I dint notice your URL .. I thought you were insulting me !! haha

remember my eyes are suffering here ... the gama apps you gave do darken the colors but evidently the radiation is still too much for my eyes (too many hours programming probly as well as brightness)

Yes it would be easy to add a simple off for a blind person who does not want others watching his screen (or a guy with a nosey gf/wife/others) and wants a hotkey to rapidly turn the thing off for privacy HAHAHAHAHA!

Thanks for that input and yes I am still pursuing the solution and yes I will add the "quick off" option. Great idea really cuz I hate the Windows "standby" since it disconnects you from the net, terminates app progress and simply is useless and a total annoyance to me so I terminate that whenever I use the computer.

I do have a question, ummmm a thought. If he is blind and does not need the monitor at all why does he not simply disconnect the graphic card, or unplug the florescent tube jack inside his PC/notebook?

I repeat (haha) the "off/on" toggle option is a great idea for those wanting "sudden privacy" or a goof like me doing long hours of programming and needs to go do *other* things for some minutes and allow processing to continue. In this line of thinking perhaps it would be best to have a password along with the "off"?

[Ath]

I repeat (haha) the "off/on" toggle option is a great idea for those wanting "sudden privacy" or a goof like me doing long hours of programming and needs to go do *other* things for some minutes and allow processing to continue. In this line of thinking perhaps it would be best to have a password along with the "off"?

-AmericanoInPhils (April 23, 2010, 09:14 PM)

Isn't that what {win}+L combined with the Empty screensaver is for?

[AmericanoInPhils]

I really dont know because those keys dont work on my machine. Thanks for the reply but these hotkey combinations such as you mention work for some hardware and not others. Also the reason the ascribed hotkeys stop functioning and cause a person to not be able to adjust brightness is because the hardware manufacturers dont continue to produce drivers for changing OS