Author Topic: Write text over the wallpaper (Read 16098 times)

Contro · « **on:** May 20, 2012, 08:35 PM »

I am looking for a soft to write over the wallpapers (not editing the wallpaper, of course)

something similar to BgInfo from Systernals.

and similar to Desktop Notepad, but free.

Best Regards

kunkel321 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2012, 10:19 PM »

I think maybe BGInfo lets you display the content of a text file.
Maybe make an Autohotkey script to open the text file, then update BGInfo when the window is closed... (?)

IainB · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2012, 03:42 AM »

The only options I know of:

BgInfo from SysInternals: I used to use it on my WinXP system, but I'm not sure if it will work on my Win7-64bit Home Premium. On XP I replaced it with Samurize (much more functionality).
Samurize: I used this to display my ToDo.txt file list embedded (transparent) on the Desktop, and I could click on it to edit the file, which changed the Desktop image dynamically. But Samurize doesn't work too well on my Win7-64bit Home Premium.
Stickies: I discovered that you can make a Stickies note "ghosted", so it is embedded on the desktop. To edit it, you have to go to the Stickies manager GUI, unghost the sticky, edit it, then ghost it again. Not quite as quick as the Samurize approach.

(I don't know about Desktop Notepad.)

A ghosted Stickie looks like this example:
Stickies - ghost ss 02.jpg

Curt · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2012, 07:17 AM »

Notezilla
- or even Rainlendar Pro

but really writing on the desktop is actually typing text on a transparent wallpaper on top of your normal wallpaper.

tomos · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2012, 07:59 AM »

this would probably do it (but I havent seriously tried it so cannot say for sure)
Splinter
https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=30897.0

Contro · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2012, 09:48 AM »

desktop text looks like this :

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1204/mozart21052012154345.png

Write text over the wallpaper

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/5457/mozart21052012154647.png

Write text over the wallpaper

and has options to "flash" changing the colour of the text progressive.

I'll try the rest to see results.
Desktop notepad is not bad and unregistered seems doing the work....
I think is an old program, of course, but goes well.

Contro · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2012, 09:50 AM »

The only options I know of:
BgInfo from SysInternals: I used to use it on my WinXP system, but I'm not sure if it will work on my Win7-64bit Home Premium. On XP I replaced it with Samurize (much more functionality).
Samurize: I used this to display my ToDo.txt file list embedded (transparent) on the Desktop, and I could click on it to edit the file, which changed the Desktop image dynamically. But Samurize doesn't work too well on my Win7-64bit Home Premium.
Stickies: I discovered that you can make a Stickies note "ghosted", so it is embedded on the desktop. To edit it, you have to go to the Stickies manager GUI, unghost the sticky, edit it, then ghost it again. Not quite as quick as the Samurize approach.
(I don't know about Desktop Notepad.)

A ghosted Stickie looks like this example: (see attachment in previous post)
-IainB (May 21, 2012, 03:42 AM)

I use stickies eventually too to have special notes in special situations.
I didn't knew that possibility I must try.
Best Regards

Contro · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2012, 09:52 AM »

Notezilla
- or even Rainlendar Pro

but really writing on the desktop is actually typing text on a transparent wallpaper on top of your normal wallpaper.

-Curt (May 21, 2012, 07:17 AM)

Curt.
Can you explain the transparent wallpaper on top in detail .
I have never heard of this before
Best Regards

Contro · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2012, 10:11 AM »

Splinter seems complicated and you have to prepared to understand well. In a first glance I don't see the option....

Contro · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2012, 10:14 AM »

Notezilla
- or even Rainlendar Pro

but really writing on the desktop is actually typing text on a transparent wallpaper on top of your normal wallpaper.

-Curt (May 21, 2012, 07:17 AM)

Notezilla I used before Stickies and remember is not free.
Really what I mean writing over the wallpaper is not putting a stickie on it.
But really desktop notepad seems to use a single stickie where the borders dissapear when the cursor is not on, giving the appearence desired as in the screenshots above.

Curt · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2012, 12:18 PM »

but really writing on the desktop is actually typing text on a transparent wallpaper on top of your normal wallpaper.
-Curt (May 21, 2012, 07:17 AM)
Can you explain the transparent wallpaper on top in detail .
I have never heard of this before
-Contro (May 21, 2012, 09:52 AM)

-no details. I simply read what was stated:

Because BGInfo simply writes a new desktop bitmap and exits, you don't have to worry about it consuming system resources or interfering with other applications.
-technet.microsoft

I used to have it running on Vista with "normal" wallpapers at the same time. It was working very well.

But what is it that you want to type on your desktop? Five words, or a chapter, changed once in a while or almost all of the time? Is it info from you or from some program?

Contro · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2012, 01:29 PM »

or may be. As desktop notepad does a seamless stickie o transparent stickie without borders ant taking the wallpaper as part of him.
$:-\$
It's the more similar to put the text in other cap.

Contro · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2012, 01:30 PM »

Curt. At the present moment I think enough wonderful answers are given. And everyone can make the elections....

Contro · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2012, 01:34 PM »

I think maybe BGInfo lets you display the content of a text file.
Maybe make an Autohotkey script to open the text file, then update BGInfo when the window is closed... (?)
-kunkel321 (May 20, 2012, 10:19 PM)

Nice idea indeed.

IainB · « **Reply #14 on:** May 21, 2012, 10:28 PM »

I think maybe BGInfo lets you display the content of a text file.
Maybe make an Autohotkey script to open the text file, then update BGInfo when the window is closed... (?)
-kunkel321 (May 20, 2012, 10:19 PM)

Yes, I think that's why I stopped using BgInfo - it was too constipated. It runs and then shuts down after arranging the display. You have to restart if after every change. And it's not very flexible in what it can do - as compared to Samurize.

Samurize was incredibly powerful. You could get it to display the txt file with artifacts, tints and transparency - variables to suit the background image. If you right clicked on the txt display (which seemed to behave like an active embedded object in the desktop), then you could edit the txt file with Notepad or whatever you wanted, and then save it, and the display would immediately be refreshed with the changed text.
Similarly, you could just open the txt file in an editor, edit it and then save it, and the display would immediately be refreshed with the changed text.

I just tried the latest version of Bginfo v4.16.0.0, and it seems to be much the same as I recall. Ideal as a KISS approach though.

@Curt suggested Notezilla and Rainlendar Pro. I reckon they could be worth looking at, though I haven't used them for this sort of thing.

The Stickies suggestion I made is a bit of a kludge to do something similar to what you could do with Samurize.

kunkel321 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2012, 11:22 AM »

Samurize is definitely more powerful than BGInfo. The thing with BGI running, then shutting down, is an advantage IMHO. You can use a command line to set the timer to 0, then it will launch and immediately shutdown--thus removing itself from RAM and not using any CPU.

Contro · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2012, 12:25 PM »

I'll try Samurize too.
The trial from desktop notepad give me problems finally.

TaoPhoenix · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2012, 01:02 PM »

I'll ask a different question which is "what are we trying to do here". If the idea is "jam a note onto the computer where it can remind us of stuff", I like the Stickies approach. But then I get too many, and they become a mess. So frankensteining widgets together, I use Transdesk from here to open the big batch of stickies in its own desktop-space. Then in the "primary space" I make the one *new* sticky I need for that day. Then you can "roll it up" and park it out of the way in a corner and unroll it again an hour later when the boss calls back.

kunkel321 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2012, 03:43 PM »

Maybe this technique? http://www.howtogeek...top-using-rainmeter/

daddydave · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2012, 08:39 PM »

I think maybe BGInfo lets you display the content of a text file.
Maybe make an Autohotkey script to open the text file, then update BGInfo when the window is closed... (?)
-kunkel321 (May 20, 2012, 10:19 PM)

Nice idea indeed.

-Contro (May 21, 2012, 01:34 PM)

What I used to do when I used BGInfo was create a shortcut to a batch file that would first open up the text file for editing and then run the command to update the wallpaper (maybe it was bginfo /timer:0, I am not sure). So when I saved the text file and exited it, it then updated the wallpaper with the new contents of the text file.

IainB · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2012, 09:49 PM »

...I use Transdesk from here...
-TaoPhoenix (May 22, 2012, 01:02 PM)

What is "Transdesk" please?
(I googled it and didn't come up with anything that made sense.)

dmd7978 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2012, 06:27 PM »

this would probably do it (but I havent seriously tried it so cannot say for sure)
Splinter
https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=30897.0
-tomos (May 21, 2012, 07:59 AM)

EDIT-----

IF it is PRE created text that you want to appear on screen, then yes, Splinter can do this easily. And the text can be hotlinked in various ways.
Below is the initial reply
---------

Hi, Tomos. Actually,no, Splinter will not do this. Splinter is a hotlinker, "basically". But thanks for the name drop

I believe "Mouser"(I think that is his name. The "big dog" around these parts) has an app called desktop info that does the bginfo stuff, and is very customizable.

If you mean more like a transparent command window/shell, I have never seen a fully transparent one for Windows. I have only ever had one on a linux box. I have looked many places and would love to find one, if you come across. (I assume you mean FULLY transparent window as well as bar and just the text typed showing?)

dmd7978 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 23, 2012, 06:34 PM »

Splinter seems complicated and you have to prepared to understand well. In a first glance I don't see the option....
-Contro (May 21, 2012, 10:11 AM)

SORRY IF THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE REPLY. I AM NOT TRYING TO SPAM A COMPLETELY SEPARATE THREAD, JUST WANTED TO "CLEAR" UP A COMMENT ABOUT MY APP. PLEASE DELETE IF BAD PRACTICE.

This is a misconception due to my difficulty in conveying its ease of use. There are only 7 script commands. And the rest is done by dragging and dropping imagery and then shortcuts onto the images. That is it. Splinter does not "do" anything else. Almost too easy.

I am trying to make some decent documentation, based on the "Robo search" or something app by Mouser, as it is very well detailed. But if you would like something, anything specific, tutorial related, at any time, happy to do.

Contro · « **Reply #23 on:** June 03, 2012, 01:33 AM »

I have found another one trying other things :

Frameless transparent rectangles can easily be done with atnotes.

https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=28022.0

http://atnotes.free.fr/

Best Regards