Author Topic: IDEA: OnScreen Display for Mute Status (Read 117,875 times)

app103 · « **on:** July 04, 2007, 11:27 PM »

Too many times I am interrupted and have to hit my mute button. Then I forget it's muted and wonder a little while later where my music went, or why I am not hearing alerts for incoming messages.

When I hit the mute button on my keyboard, there is an onscreen display, but it only lasts a second or 2:

What I would like is a utility that will show when the pc's volume is muted, only while it is muted, until it is not.

Whatever image or text is used, should show up well on both light & dark backgrounds.

ak_ · « **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2007, 11:32 PM »

According to my poor AHK knowledge, i think it should be easily done with it. I can't give it a try right now cause i'm off to bed but i bet there are ahk experts here who will be able to do this in 5 minutes

mouser · « **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2007, 11:38 PM »

This is surely a good idea, and you could expand it to include something if your numlock or caps lock is on too.

lanux128 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 05, 2007, 02:11 AM »

i have something like that as a general script, i'll cut and paste the relevant part and make the display persistent..

i'll post in a short while..

mouser · « **Reply #4 on:** July 05, 2007, 02:13 AM »

app, what is that fancy program you are using for your windows background -- are you sure it doesnt have the ability to show mute status?

lanux128 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 05, 2007, 03:42 AM »

ok App, try this script and let me know if it works. btw, i didn't compile the script into an EXE since you already know the drill..

OSD Mute
• monitor and display the system's Mute status.
• needs Autohotkey, if downloading the source (.ahk & .zip) files.

New version: Vista-compatible
OSD-mute-Vista.zip (27.0 KB)
OSD-mute-Vista.exe (258.7 KB)

New version: v3
OSD-mute-v3.zip (16.0 KB)
OSD-mute.exe (416.0 KB)

'Lite' version
OSD-mute.ahk (2.3 KB)
OSD-mute.exe (197.3 KB)

Edit: added the compiled EXE.
Edit2: as per Nod5's suggestion, added code to remove flickering.
Edit3: added some minor updates.
Edit4: added option to change the positioning and the font properties of the OSD.
Edit5: two new options: notraymenu & noquitmenu in the INI file.
Edit6: Vista-compatibility plus new hotkey to toggle mute status (Win+m).

app103 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 05, 2007, 03:54 AM »

Quote from: mouser on July 05, 2007, 02:13 AM

app, what is that fancy program you are using for your windows background -- are you sure it doesnt have the ability to show mute status?

Those are Yahoo widgets. I haven't found one that will do what I want.

lanux: This is great! Just what I wanted.

Thank you so much! (credits are on the way)

BigJim · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2007, 10:15 AM »

That looks really neat - and useful! Would you be willing to compile it for those of us bozo's who don't know the drill?

Thanks

lanux128 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2007, 02:26 PM »

BigJim: of course i can do that, will post it tomorrow, though..

now i'm heading to bed.. zzzzz

BigJim · « **Reply #9 on:** July 05, 2007, 04:48 PM »

Thanks man! Snooze well and prosper.

Nod5 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2007, 06:50 PM »

Great script lanux128.

This can also be done without a script. Go to Sound and Audio Devices Properties > Volume > Device Volume: Place volume icon in the taskbar. The tray icon automatically changes when mute is on/off. For this to work the tray icon must be visible all the time so the script is more sophisticated.

app103 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2007, 06:55 PM »

Quote from: Nod5 on July 05, 2007, 06:50 PM

This can also be done without a script. Go to Sound and Audio Devices Properties > Volume > Device Volume: Place volume icon in the taskbar. The tray icon automatically changes when mute is on/off. For this to work the tray icon must be visible all the time so the script is more sophisticated.

I have the tray icon, but I keep my taskbar on autohide, so it's generally not visible. Even if it were visible, that icon is pretty small and the status easy to miss. This script makes it very obvious, like when you have your TV on mute.

lanux128 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 06, 2007, 02:25 AM »

okay, i've uploaded the compiled EXE and btw, i suck at icons so those who are graphically-inclined feel free to add their own icons..

Nod5: thanks for the tip, the systray icon is useful but WinXP always hides them and as App mentioned, it's easy to miss out..

taichimaster · « **Reply #13 on:** July 06, 2007, 08:35 AM »

AWESOME script!!!! Thanks!!

Nod5 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2007, 12:08 PM »

app103 & lanux128,
You can set some tray icons to always be shown (never autohidden). Right click Start > Taskbar tab > customize.. . Alternatively, Right click Start > Taskbar tab > untick Hide inactive icons for a more general solution.
But I agree with you that this neat script makes it much easier to see when mute is on.

app103 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2007, 12:24 PM »

Quote from: Nod5 on July 08, 2007, 12:08 PM

app103 & lanux128,
You can set some tray icons to always be shown (never autohidden). Right click Start > Taskbar tab > customize.. . Alternatively, Right click Start > Taskbar tab > untick Hide inactive icons for a more general solution.
But I agree with you that this neat script makes it much easier to see when mute is on.

I have all my icons showing...but I don't have my taskbar itself showing (that is what I have on autohide).

Nod5 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2007, 08:47 PM »

app103,
Ok I missed that earlier but I see now that's what you wrote.

lanux128,
a suggestion: the scripts flickers briefly due to the repeated "gui, destroy" & "gui, show". Add these lines (in red) to only destroy+rebuild the mute OSD text only if its not already present.

------------------
If CheckMute = On
If osd_is_on != 1
{
osd_is_on = 1
Gui, Destroy ;
Gui, Color, EEAA99
Gui +AlwaysOnTop +ToolWindow -Caption +Lastfound
WinSet, TransColor, EEAA99 105 ;105 - level of translucency (range: 0-255)
Gui, Font, s30 Bold cYellow, Tahoma
Gui, Add, Text,x3 y3 w175 h45 Center c000000 BackgroundTrans, Mute %CheckMute%
Gui, Add,Text,x0 y0 w175 h45 Center cFFD300 BackgroundTrans, Mute %CheckMute%
Gui,Show, NoActivate x70 y600 w175 h45 ; some crude positioning co-ordinates
IfExist, %A_WinDir%\System32\sndvol32.exe
Menu, tray, Icon, %A_WinDir%\System32\sndvol32.exe, 4 ; Mute icon
Sleep 3000
}
If CheckMute = Off
{
osd_is_on =
------------------
(is there some way to combine code block format with text coloring in forum posts?)

lanux128 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 09, 2007, 08:53 AM »

sorry hadn't noticed the flicker but thanks for the idea, Nod5..

i'll update the script soon.

lanux128 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 10, 2007, 03:40 AM »

ok, done..

hopefully no more ugly flickering..

Grorgy · « **Reply #19 on:** July 10, 2007, 04:15 AM »

works even better

lanux128 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 05, 2007, 03:03 AM »

some minor feature updates:
• allow mouse-clicks to pass through the Gui
• stop Win+D from minimizing the Gui
• tray icon to emulate normal tray volume icon (now you can turn off the default one)

[attach=#]

get the latest update <a href="http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=9094.msg67042#msg67042">here</a>;. also use Win+q to exit the program..

mouser · « **Reply #21 on:** September 05, 2007, 11:11 PM »

lanux i think it's time to make a web page for your utils!

lanux128 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 06, 2007, 12:34 AM »

but mouser, i've only made a handful of AHK scripts.. (lanux128 being ultra-modest)

ak_ · « **Reply #23 on:** September 06, 2007, 01:16 AM »

Lanux> well, they work well and they're useful, so a small web page with all of them would be convenient. I'm thinking of making one myself (especially because i now use dcuhelper and i had to provide an url - i don't want it to be an empty space)

mouser · « **Reply #24 on:** September 06, 2007, 01:29 AM »

im very very happy to create web space for dc members with freeware and/or donationware.
something like http://NAME.dcmembers.com or http://NAME.dcisv.com
message me for help.