Sphax Kernel Object

Hello everybody !

I'm glad to announce you the release of my first new extension called "Sphax Kernel object".

This object let you "control" mouse, keyboard, windows, drives and OS. Some functions are very useful (focus, window style, window opacity, set mouse position, get drive type,...) , some other are just nice (OS AboutBox,...). <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For a short description go here :
http://complex.softwares.free.fr/?p=products&amp;l=en

Enjoy ! <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Looks good. Is it absolutely forbidden to use it in commercial projects?

The condition "On window message" doesn't show the parameter in the event editor.

For me, when I try to insert the object in the frame, nothing happens. The extension does not get added to the frame, and no dialog pops up.

Actually you can't use this extension for a commercial purpose. But I'll think about that soon. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For the "On message condition", this don't work well now. I'll correct it and post a new version soon (without break older) with an example. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

FoxBlitzz, this extension seem to work for a lot of beta testers... I don't know why you can't see it... What version of MMF do you have ? <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for your comments <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

PS: For a full description of this extension (since I don't make a CHM) you can look HERE

i have the same problem as FoxBlitzz

You see the extension but when you put it on the frame, nothing happen ? <img src="/center/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Maybe it's for MMF2 Developer only? <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> (but if so it shouldn't appear in the Insert Object dialog box in the standard version)

Yves.

wow, looks good, although i would like this to be open for commercial use as it would be handy in my applications!
Great work, congrats!

Actually, this extension is for MMF2 Dev only. But maybe later I'll open it for all versions.

I'll make a little license for commercial use if I release it for all versions. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

nice object here

It might just be me, but it seems a little odd that an extension for MMF2 Developer only cannot be used in commercial applications when that's one key point of MMF2 Developer. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Ah well. It's still a good extension. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Err ditto on that one <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> If I have to pay for the ability to distribute an app with this extension I want it to do what FerretSys can do and more. It has some fun window management functionality and is usefull as an all in one solution for some things.

Providing it does what I want.

I'm more interested in the recursive folder object. make my own deltree.

There are some bugs and suggestions for this objects interface.

Events-
On window message - doesn't display value entered in the event editor.
Window Is huge - in the event edit it says "Selected window do not respond"

In the actions, conditions, expressions there are missing pairs. What I mean is you can test for a state.
ie. is cursor confined? is just one example of a missing pair.


(What I would term "Missing pairs" are the most common design error extension developers make including Clickteam. )

Error management needs a little more thought.
For example there is no way to know if an error has occured via the object, it must be tested for using compare values.
I would rather have a condition "Error occured"
Also what if more than one error occurs at the same time.
Which bring me to clearing the error list. Need some action for that.

Other things to consider, when getting screen etc is the use of multiple screens and virtual destops.
I've been using multiple screens for years and virtual destops.

Also I don't think the name of this extension is appropriate as Kernal, because what the object manipulates really hasn't got anything to do with the kernal. Its more a desktop interface object IMHO.

Anyway its a good effort for a first extension.

I note all your suggestions joewski and I'll update my extension soon. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

But you say about "Window Is huge" but it's "Window is hung" that means that the window do not respond. That's the reason but I'll correct "hung" because some do not understand this word. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

For the name, it's because this extension use a lot of Windows Kernel functions. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
And it's "Sphax Kernel" the name. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

For some missing pairs, it's not important to make some conditions since you can compare two values in a condition thanks to "Compare two general value" condition of MMF because if I make a special condition it will do exactly the same.

Althought, I'll make conditions that you can't test with expressions (like Is cursor confined)

Thanks <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

PS: For the license statement it's temporary. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

EDIT: []Other things to consider, when getting screen etc is the use of multiple screens and virtual destops.
I've been using multiple screens for years and virtual destops.[/]
The expression to get screen width and screen height consider the current REAL width and REAL height of you ACTUAL screen (so two screens with 800x600 of resolution, one on the right of the other is equal to a resolution of 1600x800)

Ah I got confused hung and huge sorry my mistake. My eyes arn't as good as they used to be.

The point I'm making is keep the wording the same between the menu and editor.

In regards to the multiple monitor stuff, there is a lot of potential issues with mulitple monitors.
For example you can't just assume that each monitor is equal in size. nor can you assume that the monitors are arranged in a side by side fasion. You can for example have monitors in above and to the side of the central monitor. Also depending on the relationship from monitor 1, monitors can be in negative space. ie the position can -800,600 for example. So depending on how your algorithms are set up you may get spurious results. There is even software that allows your old pc or laptop to become a second virtual desktop from your machine.

The pairs stuff I was mentioning makes it easier for Newbees cos they don't need to look at other object or use more advance MMF techneques.

Anyway its still a nice extension, well layed out in terms of menus and not too difficult to figure out without a manual.

Do you any plans to add more functionality to Sphax kernal object? Maybe in a version 2?

I plan to add all features which are like features already available without breaking actual features and with assuring compatibility with old projects. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You can download an update of this extension now : Extension Sphax Kernel

Update:
- Some bugs have been killed <img src="/center/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
- Known crashs have been fixed <img src="/center/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
- "Is cursor confined" event has been added
- Some functionnalities to get window messages have been added
- Some names have been corrected like you've said joewski <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
- A new example have been created

Enjoy <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In a near future I plan to add functions for changing Menu's string of the selected window.

PS: If you have suggestions for new features for that extension, ask here and I'll see if I can do them. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Great, stuff.

I noticed in another post somebody recommended your kernal objects transparancy action. Just shows how it is catching on. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I noticed there was no expression to find the current value and no way to determine if transparance is on or off. (Pairs issue again)

Of course some pairs are not available. But the pairs that aren't avaiblable in the extension have all a workaround. See the "MouseCursor.mfa" example to see how to know at any moment the transparency of the window.

At application start, all windows has no transparency by default. So it's not important to have an expression to get their transparency since it's you that enable/disable/set it. Store values you want to retrieve in alterable values of the extension (it's why I've added alterable values to the extension). <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I can't do all the work in the place of the application developer. <img src="/center/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

If I added the expression "Is cursor confined" it's only because it's more difficult to workaround (but possible).