Window Top Most with Clicks Under App?

Hi!

I'm trying to make an application that sits over other applications, which I've got working mostly. However I can't yet figure how to make sure clicks are not registered on the application even if I click on it. I basically, upon even, want it to ignore all clicks.

FWIW, I already have set it to be top most with the Window Control object. This application is for Windows, so any extension recommendations is in the cards.

Thanks!

Can you explain a bit more about what you're trying to achieve here? I mean the actual function your app/game will have?

Hi Simon! Thanks for responding.


The application is an overlay with images to be used as reference while painting or sculpting, and I want it to simply be used as reference over my work in progress without any interaction with the this the application I'm making (with on/off toggle of course).


I've used it for a few years now, but it's always been interactive, and I want it to be passive and ignore clicks, to let clicks pass through so I can paint and sculpt under the application.

Ah right. Well, there is a property which windows windows have in their extended properties, named WS_EX_TRANSPARENT. Setting this flag on should make mouse events drop through to the window/surface below which is half the battle.

I think you might be able to set this with the Win Message Pro object, included in Dev. I've really never tried this from fusion however so it'll take some playing around. The send message or send window message (I forget) might be what you need to set the flag from Fusion... that should help you search for what you need on Google either way.

Good luck!

Thank you Simon! That is incredibly helpful. I really appreciate it. :) If I need any more help, I'll be sure to post in this thread. Thanks again. :)

So I found 0x00000020L for WS_EX_TRANSPARENT. I tried inputting the number into Win Message Pro as a message, and of course it doesn't like it because it views it as a mixed string/value, I also tried the text "WS_EX_TRANSPARENT", which it didn't like either. I also tried inputting it both (the hex and text) as a custom Window Style, with no joy there either.

What would you recommend? This area is a little new to me, so sorry for my ignorance here.

Thanks!

I found this thread:

http://community.clickteam.com/threads/73679-Sphax-Kernel-Object-Custom-Window-Styles


Though trying what LB says, isn't working in the calculator... Any help is appreciated.


Some more info for reference:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=vs.85%29.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=vs.60%29.aspx

I have figured out some information, but I really need help with one thing: How can I input a number into the Expression editor that has alpha characters? For example these numbers:


0x00080000

0x08000000

0x20

And how can I add these numbers and make sure that the leading zeros are not removed? Thanks!

I don't know if it's possible but here is another starting point.

Maybe you can use the Shared Data object in both applications.
The upper application sets different values to the current mouse position (if needed) and click status.
The second application reads these values and simulates the position and click status via the Control X object.

Oh, I think it won't work to simulate a click that way.

But you can execute the "on mouse click actions" when the upper application sends the click command via the Shared Data object.

Hi Gustav!

Thanks for your help. So, would the Shared Data object work with an application that wasn't made in MMF?

The idea is that I want to basically have an overlaying image with my application made in MMF, and also have that application ignore all clicks and keystrokes and to allow the underlying application, in this case it would be something like Photoshop or 3D-Coat, the clicks and keystrokes, acting as a sort of tracing tool, used for reference.

Thanks! Talk to you soon.

Ah, I was thinking the other application was also made with Fusion. So this won't work I think.

Then another starting point:

Your application is getting all (mouse) inputs because it's in the front of the other window. And it's hard to change that...
So why not making the other window (you are working in) transparent and your application visible in the background? :)


Take the Kernel object (Dev only):

• Select (your desired) Window with one of the various Actions
• Set Window Transparency State to 1
• Set window opacity to 100

Now you can code a hotkey to toggle the transparency state from the desired window.
And maybe also the transparency of your application to set its position more easy above the other programm.
Then you can toggle the transparency of both applications again. So you don't need to change the position of your working window.


Edit
I wanted to figure this out and it works well. :)
Here is an example: Attachment 14628
Click Start and bring the window you want to be transparent to the front within 3 seconds.
Click Stop and bring the window you want to be no longer transparent to the front within 3 seconds.

Hi Gustav!


Thank you for taking the time! I really appreciate it.

I tried your idea about making the other applications transparent, unfortunately with little success in the performance area. Things get really slow.

That said, I do have my application working with transparency with a hotkey. I also have some simple controls for moving the application by clicking and dragging it, as well as image zooming (still in the works, but it works well enough for my personal usage at the moment). Sending clicks through it though... Super difficult. I'm convinced it can be done, but I simply cannot figure out how to do it with CF yet. I've found a ton of articles for doing it in other languages.

For example, this thread:
http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/to...no-background/

Note that various peoples are using ws_ex_transparent for allowing clicks through their applications. However when I try to set it in Fusion, it controls opacity I/O (Transparency State) rather than click through. It's an interesting predicament. Would you have any ideas from that thread I posted perhaps?

My thinking was I may have been using the wrong numerical code for ws_ex_transparent in CF with an extended style, or that I cannot figure out how to input stuff like below, as a number:

0x00080000

0x08000000

0x20

For what it's worth, I am willing to pay for someone to figure out how to pass clicks through a transparent/semi-transparent MMF2 application. :)

Hm... I can't get it to work, sorry. :/

It's cool, thank you for you taking the time to help Gustav! I very much appreciate it. :)