Text on top of everything

[jimmer]

I would like autoit to display text on top of all my windows. Lets say... the middle of the screen, no matter what window I'm in, the text should still be floating in the middle of the screen.

I'm not sure if this is possible, if my wording is just very bad, or if this is just the wrong forum section?

if it is, sorry

thx in advanced if anyone can help me

p.s. I stopped using autoit for a few months, so I am very - very rusty.

[SmOke_N]

Take a look at quaizzywabbit's AnyGUI , or do a search for it. This may be what your looking for... Good Luck and welcome back!

[BigDod]

I don't know if it is something like this you want

#include <GuiConstants.au3>

GuiCreate("My message box", 400, 78,(@DesktopWidth-400)/2, (@DesktopHeight-78)/2, $WS_POPUP + $WS_DLGFRAME)
WinSetTrans("My message box", "", 150)
WinSetOnTop("My message box", "", 1)


$Button_1 = GuiCtrlCreateButton("OK", 340, 20, 50, 30)
$Label_2 = GuiCtrlCreateLabel("Here is some text", 20, 20, 300, 40)
GUICtrlSetFont($Label_2, 24)
GuiSetState()
While 1
    $msg = GuiGetMsg()
    Select
       Case $msg = $Button_1
        ExitLoop
    EndSelect
WEnd

[GaryFrost]

This requires beta, you create a bitmap of your text, and you can set a transparent color

Example bitmap included with example.

Edit: see my post below for source and example

Edited October 23, 2005 by gafrost

[jimmer]

#include <GuiConstants.au3>

GuiCreate("My message box", 400, 78,(@DesktopWidth-400)/2, (@DesktopHeight-78)/2, $WS_POPUP + $WS_DLGFRAME)

WinSetTrans("My message box", "", 150)

WinSetOnTop("My message box", "", 1)

$Button_1 = GuiCtrlCreateButton("OK", 340, 20, 50, 30)

$Label_2 = GuiCtrlCreateLabel("Here is some text", 20, 20, 300, 40)

GUICtrlSetFont($Label_2, 24)

GuiSetState()

While 1

$msg = GuiGetMsg()

Select

Case $msg = $Button_1

ExitLoop

EndSelect

WEnd

That is somewhat what I am looking for, I would prefer if there wasn't a box, if possible?

I attached an image to give an example of what I hope to achieve

-thanks

[GaryFrost]

Here's an example like the one I did above, only it is a number bmp

Gary

Transparent.zip

[jimmer]

thanks

[/dev/null]

I would like autoit to display text on top of all my windows. Lets say... the middle of the screen, no matter what window I'm in, the text should still be floating in the middle of the screen.

I'm not sure if this is possible, if my wording is just very bad, or if this is just the wrong forum section?

if it is, sorry

thx in advanced if anyone can help me

p.s. I stopped using autoit for a few months, so I am very - very rusty.

gafrost sent you already a brilliant example (i really like that one)! However, here are two more ways to do what you want, with AutoIT internal commands.

From help file of SplashImageOn() and SplashTextOn():

$destination = @Systemdir & "\oobe\images\mslogo.jpg"

SplashImageOn("Splash Screen", $destination,250,50,default,default,1)
Sleep(5000)
SplashOff()


SplashTextOn("Title", "Message goes here.", 200, 80, -1, -1, 1, "", 24)
Sleep(5000)
SplashOff()

Cheers

Kurt

[GaryFrost]

gafrost sent you already a brilliant example (i really like that one)! However, here are two more ways to do what you want, with AutoIT internal commands.

From help file of SplashImageOn() and SplashTextOn():

$destination = @Systemdir & "\oobe\images\mslogo.jpg"

SplashImageOn("Splash Screen", $destination,250,50,default,default,1)
Sleep(5000)
SplashOff()


SplashTextOn("Title", "Message goes here.", 200, 80, -1, -1, 1, "", 24)
Sleep(5000)
SplashOff()

Cheers

Kurt

need replace the default keywords unless your using the beta.

@Kurt, don't think that what they are looking for, was wanting no box around the characters, but if they don't want to use beta, well.....

Gary

[greensky]

I need something similar to the code that gafrost posted above, but for displaying *text* instead of bitmaps. I mean, in my script, the text changes sometimes and is user-defined.

gafrost, can you help me? Are there any Windows API functions for displaying text on top of everything -- without a box around the text -- or just a box with transparent background and no border -- so only the text shows?

Please help! I need this very much. And all help is appreciated.

[AgentSmith15]

Is there a way to instead of using .bmp to use .png?

[Zach]

Maybe I missed something - but wouldnt a tooltip do this?

[greensky]

Maybe I missed something - but wouldnt a tooltip do this?

No. I think not. 'Cause I just want the text -- no background, i.e. transparent background, and no border.

[greensky]

Wow! Beautiful!

Many, many, many thanks, Larry!

[PartyPooper]

Very nice piece of code Larry. Besides being very useful, it's helping me understand how to pass variables to and from functions (something I've yet to get my head around).

[Valuater]

Nice one Larry

lots of work for a 3 second display....

but appreciated by many

8)

[PartyPooper]

Here's a slight mod that overlays the window on top of all other windows and it will remain active until closed. Still trying to work out why pressing ESC doesn't close the window though...

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#region  --  Declarations
;******************************************************************************
Dim $Text = "Larry Rocks!"
Dim $Width = 600
Dim $Height = 40
Dim $Xposn = 10
Dim $Yposn = @DesktopHeight - 75
Dim $Color = "0xFF0000"
Dim $Font = "Microsoft Sans Serif"
Dim $FontWeight = 1000
Dim $Title = "Overlayed Window"
Dim $GUI
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  Includes
;******************************************************************************
#include <GUIConstants.au3>
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  Processor Instructions
;******************************************************************************
;#NoTrayIcon
opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1)
opt("MustDeclareVars", 1)
opt("GUICloseOnESC", 1)
opt("RunErrorsFatal", 0)
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  Script Loop
;******************************************************************************
MainGUI()
Do
    Sleep(250)
Until 0
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  MainGUI()
;******************************************************************************
Func MainGUI()
    TextWindow($Title, $Text, $Width, $Height, $Font, $FontWeight, $Xposn, $Yposn, $Color)
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)
EndFunc
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  TextWindow()
;******************************************************************************
Func TextWindow($zTitle, $zText, $zWidth, $zHeight, $zFont, $zWeight, $zHorizontal, $zVertical, $zColor)
    Local Const $ANSI_CHARSET = 0
    Local Const $OUT_CHARACTER_PRECIS = 2
    Local Const $CLIP_DEFAULT_PRECIS = 0
    Local Const $PROOF_QUALITY = 2
    Local Const $FIXED_PITCH = 1
    Local Const $RGN_XOR = 3
    $GUI = GUICreate($zTitle, $zWidth, $zHeight, $zHorizontal, $zVertical, $WS_POPUPWINDOW, BitOR($WS_EX_APPWINDOW, $WS_EX_TOPMOST))
    GUISetBkColor($zColor)
    Local $hDC = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "GetDC", "hwnd", $GUI)
    Local $hMyFont = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "hwnd", "CreateFont", "int", $zHeight, _
            "int", 0, "int", 0, "int", 0, "int", $zWeight, "int", 0, _
            "int", 0, "int", 0, "int", $ANSI_CHARSET, _
            "int", $OUT_CHARACTER_PRECIS, "int", $CLIP_DEFAULT_PRECIS, _
            "int", $PROOF_QUALITY, "int", $FIXED_PITCH, "str", $zFont)
    Local $hOldFont = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "hwnd", "SelectObject", "int", $hDC[0], _
            "hwnd", $hMyFont[0])
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "BeginPath", "int", $hDC[0])
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "TextOut", "int", $hDC[0], "int", 0, "int", 0, _
            "str", $zText, "int", StringLen($zText))
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "EndPath", "int", $hDC[0])
    Local $hRgn1 = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "hwnd", "PathToRegion", "int", $hDC[0])
    Local $rc = DllStructCreate("int;int;int;int")
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "GetRgnBox", "hwnd", $hRgn1[0], _
            "ptr", DllStructGetPtr($rc))
    Local $hRgn2 = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "hwnd", "CreateRectRgnIndirect", _
            "ptr", DllStructGetPtr($rc))
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "CombineRgn", "hwnd", $hRgn2[0], "hwnd", $hRgn2[0], _
            "hwnd", $hRgn1[0], "int", $RGN_XOR)
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "DeleteObject", "hwnd", $hRgn1[0])
    DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "ReleaseDC", "hwnd", $GUI, "int", $hDC[0])
    DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "SetWindowRgn", "hwnd", $GUI, "hwnd", $hRgn2[0], "int", 1)
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "SelectObject", "int", $hDC[0], "hwnd", $hOldFont[0])
    Return $GUI
EndFunc
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  OnExit()
;******************************************************************************
Func OnExit()
    If @GUI_WinHandle = $GUI Then Exit
EndFunc
;******************************************************************************
#endregion

[GaryFrost]

some minor modifications, added the consts that can be used, showed use of italics and underline etc...

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#region  --  Declarations
;******************************************************************************
Dim $Text = "Larry Rocks!"
Dim $Height = 50
Dim $Width = $Height * 6; depends on the font used
Dim $Xposn = (@DesktopWidth / 2) - ($Width / 2)
Dim $Yposn = -1
Dim $Color = "0x00008B"
;~ Dim $Font = "Microsoft Sans Serif"
Dim $Font = "Times New Roman"
Dim $FontWeight = 1000
Dim $Title = "AutoIt Overlayed Window"
Dim $GUI, $msg
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  Includes
;******************************************************************************
#include <GUIConstants.au3>
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  Processor Instructions
;******************************************************************************
;#NoTrayIcon
opt("MustDeclareVars", 1)
opt("RunErrorsFatal", 0)
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  Script Loop
;******************************************************************************
MainGUI()

While 1
    $msg = GUIGetMsg()
    If $msg = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE Then Exit
WEnd
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  MainGUI()
;******************************************************************************
Func MainGUI()
    TextWindow($Title, $Text, $Width, $Height, $Font, $FontWeight, $Xposn, $Yposn, $Color)
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)
EndFunc  ;==>MainGUI
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  TextWindow()
;******************************************************************************
Func TextWindow($zTitle, $zText, $zWidth, $zHeight, $zFont, $zWeight, $zHorizontal, $zVertical, $zColor)
    Local Const $Use_Italic = 1
    Local Const $Use_Underline = 1
    Local Const $Use_StrikeOut = 0
    
    Local Const $ANSI_CHARSET = 0
    Local Const $BALTIC_CHARSET = 186
    Local Const $CHINESEBIG5_CHARSET = 136
    Local Const $DEFAULT_CHARSET = 1
    Local Const $EASTEUROPE_CHARSET = 238
    Local Const $GB2312_CHARSET = 134
    Local Const $GREEK_CHARSET = 161
    Local Const $HANGUL_CHARSET = 129
    Local Const $MAC_CHARSET = 77
    Local Const $OEM_CHARSET = 255
    Local Const $RUSSIAN_CHARSET = 204
    Local Const $SHIFTJIS_CHARSET = 128
    Local Const $SYMBOL_CHARSET = 2
    Local Const $TURKISH_CHARSET = 162
    Local Const $VIETNAMESE_CHARSET = 163
    Local Const $JOHAB_CHARSET = 130
    Local Const $ARABIC_CHARSET = 178
    Local Const $HEBREW_CHARSET = 177
    Local Const $THAI_CHARSET = 222
    
    Local Const $OUT_CHARACTER_PRECIS = 2; Not used.
    Local Const $OUT_DEFAULT_PRECIS = 0; Specifies the default font mapper behavior.
    Local Const $OUT_DEVICE_PRECIS = 5; Instructs the font mapper to choose a Device font when the system contains multiple fonts with the same name.
    Local Const $OUT_OUTLINE_PRECIS = 8; Windows NT/2000/XP: This value instructs the font mapper to choose from TrueType and other outline-based fonts.
    Local Const $OUT_PS_ONLY_PRECIS = 10; Windows 2000/XP: Instructs the font mapper to choose from only PostScript fonts. If there are no PostScript fonts installed in the system, the font mapper returns to default behavior.
    Local Const $OUT_RASTER_PRECIS = 6; Instructs the font mapper to choose a raster font when the system contains multiple fonts with the same name.
    Local Const $OUT_STRING_PRECIS = 1; This value is not used by the font mapper, but it is returned when raster fonts are enumerated.
    Local Const $OUT_STROKE_PRECIS = 3; Windows NT/2000/XP: This value is not used by the font mapper, but it is returned when TrueType, other outline-based fonts, and vector fonts are enumerated.
; Windows 95/98/Me: This value is used to map vector fonts, and is returned when TrueType or vector fonts are enumerated.
    Local Const $OUT_TT_ONLY_PRECIS = 7; Instructs the font mapper to choose from only TrueType fonts. If there are no TrueType fonts installed in the system, the font mapper returns to default behavior.
    Local Const $OUT_TT_PRECIS = 4; Instructs the font mapper to choose a TrueType font when the system contains multiple fonts with the same name.
    
    Local Const $CLIP_CHARACTER_PRECIS = 1; Not used.
    Local Const $CLIP_DEFAULT_PRECIS = 0; Specifies default clipping behavior.
    Local Const $CLIP_EMBEDDED = 128; You must specify this flag to use an embedded read-only font.
    Local Const $CLIP_LH_ANGLES = 16; When this value is used, the rotation for all fonts depends on whether the orientation of the coordinate system is left-handed or right-handed.
; If not used, device fonts always rotate counterclockwise, but the rotation of other fonts is dependent on the orientation of the coordinate system.
    Local Const $CLIP_MASK = 0xF; Not used.
    Local Const $CLIP_STROKE_PRECIS = 2; Not used by the font mapper, but is returned when raster, vector, or TrueType fonts are enumerated.
; Windows NT/2000/XP: For compatibility, this value is always returned when enumerating fonts.
    Local Const $CLIP_TT_ALWAYS = 32; Not used.
    
    Local Const $ANTIALIASED_QUALITY = 4; Windows NT 4.0 and later: Font is antialiased, or smoothed, if the font supports it and the size of the font is not too small or too large.
; Windows 95 with Plus!, Windows 98/Me: The display must greater than 8-bit color, it must be a single plane device, it cannot be a palette display, and it cannot be in a multiple display monitor setup. In addition, you must select a TrueType font into a screen DC prior to using it in a DIBSection, otherwise antialiasing does not happen.
    Local Const $CLEAR_RN_PENDING = 0x20; Windows XP: If set, text is rendered (when possible) using ClearType antialiasing method. See Remarks for more information.
    Local Const $DEFAULT_QUALITY = 0; Appearance of the font does not matter.
    Local Const $DRAFT_QUALITY = 1; Appearance of the font is less important than when the PROOF_QUALITY value is used. For GDI raster fonts, scaling is enabled, which means that more font sizes are available, but the quality may be lower. Bold, italic, underline, and strikeout fonts are synthesized, if necessary.
    Local Const $NONANTIALIASED_QUALITY = 3; Windows 95 with Plus!, Windows 98/Me, Windows NT 4.0 and later: Font is never antialiased, that is, font smoothing is not done.
    Local Const $PROOF_QUALITY = 2; Character quality of the font is more important than exact matching of the logical-font attributes. For GDI raster fonts, scaling is disabled and the font closest in size is chosen. Although the chosen font size may not be mapped exactly when PROOF_QUALITY is used, the quality of the font is high and there is no distortion of appearance. Bold, italic, underline, and strikeout fonts are synthesized, if necessary.
    
; low order bits
    Local Const $DEFAULT_PITCH = 0
    Local Const $FIXED_PITCH = 1
    Local Const $VARIABLE_PITCH = 2
    
; high order bits
    Local Const $FF_DECORATIVE = 80
    Local Const $FF_DONTCARE = 0
    Local Const $FF_MODERN = 48
    Local Const $FF_ROMAN = 16
    Local Const $FF_SCRIPT = 64
    Local Const $FF_SWISS = 32
    
    Local Const $RGN_XOR = 3
    
    $GUI = GUICreate($zTitle, $zWidth, $zHeight, $zHorizontal, $zVertical, $WS_POPUPWINDOW, BitOR($WS_EX_APPWINDOW, $WS_EX_TOPMOST))
    GUISetBkColor($zColor)
    Local $hDC = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "GetDC", "hwnd", $GUI)
    Local $hMyFont = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "hwnd", "CreateFont", "int", $zHeight, _
            "int", 0, "int", 0, "int", 0, "int", $zWeight, "int", $Use_Italic, _
            "int", $Use_Underline, "int", $Use_StrikeOut, "int", $DEFAULT_CHARSET, _
            "int", $OUT_DEVICE_PRECIS, "int", $CLIP_DEFAULT_PRECIS, _
            "int", $PROOF_QUALITY, "int", $FF_DONTCARE * 65535 + $DEFAULT_PITCH, "str", $zFont)
    Local $hOldFont = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "hwnd", "SelectObject", "int", $hDC[0], _
            "hwnd", $hMyFont[0])
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "BeginPath", "int", $hDC[0])
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "TextOut", "int", $hDC[0], "int", 0, "int", 0, _
            "str", $zText, "int", StringLen($zText))
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "EndPath", "int", $hDC[0])
    Local $hRgn1 = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "hwnd", "PathToRegion", "int", $hDC[0])
    Local $rc = DllStructCreate("int;int;int;int")
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "GetRgnBox", "hwnd", $hRgn1[0], _
            "ptr", DllStructGetPtr($rc))
    Local $hRgn2 = DllCall("gdi32.dll", "hwnd", "CreateRectRgnIndirect", _
            "ptr", DllStructGetPtr($rc))
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "CombineRgn", "hwnd", $hRgn2[0], "hwnd", $hRgn2[0], _
            "hwnd", $hRgn1[0], "int", $RGN_XOR)
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "DeleteObject", "hwnd", $hRgn1[0])
    DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "ReleaseDC", "hwnd", $GUI, "int", $hDC[0])
    DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "SetWindowRgn", "hwnd", $GUI, "hwnd", $hRgn2[0], "int", 1)
    DllCall("gdi32.dll", "int", "SelectObject", "int", $hDC[0], "hwnd", $hOldFont[0])
    Return $GUI
EndFunc  ;==>TextWindow
;******************************************************************************
#endregion
#region  --  OnExit()
;******************************************************************************
Func OnExit()
    If @GUI_WinHandle = $GUI Then Exit
EndFunc  ;==>OnExit
;******************************************************************************
#endregion

Edited December 23, 2005 by gafrost

[thefluxster]

Maybe I'm just thinking a little narrow mindedly, but what would the use of this type of script be? I'm big into automation and all, don't get me wrong, but I'm having difficulty seeing the value of this bit of code. BTW, Larry, AMAZING, truly amazing.

[PartyPooper]

I can think of heaps of uses, for example:

- you can have it unobtrusively display on your desktop, the number of logins from your web site,

- you can use it as a desktop reminder eg. "Keep out of the fridge you fat bastard"

- you can have it display important information from another application while working in full screen mode

The list is endless.