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(This example uses a "flash" animation and therefore needs the "flash player" to work. Since "flash player" is discontinued and no longer present on many systems, this script may not work. I have therefore prepared a new script which does not use flash, but is based only on javascript. You can find it in this new post: www.autoitscript.com/forum/topic/206853-aquarium) If you set within a window, a given color as transparent, every area of that window painted with that color, act as an hole through wich you can see what's behind, and click on what's behind as well. What's funny is that if you embed a browser control within that window, the "transparent" color works even within the browser! This allow some interesting effects by simply opening any of the many javascript animations, or css effects or whatever within a browser control embedded into a GUI: Here, for example, is a simple effect of fishes swimming around on the screen. For lazyness I have embedded an ready made swf flash by a link to the web, but is of course possible embed any web page with javascripts css or whatever..... Have fun #include <WinAPI.au3> #include <WindowsConstants.au3> #include <Misc.au3> ; for _IsPressed (23 END key) Local $hDLL = DllOpen("user32.dll"), $oIE = ObjCreate("Shell.Explorer.2") Local $hBackground = GUICreate("", @DesktopWidth, @DesktopHeight, 0, 0, $WS_POPUPWINDOW, $WS_EX_LAYERED + $WS_EX_TOPMOST) Local $AlphaKey = 0xF0F7FF ; everything with color $AlphaKey within this window will be transparent ; even if within an embedded browser control!..... _WinAPI_SetLayeredWindowAttributes($hBackground, $AlphaKey, 0, $LWA_COLORKEY) GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $hBackground) $hIE = GUICtrlCreateObj($oIE, 0, 0, @DesktopWidth, @DesktopHeight) ; <- embedd $oIE in the AutoIt GUI GUISetBkColor($AlphaKey, $hBackground) ; $AlphaKey $hBackground transparent $oIE.navigate('http://cdn.abowman.com/widgets/fish/fish.swf') ; $oIE.navigate('http://cdn.abowman.com/widgets/spider/spider.swf') ; a spider goes around on the screen .... ; !! to use the spider.swf, you need to set $AlphaKey = 0xffffff on line 7 "! While True If _IsPressed("23", $hDLL) Then ExitLoop ; END key was pressed Sleep(250) WEnd $oIE = "" $hDLL = "" GUIDelete($hBackground)

Only aliens with 350+ years of contributing here have this kind of clearance, meaning you're not yet there

Being brand new to the AutoIt community, I was reluctant to offer suggestions or critique until I got more familiar with the entire system and the community too. So far, as I'm writing my first few programs, I begin with the AutoIt/SciTE HELP system which is quite good. After that, I spend a good deal of time searching the AutoIt forum and googling topics until I find the answer. So far, so good. I'm finding all my answers but it's very time consuming. As I develop my first few AutoIt programs, I'm documenting and organizing all those answers to a brief reference type document, that I refer to as my AutoIt Quick Reference Guide. So far my AutoIt Quick Reference Guide is about 10 pages and covers most of what an experienced VB6 programmer would need to know to get up to speed quickly to develop a complete program using the AutoIt HELP system. I'm talking about an intermediate level program involving multiple forms & functions, file read/writes ops, command line parameters, use of the System Tray, controlling other Windows programs, debugging, using best coding practices, etc. It's not the typical beginners guide on how to program. I tried watching some of those AutoIt tutorials, but it was a bit frustrating. I kept fast forwarding them saying out loud; "I already know how to program, just tell me what's different or unique to AutoIt"' So I began writing the quick ref guide mainly for myself and now I'm refining it for use by other experienced programmers who are brand new to AutoIt. I have not seen anything like it in all my searching for help to date. I believe it will be a valuable resource to the community when it's completed. It will be my contribution, JLogan, any chance you could direct me to those one of those threads that are dealing with improvements to the AutoIt HELP system? -pete-

That's the confirmation I needed. Thanks everybody. This forum is superb. I'll try that. Looks very tidy. I didn't know that trick, but I don't use SciTe. Laugh all you want, I always used the Notepad2 mod variant, am very comfortable in there. And lately I've been trying RJ TextEd -I like this one very much- and SublimeText.

Personally, if and when you find these instances, I would suggest making it known in the community. There are several threads that are centered on improving the help file; if you find something is lacking and point it out, someone can get it fixed so others are not similarly confused.