v 0.4 codename: glass bender

read license!

Download on dA

Preview: settings and one of the effects...

Description:
Small program that adds various window effects that can be adjusted by user. Currently, those are:
-transparency effects, with fading
-window fading in on creation
-transparency change of active window
-transparency change of non-active window
-taskbar and start menu transparency(no fading)
-contrast screen(adjustable transparency)
-transparency on window move and resize
-jelly effects
-window kinetics while moving
-window bouncing
-window resilience - acting like made from jelly during resize
-window gravity - window fall to bottom of the screen when deactivated

Known issues:

• after exciting program - not all programs turn back opaque if transparency effects were enabled - but that's mentioned in options
• sometimes some windows might stop responding to opacity change command [usually after rapid change from non-supported ones]
• sometimes ram usage rises rapidly(fast changing windows etc.) - after some time garbage collector takes care of it ^-^ [actually it keeps around 3-7~10 mb on my PC]
• Some windows make black flash after restoring - actually it seems to be Windows own behaviour for layered windows.

Tested under: Vista Home Basic
Possibly would also work on: XP, 2000

By downloading and using this program You agree to license below:
License:
IMPORTANT NOTICE - READ CAREFULLY: This license for users of this software is the agreement which governs use of the this software. By downloading, installing, copying, or otherwise using the SOFTWARE - You agree to be bound by the terms of this LICENSE. If You do not agree to the terms of this LICENSE don't download, install, copy, or otherwise use the SOFTWARE.

Definitions:
1.Official site. Official site means SOFTWARE official site.
2. My. My means SOFTWARE DEVELOPER.
3. Me. Me means SOFTWARE DEVELOPER.

License:
0. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED by ME "AS IS" WITH ALL FAULTS. YOU USE THIS PROGRAM ON YOUR OWN RISK - BE AWARE THAT IT COULD BURN YOUR PC, DESTROY YOUR SYSTEM AND DATA(+WORK) AND DO ANYTHING ELSE. BY USING IT YOU AGREE TO TAKE ALL POSSIBLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL DAMAGES AND ANYTHING THAT COULD HAPPEN - AND DON'T MAKE ANY CLAIMS TOWARD ME, MY FAMILY, WORLD.
1. SOFTWARE executable can be only available on OFFICIAL
SITE.
1.1. Setups downloading program from OFFICIAL SITE are
exclusion, but require MY approval.
2. This SOFTWARE is freeware for non-commercial use.
3. Reverse engineering is forbidden.

Oh and Toph rox

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Somebody feel free to write review, post screenshot or anything like that. _O_

Good work. The fade effect seems to be a bit buggy though
Hope to see more versions coming

Good work, would be nice to see an option panel, so we can change how transparent windows become, at the moment they are too transparent for me, if I have 2 or 3 windows it gets confusing (My windows are usually always just under the size of the screen, and it's hard to see which one is highest so I'll click one but I'll have lcicked the other one if you get me) but it's a good little app

I like how it says bye bye when you turn it off

For sure there will be more versions - as I mostly designed this app cause I couldn't find any free app that would offer window effects. About fading - mind You give some example so I could fix possible bug?

I've tried to make this app as much minimalistic as I could - so I've decided to make everything non-changeable, that's why there is no option panel. However, there still might be option panel in 0.2 (actually it's quite easy to add slider and save settings )

About "transparency confussion" - get the same but after 10-20 minutes I've got used to Anyway I've thought on simple solution how to resolve such state - possibly gradient transparency or colour difference (AFAIR there was such option in win api ).

Btw, adding "win+alt" turn temporary transparency over active window(what I call ghost effect) + click through possibly will also help

Yeah it's one of it's most meaningful features

About the bug: When you open a minimized window, it turns black for a while..

Out of interest, if you did include this option, would you save settings within the application or in a .ini/xml file? (Or other method)

Ah this - actually it seems to be one of the windows itself behaviour - none of api I've used could possibly make so and I guess I possibly won't be able to do anything about this

I would use build in VB.net setting management - AFAIR it was saved in XML(or it was registry). However, if You thought about adding .cfg file for manual changes, not bad idea - especially for adding exceptions. I will think about this

New Tophaz v0.2 codename: sand bender - released. More on first post

I'll test it once I get home. Currently, I am on Vista.

^O^

No, you won't This is a thing that happens with windows in vista, if they have styles or effects, you notice it with iTunes, it has a style to make it more mac-ish, but means when you minimize then maximise, or when it first opens up the window will go black.

I haven't noticed this bug myself though, this works fine under vista

The CPU so far has peaked at 12, and that was switching windows as fast as I could click. The memory starts at 4000K, and then goes up by 4,12,80,20 and then seemingly random amounts, that doesn't correspond with anything I'm doing, just jumps up whenever I click a window. And so far it has shown no signs of slowing... it paused at 4,316 for a while, but then carried on going up... it's on 4,352 at the minute... 4,404... he he this is fun... aw, doesn't seem to want to go higher than 4,404...

You might want to update your About bit...

Actually as written it can be only available on mine own site.

Isn't it available on DA? That isn't your own site...

Taskbar tranparency doesn't affect the start button... is this deliberate? I would assume so, either so you can see it or because it isn't changeable... not that I make it transparent, it let's me see windows behind it but I can't click on them so... defeats the purpose for me

And is the options window meant to change transparency as you use the scrollbar? If so that's fine, but the thing is the window flashes, from opaque to transparent as you do it... I assume because you are using realtime transparency change on the window, which is obviously used on all windows, but there must be a line of code, perhaps on an event that conflicts with this, hence making the window momentarily flip back to being opaque.

EDIT: And also when I closed Tophaz (Right click, Exit) I had t=four windows open, Opera, Two msn convos and msn messenger (Msn plus, latest msn version) and after it had gone I noticed that Opera and one of the msn convos hadn't been reset, and we're still transparent, so I had to close them since I couldn't see them to use them. I don't know how you change the open windows back to being opaque when the app closes, but it didn't work that time

Second time it just happened with the msn convo... third times the charm!

And might want to make your license more... licensey Ie... maybe using AND as opposed to +, make it more licensey Especially since this app looks like it's going places (Looking at your little development diary you'll be creating the windows equievalant of Compiz on Ubuntu (And whatever other Linux systems Compiz runs on... probably all lol)

Nothing more to add
I haven't noticed this bug myself though, this works fine under vista
Personaly, I didn't notice that till someone mention it xD
The CPU so far has peaked at 12, and that was switching windows as fast as I could click. The memory starts at 4000K, and then goes up by 4,12,80,20 and then seemingly random amounts, that doesn't correspond with anything I'm doing, just jumps up whenever I click a window. And so far it has shown no signs of slowing... it paused at 4,316 for a while, but then carried on going up... it's on 4,352 at the minute... 4,404... he he this is fun... aw, doesn't seem to want to go higher than 4,404...
Windows resources physics - as long as resources aren't needed some memory isn't released. Probably system would rise and stay steadily on 15-20mb maximum, in order to give maximum performance. Though as I prefer keeping as well low CPU and memory usage - I decided to sacrifice few cpu cycles for garbage collecting process
You might want to update your About bit...
Meh knows - however it's stylized so for purpose
Actually as written it can be only available on mine own site.
Isn't it available on DA? That isn't your own site...
Best way to avoid any overuse - write license in such way that things won't be easy to understand and can be misread. In that way people will be aware of doing anything: in that case, posting outside without my permission
Taskbar tranparency doesn't affect the start button... is this deliberate? I would assume so, either so you can see it or because it isn't changeable... not that I make it transparent, it let's me see windows behind it but I can't click on them so... defeats the purpose for me
Yup I left this on purpose - but I guess not on every style it looks well, so most likely there will be option to turn full taskbar transparency
And is the options window meant to change transparency as you use the scrollbar? If so that's fine, but the thing is the window flashes, from opaque to transparent as you do it...
Weird - process "tophaz" is added as low-level exception it shouldn't happen (AFAIR at last during debug it wasn't) O_o

Will be fixed for sure.
I assume because you are using realtime transparency change on the window, which is obviously used on all windows, but there must be a line of code, perhaps on an event that conflicts with this, hence making the window momentarily flip back to being opaque.
Let's not talk about solution I've used - it's CPU usage disaster ^-^'
EDIT: And also when I closed Tophaz (Right click, Exit) I had t=four windows open, Opera, Two msn convos and msn messenger (Msn plus, latest msn version) and after it had gone I noticed that Opera and one of the msn convos hadn't been reset, and we're still transparent, so I had to close them since I couldn't see them to use them. I don't know how you change the open windows back to being opaque when the app closes, but it didn't work that time
All windows that have title are set back to 100% opacity - I would use GetWindowText to avoid such situations, but normal cpu usage would rise twice(actually done that once for testing - though number of windows found as compatible wasn't far greater than when it used just Process.MainWindowTitle) For next version I plan adding exception for compatibility check to allow user choose applications that weren't detected (I would add this for current release, but I thought I will see if this is really needed)
Second time it just happened with the msn convo... third times the charm!
No idea why it acted so... rapid hwnd change, window title lose... argh it all seems impossible when they were firstly detected
And might want to make your license more... licensey Ie... maybe using AND as opposed to +, make it more licensey

Eventually I'll change it - now I wish it have such look
Especially since this app looks like it's going places (Looking at your little development diary you'll be creating the windows equievalant of Compiz on Ubuntu (And whatever other Linux systems Compiz runs on... probably all lol)

What I can say there is lack of free software offering simple & still useful effects - that people found already useful on other operational systems...or at last I think that effects shouldn't be only reason for changing OS

Yay answers, solutions and worries

I shall await version 3 Though I still have decided not to use it still Window transparency still doesn't fit into my workspace... if only I had more workspaces... That better be in windows 7... except I'll have a mac by then so it won't make any odds

You meant 0.3 - if this project ever reach 3 I wonder how it would look like Anyway, to be blunt I also doesn't use it from the same reason - except for taskbar transparency.

and 0.3 should be interesting - mostly cause everything is rewritten from scratch (now everything will rely on windows hooks - for now 1 is done, 1-2 to go) not to mention new possibilities and more professional look

Heh, yea, 0.3, that's what I said...

Hehe, I like that you don't use them (Except for taskbar)

Totally from scratch? Ah, it's bound to be better then, it's always good every now and then to clean up your code by simply rewriting it

Then most likely You will find something appealing to You in outgoing version - I've already found

0.2 was also rewritten - but it was easier back then. However, despite current rewrite some solutions from previous versions seem to still be better than other ideas - after adding mouse hook and seeing cpu consumption I momently reverted to old timer method, though improved, to work as what I name "semi-hook". xD

Added 0.3 RC new options GUI preview...

Version 3 looks to be a good'un, and probably where I'll start using this... I'm a real stickler for cool effects like bounce and jelly

Great. The UI looks great.
Can't wait for 0.3

I like bounce - but still Windows placing API is quite messy...creating good looking animation and keeping windows working  is nightmare...

Heh and those algorithms will be more advance in the future - for now it's just basic(witting engine took most of the time)

...

0.3 is out???

OH WOW!!!

(It's the one with the new UI, right?)

*Downloads*

EDIT:

Ok, it ruined Rocket Dock... The (rocketdock) background went grey (I had it on transparency) and when I hovered over an item the name popped up and now wont dissapear, and no other names are popping up.

Restarting Rocketdock fixed it though, but it keeps crashing. Whenever I change a window effect

And the effects are very jolty, and sometimes when you resize with jelly on it jumps back while your dragging, goes crazy.

And now I'm stuck... I used the thing that makes it keep moving after you let go (Again jolty) and now I've lost the top bar of firefox behind my screen....

So, very jolty, but I'm not surprised, this is only first time, it's not meant to be smooth

And clicking the window transparency on/off breaks rocket dock

I just threw firefox off the screen... now I've lost it

Also taskbar transparency no longer goes to fully transparent... to my eyes it's barely reaching half when you pull it all the way to the end... was it removed? Or is that wrong?

I await 0.4 and the more realistic algorithms And warp-space, now that sounds cool

Update: new version 0.3 a2
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Funny there was limiter in 0.3 for moving windows outside screen... anyway - check a2, effects are faster(...)oh just check ^O^

P.s.: I guess I will roll back to 255 scale instead of percentage one for transparency settings

Tophaz 0.3 (and a2) don't work on my laptop or on my desktop. I did a reinstall of Windows recently, so I might not have something that Tophaz needs to function..

So, does Tophaz require something like .NET Framework?

yup - 3.0

AFAIR it was part of XP SP3 and was prebuild into Vista - what I assumed as standard nowadays, so I decided to not compile it for 2.0 or 1.0 - assuming it would decrease performance.

Updated to a3