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Bitmap Changer for NT v1.0

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Overview

Selecting Bitmaps

Commands

The Command Line

About the Author


Overview

So, you have lots of great bitmaps to use as your Windows wallpaper, but don`t want to bother changing the setting through the Control Panel all the time?  Well, this program makes changing your background easy.  All you do is tell it which bitmaps to use, and set up an icon in your startup group!  It couldn`t be easier, or more FUN!

Once the program is set up, it runs seamlessly and invisibly each time you log on to Windows.

To be useful in a multi-user environment, such as NT, all information is stored in the registry under the Current User`s section.  This allows each user to keep their own list of bitmaps.

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Selecting Bitmaps

There are two ways to select the bitmaps that you want.

The first way, and probably the easiest way, is through the File Manager.  Just select as many files in File Manager as you want and drop them into the Bitmap Changer for NT main window.

The second way is to press the New Bitmap button and select a file in the same way you would open a file in a word processing or graphics program.

When new bitmaps are added, they appear at the bottom of the list.

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Commands

Bitmap Changer for NT is easy to use.  The controls are fairly self explanatory.

New Bitmap...

This option presents a familiar File Open... dialog.  Pick a bitmap and it will appear in the list.

Make Next

When this option is selected, the currently selected bitmap is moved to the top of the list.

Delete

This button will delete the currently selected bitmap from the list.  Watch out, there is no Undo.

Activate

This button will make the selected bitmap the current wallpaper immediately.

Exit

When the main window is closed, the bitmap at the top of the list is entered as the desktop wallpaper in the Control Panel.  Upon the next log on, this bitmap will be displayed.

Sequence Type

There are two methods that the program will use to pick the next bitmap each time it is run.  The first is Sequential.  When this option is selected and the program is Exited, the top bitmap is moved to the bottom of the list and all the other options are moved up.  When the Random option is selected, and the program is Exited, a randomly selected bitmap from the list, excluding the top one, is moved to the top.  A new bitmap will be moved to the top each time, but not all bitmaps are guaranteed to be used before a repeat occurs.

Help

Displays this file, and what a wonderful file it is.

The Command Line

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The Command Line

When run without any command-line parameters, Bitmap Changer for NT will run normally, displaying its main window.  After initial setup, you will instead want the program to simply change the background, and not be seen.  This can be accomplished using a command-line parameter.  The command

BITMAP /go

will cause the program to run without displaying the main window.  To make this happen easily each time you log on, set up an icon in the startup group that has the command-line:

drive:\path\BITMAP /go

(Make sure that the /go is in lower case.)

Now you will see a new bitmap each time you log on.  The program runs in the background giving you a new wallpaper, without requiring you to do any work.

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About Adam Hayek

At the time I wrote this program, I just finished my Junior year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  I am majoring in Computer Science and plan on getting a Ph.D. before it`s all over.

This is my first successful try at writing a Windows program.  I wrote it mostly as an exercise.  Unfortunately, there are no classes at U of I that teach anything about writing a program on PC`s or in Windows.  So I am forced to learn it myself.

The program was written using Microsoft`s Visual C++ 32-bit Edition and uses the MFC class library.

Although it works, I would greatly enjoy any feedback that anyone has to offer regarding the way this program looks or functions, or suggestions regarding additional features.  If you want to communicate with me, my e-mail address is

a-hayek@uiuc.edu

Of course, this program is shareware.  If you want, send me money.  I`ll take whatever you give me, but I think this program would be worth at least a buck, or maybe even $3.  I`ll tell you what:  If you send me $3, I`ll be your friend.  Send me e-mail to get my current address, or just send it to:

Adam Hayek

P.O. Box 94

Warrenville, IL 60555-0094

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