Thread: Xport 2 and Compass... THE solution for hibernation

OK, I tested this with CF. The closest I got to making it embed correctly was:
1) Resized the background image ot exact embed area dimensions: 848x397
2) Set COmpass to NOT be 'always on top'
3) Configured CF to embed the app, and made it default to Fullscreen in CF.

Once it embeds, it is forcing the compass window to move all the way to the TOP. So seems like CF is aligning the top of the compass window, with the very top of CF window (instead of aligning the top of embeddable area).

I think this is because Compass does not use a very 'standard' type of window class? Curiositry, any ideas?

NOTE: Image elements within compass windows look like they are off... it's because I resize the background and did not move the elements around to match. Ignore that for now!

See pic:

Originally Posted by justintime

Befoire I start building a killer skin for CentraFuse, has anyone been able to embed XPORT into CF 1.5?

I'm thinking of using Xport with the 'Alway on top' option disabled, so it behaves like a normal app, that you can bring up-front only when needed (i.e., when you click on the CF 'compass' button, for example). The problem I am having is that it doesn't embed correctly... I think it might be because the skin I am using (the new one posted above) is too large... will try reducing the size to the exact dimensions of the embed area to see if it helps.

If it works. I'll be making a killer skin for my CF peeps

That’s the exact use we planned for this skin, only that we decided to keep the size 800*600 ( we are using FP so we can use a full screen skin). You have to cut the background and adjust the settings for the size your FrontEnd uses for embedding.

Edit: About the picture you posted, with compass embedded, if you resize the background, you will have to resize the foreground accordingly. Compass keeps the two bitmaps centred so, you must treat them as a two layered single graphic or they will become misaligned.

Originally Posted by MoonShiner

Okay, nevermind again...I figured it out.

I'm posting the following as an FYI, in case someone else has the same problem:

I was trying to use the A_P-miles.bmp (which doesn't appear to have any data stored in it). So, I just loaded the A_P-km.bmp which had everything aligned perfectly. Once the data was written to the registry, I opened A_P-miles.bmp in paint and saved it as A_P-miles2.bmp (to make sure there was no data in the bmp). After that I set it as the background in compass and everything was lined up....

Nice skin, for a nice app...

Thanks for the info and solution
I forgot to save the settings in the miles bmp. I will correct this and refresh the download.

Originally Posted by Curiosity

Maybe CF just covers the top of the window. Try adding about 200 pixels of blank space to the top to shift it down.

I tried that already. Problem is, CF crops the window to the size of the 'viewable/embed area', which is 848x397.

So even if I make the image taller, such as 848x480 it will crop the Compass window somehow. Seems that it is resizing it, but also moving it all the way up.

Would you consider using a more 'normal' type of window class for this app? I would have to assume CF is having problems with it, but I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by Curiosity

Changing it to a normal window adds a title bar, borders, close box and everything. That looks really bad for a skinned window. Any other options?

I agree it would look lame. Hrmm... maybe I need to use skinbedder or something like that. I just hate to have to add a whole other 'layer' for this to embed properly.

Can't think of anything, but if I do I will let you know. Love your apps dude.