CarShell v2 - Page 3

clean customs · 10-14-2005, 01:37 PM

Glad to know it wasn't just my PC

RPM_VR4 · 11-11-2005, 05:29 AM

This would look a ton better if you simply included XPManifest. The non XP-style buttons are ugly

.

BTW: Great idea. I always wish frontends had a simpler explorer.exe. Does it handle Sys-Tray icons? For example, my DeLorme Serial Port emulator only loads up in the tray, so I can open any of it's windows unless I can right click its tray-icon and then choose an action from the right-click menu.

alti · 11-11-2005, 10:01 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by RPM_VR4

This would look a ton better if you simply included XPManifest. The non XP-style buttons are ugly

.

BTW: Great idea. I always wish frontends had a simpler explorer.exe. Does it handle Sys-Tray icons? For example, my DeLorme Serial Port emulator only loads up in the tray, so I can open any of it's windows unless I can right click its tray-icon and then choose an action from the right-click menu.

Ya, I know that it is not pretty and that it is quirky

but for now I have designed it to be very utilitarianism in nature. I did not have much time to make it pretty, this version was just to get the idea rolling and play with it. I got swamped with life so I had to put this on hold, but I plan on starting a new version during winter. It does not yet have a sys tray (when run as shell), the processes still run, but as you mentioned you will not be able to access the apps functionality if it is only accessible there. You can still run it as an app on top of explorer to allow use of your sys tray, or embedded in a FE. I do plan on implementing a sys tray, someday

I have some really big ideas for this, and I really hope I get to resume working with it soon.

MV54 · 12-27-2005, 04:06 PM

Where can I d/l it from- can't find it on your homepage?

alti · 12-27-2005, 04:51 PM

sorry i am revamping my homepage and with the holidays got distracted, I will post here again when i have it up.

MV54 · 12-27-2005, 05:45 PM

No worries I found it here:
http://www.mobile-effects.com/

One thing though, is there any way for it to be hidden before RR is run, only there's a couple of seconds gap, and with explorer it was a black desktop, with this it is grey and really obvious. Though I suppose as I hibernate its probs no big deal.

Also, where is the text file located? Desktop.ini so I can delete it to stop it popping up?

alti · 12-27-2005, 06:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MV54

One thing though, is there any way for it to be hidden before RR is run, only there's a couple of seconds gap, and with explorer it was a black desktop, with this it is grey and really obvious. Though I suppose as I hibernate its probs no big deal.

Ya, just set startup mode to mini shell in the setup, then you will only see your desktop and the small (hardly noticible) minishell. You can also set down the opacity of the minishell, but be carful not to set it down too far because if you cant see it it will be hard to get back to the full carshell screen.

Quote: Originally Posted by MV54

Also, where is the text file located? Desktop.ini so I can delete it to stop it popping up?

Where is it showing up? on the desktop tab? Or is loading the file when you boot?

If the file is appearing when you are booting up it just means that you have it in your windows startup folder. If you remove it from the startup folder it will stop loading it.

MV54 · 12-27-2005, 09:07 PM

It's when I boot and it's also on the startup tab of carshell - so I'm guessing its in a startup folder only it is hidden.

I did do a search for it (inc. hidden files) but I only found desktop.ini in windows and system32 folders.

I tried the minishell but again its not quite what I'm after- would kinda like a taskbar type thing- or being able to minimise/hide on startup. Perhaps delay the interface until after RR has started. In a future version perhaps?!

alti · 12-27-2005, 10:08 PM

if it shows up on the startup tab of carshell just click and hold for a sec and then choose delete (on the button in the startup tab). That should take care of it.

I have planned to chnage the interface in a future version, and i was actually thinking about a simular task bar as opposed to the minishell. But i have been distracted with life and i am not sure what exactly i want to do with the software yet.

RPM_VR4 · 12-28-2005, 03:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by alti

Ya, I know that it is not pretty and that it is quirky

but for now I have designed it to be very utilitarianism in nature. I did not have much time to make it pretty, this version was just to get the idea rolling and play with it. I got swamped with life so I had to put this on hold, but I plan on starting a new version during winter. It does not yet have a sys tray (when run as shell), the processes still run, but as you mentioned you will not be able to access the apps functionality if it is only accessible there. You can still run it as an app on top of explorer to allow use of your sys tray, or embedded in a FE. I do plan on implementing a sys tray, someday

I have some really big ideas for this, and I really hope I get to resume working with it soon.

When you resume work on it, the big thing for me is that it can replace explorer.exe. Therefore it must be able to do everything it can (Switching Tasks, SysTray stuff, access to Control Panel, maybe even file permissions and shares). Running a front-end as a shell makes it impossible to do a lot of things (granted, not every-day things, but thing I still wish I could do without having to change my shell back to explorer.exe and reboot when ever I want to do them). Running explorer as a shell sucks for startup, memory consumption, annoying task-bar balloon popups, etc, etc, etc.

MV54 · 12-28-2005, 04:58 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RPM_VR4

When you resume work on it, the big thing for me is that it can replace explorer.exe. Therefore it must be able to do everything it can (Switching Tasks, SysTray stuff, access to Control Panel, maybe even file permissions and shares). Running a front-end as a shell makes it impossible to do a lot of things (granted, not every-day things, but thing I still wish I could do without having to change my shell back to explorer.exe and reboot when ever I want to do them). Running explorer as a shell sucks for startup, memory consumption, annoying task-bar balloon popups, etc, etc, etc.

Couldn't you just run explorer as an embedded app?

Or Ctrl+Alt+Del and run explorer.

Though I'm sure you already knew this.

RPM_VR4 · 12-28-2005, 05:24 PM

Unfortunatly, no. If explorer is not set as the shell, running it will only open a single explorer window (which yes, you can embed). However, I do not know of a way to launch the explorer shell (with the start menu, task bar, tray icons, etc.) without modifying the registry and changing it back once you are done.

The explorer shell sucks to use on a 7" TS anyway. This is why we need a light-weight shell replacment that still allows us to use EVERY program (even if it only works through a tray-icon or right-click context menu).

MV54 · 12-28-2005, 05:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RPM_VR4

Unfortunatly, no. If explorer is not set as the shell, running it will only open a single explorer window (which yes, you can embed). However, I do not know of a way to launch the explorer shell (with the start menu, task bar, tray icons, etc.) without modifying the registry and changing it back once you are done.

The explorer shell sucks to use on a 7" TS anyway. This is why we need a light-weight shell replacment that still allows us to use EVERY program (even if it only works through a tray-icon or right-click context menu).

Yeh true I've noticed this aswel.

And agree- a custom shell would be ideal.

alti · 12-28-2005, 05:58 PM

as you mentioned in the 'boot your front end as a shell thread', I would reall like to see this more robust, configurable and stable. I am starting to redisign it in C# and I intend to design a intensive class structure that will allow it to be all of the above. In a few weeks maybe I will see If anyone is interested in participating in the project, I think that its scope might be beyond the time constraints of one programmer working 40 hours and attending school full time.

MV54 · 12-28-2005, 06:15 PM

I'm not having a dig at Carshell 2- I think its the right idea, just not what I'm after.

Sadly though I couldn't code it myself- much as I've picked up basic coding knowledge I wouldn't have the time or skills to do much of the work (A2 level modules and exams this year).

Giving this some thought, perhaps we could make a list of what a carshell really needs- I could see many carputer owners wanting a decent alternative to explorer (which is slow and tricky to use on touchscreens) could be plenty of demand for it. Just an idea.

So requirements for a car shell:
- QUICK startup/shutdown with minimal resources
- The ability to be hidden except when it is required (so doesnt appear on startup before RR etc. has loaded)
- Very rapid loading of progs in startup folder
- Ability to time intervals between loading of programs on startup, and the ability to run them minimised or in the background somehow.
- A Desktop
- Changeable background for wallpapers/colours
- Acess to start menu shortcuts
- Acess to all fixed drives, network drives and removable media
- Network connections and network places
- Locking ability/password control on bootup
- Command prompt & shortcut to explorer with buttons to quickly set explorer as shell for next bootup.
- Ability to detect mouse gestures in RR etc (would be cool so that one could for example, load up onscreen keyboard by drawing a K on the screen).
- Systray
- Large, easy to touch icons. Perhaps tabs rather than windows.

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