Desktop Clock

[FordGT90Concept]

With the death of Desktop Gadgets, I took it upon myself to make a clock application to replace the Clock gadget. This is what I came up with...

Spoiler: Screenshots

Third picture here.

I recommend extracting the files to C:\Program Files\DesktopClock before running. The settings are saved at C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\DesktopClock

Once you have it running, you can move it by clicking on the displayed text and dragging it to the desired location. You can right-click on the displayed text to change the font, format, whether or not it automatically starts, and if you want to close the application. Format has a link in it that explains all of the options for formatting.

That's pretty much all there is to it.

-Version 1.1 adds the "Top Most" and "Lock Position" options. Only the executable was modified and it will automatically update the XML to reflect the updates.
-Version 1.2 saves the settings added in 1.1 as well as adding an "Alignment" option.

 

[Toothless]

I like it.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I have it set to "TopMost" at default. I'm thinking I should probably make that editable. Let me know if you don't want it TopMost.

 

[taz420nj]

Uhhhh what's wrong with the clock in the tray?

 

[qubit]

Nice one. Subbed.

 

[remixedcat]

Uhhhh what's wrong with the clock in the tray?

He made it so it can display over games or full screen vids

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Uhhhh what's wrong with the clock in the tray?

1) When enabling the clock on multiple monitors, it also copies all of the tray icons. My second monitor is substantially smaller than my primary monitor so having the tray icons not only looks bad, it uses up a lot of real estate.

2) Windows will only give the day of week when the taskbar is two tall. In Windows 10, this looks goofy not to mention the taskbar being much thicker already than it was in Windows 7. Throwing "dddd" into the format gives you the day of week.

3) Full screen programs (like games) cover up the taskbar clock. I have this application running on my second screen so I can see the time no matter what is running on the primary screen. See post below for demonstration of this.

 

[JalleR]

Uuuu Thats Cool... Nice and simple

 

[FordGT90Concept]

This is what my desktops look like when I'm in a game:

Spot the Desktop Clock?

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

I really like it a lot, very useful, thanks for taking the time and trouble to do this and for making it available to all of us.

Top Man.

 

[jboydgolfer]

thanks man, hopefully ill have no issue running it on 7

the letter "M" keeps showing up as the number "12" for Me ?? O_O

edit . im guessing i need to read that link article

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Month is MMMM. Replace "DECEMBER" with MMMM to fix that. M is the month number (in this case, 12); it would change to 1 in January. In short month is:
M = 1
MM = 01
MMM = Jan
MMMM = January
When culture is en-US.

This article lists them all: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/8kb3ddd4(v=vs.110).aspx



Edit: Also, I hate the icon I put in this program (lack of inspiration really). If someone wants to take the time to make a better one, send it my way and I'll update it. It should be 256x256 @ 32-bit

 

[Mindweaver]

Good stuff @FordGT90Concept! I was getting ready to PM you to see if you were working on anything. Did you use Visual Studio 2015? I just dl'ed the 2015 express. I'm still using 2010 pro at work and it's getting long in the tooth, but I'm looking to buy 2015 pro after the first of the year. If my IT budget will allow.. lol

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Yeah, Visual Studio 2015 Express with all the trimmings. XD

2015 is good except for the "feature" where it automatically closes " and ( and { I'm so used to not doing that, it gets in my way. Pretty sure there's a way to disable it but I haven't bothered yet.

 

[JalleR]

You can also make a Holo Clock behind the status bar

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Yup but it's kind of annoying if you need to get access to it because you have to move the taskbar out of the way. I guess that's the beauty of it because once it is set up, you really don't need to mess with it.

 

[JalleR]

Or you can just go to task manager and double click on the program but yes when you has done the tweaking there is not much need in clicking on the clock itself.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Just uploaded version 1.1 on the original post which adds the "Lock Position" (prevents accidentally moving it) and "Top Most" (allows it to hide behind open windows) options.

 

[broken pixel]

Make a binary clock also, please.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

As in 100:110 (4:06)? Or did you mean hours (e.g. 11001001011 which is 1611 hours)? Or did you mean something else entirely?

 

[broken pixel]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_clock

 

[FordGT90Concept]

The current code structure won't work at all for that but I'm intrigued.

Would using the bullet character (•) with an on and off font work? Example:
•
•
••
••
Or am I better off drawing my own?

What options are you expect? Seconds or no seconds? Day of year? Month? Day of month?


Edit: If you could sketch up what exactly you want, that would be very helpful.

 

[broken pixel]

Im not sure about • ? Most Linux distros offer a binary clock to select, either within the tool bar or desktop graphic.

From the wiki page it shows all the coresponitng figures to the dots.
I am sure there is some code already to implement into ones code.

I have no idea since I know nil about code, wish I did.

I will dig up more info.

 

[Pluffy]

Here I am just using the basic setup.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Im not sure about • ? Most Linux distros offer a binary clock to select, either within the tool bar or desktop graphic.

From the wiki page it shows all the coresponitng figures to the dots.
I am sure there is some code already to implement into ones code.

I have no idea since I know nil about code, wish I did.

I will dig up more info.

Don't need to code. Just draw what you'd like in Paint or similar program. There's so many different ways to do it and I need some direction.

I'm likely going to have to create a custom control for that and implementing all of the wanted features on original design is much easier than trying to jury rig it in later.