Displays as Backdrop Windows (always behind)

[NathanH]

Hi,

I've written several programs which would benefit if their display could always be behind other windows on the Workbench; i.e., backdrop windows. For example, I've got a calendar/analog clock which pretends to be transparent by placing a grab of the desktop as the background. The illusion of transparency is ruined when other windows are placed behind it. I've also written a couple of dock programs that should be backdrop windows. Is this possible? Thanks,

NathanH

[airsoftsoftwair]

Not very likely to come because background windows are very Amiga-centric and not available on other platforms.

[NathanH]

Okay, thanks.

NathanH

[djg]

Not very likely to come because background windows are very Amiga-centric and not available on other platforms.

I was looking for the same thing just now.

Maybe if I second the suggestion it would become a little more likely? I agree that background windows are very Amiga-centric but I am not sure if that is a good enough reason not to implement this if it solves an issue related to that very Amiga-centric thing. I have a window now that covers the entire desktop to show pictures, but when I open a file requester and click on the depth gadget of that requester by mistake or otherwise, I have no way of getting back control after clicking in my window because the requester is then behind my window. I must have clicked on the depth gadget once by mistake because I did not know what was going on and thought that the system had crashed or something.

[NathanH]

Hi,

There already seems to also be a lot of amiga-centric stuff in Hollywood which is great because I imagine that we were the earlier (if not only) adopters of Hollywood in the beginning and are probably still the core compared to other platform users.

NathanH

[airsoftsoftwair]

Ok, you convinced me, here it is

Code: Select all

- New [Amiga]: Added support for backdrop windows; these are special windows specific to AmigaOS and its
  clones that always stay behind all other windows; to open a backdrop window, just set the new "Backdrop"
  tag to TRUE in @DISPLAY or CreateDisplay()

[djg]

Ok, you convinced me, here it is

Code: Select all

- New [Amiga]: Added support for backdrop windows; these are special windows specific to AmigaOS and its
  clones that always stay behind all other windows; to open a backdrop window, just set the new "Backdrop"
  tag to TRUE in @DISPLAY or CreateDisplay()

Very, nice, thanks!

[NathanH]

Yes, thanks so much!!!