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Geek Culture / How did they make Fences 2

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easter bunny
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Playing: Dota 2
Posted: 26th Oct 2013 03:32
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I'm wondering, how did Stardock make Fences 2??
Specifically the pages of icons on the desktop?

Basically you can middle-click and swipe the desktop to switch desktops, just like iOS or Android.

I think this is really cool, but I don't need the other features (ie. the fences themselves) so I want to code my own version.
So, does anyone have any ideas about how this can be done?

And could it be done in VB.net 2010? Or do I have to 'master' C++ (I only know the basics).


formerly MissJoJo - Audacia Games
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easter bunny
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Posted: 26th Oct 2013 08:01
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After tonnes of Googleing and searching, I think I'll use Freebasic. It's my personal favorite language (I've got QB origins).
It can access the entire WinAPI, which is what I think I'll need to use.


formerly MissJoJo - Audacia Games
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mr Handy
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Posted: 26th Oct 2013 09:35
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At first I read "feces 2", I thought it's a kinda dirty humour game.

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Rudolpho
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Posted: 27th Oct 2013 11:03 Edited at: 27th Oct 2013 11:05
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You can try hooking the desktop window and scanning it for appropriate window messages. Might work, have never tried.

Edit: And then you'd of course have to manually remove / add the new contents to the desktop.
You should probably try this out with a different folder at first in case you screw up and delete everything without successfully copying it somewhere else first so that you can move it back later.


"Why do programmers get Halloween and Christmas mixed up?"
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easter bunny
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Posted: 28th Oct 2013 06:26
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YESSSSS!!! This looks exactly like what I'm looking for!!! http://winlaunch.bplaced.net/
*whew!* got out of coding that one.

I'm downloading and testing it now, having some .net issues installing it on my old laptop, bu I don't want to put it on this one until I know it works
This laptop's starting to go very slow (and it's only 9 months old), and Dell never provided me with an OS installation disc


formerly MissJoJo - Audacia Games
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nonZero
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Location: Dark Empire HQ, Otherworld, Silent Hill
Posted: 29th Oct 2013 21:26
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I dunno "Fences" but...

Quote: "Basically you can middle-click and swipe the desktop to switch desktops, just like iOS or Android."


Do you mean like most Linux desktop environments? That was one of the things that I found a pain in the rear about Windows. Then I found VirtuaWin. It has multiple desktops in either row, column or both layout. I'm attaching the full source from their site. Hope this helps even though it's C not BASIC.

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easter bunny
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Posted: 30th Oct 2013 00:43
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I literally found VirtuaWin yesterday
But I'm actually looking for something that moves the desktop icons, Virtuawin just does the windows.

The way VirtuaWin works is by hiding/showing windows, pretty simple, I've made my own version in VB.net. In theory you could simply do the same with the desktop icons, hide and show them. With some fancy animations I reckon it could be pretty cool.
If I ever get it done, I'll make a post about it.


formerly MissJoJo - Audacia Games
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easter bunny
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Playing: Dota 2
Posted: 31st Oct 2013 02:07
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Here's my first beta!!!
It's really just like a super simple Virtuawin, a window manager, but I'll update it to include animations and icons.

How to use:
Run Chaos.exe
It returns a list of all open windows
Click an item in that list to see some details (Nameesktop:Visible)
Double click it the change it's desktop (1 to 2 and vice versa)
Middleclick and swipe left/right to change desktops

Click the all button to show all windows
(This should happen automatically when you exit, but better to be safe. It's no joke to accidentally hide your windows )

btw: make sure all your windows effects are turned on to make it look cooler


formerly MissJoJo - Audacia Games

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