Fullscreen Form

nicolasr

CBuilder Developer

Fullscreen Form

2004-06-26 09:05:52 AM
cppbuilder12
Hi all,
I have the following problem:
For a really small school book library I want to write
a software that lets people start the library database.
The database is MS Access and the currenty lonesome
computer is running Win98.
In detail:
The computer should be switched on and a blank white
screen should appear with a greeting and a link. The link
should be something like "Start library database" and
should launch MS Access with the database such that
the user can search for books.
The purpose of all this is that the user should not be able
to play around with the desktop or the taskbar. (However,
this doesn't need to be 100% secure. The user should just
get the impression that this computer is only used to access
the library database)
Does anyone have a sketch or idea how to accomplish this?
My first ideas:
A program with a maximized Form with wsStayOnTop put
into AutoStart. But how do I then bring MS Access in front
of this?
thanks for any idea,
Nick

Remy Lebeau (TeamB)

CBuilder Developer

2004-06-26 09:26:28 AM

Re:Fullscreen Form

"nicolasr" <nicolasrNOSPAMATSIGNgmx.net>wrote in message

Quote

The purpose of all this is that the user should not
be able to play around with the desktop or the
taskbar.
The best way to do that would be to upgrade to NT, 2K, or XP, and then have

your program create a completely separate desktop using CreateDesktop() and
SwitchDesktop(). Then you have full control over what the user can and
cannot do.

Quote

However, this doesn't need to be 100% secure. The user
should just get the impression that this computer is only used
to access the library database
If you must continue using Win98, then you can at least hide the Desktop and

TaskBar, and prevent system key combos (Alt+Tab, Ctrl+Alt+Del, etc) by
simulating the screen saver is running by using SystemParametersInfo().

Quote

A program with a maximized Form with wsStayOnTop put
into AutoStart.
That will not prevent the user from gaining access to the rest of the

machine.
Gambit

nicolasr

CBuilder Developer

2004-06-26 09:55:10 AM

Re:Fullscreen Form

thanks Remy for the quick reply!

Quote

The best way to do that would be to upgrade to NT, 2K, or XP, and then
have
your program create a completely separate desktop using CreateDesktop()
and
SwitchDesktop(). Then you have full control over what the user can and
cannot do.

Yes that sounds like the best way to go and I hope I can convince the staff

to upgrade. However, for a first version I will have to stick with Win98.

Quote

If you must continue using Win98, then you can at least hide the Desktop
and
TaskBar, and prevent system key combos (Alt+Tab, Ctrl+Alt+Del, etc) by
simulating the screen saver is running by using SystemParametersInfo().

I looked up the help for SystemParametersInfo() but could not really see how

to accomplish this. Can you give me a short sketch how to use this?
(For example, how to bring up a full screen form with a Button that just
closes the form)
thanks for the help,
Nick

{smallsort}

Remy Lebeau (TeamB)

CBuilder Developer

2004-06-26 03:08:59 PM

Re:Fullscreen Form

"nicolasr" <nicolasrNOSPAMATSIGNgmx.net>wrote in message

Quote

I looked up the help for SystemParametersInfo()
but could not really see how to accomplish this.
Use the SPI_SCREENSAVERRUNNING flag. When the screen saver is "running",

Windows 98 automatically disabled all system keyboard sequences until the
screen saver stops "running".
As for the desktop and taskbar, simply use GetDesktopWindow() and
FindWindow() to find the associated HWND handles and then use ShowWindow()
to hide them.

Quote

(For example, how to bring up a full screen form with
a Button that just closes the form)
Simply set the form's Width and Height properties in the constructor to the

same values as the global Screen->Width and Screen->Height properties.
Everything else about the form works exactly the same way as normal.
Gambit

nicolasr

CBuilder Developer

2004-06-26 06:11:23 PM

Re:Fullscreen Form

thanks, I will try that.
Nick

Quote

Use the SPI_SCREENSAVERRUNNING flag. When the screen saver is "running",
Windows 98 automatically disabled all system keyboard sequences until the
screen saver stops "running".

As for the desktop and taskbar, simply use GetDesktopWindow() and
FindWindow() to find the associated HWND handles and then use ShowWindow()
to hide them.

>(For example, how to bring up a full screen form with
>a Button that just closes the form)

Simply set the form's Width and Height properties in the constructor to
the
same values as the global Screen->Width and Screen->Height properties.
Everything else about the form works exactly the same way as normal.

Gambit

Hans

CBuilder Developer

2004-06-28 04:43:12 PM

Re:Fullscreen Form

"nicolasr" <nicolasrNOSPAMATSIGNgmx.net>wrote in message

Quote

Hi all,

I have the following problem:

For a really small school book library I want to write
a software that lets people start the library database.
The database is MS Access and the currenty lonesome
computer is running Win98.

In detail:
The computer should be switched on and a blank white
screen should appear with a greeting and a link. The link
should be something like "Start library database" and
should launch MS Access with the database such that
the user can search for books.

The purpose of all this is that the user should not be able
to play around with the desktop or the taskbar. (However,
this doesn't need to be 100% secure. The user should just
get the impression that this computer is only used to access
the library database)

Does anyone have a sketch or idea how to accomplish this?
Build your application and put it in the windows directory, and name it

EXPLORER.EXE. On startup, Windows will start EXPLORER.EXE by default, so
your app will start. De sure not to overwrite Explorer.exe, but rename the
original one, so that in case of some error, you can rename is back and be
able again to run Windows normally.
Gr, Hans