WallGen

Introduction

The Parastream Technologies WallGen Tool is a valuable addition to any multi-platform development or testing operation. It can quickly generate a custom wallpaper for Windows machines that can help users positively identify a machine and configuration at a glance using text, graphics, and colors.

Here are some of the features of WallGen:

• Create grids of various screen resolutions to aid in creating user interfaces.
• Automatically sets initial text for system name, OS name and version, locale, and browser name and version.
• Notes gives you complete control of the text.
• You can use the default Windows colors, or define your own.
• You can import your own logo or graphic, or have none at all (not available in the demo version).

Development

I handled the entire project, including documentation. The product was written in Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0, because Visual C++ .NET doesn't support Windows 95. The documentation was composed in Microsoft FrontPage 2002, and compiled into a .chm file using Microsoft HTML Help Workshop. The web site pages at http://www.parastream.com/software/wallgen were composed in Microsoft FrontPage 2002, and an animated GIF for the home page was authored in Ulead GIF Animator 4.0. The source control used was Perforce.

Technologies

• C++, MFC, GUI
• Visual Studio, Visual C++
• FrontPage
• Animated GIF

Screen Shots

You can click on an icon below (use the arrows to scroll the icon list) and see the screen shot and a description.:

General Tab

Captions Tab

Notes Tab

Grid Tab

Logo Tab

The Sections group specifies which tabs are displayed. The Style and Colors groups affect the appearance of the wallpaper.

Specify the main captions to display in the wallpaper.

Use the Notes tab for additional captions in the wallpaper.

Specify multiple sizing grids to display, and control the grid line appearance.

Choose a custom logo to display in the wallpaper, and perform basic image adjustments.

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General Tab

The Sections group specifies which tabs are displayed. The Style and Colors groups affect the appearance of the wallpaper.

Conclusion

The project included 15,000 lines of C++ code and 11 help topics.

You may download a demo copy of WallGen at http://www.parastream.com/software/wallgen. Because the product is currently in production, the source code and other technical information are available only by request under Parastream Technologies' NDA. Contact Parastream Technologies, Inc. for more information.

(All links to company web sites used by permission)

Copyright © 2002-2011 Robert E. Weatherford, Johns Creek, GA (A suburb North of Atlanta). All Rights Reserved.
Last modified: April 25, 2011.