Active Desktop Tutorial

Leo · 23 Nov 2002

Maddmatt, thanks a lot for the tutorial man. For the last few days my routine was : Go to work and mess around with active desktop. This thing got me hooked and thanks to you, here is my desktop now.(Attachment on botton of page)

I have one question though:
Im having problems with the Notepad. I can't save.
I've read the posts almost twenty times now and i still don't understand.
This is my script:

Code:

<html>
<head>
<title>Active Desktop: Quick Notes</title>
<head>

<script language="VBSCRIPT">
<!--

Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") 
Const ForReading = 1, ForWriting = 2, ForAppending = 3 

Sub setFile (filename)      
Set a = fs.CreateTextFile(filename, true) 
a.Write(Document.notes.qnotes.value) 
a.Close
End Sub

Sub loadFile (filename)
'Open file to read
if fs.FileExists(filename) then
Set a = fs. OpenTextFile(filename,ForReadi
ng) 
Document.notes.qnotes.value = a.ReadAll() 
a.Close
else
Document.notes.qnotes.value = "madmatt.fusion_dtop v5"
end if
End Sub
-->
</script>

</head>
<body bgcolor="#D8D8D8" onLoad="loadFile('c:\\qnotes.txt')">

           <form name="notes">
                 <textarea name="qnotes" cols="28" rows="7" wrap="PHYSICAL"></textarea>
                 <a onClick="setFile('c:\\qnotes.txt')" href="javascript:window.close()">
                   save
                 </a>
           </form>

</body>
</html>

I remember reading something about creating a shortcut or something similar, i don't get that ! I thought was just paste it into notepad, save a blank Txt file into c:// windows and last, turn on active desktop.
My last question is:
Does active desktop use a lot of system resources ?? Cuz' start up slowed down a little.

Thanks a lot for the tutorial and keep up the great work!!!

madmatt · 23 Nov 2002

Posted by Piett
hmm latest MS VirtualMachine....that could be it. can i get that off of the MS site, or do i have to get it from somewhere else?

should be available on the MS website. if you have a hard time finding it, feel free to PM me or IM me on AIM or MSNM (screen names on profile).

now to figure out Leo's problem..

madmatt · 23 Nov 2002

okay. let's give this a go.

Leo
I see that you already removed the semicolon after the onLoad statement and save function. I was going to suggest that first. Did you try using it with the semicolons?

Next, I want you to change the a href from JAVASCRIPT:WINDOW.CLOSE() to JAVASCRIPT:VOID()

After doing so, I want you to load qnotes.html in Internet Explorer, type some text, and click save.

Do you receive any errors (status bar will show a different icon if there are any errors)?

Other things..
did you create a blank qnotes.txt in C:\?

try opening qnotes.txt in Notepad and typing something, save it. refresh qnotes.html, does it show what you typed?

Let me know.

As for #2, using active desktop will cause explorer.exe to use a little more system resources (since active desktop is an arm of explorer.exe). However, it should not slow down your bootup, it may add a few seconds onto your desktop loading since it has to load your content.

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it. Let me know about the qnotes.

Timuwine · 23 Nov 2002

thanks again for the help last night Matt I appreciate it

Tabula Rasa · 23 Nov 2002

I was not sure if to post this here or in the "November Dtops" but i'll just post here.

Here is the desktop i manèged to do with madmatts tutorial:
]

(Click to enlarge) .

Now b4 you get all capitalist on my arse because of the lenin pic , ITS A JOKE (ask mafia or nick) + i didn't have any better image to put there.
Its not final yet, i'll probably do much more changes, but i like it for now

Cheers

Tabula Rasa · 23 Nov 2002

Oh yeah , i almost forgot, BIG thanks to mdmatt for the excellent tutorial!

madmatt · 23 Nov 2002

Benny..
I think the wall looks good. I like it.
Good use of MADMATT.xperience, I see the changes you made =)
Good choice of colors, just need a vstyle that matches better.

Timuwine, not a problem. Let me know how it works out.

LazyJames · 23 Nov 2002

where are you running the xperience news and forum stuff from Benny?

Leo · 23 Nov 2002

Did you try using it with the semicolons?

Yes, already tried with the semicolons.

Next, I want you to change the a href from java script:WINDOW.CLOSE() to java script:VOID()

When i change that i get an error message.

After doing so, I want you to load qnotes.html in Internet Explorer, type some text, and click save.

I did that i couldn't save. "Page cannot be displayed".
When i load the qnote.HTML in IE, the status bar says error on page.

did you create a blank qnotes.txt in C:\?

I've created in C://WINDOWS

try opening qnotes.txt in Notepad and typing something, save it. refresh qnotes.html, does it show what you typed?

No, it didn't.

It's hopeless isn't it??
I really don't understand what the heck is going on !
Thanks for your patience, Matt.

Tabula Rasa · 23 Nov 2002

Posted by LazyJames
where are you running the xperience news and forum stuff from Benny?

Its a part of matts tutorial, you can get it here :http://www.xp-erience.org/articles.php?action=show&id=47#xperience ( its the one called MADMATT.XPERIENCE) .

It comes with an readme file instructing you on what to do , but you need a server to upload it onto (unless you have ISS , but it might work bad in ISS)

madmatt · 23 Nov 2002

Leo..

okay, your QNOTES.TXT file is in C:\WINDOWS?

because the code you pasted in your first post shows that it is trying to load it from C:\QNOTES.TXT?

make sure you have the exact path to the TXT file.
i.e. C:\\WINDOWS\qnotes.txt

double click that "errors on page" and paste me the content of the window.

Benny
he knows. he wants to know if you are running it from a web host or using IIS. he is having problems trying to get it to work with IIS.

LazyJames · 23 Nov 2002

yea, IIS and madmatt.Xperience do not play well together.

madmatt · 23 Nov 2002

LazyJames
let me ask you, can you get any PHP to work with IIS? even something simple such as..

PHP:

<?php
  echo "hello";
?>

Tabula Rasa · 23 Nov 2002

Ohh , sorry , well its on a server i have access to ( and i can do pretty much whatever i want there

) .

but please don't ask me to host your version there because i really can't

Leo · 23 Nov 2002

Matt, i went though your tutorial one more time and made some changes. I've created the qnotes.html in c: (Also changed the path to c://)and when i load the script in IE it asks me " An Active control on this page might be unsafe...." and so on, i click yes and then Norton Anti tell me that it has discovered a maliciuos script, (iexplore.exe) i allow it through and it loads WITHOUT errors but when i try to save this is what i get:

LazyJames · 23 Nov 2002

yea, i can host php, matter of fact o have a php calendar and a menu that uses alot of php on my new dTop. Thats why i am quite confused with the .xperience stuff not working, i just cant seem to figure out why it aint.

madmatt · 23 Nov 2002

Leo
remove the space between JAVA and SCRIPT in your A HREF statement. For some odd reason vBulletin adds a space between them.

LazyJames · 23 Nov 2002

madmatt, i appreciate all your help on this, hopefully we will get it working for all those peopel that are like me and use IIS, your the man madmatt. just thought i would mention that.

madmatt · 23 Nov 2002

Posted by LazyJames
madmatt, i appreciate all your help on this, hopefully we will get it working for all those peopel that are like me and use IIS, your the man madmatt. just thought i would mention that.

Thanks LJ, appreciate your kind words. I'll keep digging for a resolution for you..

Leo · 23 Nov 2002

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks a lot Matt !!!!!!
It works like a charn now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mind if i ask u one last question?

This is about the calendar... Is there any way to change the default white background to another color???

Active Desktop Tutorial

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