"Darkening" main window when modal form is shown above it

[dietmar]

Hi,

some programs are "darkening" oder "greying out the main form, when a modul window is shown above it so the user easier knows that he has to to something with the modal form here... Sorry I don't know how to describe this better...

Any ideas how to achieve this?

Many thx and happy coding,
Dietmar

[engkin]

Windows only. Maybe overlay another form on top of it with some transparency. Along:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. var
2.   f:TForm;
3. begin
4.   f:=TForm.Create(nil);
5.   f.ShowInTaskBar:=stNever;
6.   f.BoundsRect := self.BoundsRect;
7.   f.AlphaBlend:=True;
8.   f.AlphaBlendValue:=120;
9.   f.Color:=clBlack;
10.   f.Show;

[Handoko]

How about this one:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. unit Unit1;
2.  
3. {$mode objfpc}{$H+}
4.  
5. interface
6.  
7. uses
8.   Classes, Forms, Controls, Graphics, StdCtrls, ExtCtrls, BGRAShape;
9.  
10. type
11.  
12.   { TForm1 }
13.  
14.   TForm1 = class(TForm)
15.     BGRAShape1: TBGRAShape;
16.     Button1: TButton;
17.     Timer1: TTimer;
18.     procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
19.     procedure Timer1Timer(Sender: TObject);
20.   end;
21.  
22. var
23.   Form1: TForm1;
24.  
25. implementation
26.  
27. {$R *.lfm}
28.  
29. { TForm1 }
30.  
31. procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
32. var
33.   ModalForm: TForm;
34. begin
35.   BGRAShape1.Left        := 0;
36.   BGRAShape1.Top         := 0;
37.   BGRAShape1.Width       := Width;
38.   BGRAShape1.Height      := Height;
39.   BGRAShape1.FillOpacity := 0;
40.   BGRAShape1.Visible     := True;
41.   Timer1.Enabled         := True;
42.   ModalForm              := TForm.Create(Self);
43.   ModalForm.Caption      := 'This is a modal form';
44.   ModalForm.Top          := Top  + 100;
45.   ModalForm.Left         := Left + 120;
46.   ModalForm.ShowModal;
47.   ModalForm.Free;
48.   BGRAShape1.Visible     := False;
49.   Timer1.Enabled         := False;
50. end;
51.  
52. procedure TForm1.Timer1Timer(Sender: TObject);
53. begin
54.   BGRAShape1.FillOpacity := BGRAShape1.FillOpacity + 1;
55.   if (BGRAShape1.FillOpacity > 50) then
56.     Timer1.Enabled := False;
57. end;
58.  
59. end.

Note:
It needs BGRAControls package.

[lainz]

Good way Handoko.

The problem is that it will not cover controls (TCustomControl), because BGRAShape uses the canvas of the form. But it will cover controls that in fact are like paintboxes (TGraphicControl) if placed on top of them, for example TBCButton, TSpeedButton, TImage and so on.

[lainz]

I think on another solution just now.

Take a screenshot of the contents of the form and gray them. Put the shot in a tpanel paint event in top of everything.

[taazz]

Hi,

some programs are "darkening" oder "greying out the main form, when a modul window is shown above it so the user easier knows that he has to to something with the modal form here... Sorry I don't know how to describe this better...

Any ideas how to achieve this?

Many thx and happy coding,
Dietmar

well I'll let the darkening to others, how about fading out? Set the forms AlphaBlend to true and the AlphaBlendValue to something around 128 (or anything else you like). That will have the same, although a bit more annoying, effect.

[Handoko]

Both suggestions (using TPanel and AlphaBlend) sound possible.

But lucky for Linux users. You can instal ConfigCompiz and enable Dim Inactive and/or Opacity then those effects will be automatically happened. I just tested, it worked.

[guest60499]

A program called ConEmu implements this when the window is not focused. It's rather complicated and written in C++; I apologize for not being able to find the relevant code for you (this might be close).

I suspect ConEmu just dims the contents it is drawing because it has so much control over its components.

The solution with Lazarus controls is almost assuredly an overlay. Are transparent TComponents not possible?

[taazz]

A program called ConEmu implements this when the window is not focused. It's rather complicated and written in C++; I apologize for not being able to find the relevant code for you (this might be close).

I suspect ConEmu just dims the contents it is drawing because it has so much control over its components.

The solution with Lazarus controls is almost assuredly an overlay. Are transparent TComponents not possible?

I'm assuming you mean TWinControls (in which case), they do not support transparency no, they are mostly system controls and if the system does not support it the control do not either. There are a number of workarounds to add the functionality in for some systems but not all of them.

[lainz]

Sorry I did it quickly and I don't tested it cross platform *maybe you need to change the take screenshot part to work cross platform, but is possible to work on linux Mac and windows.

Here is the code attached. Requires bgracontrols.


edit> take screenshot thread https://forum.lazarus-ide.org/index.php?topic=27896.0

[Handoko]

It worked on my system.

[lainz]

Thanks for testing. I tested it on Mac but I get a black image. So it currently works only on Linux and Windows.

[taazz]

Thanks for testing. I tested it on Mac but I get a black image. So it currently works only on Linux and Windows.

a couple of comments after a fast read of your code.
if the virtualscreen is parented by the panel why is the panel needed? From your first message I assumed that the panel will be invisible and host only the virtualscreen when the button is pressed a screen grab of the form is added to the virtualscreen and the panel become visible and on top hiding the rest of the controls. If virtualscreen can do that it self what is the use of the panel and why the GetFormImage is not enough?

[lainz]

All good points!

Is too late here and an entire day of work and technical support. Any improvements are welcome.

I just made a fast copy paste from here and there that's the main reason.

[taazz]

All good points!

Is too late here and an entire day of work and technical support. Any improvements are welcome.

I just made a fast copy paste from here and there that's the main reason.

Just making sure that I did not miss something crucial.