[SOLVED] Captionless form

[pcurtis]

Hi All,

Is it possible to create a form without a caption but WITH a border? (like BorderStyle := bsNone, but with an outline)

(Win 10)

Thanks in advance.

[Handoko]

I haven't tested on Win10 but on Linux this code works, it should work too on Windows.

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. unit Unit1;
2.  
3. {$mode objfpc}{$H+}
4.  
5. interface
6.  
7. uses
8.   Classes, SysUtils, Forms, Controls, Graphics, ExtCtrls, StdCtrls;
9.  
10. type
11.  
12.   { TForm1 }
13.  
14.   TForm1 = class(TForm)
15.     Label1: TLabel;
16.     Label2: TLabel;
17.     Shape1: TShape;
18.     procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
19.     procedure FormMouseDown(Sender: TObject; Button: TMouseButton;
20.       Shift: TShiftState; X, Y: Integer);
21.     procedure FormMouseMove(Sender: TObject; Shift: TShiftState; X, Y: Integer);
22.     procedure FormMouseUp(Sender: TObject; Button: TMouseButton;
23.       Shift: TShiftState; X, Y: Integer);
24.     procedure FormPaint(Sender: TObject);
25.     procedure Shape1MouseUp(Sender: TObject; Button: TMouseButton;
26.       Shift: TShiftState; X, Y: Integer);
27.   private
28.     FClicking:   Boolean;
29.     FMousePoint: TPoint;
30.     FFormPoint:  TPoint;
31.   end;
32.  
33. var
34.   Form1: TForm1;
35.  
36. implementation
37.  
38. {$R *.lfm}
39.  
40. { TForm1 }
41.  
42. procedure TForm1.FormMouseDown(Sender: TObject; Button: TMouseButton;
43.   Shift: TShiftState; X, Y: Integer);
44. begin
45.   case Button of
46.     mbLeft:
47.       begin
48.         if not(FClicking) then
49.         begin
50.           FMousePoint := Mouse.CursorPos;
51.           FFormPoint  := Point(Left, Top);
52.         end;
53.         FClicking := True;
54.         Shape1.Brush.Color := clRed;
55.       end;
56.     mbRight:
57.       Shape1.Brush.Color := clYellow;
58.   end;
59. end;
60.  
61. procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
62. begin
63.   Close;
64. end;
65.  
66. procedure TForm1.FormMouseMove(Sender: TObject; Shift: TShiftState; X,
67.   Y: Integer);
68. begin
69.   if not(FClicking) then Exit;
70.   Left := Mouse.CursorPos.X - (FMousePoint.X - FFormPoint.X);
71.   Top  := Mouse.CursorPos.Y - (FMousePoint.Y - FFormPoint.Y);
72. end;
73.  
74. procedure TForm1.FormMouseUp(Sender: TObject; Button: TMouseButton;
75.   Shift: TShiftState; X, Y: Integer);
76. begin
77.   FClicking := False;
78.   Shape1.Brush.Color := clWhite;
79. end;
80.  
81. procedure TForm1.FormPaint(Sender: TObject);
82. begin
83.   with Canvas do
84.   begin
85.     Pen.Width := 5;
86.     Pen.Color := clRed;
87.     Rectangle(0, 0, Width, Height);
88.   end;
89. end;
90.  
91. procedure TForm1.Shape1MouseUp(Sender: TObject; Button: TMouseButton;
92.   Shift: TShiftState; X, Y: Integer);
93. begin
94.   Close;
95. end;
96.  
97. end.

The problem with captionless form is you have provide the code to let users to move and close the form. Also minimizing, resizing and maximizing.

~edit~
I forget to initialize the private fields. You should do it in Form.OnCreate event.

[pcurtis]

Thanks. Oops, one small problem I forgot to mention, I also need the shadow around the form.

[jamie]

I assume you are looking for the fuzzy shadow casting that windows does on the desktop ?

 if not, you can try this

Set the form for a single border in design mode;

and at runtime, maybe like in the formcreate do this.

 setwindowlong(Form1.WindowHandle, GWL_STYLE, GetWindowLong(form1.WindowHandle,GWL_STYLE) and (not WS_BORDER));

 you need the WINDOWS unit in the uses list
this will give you the 3D shadow drop like a button..

[pcurtis]

Jamie - I want a borderless form with a drop shadow. When I use you code (with = bsNone) there is no dropshadow. If I set BorderStyle = bsSingle then there is automatically a dropshadow.

[jamie]

I said, a form with a single border.. not no border..

without border you won't see anything around it.

so set the form in the OI as single outline and at runtime apply that code I posted.

 like I said it gives you a 3D effect, it most likely isn't what you want but it does give you a border of 3d.

[pcurtis]

What I meant was that setting BS = bsSingle then there is an automatic dropshadow. Therefore the code is pointless.

[Handoko]

@pcurtis

On my Ubuntu Mate, my demo shows soft shadow. I believe that is handled by window decorator, which can be changed on the appearance/theme settings. Does my Captionless Dragable Form not show the shadow on Windows?

If you want it on normal forms, I have no idea how to do it. But if you want captionless splash form with soft or drop shadow, I think I know how to do it. I observed Corel Graphics Suite splash screens, I believe this is how they do it:

1. On starting the program do a screen capture
2. Paint a drop or soft shadow on the captured image
3. Crop the image and put it on the Form.OnPaint
4. Draw the logo, name and copyright information
5. Now the form can have semi-transparent shadow on the desktop background
6. User should not be allowed to move the splash screen

This is the examples of splash form I meant:
https://community.coreldraw.com/talk/coreldraw_graphics_suite_x7/f/coreldraw-graphics-suite-feature-requests/17401/my-welcome-screen-for-x5

The drop/soft shadow should be able done using BGRABitmap. For screen capturing, it has been discussed on the forum you can search for it.

Below is the previous demo showing the shadow, which is provided automatically by the window decorator on Ubuntu Mate:

[pcurtis]

On Windows it doesn't show a shadow.

The form will be a "normal" form so the suggestions don't really help.

[jamie]

What I meant was that setting BS = bsSingle then there is an automatic dropshadow. Therefore the code is pointless.

You are absolutely correct in your assertion

"Its pointless"

[pcurtis]

Does that mean it can't be done?

[Handoko]

It can. But it won't be easy. Try to start a new thread with a catchy title like "Challenge: Can Anyone Do ...". I believe you will get the answers some days later. This forum is full of experts who can do many things that you can't imagine. I wish to take the challenge unfortunately I am busy at the moment.

[rvk]

Does that mean it can't be done?

Not easily.

I think the dropshadow is connected with the WS_BORDER. Removing it will remove the shadow.

There are some things like DwmExtendFrameIntoClientArea with which you can regain the shadow but all the examples are for Delphi or C++.
(for example https://stackoverflow.com/questions/43818022/borderless-window-with-drop-shadow)

[jamie]

with a borderless form do this at some point in code

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
2. begin
3.   Hide;
4.   setclasslong(Form1.WindowHandle, GCL_STYLE, GetClassLong(form1.WindowHandle,GCL_STYLE) or CS_DropShadow);
5.   Show;
6. end;                          
7.  

[pcurtis]

Jamie - Thanks. Job done.