My Board

I figured it was about time I contributed something to KillaNet... so here's my idea.
I've decided to make a program that automatically changes a users wallpaper to the winning wallpaper of a wallpaper contest. Thus, if there's a winner declared every month, then the user would have a new wallpaper every month.

The way it works:

The program will silently start when windows is booted up. As soon as an internet connection is established the program will then download a 1KB file (what I refer to as a "wallfile") from a fixed URL (this fixed URL will be of Ada's choice). The "wallfile" will contain approx. 3 lines. Here's an example of what a wallfile will look like:
[b]This is a test comment
04012005104734PM
[url=\"http://www.anyserver.com/sunrisewallpaper.zwp\"]http://www.anyserver.com/sunrisewallpaper.zwp[/url][/b]
The first line is a comment that will appear on the users computer if it is anything other than "NULL". The reason for this is in the event of problems, such messages as "This service is temporarily down, please try again later" can appear

The second line is for the program to identify if there's a new wallpaper available. That is, if the line is the same as the last time they booted their computer, the program will NOT download a new wallpaper. As well if this line is replaced by a "STOP" the program will not offer any download to any user (another feature, incase of problems)

The third line is the URL to the download for the current wallpaper being offered. This allows the file to be located on any server of Ada's choice.

The .zwp file is a compressed file (similar to .zip) containing 2 files
1) author info - a file giving credit to the author
2) a .jpeg file of the wallpaper

The biggest concerns I've had about this project are:
[b]1) Excessive usage of bandwidth[/b]
- To tackle this problem, I made the program use compressed .jpg images rather than bitmaps. As well I made it so that only data transfer (downloads) will occur when a new wallpaper is available rather than every single time the users boot their computer. Another step I took to aid in this problem is allowing the wallpaper to be located on any server. This way if someone is willing to host the winning wallpaper for a while it is possible, thus moving the transfer strains to different locations. As a final (and hopefully unecessary) step, I've made it possible for Ada to quickly pull the plug on downloads if data transfers become excessive.
[b]2) Users not wanting to change their wallpaper EVERYTIME[/b]
- It also occured to me that this could quickly become an annoying program if the user doesn't have the option of using a wallpaper of their choice or keeping it on a particular wallpaper even if there's a new one available. To tackle this, I've made all the appropriate user settings to customize to their liking...
example: check boxes such as: "Download all new wallpapers" and "Automatically change current wallpaper to most recently downloaded" .... etc. As well I will have a quick library of previously downloaded wallpapers that the user can choose from at anytime they want.

Anyway, there's more to it than this, but that's the basic idea.

nice original idea, i like it. /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

Yeah, very original.... If you need any help (which I highly highly doubt) I'll be here /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> lol

Thanks guys /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

I agree, very nice idea Jake /good.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(Y)\' />

heyyyy how'd you get in here /ohmy.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':o\' /> /blink.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':blink:\' /> you're not a programmer! /ohmy.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':o\' />

On the contrary, dear friend!

[quote]Network Ruffian
KillaNet Staff
KillaNet Design Crew
KillaNet Programmer[/quote]

Well what do you program in then? :\

Okay Jake, I've installed the programmes you sent me, and I'm impressed. Once again you've managed to make some that is very simple to understand and to use. I think this will be a fantastic addition to what KillaNet can offer. I will start a wallpaper contest very soon, I just need to catch up on a few loose ends first.

Thank you, as always /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

I love this program lol /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> Even though I made him alter his code like 4 times for nothing /stare.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(stare)\' /> Stupid me lol /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> I also love how fast the wallpaper changes. I've never seen my wallpaper change that fast ever lol Once again Jake, Well done! /good.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(Y)\' /> /good.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(Y)\' />

[quote]Okay Jake, I've installed the programmes you sent me, and I'm impressed[/quote]
I'm glad you like it /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />
[quote]I will start a wallpaper contest very soon, I just need to catch up on a few loose ends first.[/quote]
As far as I'm concerned, take your time... there's certainly no hurry, I know you've got a mountain of stuff on your plate, so whenever you're ready is fine by me.... besides there's a few bugs that need working out.

Known issues:
- When clicking the system tray icon to bring up the changer's main form you then have to click the form once before it will come into focus (ie. you need to click things an extra time to get action)

- System tray icon doesn't show up when windows boots up even though the program itself boots up with windows. This is the most serious issue right now. Unless the user cntrl + Alt + Del and brings up the task manager, they have no way of even knowing the program is running. Thus, if they then want to use the program, they are likely to run a second instance of it.

Anyway, those are my issues to deal with... thanks for taking the time to check them out /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

Edit:
Woops I missed yer post there Josh...
[quote]I love this program lol  Even though I made him alter his code like 4 times for nothing[/quote]
Glad you like it Josh... and it wasn't for nothing, unknowingly you made me spot some more serious issues as I pondered the code trying to solve your problem. For example, even though it was settings at your end that were causing the problem, the program needs to react better than just freezing if that situation ever happens to anyone else. Handling things smoothly when things go wrong, is a huge part of the battle when programming... So in short it was valuable bug testing /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

I announced the "upcoming" contest, as I would like to have a few wallpapers on hand before the programme is available for download; so even if you don't release it until next month, we'll have time to get some more files for it. /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

[quote name=\'Jake\']- System tray icon doesn't show up when windows boots up even though the program itself boots up with windows. This is the most serious issue right now. Unless the user cntrl + Alt + Del and brings up the task manager, they have no way of even knowing the program is running. Thus, if they then want to use the program, they are likely to run a second instance of it.[/quote]

Make it so they can only run one instance of the program at a time? I don't see any need to have it open more than once, so if they try just give a warning saying it's already running and/or make the already running instance active?

I've not seen the program yet, but regardless i'm sure it rox. gj /good.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(Y)\' />

[quote]Make it so they can only run one instance of the program at a time? I don't see any need to have it open more than once, so if they try just give a warning saying it's already running and/or make the already running instance active?[/quote]
thanks Sp3culuM .... I've already done that (great minds think alike) .... I'm however still dealing with the fact that the icon itself doesn't show up... I initially thought that it doesn't show up at windows boot up because the program starts too soon in the windows booting sequence (ie. the system tray may not be ready for an icon yet). However, I put a timer (to start when the program does) set at 10 seconds that has the code for the icon placement in it. It still didn't show .... maybe I need longer :S .... regardless I don't like the timer approach anyway, I'm gonna have to find a way to trigger some event that makes it show up.
Anyway, thanks for the input /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

It showed up on my puter, Jake

gawds don't tell me I broke it already /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />