Digital Workshop

I am trying to create a program that is totally transparent and runs "always on top". The program will then run over top another program allowing the user to click transparents button to run actions.

My problem is... if I were to create a program in Opus with a transparent a window, pages & buttons... the actions will not work. I guess Opus thinks when the object are 100% transparent, then their not there at all. Once I set the transparencies to 99%, then they would work. But I need everything to be 100% transparent.

Any ideas how I can get this to work??? Thanks!

Use a Frame.

Hey Fred,

A transparent frame acts the same way as everything else that is 100% transparent. It doesn't work unless the object is 99% transparent.

I'm trying to use Mouse Click actions with a 100% transparent object(window,page,button,etc..)

I'm sure there's a work-around for this.

RK3D

For the Frame, or other Object, modify its properties to "stop mouse-clicks passing through". Should give you the desired result for most Graphic objects.

Unfortunately, this does not extend to Page object or publication Window. I expect there is likely no workaround for this.

You can try and play with transparent PNG image, but I think Windows will have a 'fit' with that as Pub level background (ie, problem processing graphics). You could try "Never use DirectX" (setting in Publication properties) -- I do not know if that will make a difference.

Why would the Frame have to be transparent? In my test example, I created a Frame and a Text Object. I wrote text in the Text Object and made it Initially Hidden. In the Actions for the Frame, I have a Trigger of Mouse Over with an Action of Show Text Object, and Mouse Exit with an Action of Hide Text Object. When I Preview, the Text Object is hidden until I move my mouse over the invisible Frame. There is NO NEED to make the Frame Transparent. You don't see a Frame unless you add a Background and/or a Border.

Hey fred,

I need everything to be transparent. The Publication, Page and the Frame.

The my Transparent program will be running over top of a 3rd party program that is running in fullscreen(ex. slideshow)

I need my program to be transparent because I want to only see the 3rd party program, but still be allowed to run an action if I press the frame in my transparent program.

I hope this clarifies it. I'm almost at the point that it cannot be done.

I've tried using a PNG and It doesn't work.

Thanks everyone for all the help

RK3D

If everything is transparent, then the mouse click is simply going to pass through to the application underneath which will steal focus. Thinking outside the box, you can force your application to check for the mouse event and respond but it would require scripting.

Two questions though: What's wrong with 99% transparency and / or any chance of building the sideshow in Opus?

Mack

My transparent program is not going to cover the full screen so If I make it 99% transparent then you'll barly see the bounding box of the 99% transparent program.

I cant run the 3rd party program in Opus, cause it needs to run by itself.

Any other suggestions

RK3D

Well the simple, it'll have to do answer is make the publication fill the whole screen and add a 99% transparent frame to cover the whole page. Yes, this will create a very minor change in appearance, but every transparent object on top of the frame will have something to work with and the actions will now register.

Failing which, script it - but this involves a reasonable understanding Opus Script and belongs in the advanced section.

Mack

If I make the publication fullscreen then I won't be able to focus on anything underneth it. I need to be able to do that.

RK3D

RK, I do not understand what you are saying here. What do you mean by 'bounding box'?, and if that applies to the Opus Pub window or page, please say so.

From your original post, I interpreted that you did not want any border applied to the Opus Pub window.

I tend to agree with Mackavi that if you can use a 99% transparent setting for a Background color (say white) -- the Users should not really notice. Even photo images (on the underlying Desktop) will appear quite crisp with only a little haze.

There is a way, or several ways, to have the Publication display in a window as you already know (I think you said you used it that way). So, either do as Fred said to use a Frame (and put all Opus objects in that Frame), or as Mack said also another way of organizing_around/using a Frame.

It really is not that difficult, once you allow something less than the 100% transparency.

Ah, that would have been useful information. No, 99% won't work for full screen.

Mack

Are you still trying to do this?

I spent days and days trying to do something similar. I wanted to create my own "guided help system" for software app documentation. I never was able to come up with anything satisfactory.

If you're wanting to do this for documentation/guided help purposes, I know of one tool built specifically for that purpose. It's called Transcensus ShoGuide. But it's very expensive.