[v1.53][23-Mar-08] ShantzTodayChanger - Timed Wallpaper\THEME Cycler\App Launcher

[shantzg001]

Guys,
I've not been getting enough time to work on ShantzTodayChanger anymore (and couple that with the irritation of having to boot into windows just to work into this). The motivation levels are simply not there. I'm trying to see if there is someone willing to take up and continue development for this, so that I can release the source code. If anyone is interested, please drop me a word at the project's home page: Shantz Today Changer Home Page
SHANTZTODAYCHANGER
For queries, bug reports, feature requests, updates and downloads, visit ShantzTodayChanger Home Page
If you like this program, then you can
:: DONATE ::

This small tool will cycle ur today background or theme after a set interval of time.
Usage:
1. Make a folder on ur device (preferably not on storage card.) and extract all the files (mainly ShantzTodayChanger.exe, TdyChangerCfg.exe, gsgetfile.dll (might not be visible to u depending on ur explorer settings) and Readme.htm) to this folder.
2. IMP: Do not rename any files.
3. Run the TdyChangerCfg.exe.
4. Set options through the dialog that opens and press apply button (Pressing the native WM OK button will discard all your changes)
5. Options:
i)Choose image type (.gif\.jpg\.png) or theme(.tsk) to be cycled.
ii)If the input files (images or themes) are not in the folder where exes are kept, then you can check the box (underneath the .gif option) and give the "FULL and ABSOLUTE" path of where the files are kept. You can either input the path thru keyboard or choose it graphically by pressing the button (...) next to it.
iii)If you want to run a file after every cycle interval, check the corresponding box and provide the "FULL and ABSOLUTE" path of the file to be run. You can either input the path thru keyboard or choose it graphically by pressing the button (...) next to it.
iv) If you want some files to be avoided during cycling, put a file mask. The program will look for this mask to appear anywhere in the name of the files and will avoid it if found. (Wildcards are not supported. Choose time option has to be checked for this to work)
v) Choose the period for which mask option has to be used. If you choose a time period and leave mask as empty, then during that time no cycling will be done. If you want to avoid some files all the time, then time period should be chosen to cover all 24 hrs of the day.
vi)enter the desired interval between cycling of images\themes.
vii)If you choose a period for the mask, another check box (Consider mask period for exe also) will be enabled. Checking this box will mean that the specified exe will be run only if an image\theme is changed during that cycle. If you dont check this, then exe will be run after every cycle even if there is no change in the image\theme.
6. When you want to stop the cycling, press "STOP Cycling" button.

Additional Notes:
1. I've tested it only on my WM6 HTC Wizard and WM5 emulator. Might work with other devices/OS's but not sure...
2. Doesnt have to be running constantly. So saves resources when not active.
3. Survives soft resets as well.
4. Even takes care of the situation if your phone is off when the time to cycle is reached. Will cycle as soon as ur phone comes back on in this situation.

Planned Updates:
i) Suggestions invited. I have a lot of updates in mind but will incorporate those only which are requested by you.

Known Issues:
i) If the mask option is selected, then in a very particular situation, the app will miss a cycle.
This can be taken care of but not in my priority list because this can be fixed only by rewriting the complete cycling code which is quite a bit. So, will fix it if I get some time from my other projects.
ii) If after maknig the configuration, you see the screen flash for a second at the right times, but the backfround doesn't change, then do this:
- Go to : Settings...today....appearance
- un-check "Use this picture as background"
- start the program using "startTodayChanger.lnk" or TdyChangerCfg (Apply button)
(Thnx to CWKJ for reporting this bug and fix, and to eric for reminding me about it)

End Note:
Like every software, this one is also bound to have bugs, please report it asap.
Though ShantzTodayChanger does not run continuously but sometimes some apps that close all processes automatically (like SPB backup) might clash in schedule with ShantzTodayChanger and close it when it starts to run. In such a case (which is quite unlikely), the app might not be able to set a notification for next cycle, so if u face this situation, then run the config again.

Version History:
1.53 - 23-March-08 -> RECOMMENDED UPDATE
i)Theme Color Detection has been improved a lot. Should work much more accurately now.

1.52 - 11-Aug-07 ->
i) Fixed another bug for the "time period" option.
ii) Made a little optimization in the code.

1.51 - 05-Aug-07 ->
i) Fixed a bug which prevented the "time period" option from working properly.
ii) Fixed a bug where wallpapers might not change if certain particular themes were installed before change cycle happens
iii) Fixed a bug where the time period option was not remembered properly by the GUI.
iv) Added option to allow user to choose whether to run the user specified file (exe\lnk) after every cycle interval only if there was a change in image\theme during that cycle.
v) Made a few small changes to the GUI to prevent users from making incorrect settings.

1.50 - 29-July-07 ->MAJOR UPDATE
i) Added option to specify a mask to avoid files having that mask
ii) Added option to specify the time period during which the mask has to be considered
iii) Added code to ensure that if mask is empty and a period is chosen, then no rotation is done during that period.
iv) Added option to run a user specified file after every cycle interval.
v) Fixed bug where the jpg and png options were not working earlier.
vi) Clicking help button now opens help in Pocket Internet Explorer.
vii) Fixed many more subtle bugs that manifest themselves and very peculiar situations.
viii) Optimized the code a bit at a few places.
ix) Also see "Known Issues" section above.
x) Removed the "append to previous info" box as now the app remembers old info correctly.

1.33 - 18-July-07 ->
i)Added code to select the input path graphically. It is a bit of workaround though. To select an input folder, just select any file inside it in the select folder dialog.
ii)TdyChgrCfg now shows you the previous settings.

1.32 - 21-Jun-07 ->
i) Fixed a bug where sometimes on cycling themes, colors change but images do not change.
ii) Added a measure to avoid running multiple instances (just as a precaution)
iii)Added code to avoid losing notifications if phone is reset too early after running the program

1.31 - 20-Jun-07 ->Fixed 2 bugs:
i) A notification bug where old notification is not deleted
ii) A bug where cycle interval value is not correctly read from the GUI

1.3 - 19-Jun-07 ->
i)Added option to make partial changes to previously entered information.
ii)Fine-Tuned the Theme Color support algo. Now, theme colors should be almost 95% same as calculated by windows mobile while applying theme.
iii)Did some code optimization

1.2 - 19-Jun-07 ->Major Update:
i)Added Theme Support. Changing of system colors as per theme is also supported (which is not done by any other program IIRC)
ii)Added option to keep input images\themes in a separate folder
iii)Provided a GUI Configuration module
iv)Provided option to choose between gif\jpg\png\tsk to be cycled.

1.11 - 12-Jun-07->Fixed another bug with notification queue

1.1 - 12-Jun-07 -> Fixed the bug that causes WM5/WM6 devices not to cycle wallpapers in certain conditions

1.0 - 10-Jun-07 -> Initial Release

Credits:
daxliniere/wacky.banana -> For asking to make the tool and their inputs
SeanFromSoCal/200mpx -> For their inputs

If you like this program, then you can :: DONATE ::

Download:
Latest Downloads can now be found at http://tech.shantanugoel.com
For queries, bug reports, feature requests, updates and downloads, visit ShantzTodayChanger Home Page

it may be interesting

[jatt_inder]

nice release...will try it soon

[daxliniere]

Hey Shantz! thanks so much for this, unfortunatley it doesn't run on my Hermes!

And I don't know how to debug it so you can take a look at it.


Feature request: JPG or PNG support would be great. Also, a way to specify where the files reside, maybe command line? If argument is not present at command line, then default to install directory (program root)

Thanks Shantz!!

Dax.

[shantzg001]

@dax: well, I'll add a config module soon for the image paths etc.
Will see if jpg/png support is feasible enuff...
About the hermes, i'll send you a debug build and try to run that. But first of all, tell me whether you can find a registry entry "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ShantzTodayChanger " and if its there then can you tell me the objects present inside it along with their values...

[fallenczar]

Originally Posted by shantzg001 Hi Just made this. This small tool will cycle ur today background / wallpaper after a set interval of time. Usage: 1. Make a folder on ur device (preferably not on storage card. Its just 8KB anyways) and extract the ShantzTodayChanger.exe to this folder. 2. Copy the image files that you want to set as ur today background to this folder. [bold]IMP:The files should be gif and moreover, the size (widthxheight) of the images should be taken care of by you in advanced, otherwise they might be stretched or cropped[/bold] 3. Run the ShantzTodayChanger.exe. 4. This will create two shortcuts in ur folder. startTdyChngr.lnk and stopTdyChngr.lnk. 5. Now just run startTdyChngr.lnk. The default time gap between cycling is 600sec. You can modify the shortcut to choose ur own time (in sec). 6. When you want to stop the cycling, just run stopTdyChngr.lnk. Additional Notes: 1. You can create your own shortcuts if you want. Basically the ShantzTodayChanger.exe works on following command line arguments (without the quotes): i) "-g 600" - start cycling images. replace 600 by ur own time in seconds. Keep it more than 1 minute preferably. ii) "-s" - stop cycling. iii) "-c" - cycle immediately. DONT USE THIS OPTION. MIGHT CREATE PROBLEMS. 2. I've tested it only on my WM6 HTC Wizard and WM5 emulator. Might work with other devices/OS's but not sure... 3. It runs only when wallpaper has to be changed. So saves resources when not active. 4. Survives soft resets as well. 5. Even takes care of the situation if your phone is off when the time to cycle is reached. Will cycle as soon as ur phone comes back on in this situation. Planned Updated: i) Suggestions invited. I have a lot of updates in mind but will incorporate those only which are requested by you. End Note: Like every software, this one is also bound to have bugs, please report it asap. Version History: 1.0 - 10-Jun-07 -> Initial Release Credits: daxliniere/wacky.banana -> For asking to make the tool RapidShare Mirror->http://rapidshare.com/files/36281282...dayChanger.zip

cool,
i was actually thinking of something like this...

feature request????

how about changing the entire theme....
(what i am planning here is having different themes during different times of the day)
along with it say can you make it check the time (say instead of 600s i would like to change it at 12, 3, 6 and 9...)

whole theme changer(tsk), which will change system solors would be WROBG

[shantzg001]

@fallenCzar: Whole Theme Changer isn't on the list right now...Maybe I can work on it when I get a few other things together first..

along with it say can you make it check the time (say instead of 600s i would like to change it at 12, 3, 6 and 9...)

Do you mean, you want to change it at a specific time of the day? Hmmm, I may try to include an option to specify the "cycle start time" along with the gap, which should take care of this...

[sathya]

not working on my o2 XDA II mini win 2003SE.it says not a valid pocket pc....

[shantzg001]

@Sathya: It works only on WM5 and WM6. I'll see if just a simple compilation for the WM2003 platform will work and let you know...

@ALL: Those who have tried it on their WM5/WM6 devices, please let me know if its working ok for you or not.