Windows screensaver framework?

[bobtheunplayer]

One of the fun things about QB64 has always been making fun graphics demo, or just non-sense that looks cool.  What better way to enjoy the fruits of our efforts than by making it into a bona fide screensaver.  Unfortunately that code is going to be rather system specific, so lets build for the most popular desktop OS.

I'm just jumping into this for the first time, so any help or insight anyone has with Windows specific non-screen-0 stuff (Sorry Pete) would be greatly appreciated.

I found a C# tutorial, so I'm going to get that working someday, time permitting, and I have zero C# experience, so it could take a long minute.
https://www.harding.edu/fmccown/screensaver/screensaver.html

I feel like this might be something we would want to pursue as a community, and I wanted to start with you guys before I even open an editor.

Thanks,
Bob

[SMcNeill]

This might be what you’re looking for:  http://schoolfreeware.com/QBasic_Tutorial_58_-_Making_A_Screen_Saver_For_Windows_-_QB64.html

[SMcNeill]

And my go at a screensaver for windows:

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. CONST WaitBetweenChanges = 2 'seconds
2.  
3. IF _FILEEXISTS("PhotoList.txt") = 0 THEN 'no need to shell for a new listing over and over endlessly
4.     'if you want a fresh file listing, delete the old  file before running the wallpaper changer.
5.     SHELL _HIDE "DIR " + CHR$(34) + "C:\Users\Public\Pictures\" + CHR$(34) + " /b /s /a-d >PhotoList.txt"
6. END IF
7.  
8.  
9. OPEN "PhotoList.txt" FOR BINARY AS #1
10. DO UNTIL EOF(1)
11.     LINE INPUT #1, junk$
12.     count = count + 1
13. LOOP
14.  
15. SEEK #1, 1 'back to the beginning
16.  
17. DIM FileList(count) AS STRING
18. FOR i = 1 TO count
19.     LINE INPUT #1, FileList(i)
20.     FileList(i) = FileList(i) + CHR$(0)
21. NEXT
22.  
23. RANDOMIZE TIMER
24.  
25.  
26. SCREEN _NEWIMAGE(_DESKTOPWIDTH, _DESKTOPHEIGHT, 32)
27. _FULLSCREEN
28.  
29. _FONT 8
30.  
31. _DELAY .5
32. WHILE _MOUSEINPUT: WEND
33. OriginalX = _MOUSEX: OriginalY = _MOUSEY
34.  
35. DO
36.     _LIMIT 10 '10 loop per second
37.     cycle = (cycle + 1) MOD (WaitBetweenChanges * 10)
38.     WHILE _MOUSEINPUT: WEND
39.     X = _MOUSEX: Y = _MOUSEY
40.     IF cycle = 1 THEN
41.         CLS
42.         loops = 0
43.         DO
44.             f = INT(RND * count) + 1
45.             f$ = FileList(f)
46.             result = 0
47.             IF _FILEEXISTS(f$) THEN 'try a few times in case invalid files (like TXT files) are in the list.
48.                 'I was lazy and didn't bother to just search for image files after all...
49.                 image = _LOADIMAGE(f$, 32)
50.                 IF image <> -1 THEN _PUTIMAGE , image: result = -1
51.             END IF
52.             loops = loops + 1
53.         LOOP UNTIL result OR loops > 100
54.         IF loops > 100 THEN PRINT "ERROR: Over 100 failures and no success... Terminating.": END
55.         PRINT "Current Background: "; f$
56.     END IF
57.     IF X <> OriginalX OR Y <> OriginalY THEN done = -1
58.     IF _MOUSEBUTTON(1) THEN done = -1
59.     IF _MOUSEBUTTON(2) THEN done = -1
60.     IF _KEYHIT THEN done = -1
61. LOOP UNTIL done
62. SYSTEM

This assumes that you're going to have pictures in the "C:\Users\Public\Pictures\" folder on your Windows PC.  If you don't, then kindly change it to point to a directory where you do have pictures stored, and it'll then use those for you to create an image flipping screensaver.

Instructions:

1) Give it a name and compile it.
2) Find the compiled *.EXE in your QB64 folder and rename it to *.SCR to make it a screen saver.
3) You can now RIGHT CLICK on the SCR file in your QB64 folder, and use the INSTALL option to install your new screensaver.

[RhoSigma]

Hello bobtheunplayer,
welcome to the forum...

For some more examples feel free to download and try my small Screen Blanker collection (see signature).

[bobtheunplayer]

@RhoSigma got some nice screen blankers there.

@SMcNeill, that seems too easy, I'll give it a go.