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Random background will full screen - bugs or features?

delovelady

5 discussion posts

Using DF Pro v2.1.1 on Vista Ultimate 32-bit Intel system, I have primary monitor set to "1 background" and secondary monitor set to randomly change images every minute.

I realize that there is a feature of DF Pro that prevents background changes when an application is full screen, but until today I assumed it would still change the background on the other display (assuming no full-screen application is also running there).

But that seems not to be the case. Today, while running VMware in full screen mode on my primary monitor (and no apps on the secondary), I noticed that the secondary monitor had the same image for over an hour (yeah, took me a while for that revelation to sink in). I then set VMware to "normal" (not maximized) mode, and the secondary background changed almost immediately. Hmmm. Then on a whim I re-maximized VMware. Sure enough, the background changes stopped.

Later, I opened a new window on the primary monitor with a function key (while VMware was still maximized on that monitor) and the background changes resumed on Monitor2. I didn't expect this either.

So is it the intention of the "no change when window maximized" feature to completely stop background changes on both monitors when an application is maximized on one of them? If so, would it make sense to make that a user-configurable action?

With any one window maximized, it seems (to me) that even if that window is not on top or not the "active" window, the background change should be disabled on that monitor. Am I off base here? Maybe that would be an insurmountable challenge - I don't know.

Thanks for listening. :-D

Dennis

May 11, 2008 • #1

Hi Dennis,
Thank you for the excellent feedback. I understand what you are looking for, but unfortunately it's not possible with the way Windows handles desktop wallpaper. I can't just set the wallpaper on 1 monitor and not the other. Windows treats the wallpaper as 1 large image that spans both monitors. So unfortunately as long as you are running a full screen application (like a game or VMware) on 1 monitor it isn't possible to change the wallpaper on the other monitor without possibly interrupting the full screen application. I hope this makes sense, but if not please let me know.

May 11, 2008 • #2

delovelady

5 discussion posts

Hi, Jon:

I do understand, thank you. But given that, would it be possible/reasonable to allow the user to control whether the presence of a maximized window prevents background rebuild? This particular system is not used for games, and I don't mind the "flicker" that occurs when the background changes. My purpose in using DF's background changer, is to prevent screen burn-in on the (TV) monitor that's serving as monitor #2.

In any case, I appreciate the application very much, and the fine effort that's gone into it.

Regards,
Dennis

May 11, 2008 • #3

Hi Dennis,
That sounds like a simple request - I'll add in the option to enable/disable this feature in the next release.

Thanks,
Jon

May 18, 2008 • #4