Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!rutgers!lll-lcc!pyramid!voder!apple!lsr From: lsr@apple.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: Desktop drawing Message-ID: <486@apple.UUCP> Date: Mon, 23-Feb-87 13:16:04 EST Article-I.D.: apple.486 Posted: Mon Feb 23 13:16:04 1987 Date-Received: Thu, 26-Feb-87 20:20:02 EST References: Reply-To: lsr@apple.UUCP (Larry Rosenstein) Organization: Advanced Technology Group, Apple Computer Lines: 37 In article jv0l#@andrew.cmu.edu (Justin Chris Vallon) writes: >I am writing a BBS-type of program which relies heavily upon moving >files and messages from one place to another, deleting them, etc. >I would like to draw the Icons of the disks and b-boards and of >course the trash and maybe a printer on the desktop. > >The only alternative that I could think of is to make a window with a >gray background pattern and make it the ghost window (so frontWindow >won't act strange). > > This is the best thing to do. It avoids the problems of handling the clipping and mouse events, since these can be handled just like any other window. (You probably don't have to make it the ghost window for this to work; you just have to special case the window and never bring it to the front.) Also, consider running your program under Servant. If you draw on the desktop, I think you will conflict with Servant. By using the window you will at least cover up the Servant icons when you are active, and you can probably arrange to hide your icons when Servant's are active. As far as the user interface goes, there is a problem of confusing your users by presenting an interface that looks the same as the Finder but doesn't work the same way. For example, if your icons can't be moved then people might be confused and frustrated. -- Larry Rosenstein Object Specialist Apple Computer AppleLink: Rosenstein1 UUCP: {sun, voder, nsc, mtxinu, dual}!apple!lsr CSNET: lsr@Apple.CSNET