Help creating a transparent screen lock like program

[E C H (He of too much code)]

I am very weak in VB.NET, I am using VB.NET 2k5 Express. I have only created one program,
and heck it was my first ;-) (URL below if it matters). I am trying to create a program
that stays resident, and after a period of inactivity on the computer locks the screen,
only it can't use the screen saver interface if I understand it correctly (as the
screensaver stuff creates an additional desktop virtual desktop that is unable to interact
with the users desktop). I would like to remove the desktop icons and taskbar (allowing
to watch my stuff compile or copy. Then rely on my power settings to turn of the screen
at its interval. I have also never figured out how to put stuff in the system tray.

Transparent Screen Lock;
http://www.e-motional.com/TScreenLock.htm

My only program;
SaPaGe (Sane Password Generator)
http://www.gotdotnet.com/Workspaces/...e-02058ad35471

P.S. If you want to tell me what I have done wrong in my code feel free (although
hopefully you can point me in the correct direction to fix it) ;-).

[Michael M.]

"I have also never figured out how to put stuff in the system tray."
VB.NET 2005 express has a contoll class that does this for you.
Creating a program that stays resident:
1, You can create a program with a hidden form, show a second form when you
need interaction from the person using the program.

2, You could create a windows service (not completly simple but vb 2005
makes it as simple as such as task could be).

3, There is a Screen Saver project template (and a walkthrough on the vb
express website)

Regards,

Mike.
"E C H (He of too much code)" <gl****************@juno.comwrote in message
news:OH**************@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>I am very weak in VB.NET, I am using VB.NET 2k5 Express. I have only
created one program, and heck it was my first ;-) (URL below if it
matters). I am trying to create a program that stays resident, and after a
period of inactivity on the computer locks the screen, only it can't use
the screen saver interface if I understand it correctly (as the screensaver
stuff creates an additional desktop virtual desktop that is unable to
interact with the users desktop). I would like to remove the desktop icons
and taskbar (allowing to watch my stuff compile or copy. Then rely on my
power settings to turn of the screen at its interval. I have also never
figured out how to put stuff in the system tray.

Transparent Screen Lock;
http://www.e-motional.com/TScreenLock.htm

My only program;
SaPaGe (Sane Password Generator)
http://www.gotdotnet.com/Workspaces/...e-02058ad35471

P.S. If you want to tell me what I have done wrong in my code feel free
(although hopefully you can point me in the correct direction to fix it)
;-).

[E C H (He of too much code)]

See below

Michael M. wrote:

"I have also never figured out how to put stuff in the system tray."
VB.NET 2005 express has a contoll class that does this for you.

I am a newb, I really don't understand controls, and classes. I just try to figure out
how stuff works.

>
Creating a program that stays resident:
1, You can create a program with a hidden form, show a second form when you
need interaction from the person using the program.

That makes sense, I kinda wondered why forms would be hidden.

2, You could create a windows service (not completly simple but vb 2005
makes it as simple as such as task could be).

I was more thinking of calling a program via the scheduler based on idle time.

3, There is a Screen Saver project template (and a walkthrough on the vb
express website)

From my understanding, it can NOT be a screensaver, as screensavers are prohibited from
doing what I am trying to do. At most it appears you can take a snapshot of the screen
before the screensaver activates. But this would not be the live screen.

Regards,

Mike.

Many thanks for your response.

>

"E C H (He of too much code)" <gl****************@juno.comwrote in message
news:OH**************@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...