Programming Question

[drfsupercenter]

OK, so that whole "google for computer timers" didn't work too well.

A friend of mine from IRC said he'd make me one, but he uses Linux and doesn't know some of the programming things.

He said this isn't possible but I want basically, when the keyboard is in use or the mouse is in use, it times, when it's not it doesn't. Basically anything you'd do to turn screen saver off

But he said something about the fact screensavers are "on top" and a timer wouldn't be.

Anyone know of any programming code or techniques or whatever that would do what I want?

[usotsuki]

I'll be more specific

What I said was it wasn't possible for *me* to do it, as I lacked the knowledge of the Windows API, but I didn't know if it would be possible. (I don't know a way to hook the keyboard so low-level.)

-uso.

[drfsupercenter]

Heh thanks for the clarification.

Maybe some of you DVF regulars (Chewy maybe?) could help with the API stuff, as my parents said they'd trust me if I had an automatic timer.

That beats having to keep a clock next to my computer any day.

[usotsuki]

Hm, I found the name of a function that would do the job...though I'm not sure how SetWindowsHookEx works :/

-uso.

[ed klein]

Why don't you just set XP operating system to time out in 20 minutes (screen goes to black out) when the mouse or keyboard have not been touched.

Change the current settings do deactivate screen saver, and to black out mode in 20 minutes, when the keyboard and mouse has not been touched, you can still download from the internet in the background but the screen is in black mode.


On this computer I have it set for no screen saver, blackout in 20 minutes, when power is turned off everything is off, thus no need for a screen saver.

When the computer is on I use webshots as a screensaver and use the webshots library I have created to change pictures every 15 minutes, so when using the computer the background changes every 15 minutes to the library of pictures I have created in webshots. Then automatic blackout in 20 minutes if the keyboard or mouse has not been touched. Works great no complaints at all.

[drfsupercenter]

That's what I do, usually I just turn the monitor off by hand.