🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <gUD1pjy00UsIk=004v@andrew.cmu.edu> 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

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