Can Playbasic over-ride other software?

[Randomise]

Specifically, could it run in the background and blank the screen while other software is running (such as web browser, or Flash app's)?

I want to create some software that motivates exercise, by blanking the PC screen when an exercise bike isn't being ridden (simply job to connect a controller up for the input needed).

[Randomise]

Also, can Playbasic create an always-on-top window, for showing distance travelled, etc?

[kevin]

yes, you can tell the window to be always on top.  It's not a PlayBASIC thing, it's a Windows API thing.

[Randomise]

Thanks Kevin. What about over-riding other software, so allow blanking of the screen when specific input isn't being supplied?

[kevin]

I don't really think i'm following your question..  if you want the program to not draw anything, then you don't draw anything..

[Randomise]

Well, I want the software to run with a small always-on-top window, but have it run in the background so that the user can use other software (probably only a web browser). When the Playbasic program detects that a controller input has *stopped*, it will draw a black screen. The black screen will only be removed when the input starts again.

Or, I want the screen to go black when someone stops pedalling an exercise machine, but still be able to use other software while the Playbasic program is sitting there.

[kevin]

Code Select Expand


SetFPS 60


print "keep pressing space to keep message on screen"
sync
waitkey

lastINputTime=Timer()

do

   CurrentTime=Timer()

   TimeBetweenInputs=CurrentTime-LastInputTime

   cls 0

   ; compare elapsed time to a max of 1 second for this test
   if TimeBetweenInputs<1000
   
       ; if the space barw as press less than a second ago, display message
       print "Well done keep pressing space"

   endif

   ; check if the space bar being pressed
if spacekey()
       LastInputTime=CurrentTime
endif
   
   sync
loop esckey()



[Randomise]

Thanks again Kevin. :)