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*FLASHING* Task Bar Alerts - OFF????

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phlyx

phlyx

Technical User
Mar 25, 2004
64
US
They do not frown on message software here at work as long as it's not abused and I use AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) under Windows XP Pro as I can chat a bit with my son when he returns home from school without the interuptions of a phone call. I 'hide' my task bar to save window space but when he sends a chat message the task bar pops up, the AIM chat window button constantly flashes bright ORANGE and it's distracting (not to say that's it's not too business-like having that happen when reviewing something on my screen with a co-worker or supervisor).

Is there any way to prevent an application from highlighting when active in the task bar or even prevent it from displaying in the task bar at all? Or at the very least, how can you change the color of the alerting buttons in the task bar so it's not the bright ORANGE? I have Tweak UI installed and have it checked to FLASH TASKBAR BUTTON 1 TIMES but the AIM button constantly flashes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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I found the following at this website.
I am only copying them here to save you the time from having to go to this other site and scroll way down to find this particular answer

There is block to prevent another window to steal focus when, for example, writing an email in the front window. One can configure the time in milisecs, which should pass after the user have made input to the active window before another window is allowed to automaticly become front window:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Control Panel \Desktop]
ForegroundLockTimeout = 200000 (0 = A window can steal focus right away)

Note if using a lousy popup-stopper or infected by spy-/ad-/mal-ware, then one might also experience focus stealing.
In the situation where an application is not allowed automaticly to take focus, then the application will blink in the taskbar instead. On can specify how many times it should blink:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Control Panel \Desktop]
ForegroundFlashCount = 3 (0 = Blink until clicked)

-- Jason
"It's Just Ones and Zeros
 
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Is there any way to control the flash count or time out for specific applications or is it just generic across the board settings? I was wondering if there was any way to hide the taskbar and NOT have it automatically pop up, like you have to enter a keystroke or something, not just have it pop up on it's own or with the mouse scrolling down...

I'll try the hints, thanks!

p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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I have Tweak UI installed and have flash set to one but AIM constantly flashes the button regardless of what UI flash is set to. Tried that already without much luck :O(

p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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When you use TweakUI or whatever to change your Registry settings make sure this key has permissions set which allows your user to change it.


From MSDN KBase:
foregroundflashcount
foregroundLockTimeout



HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

"foregroundflashcount" is the value which controls this, it has a default value of 3. If you export the Key as a backup, you can then safely experiment with this value.

'ForegroundLockTimeout', change the value to either the timeout required, or to '0' which causes the application to take the focus instantly.

"Forcing a window to the foreground is not a polite programming practice. The overuse of this functionality was the primary reason for the design change. An application should only call SetForegroundWindow if it needs to display critical errors or information that requires the user’s immediate attention."



For specific information, check these links:


The Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design:


Stop background task dialogs poping up
thread779-827285

If you don't like the orange flashing look at changing the Window color in Display Properties/ Appearances.
 
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If you don't like the orange flashing look at changing the Window color in Display Properties/ Appearances."

In the dropdown menu, the item to change the color of is called "Selected Items" it is found in the Advanced Appearances Properties.
 
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There is anecdoctal evidence that installing the .NET Framework 1.1 stops the flashing.
 
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Here are what my registry setting are :

ForegroundFlashCount = 1
ForegroundLockTimeout = 200000

Display Properties - Advanced Appearance
Selected Items - Size:19 Color1:Blue Color 2:(grayed out)
Font: Tahoma Size:8 Color:White

I went thru all the items in this window and NOTHING is set to the orange background color of the alerting button.

I have no way to test this but I had a reminder come up and it flashed once, stayed orange and was idle but I will let you know later (when someone else I know if online) that even though things like reminders follow this, when someone sends me a chat with AIM and the chat window is minimized, the button constantly flashes until I open it even with things set the way they are.

Thanks and more info soon to come :O)

Also, I went thru the URL posted and there is a tweak to download (a trial version) that "says" it will control this but they want $$$ to use it. Not up for paying $49.95 (or something) to turn off my button flashing.




p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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>>"If you don't like the orange flashing look at changing the Window color in Display Properties/ Appearances." In the dropdown menu, the item to change the color of is called "Selected Items" it is found in the Advanced Appearances Properties.

In Advanced Appearances under SELECTED ITEMS Color 1: is set to BLUE and Color: is set to white. Nothing is set to ORANGE so where is this ORANGE color coming from???

And with everything set to supposedly flash once, when I have AIM minimized and get a text message it continues to flash ORANGE over and over and over and over...

p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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I don't have AIM installed, but I did look at a very old version's Help file (version 4.3) and it had various topics that might be responsible for your predicament under the heading of Preferences. For example -

General Preferences

Window Color

Click this button to select a background color for the Instant Message window.


Buddy Chat Preferences

Set your chat preferences with these options:

Chat Room Window

Select the Flash window when message is received option if you want the chat window to flash when someone sends you a chat message while you are working in another window.


Do the later versions still have these type of configurable Preferences?
 
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All those things are still there in the newer AIM versions. The flash setting is turned off on mine, all notifications are disabled and the window colors only affect the active chat window. The alert button in the task bar is controlled by Windows as all my alerts are ORANGE but everything else flashes once (as set in Tweak UI) except for the AIM alert which continuously flashes when someone has typed me a message and the chat window is in the background of something else or minimized. I would be happy to just find where the ORANGE color is coming from and change that to something more subtle.

p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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Thanks Bill. I checked the site out and looks pretty nice. Is the free version worth having or are you bombarded with ads and stuff? I just basically use AIM to stay in touch with my son when he gets home from school and I am at work but I also have friends on Yahoo! Chat and ICQ, too. Looks like a cool tool.. do you use it? Any problems or issues?

Thanks!

p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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The free version is fine.
And hey, no more flashing.

Best,
Bill
 
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>>And hey, no more flashing.

A dang Bill, ruin all my fun and it's Friday, too.

flasherhi.gif


Have a great weekend,
Scott

p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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Loaded up Trillian and it really is awesome. The only problem is if I have a chat window minimized (not hidden) and someone sends me a message (via AIM) the task bar button constantly flashes ORANGE just like with regular ol' AIM. So now my new mission is to find out where and how Windows sets the color of the flashing button in the alerts.... :O)

Thanks again for the Trillian info, neat little utility.



p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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Google it. The flashing can be controlled under Trillian, but I off the top of my head do not remember how.

Use "Groups" as well as web.

Also, do not run both AIM and Trillian at startup!
 
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I don't run anything at startup (here at work) and don't save passwords for anything either. I shut down AIM before starting anything with Trillian, figured they'd butt heads. Having problems getting on to Yahoo messenger but it's a pretty straight forward application so I am sure I'll figure it out.

Thanks again.

p4.gif
~ Phlyx ~
 
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