Posted by member 71746 on 2003-10-25 13:49:32 link

Hey I don't know what the Gathering theme has so far, but I'm about to release a theme with (what I feel to be) some innovative uses of ckHotspots to emulate mouse-over effects for certain aspects of the theme, and I think it'd be cool to see that implemented in other themes (especially a landmark theme like this one).

Basically I've placed the hotpots directly over shortcuts created by my LSBox bar, so if you move the mouse over the button to activate the VWM window, not only does it change the icon but it pops up the VWM window without the user having to click. It also activates another hotspot over-top of the VWM window, so when the mouse does something in the VWM window then leaves, the window hides itself and deactivates its associated hotspot.

The effect created is that to switch VWM's or access the system tray or whatever, you just move the mouse over the button, then do whatever it is you wanted to do with the module, then when you go back to working on your program the module window hides itself. This way the interface controls can be neatly tucked-away, offering a maximum of useable screen-space and esthetics, while still providing intuitive, easy-access to the control elements you need :) Of course the shortcut buttons with the hotspots to show the module windows function as pin-buttons when actually clicked. (that is to say, if you just mouse-over, the window will show then auto-hide when you're done with it. If you actually CLICK the button, the module window will stay visible until you click the button again, at which time it will go back to auto-hide mode.)