forum.vdsworld.com

jwfv · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 7:27 pm Post subject: Way to find display properties?

Is there a way in VDS to determine if the computer the program is running on is set to 256 colors, 16-bit color, etc?

Rebel49 · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 11:34 pm Post subject:

Well the registry is mostly a mystery to me but
this seems to work on my Win98SE buggy.

jwfv · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 2:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply -

doesn't seem to work on Win ME. Haven't tried it elsewhere. Any other ideas?

jwfv · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 2:46 pm Post subject:

I checked with regedit and found that on my machine if you change the 0001 in your example to 0003 it works. 0001 is not set at all and 0002 is set to a different pixel depth. I guess it has something to do with users?

jwfv · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 2:52 pm Post subject:

I found a key that seems to hold the correct value - but it is in the HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG section of the registry. I don't know much about registry issues, but when I looked up @regread() in the VDS help file, it looks like this section of the registry isn't accessible - is this right?

jules · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 5:51 pm Post subject:

It seems to me that the @sysinfo() function ought to be able to get this information, although the reason it doesn't is probably because at the time I couldn't think what use a VDS programmer would make of it.

jwfv · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 6:11 pm Post subject:

My use is this:

I have some nice looking BitBTNS on my dialog that are 256 colors and look very nice under most displays set to High Color or True Color. A small number of users have their displays set to 256 colors for some reason, and the graphics look really bad on them. (I'm not sure exactly why, because they have less than 256 colors - but I guess it is not the SAME 256 colors as the users have.)

Anyway, I'd like to be able to just use regular buttons for any users with colors set to 256 and to have my program recognize their settings.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

(And I know that the help file says BitBtns should only have 16 colors, but these seem to work perfectly most of the time.)

CodeScript · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 6:47 pm Post subject:

I don't think there is need to fiddle with registry U can get it with API if using VDS 5.x or even otherwise. My idea is:
API GetDeviceCaps of Desktop window . Haven't ried yet.

CodeScript · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 7:11 pm Post subject:

Hi jwfv
I just made an example for VDS 5.x
For VDS 3/4 U can use Gadget or vdsug.dll to use tthe example.
BTW I think it would be nice to post the VDS version when asking a question.
Never mind.

All API calls are inside DSU. So very easy to use.
http://codescript.vdsworld.com/VDS5src/screncolordepth.zip
Disclaimer: Use at your own risk.
EDIT:
Just for info:
If resolution is 256 colors it returns 8 bits.
If 16 colors 1 bit.

Enjoy.

jwfv · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:56 pm Post subject:

This looks great! I will try it in my application (VDS5 by the way) and see if it gives the information needed. Thanks for the quick reply and help -

jwfv · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 9:55 pm Post subject:

That .dsu works great. Thanks for posting that. I've already coded it in the application - problem solved.

vtol · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:35 pm Post subject:

Hi

VDS5 here..

I know this is an old page, but I have a map editor program that I use a lot only runs in 16bit mode in Windows XP and I leave XP in 32bit for everything else.
I need some way to switch from Highest(32) to 16bit and back and forth, cause its such a pain right clicking the desktop advanced settings thingy method.

Any ideas how to do this in a homemade vds program?

Thanks in advance