ShantzTodayChanger
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| Download: | ShantzTodayChanger |
|---|---|
| Version: | 1.53 |
| Updated: | April 23, 2008 |
| Size: | 185.79 KB |
| Hits: | 2,348 |
Intro:
This is a little tool for your Windows Mobile based phones (Compatible with WM5/WM6 but not WM2003) which will cycle ur today background or theme after a set interval of time. It has a lot of features and options that you can discover by reading the text below. And you can even use this options to achieve something other than changing wallpapers as well but that depends on your imagination. 
Update: I’ve added a cab file as well to the download zip file above to make the installation easier for many people.
Usage:
1. Make a folder on ur device (preferably not on storage card.) and extract all the files (mainly ShantzTodayChanger.exe, TdyChangerCfg.exe, gsgetfile.dll (might not be visible to u depending on ur explorer settings) and Readme.htm) to this folder.
2. IMP: Do not rename any files.
3. Run the TdyChangerCfg.exe.
4. Set options through the dialog that opens and press apply button (Pressing the native WM OK button will discard all your changes)
5. Options:
i)Choose image type (.gif\.jpg\.png) or theme(.tsk) to be cycled.
ii)If the input files (images or themes) are not in the folder where exes are kept, then you can check the box (underneath the .gif option) and give the “FULL and ABSOLUTE” path of where the files are kept. You can either input the path thru keyboard or choose it graphically by pressing the button (…) next to it.
iii)If you want to run a file after every cycle interval, check the corresponding box and provide the “FULL and ABSOLUTE” path of the file to be run. You can either input the path thru keyboard or choose it graphically by pressing the button (…) next to it.
iv) If you want some files to be avoided during cycling, put a file mask. The program will look for this mask to appear anywhere in the name of the files and will avoid it if found. (Wildcards are not supported. Choose time option has to be checked for this to work)
v) Choose the period for which mask option has to be used. If you choose a time period and leave mask as empty, then during that time no cycling will be done. If you want to avoid some files all the time, then time period should be chosen to cover all 24 hrs of the day.
vi)enter the desired interval between cycling of images\themes.
vii)If you choose a period for the mask, another check box (Consider mask period for exe also) will be enabled. Checking this box will mean that the specified exe will be run only if an image\theme is changed during that cycle. If you dont check this, then exe will be run after every cycle even if there is no change in the image\theme.
6. When you want to stop the cycling, press “STOP Cycling” button.
Additional Notes:
1. The GUI for configuration has not been optimized for square screen devices, so you need to make some guesswork and use hardware keyboard for input but the changer program itself will run fine.
2. Doesnt have to be running constantly. So saves resources when not active.
3. Survives soft resets as well.
4. Even takes care of the situation if your phone is off when the time to cycle is reached. Will cycle as soon as ur phone comes back on in this situation.
Planned Updates:
i) Suggestions invited. I have a lot of updates in mind but will incorporate those only which are requested by you.
Known Issues:
i) If the mask option is selected, then in a very particular situation, the app will miss a cycle.
This can be taken care of but not in my priority list because this can be fixed only by rewriting the complete cycling code which is quite a bit. So, will fix it if I get some time from my other projects.
ii) If after maknig the configuration, you see the screen flash for a second at the right times, but the backfround doesn’t change, then do this:
- Go to : Settings…today….appearance
- un-check “Use this picture as background”
- start the program using “startTodayChanger.lnk” or TdyChangerCfg (Apply button)
(Thnx to CWKJ for reporting this bug and fix, and to eric for reminding me about it)
End Note:
Like every software, this one is also bound to have bugs, please report it asap.
Though ShantzTodayChanger does not run continuously but sometimes some apps that close all processes automatically (like SPB backup) might clash in schedule with ShantzTodayChanger and close it when it starts to run. In such a case (which is quite unlikely), the app might not be able to set a notification for next cycle, so if u face this situation, then run the config again.
Version History:
1.53 - 23-March-08 -> RECOMMENDED UPDATE
i)Theme Color Detection has been improved a lot. Should work much more accurately now.
1.52 - 11-Aug-07 ->
i) Fixed another bug for the “time period” option.
ii) Made a little optimization in the code.
1.51 - 05-Aug-07 ->
i) Fixed a bug which prevented the “time period” option from working properly.
ii) Fixed a bug where wallpapers might not change if certain particular themes were installed before change cycle happens
iii) Fixed a bug where the time period option was not remembered properly by the GUI.
iv) Added option to allow user to choose whether to run the user specified file (exe\lnk) after every cycle interval only if there was a change in image\theme during that cycle.
v) Made a few small changes to the GUI to prevent users from making incorrect settings.
1.50 - 29-July-07 ->MAJOR UPDATE
i) Added option to specify a mask to avoid files having that mask
ii) Added option to specify the time period during which the mask has to be considered
iii) Added code to ensure that if mask is empty and a period is chosen, then no rotation is done during that period.
iv) Added option to run a user specified file after every cycle interval.
v) Fixed bug where the jpg and png options were not working earlier.
vi) Clicking help button now opens help in Pocket Internet Explorer.
vii) Fixed many more subtle bugs that manifest themselves and very peculiar situations.
viii) Optimized the code a bit at a few places.
ix) Also see “Known Issues” section above.
x) Removed the “append to previous info” box as now the app remembers old info correctly.
1.33 - 18-July-07 ->
i)Added code to select the input path graphically. It is a bit of workaround though. To select an input folder, just select any file inside it in the select folder dialog.
ii)TdyChgrCfg now shows you the previous settings.
1.32 - 21-Jun-07 ->
i) Fixed a bug where sometimes on cycling themes, colors change but images do not change.
ii) Added a measure to avoid running multiple instances (just as a precaution)
iii)Added code to avoid losing notifications if phone is reset too early after running the program
1.31 - 20-Jun-07 ->Fixed 2 bugs:
i) A notification bug where old notification is not deleted
ii) A bug where cycle interval value is not correctly read from the GUI
1.3 - 19-Jun-07 ->
i)Added option to make partial changes to previously entered information.
ii)Fine-Tuned the Theme Color support algo. Now, theme colors should be almost 95% same as calculated by windows mobile while applying theme.
iii)Did some code optimization
1.2 - 19-Jun-07 ->Major Update:
i)Added Theme Support. Changing of system colors as per theme is also supported (which is not done by any other program IIRC)
ii)Added option to keep input images\themes in a separate folder
iii)Provided a GUI Configuration module
iv)Provided option to choose between gif\jpg\png\tsk to be cycled.
1.11 - 12-Jun-07->Fixed another bug with notification queue
1.1 - 12-Jun-07 -> Fixed the bug that causes WM5/WM6 devices not to cycle wallpapers in certain conditions
1.0 - 10-Jun-07 -> Initial Release
Credits:
daxliniere/wacky.banana -> For asking to make the tool and their inputs
SeanFromSoCal/200mpx -> For their inputs
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February 4th, 2008 at 1:15 am
[...] is hereby inaugarated with a Windows Mobile Tool developed by me, called “ShantzTodayChanger”. This is a little tool for your Windows Mobile based phones (Compatible with WM5/WM6 but not [...]
February 21st, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Excellent software, how many themes can it handle?
February 21st, 2008 at 6:19 pm
@DJ: As many as your device can hold,
February 21st, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Hi there. I seem to only be able to get 6 going even though there are 12 on my device. I’ve set them to rotate on every 100 cycles. Any ideas?
February 21st, 2008 at 7:43 pm
hmm, Can you give a bit of details abt the device, DJ? I mean whts ur device, where are the themes stored (device or storage card) and also what you can see in the registry (HKLM\software\shantztodaychanger).
Moreover, try one thing, make a shortcut to the shantztodaychanger.exe, and pass a parameter “-c” (without quotes) to it. whenver you click this shortcut, the theme will immediately change. Does it still rotate through only 6?
February 21st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Hi there is a touch dual running WM6. I think I have fixed it by putting all of the .tsk files into there own folder. It didn’t seem to like them all being in a folder that was shared with other files. Thanks for all your help.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:59 pm
ok..yeah, mixing up the themes with other files might cause issues sometimes because of the weird windows mobile api’s for finding files..
February 25th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
[...] Source : tech.shantanugoel.com [...]
March 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 am
[...] ShantzTodayChanger [...]
April 9th, 2008 at 12:13 am
I’m having conflicts with other alarms & wireless sync?…i760 mobile 6 pda… locks up wireless sync and alarms… soft reset and all continues… as normal… disabled shantztodaychanger 1.53 to see what happens for a day or two… lmk
April 9th, 2008 at 12:49 am
@Jim: ShantzTodayChanger will not mess with anything else. let me know your results though.
April 9th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
If wireless sync was started and Shantztodaychanger began an operation is it possible that a lock up could occur? I have had no soft resets since I disabled the today changer? Can you explain more about how to use the “mask” feature…
April 9th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Jim, theoretically it shouldn’t interfere but I don’t use wireless sync so don’t know. But many other users who use wireless sync as well ShantzTodayChanger didn’t report this. Can you send me a screenshot of your settings?
April 30th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Will there be any future screen support?
April 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
@Mike: Could not understand what you meant by “future screen support”.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
i meant square screen.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
@mike: The changer program supports square screen, but the configuration GUI doesn’t.
I hope to work on it when I get some time, maybe be in a couple of months. However, you can still configure it with a bit of guess work on square screens or directly configuring through registry.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
hi shantanu.
i must say it’s an excellent software you got here.
you sure are genius
but there’s one thing….
i don’t really understand the topics you discuss with one of the guys.
you said to make the ShantzTdyChgr with “-c” without the quotes somewhere, so you could instantly change your wallpaper.
but i kinda miss the meaning of that.
could you please explain to me once more….
where to make the shortcuts,
and what’s the ‘without the quotes’ meaning…
thanks again, shantz.
you make evry1’s life easier
May 8th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Thanks for the encouraging words Mario
Basically what I meant was to create a shortcut (like you have on ur desktop for ur installed programs) for shantztodaychanger. The shortcut points to the exe file. At the end of the path, that the shortcut points to, you just need to add -c. (Without the quotes meant that -c should not be wrapped in ” when you add it)
To create the shortcut, either you can use a today launcher program (like iLauncher) which also allows you to specify the command line options where you can write -c.
Otherwise, a longer method would be:
1. Click on ShantzTodayChanger.exe
2. Two shortcuts would be created (startShantzTodayChanger and stopShantzTodayChanger)
3. Copy any one of them to your PC and open in notepad.
4. Add -c at the end of the first line (remember to keep a space between .exe and -c)
5. Save and transfer back to ur phone.
Now, whenever you click this shortcut, your wallpaper/theme will change
May 9th, 2008 at 1:48 am
sorry to bother you again,
but i’m just wondering if what i do is right . . .
first it looked like this (in the notepad) :
55#”\ShantzTodayChanger1.53\ShantzTodayChanger.exe” -g 600
. . . . . . . .
then i change it to :
55#”\ShantzTodayChanger1.53\ShantzTodayChanger.exe” -c 600
it’s not working when i copied it back to the phone . . .
. . . . . .
then i did it like this . . .
55#”\ShantzTodayChanger1.53\ShantzTodayChanger.exe” -c-g 600
again, when i copied it to the phone it still doesn’t work.
i’m just a program dummy,
i don’t know what to do . . .
please,
if you have a bit of spare time,
would you mind giving me guidance about this one?
thanks a bunch shantz
sorry for asking so much from you
May 9th, 2008 at 10:00 am
No probs Mario, we all have our gray areas
The line should read like
55#”\ShantzTodayChanger1.53\ShantzTodayChanger.exe” -c
May 27th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Hi Shantanu,
I recently started using this tool. I must say, this is EXCELLENT..! I would like to ask you one thing. When we set for Image change, what size (ie. 640×480) would it support. I have downloaded pics from my digi cam but i could only see a corner of this. Its not rezing the pics as per the screen size. How can we fix this?
Thanks
Ravjeet
May 27th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Ravjeet: Thnx for the complements. BTW, you need to make sure that the images are according to your phone’s size, it will not resize the images. I could add that feature but then it would make the program bulky as well as slow in operation. So, basically if your screen resolution is 240×320, u need to make sure that the pic that u put in is of the same size.
May 28th, 2008 at 5:07 am
yo shantz, it’s me again.
last time, your shortcut works like a charm
but now, a problem occured
it won’t cycle again, with or without the shortcut.
if i restart my touch, it will cycle just once, and that’s it….
hmmm, did i do something wrong?
haven’t installed new programs lately either…
i just got myself confused here shantz . . . . .
May 28th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Mario: That seems strange. Maybe some app is conflicting with it. Can you give me ur registry settings under HKCU\Software\ShantzTodayChanger?
Also, check your notification queue with some software like memmaid, Sktools or dotfred’s task manager (freeware) and let me know if you see an entry for shantztodaychanger in there.
Also give the exact shortcut that you’ve made.
Also, if u can give me the list of processes running currently (e.g. using dotfred’s task manager).
Sorry I’m asking for a lot of info, but better to have them all at once instead of going back and forth and wasting days…
May 28th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
no shantz, i’m the one who should say sorry for always troubling you with my problems. thanks for taking your time with me
well, here is the registry settings under HKCU\Software\ShantzTodayChanger
bgOrTheme 1 ( 0X000001 )
checkExe 0 ( 00000000 )
checkPath 0 ( 00000000 )
checkStTime 0 ( 00000000 )
exeMask 0 ( 00000000 )
fileMask
gap 1800 ( 0X0007….
index 2 ( 0X000002 )
inputPath
notifHandle 0 ( 00000000 )
runOnChange
in front of filemask, input path, and runonchange (left side of the word), there’s an icon with ab red font with white background.
about the notification queue, i’m downloading it right now
i’m gonna post the result after this . . .
oh, and btw, now it won’t let me change the config. like first i have an 1800 cycilng period, and after i changed it to, say 1200 secs, it won’t change when i apply it. it doesn’t even show the notification that today’s changer is started.
please, help me. i like your today changer so much . . . .
sorry for troubling you . . ., again
May 28th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Mario: Do give me the rest of the info, but from the registry settings (notifHandle), I can see that there is no notification set. Seems like something is blocking the app from either setting notifications or modifying registry or both, because of which it is not running. Do u have some security app on ur device?
May 29th, 2008 at 1:36 am
ok shantz, here goes fuul details :
Process (22) PID
TaskMgr.exe 97D4C2A2
fexplore.exe 759A655A
ShantzTodayChanger.exe 15F874B2
QuickDial.exe B5B40002
MediaHubMini.exe 75B44F0A
APLauncher.exe D5BA43EA
Biotouch.exe F5B92542
s2u2.exe 96499422
Opera9.exe 563764EA
OperaPrel.exe 563EEEC6
iLock.exe D63DC88E
poutlook.exe 565D8002
VCDaemon.exe B66BB98A
cprog.exe F6BC23EE
SAPSettings.exe D6575296
connmgr.exe B6BC8902
services.exe 56C0ED16
shell32.exe B6C0ECF2
gwes.exe 36E1799E
device.exe 973E5E3E
filesys.exe 37FEFCC6
NK.EXE 17FFF002
FYI, i/m using HTC TOUCH elfin P3452 with CPU OMAP850 201Mhz speed
i hope it’s detailed enough
thanks again shantz
i really appreciate it
May 29th, 2008 at 3:24 am
hmmm, security app?
u mean antivirus?
i have kaspersky, but i already uninstalled it, because it’s just make things heavy on my touch.
and i also activate the black list feature from spb phone suit.
u know, to prevent those unimportant calls
and that’s that. no more security apps for me.
is this what u meant shantz?
May 29th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Mario: Why does it ShantzTodayChanger.exe as a running process in ur list? It doesn’t run continuously. Have u just shantztodaychanger.exe by shortcut while listing these processes? Please also tell me whether an entry for shantztodaychanger.exe exists in ur notification queue.
I still think there is smthing blocking from the app to write to registry. Can u do a simple test. Try running shantztodaychanger (or tdychangercfg and clicking apply) and see if the notifHandle value changes in registry.
If it doesn’t then go to registry manually, and try to change it manually to any value. let me know if u r able to write to it that way.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:41 am
mmm, to tell u the truth.
after i check it with with task manager, i restart my touch, and shantztodaychanger is not in the running process anymore.
seeing that, i’m so happy that i just start your todaychanger again . . .
it runs only once, then no more.
it doesn’t even change my wall according to the designated folder
already tried to change the registry setting on NotifHandle to
(0X000001), and restart the device, but . . . . . .
that won’t do either . . .
i’m so confused here….
is it the end of your today changer for me ?
sorry to make your head spinning with this problem of mine.
maybe it’s my device that has some trouble…..
May 30th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Mario: Now I understand why you are seeing the issue and why on restarting, it runs once. The problem is something is blocking it smwhere. So, when u run it, it changes the theme but isn’t able to complete its process and hangs. I’ve a multiple-execution-prevention code in there, so next time when it runs, it sees itself as already running, and so doesnt execute again. I’m afraid I’m not sure what to suggest to u right now as I dont what app is conflicting with it, but an option would be to hard reset your phone and then install it again. (It might even be better because whatever is obstructing the changer might cause problems with other apps as well later on.).
BTW, I’ll see if i can get some time to make you a debug version if you want so that we can debug this issue more.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
hmmm, hard reset is also an option here.
but there are so many apps i have to reinstall at my touch if i do that.
but, if you could make a debug version, that will be wonderful. so you could help me and the others that might have the same problem.
you’ve done so much for me
thansk a lot shantz
your work is the best
May 31st, 2008 at 1:15 am
Mario: I’ll try to make a debug version for u but cant promise how soon. Maybe this sunday or the next one.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:29 am
Another thing mario, when u changed the notifHandle value in registry manually, are u now able to see the modified value, or is it the old one? Is ur phone application unlocked?
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
umm, i’m able to see the value, but after soft reset the value return to zero.
is it the opera 9 that i just installed.
co it’s the most recent apps i install on my touch.
u know, this 2-3 days i also think of hard reset as an option.
hmmm, this is getting more frustrating ever . . .
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
i mean coz it’s the most recent apps i installed
still, your apps is the best shantz
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
dunno whether its caused by Opera 9. I havent installed it yet. But if it was because of this then there would have been a lot of reports, so it should be something else. Maybe something is there thats not running as a process but as a service, which is typical of a security application and which is why we don’t see it in the list of processes.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
@Shantanu: 1 suggestion: make the changes to show the whole extents of images bigger / smaller than screen size. (perhaps, instead or resizing them, you just need “to tell windows” to stretch the image)
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
another suggestion: option to randomize images.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
@gautxori: Thanks for the suggestions. Randomization of images has been on the to-do list for quite long but has a lot of pros and cons (see the xda-devs for this). Will see if i can find a middle path.
About the bigger/smaller images, the only way I know, apart from resizing, is to manipulate the dpi value. Do u know of any other way. I’d be happy to include it.
June 8th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Very good but do following improvements
1- add full screen wallpaper support
2- wallpaper is not changing when today screen is displayed
3- larger picture should displayed as whole (tile)
4- device is not getting automatically power off when application is active
5- support to other applications like S2U2
June 8th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
pliz ad support to wisbar advance desktop
June 8th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
and wisbar advance desktop
June 8th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
@Najmu: Most of ur suggestions are in the pipeline but Im not getting much time these days to devote towards ShantzTodayChanger, but couldnt understand 2 points:
>2- wallpaper is not changing when today screen is displayed
Could you pls explaing about what u mean by this
>4- device is not getting automatically power off when application is active
Application is not active all the time, it is active only for very short period after the interval that u have set. At that instant, device has to come on because otherwise today screen cannot be refreshed, and that cannot be changed, but the device will power off automatically after that. Moreover there is an option of time period masking, so u can set the app not to cycle the wallpaper at night time (or any period u decide) thus causing the device not to come on at that time.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I searched high and low for software that could do this and found only one or two other inferior versions that added additional elements too. This does exactly what I wanted it to do without anything else being added and it works 100% without fail. I’m on a Ipaq 614 and have produced lots of themes with family pics etc so its just great just to switch on and see different themes every time… NICE ONE SHANTANU… if only someone could develop a simple timed profile switcher I’d be sorted….Best Regards Mark Smedley
June 14th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Thanks Mark
About profiles switcher, you could take a look at SPB phone suite or pocket max phone alarm.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
[...] ShantzTodayChanger [...]