Hi everyone – another update. This time addressing an issue where if you came from using version 2 or from using another logon screen editing utility, v3 may not change the logon screen for you. This build will fix that issue.

Please note, if you are upgrading from an earlier version that you will need to reselect your ‘Change Interval’ under the settings tab.

Download from HERE

As usual you can download from HERE. This will automatically update your older version or you can install fresh if you have no previous versions.

Changes include:
* Changing the image would not work in some circumstances, these have now been rectified.
* The updating system has been changed. (So those coming from any version 2 builds will no longer be able to access the update system, and those from prior v3 releases will have to manually launch installer.)
* Added a new schedule option, at both logon and lock screen.
* A few minor bug fixes and UI tweaks.

Hi all,

I am aware of an issue that some people are having where Logon Screen Rotator will not change or is only intermediately able to change the logon screen image. This issue only applies to v3.0.029.2042. I am working on a fix and will have an update available by the weekend.

Luke

Optional Parameters

Prior to C# 4.0 the best method for optional parameters was method overloading. However, now C# 4.0 ships with the ability to have optional parameters, which are very simple to use.

The biggest impact I think this will have is in COM interop, where you used to have to specify a value for each parameter, optional or not.

Optional parameters are defined at the end of the parameter list, after required ones. Also, you may not specify any gaps in the argument list. If you provide an argument for an optional parameter, you must specify values for the previous parameters. However, if you know the name of the parameters you can get around this. For example here is a method to send an email:

private void SendEmail(string AddressTo, string AddressFrom, string Subject = "Important", string Signature = "Sent From Email Client")
{
// ...
}

So, the following call is not valid and will result in a compile error:

However, the following named call will work fine:

Each optional parameter you specify must have a default value, so if no argument is specified then the default value will be used. These default values must be constants. So, back to our previous method, “Subject” and “Signature” are both optional parameters:

private void SendEmail(string AddressTo, string AddressFrom, string Subject = "Important", string Signature = "Sent From Email Client")
{
// ...
}

Named Parameters

As you saw in optional parameters, another new feature is named parameters. Named parameters are helpful so you do not have to lookup the order of arguments for a method.

There is only one convention for named parameters, being that a named argument can not proceed a positional argument, however the opposite is acceptable.

Here is an example method:

private string ReverseName(string FirstName, string LastName)
{
// ...
}

We can used named parameters to change the order of the arguments:

string ReversedName = ReverseName(LastName: "Payne", FirstName: "Luke");

Using named parameters can increase readibility of your code.

Look out for Part 2, coming soon!

I am in the process of writing more tutorials from a long list of general queries I recieve, I hope to put a few new ones up each fortnight.

Here is the next installment: Multi-monitor Programming in C#

You can view all of the current tutorials on my tutorial page as I wont always update the blog when there are new ones available.

Whilst I do have a list of ideas I am always looking for more so if there is something you would like to learn more about flick me an email!

Luke

Here is v3!

I have been incredibly busy lately so Windows XP support will be finished shortly. Currently Windows Vista support is available. Enjoy!

Please be sure to sent me an email if you encounter any issues: 

Download Here

I have been needing a simple regular expression validator and am unhappy with the few that I found, so I have created my own. You can get it here: http://lukepaynesoftware.com/projects/regular-expression-validator/

Please note that I don’t plan to make this any bigger than what it is, I know there is so much more it could do. But just for the simple task to validating a regular expression and testing a string against it, this works fine.

We are almost there, thanks for your patience!

Pictured above is the most current build I have compiled. At this stage the UI needs a bit more tweaking and I need to add in a few more things for full Windows XP support then it’s release time!

I have scraped the old code completely, which is good for you and VERY good for me. The old code base was whipped together while I was having a play around with VB .NET and then built upon as I got requests. The code was fairly shoddy, but it worked. I am now working on Logon Screen Rotator with C#.

A few new things (from what I can remember, so much as changed):

• The Wallpaper can now be changed as well. To either the same as the logon screen, or selected randomly.
• Loading and adding images now run in a separate thread so they don’t lock up the UI, if you load it frequently this will be great.
• The application is faster and more snappy overall.
• Various other issues about certain images not working have now been fixed.
• An install wizard is now being used.
• Windows x64 support.
• Add multiple individual images at one time.
• Windows Vista and XP support!

All going well, I should have this out within a week, I’ll keep you posted.

If you happen to have any last minute suggestions, feel free to either comment here or email me. (You can grab my email address for the about page)

Here is something I frequently get asked about: Logon Screen Rotator. The short of it is I have the next version pretty much ready to go bar one problem, which I’ll mention in  a moment. There are a few updates in this version I would of liked to of got out to everyone sooner but because I decided to also include support for Windows Vista and XP in this version it has delayed the release. The updates mainly include fixing a bunch of scenarios in which the logon screen would not change at all for the user. I have also added a new feature which was released in the public beta, the ability to retrieve images from the internet and apply them as the logon screen image.

The issue I am having is that the system file that needs to be edited (imageres.dll) is constantly used by Windows Explorer and numerous other applications which means to override the file I need to stop these processes from using the file. I am looking for a clean and safe way to do this and then I will roll out this release.

For my frequent followers you will notice that this is a dramatic change from my previous versions of this website. As I get requests for more frequent updating this new layout will allow me to do so.

I will update this page with my programming and general tech travels while uploading some of my personal projects for you to check out. I will also keep it updated with my projects I am currently working on over at Dalvik and alert you when they are generally available. I also plan to include some of my old tutorials and new ones as requested. If there is anything you would like to see more of, contact me via the about page.

I hope you enjoy!