OS2World OLD-STATIC-BACKUP Forum

OS/2 - Technical => Applications => Topic started by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.09.10, 09:31:49

Title: Hard-coded cursors?
Post by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.09.10, 09:31:49
I was wondering if OS/2 or Firefox come with hard-coded cursors that can not be changed. For instance, the cursor in Firefox that denotes a hyperlink. Or the hand cursor in NewView that does the same.

Also, what of the loading cursor that firefox displays? its the black cursor with the sideways timer right next to it. I ask because I've converted my favorite cursor pack from .cur to .ptr and I have the cursors for waiting and hyperlink but can't seem to set them.
Title: Re: Hard-coded cursors?
Post by: RobertM on 2008.09.10, 09:47:41
The cursor on FF that denotes... almost anything... can be changed via Javascipt and/or CSS... people on MySpace do that all the time... dont ask me how.

The cursor with the arrow and clock is one I've seen before and thought a standard OS/2 cursor, but it isnt listed. I'm wondering if it is a combination of two of them (as I have seen it used in places other than FF). I;ve changed my default pointer and next time I see the "combined pointer" in FF, I'll keep an eye on it to see if it is actually combining the two, or using something else.
Title: Re: Hard-coded cursors?
Post by: RobertM on 2008.09.10, 09:56:15
FF3's pointers are contained in (hard coded into) xul.dll which is reported as a standard OS/2 32bit LX DLL, meaning with the correct tools (RC.exe for one, if memory serves) the cursors in it should be able to be changed. It's ID is 4,113 and it is 288 bytes.

-Rob

Title: Re: Hard-coded cursors?
Post by: Saijin_Naib on 2008.09.10, 16:34:26
:D voot! I'll be back in a bit, gonna have to do some res-hacking muhahaha.

Where should I upload these cursors if anyone wants them?

Hrmm, having trouble tracking down a PM-GUI resource editor. Can you point me in the right direction?
Title: Re: Hard-coded cursors?
Post by: abwillis on 2008.09.10, 18:08:39
Quote from: RobertM on 2008.09.10, 09:47:41
The cursor with the arrow and clock is one I've seen before and thought a standard OS/2 cursor, but it isnt listed. I'm wondering if it is a combination of two of them (as I have seen it used in places other than FF).
It was created by Mike Kaply (don't know if he actually made himself it but he has mentioned they created it) especially for Mozilla.  The idea was that the system is still useable so a clock is not right but that Mozilla is busy loading the page.  As I recall it was also because though Mozilla is busy you can still click on links or type in the URL and change its current behavior.  Essentially, letting the user know that Mozilla is responding to your request but that you can change that request and that the system in general is not (or should not) be waiting on Mozilla.
Title: Re: Hard-coded cursors?
Post by: Andi on 2008.09.11, 14:21:42
Quote from: Saijin_Naib on 2008.09.10, 16:34:26
....
Hrmm, having trouble tracking down a PM-GUI resource editor. Can you point me in the right direction?
GUI editor is URE, available at hobbes with installation guidlines. There are several versions of dlgedit too. But for this you probably need Iconedit which is on your OS/2 system anyway. And res....cmd, sorry forget the name, to extract und repack resources from and to .exe files. Maybe rc.exe too, but don't know.

Maybe you'll find some interessting infos on edm2.com. Especially in the developer section.
Title: Re: Hard-coded cursors?
Post by: jep on 2008.09.11, 15:49:44
Hello,

It's quite easy actually, I've used it to change the look and feel of DrRexx and the Chess Game etc.

1. If you use IRE or URE or what the name is that come with VAC++ to extract the data into bitmaps/icons/pointers and resource file.

2. Alter the images to you liking, but not all work with new sizes, the newest image format, 24-bit color... so you may have to try out what may work in that particular app. (FF should handle modern formats too though)

3. Then you just run rc.exe on the command line to attach the rc-file and images again, it will tell you which options it support if you don't use any parameters, you can hardly miss.  ;D

//Jan-Erik
Title: Re: Hard-coded cursors?
Post by: warpcafe on 2008.09.11, 19:40:12
Hej jep,

that is cool!
Would you mind doing a *very* short summary with some samples for the command-line stuff and rc.exe?
Of course, I would like to have a sort of a small "article", perhaps at VOICE or here... this is really interesting (although the supporting developers will slap our forehead if we ask for support for problems that arise out of the use of "patched" resource dlls... wuhaha...)

Anyway - interesting read! Thanks!
P.S.: I'm sorry to be such a bad contributor to the rexx SIG... I have that on my list for months but currently, all spare time (and there isn't a lot) goes into WSE2K8 preparation stuff.

Cheers
Thomas
Title: Re: Hard-coded cursors?
Post by: jep on 2008.09.14, 11:47:02
Hello,

Here's the short version how to do it for non programming geeks  ;D
Please note that you have to log on as a member to OS2World to be able to see the sample image and download the files.
You should all soon be able to tweak all of OS/2-eCS to look the way you want, more or less anyway.

1. Visit http://hobbes.nmsu.edu and fetch the 3 packages for URE ( http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/h-search.php?key=Universal+Resource+Editor&pushbutton=Search ) and follow the Installation instructions

3. Follow the steps in the attached .zip-file ExtractRes.zip

4. You'll find the example files used there in NewChess.zip and a comparison between the two in the image below.

NOTE: I don't take responsibility for any damage you may cause as you follow these instructions! All you do is your own fault and yours only!

//Jan-Erik

P.S. Thomas, you're excused, for now ;)
Would like to see the topics for WSE2K8, b.t.w. I'm waiting for an important reply regarding ... software too, that I would like to announce there too.