How to create a Windows screen saver with Delphi

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The following steps will create a Windows screensaver straight from a Delphi project.

1. In the project file (*.dpr) add {$D SCRNSAVE } after the uses clause.
   
   
2. On the main form, turn off the border and icon controls. In the activate method set the form left and top to 0, and set the Windowstate to wsMaximize.
   
   
3. In the form create method, set the Application.OnMessage to a method that controls the deactivation of the screen saver. Set the Application.OnIdle method to whatever display method for the saver.
   
   
4. In the form create method the command line should be tested for /c and /s. These are the command line parameters windows uses to define whether the screensaver should run or configure. (/c is for configuration)
   
   
5. Compile the program, and rename the .exe to .scr. Move it to the windows directory, and it should show up in the control panel.
   

Comments:

2005-11-30, 06:19:37

anonymous from Ireland

2007-11-23, 07:05:43

jj from Netherlands

j

2008-02-23, 15:33:45

anonymous

Thank you very for your instructions. I've used them to create my <a href=' http://www.softlake..t;freeware Fractal Screen Saver</a>.

2008-02-23, 15:35:02

anonymous

Oh Sorry, the link is: http://www.softlake..saver.htm <a href=' http://www.softlake..gt;Fractal Screen Saver</a>.

2009-02-13, 16:08:26

anonymous from France

Thanks. A basic black screen saver seems to work using Delphi 2007, I am not sure that the $D SCRNSAVE directive has any impact. If it was supposed to create a .scr file instead of a .exe it did not work for me I guess that to configure the screen saver, you need to find a way. I seem to remember that Windows would supply a -s or -S parameter when you try to setup/configure a screen saver

2009-12-28, 00:36:12

anonymous from Indonesia

When we configure a screen saver, we do it from display properties at Screen Saver tab. there is a thumbnail of the screen at that tab, and when we choose a screen saver, the chosen one will be displayed at that thumbnail. what is the parameter sent to screen saver at that condition (is it S?), what command sent to screen saver when we click Setting button, and how to access the thumbnail so we can draw there?

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