Does anyone know if, or have worked with, a way of not allowing a personal
desktop to be started up or simply stopped? One of my few major clients
called me last night to ask how I was coming with an app I was working on
for him in Delphi, which as it turns out I just finished but haven't yet had
the chance install and try on his LAN. In the process of discussing how
this app was going to work he asked if I could personalize his desktops on
all XP Pro based machines so that they have a common look, ability, and
accessibilities. After giving this some thought I am considering trying to
use something like an html -based local browser page that would be loaded at
startup. It would incorporate their business name, insignia, and other
marketing information, and like a regular web page would provide links into
various sections of the server-based data. For example, they have an image
catalog which is updated continuously from all over the world...a contract
I'd love to get but I don't believe I'm ready to tackle yet...and others for
each functioning role at the company. He really needs an Intranet I think
but at this time he doesn't want to go even that far!
So the way I envision a solution is to use a Web or even a windows
form application that runs as a client on each machine and updates it's
desktop replacement page automatically each morning when the LAN is started.
Whomever gets the job of keeping it up to date will have it pretty easy
because the links it would require haven't changed at all in the last year,
so all that might be required is a face-lift once in-awhile unless or until
he wants to add additional services thru it. All the Links the page would
provide would either be to local applications or documentation and database
access thru the local network, but each computer would display exactly the
same page and have the same links.
The problem is that I would rather not just have a browser instance
fired up and loaded and kept on screen all day over the top of the desktops!
I want the Taskbar, Start menu entries, and Tray area to remain untouched
but nothing else would be required. And HE doesn't want any of his
employees to be able to access the desktop by minimizing this out of the
way. He wants it to be the ONLY view of the system! So is it possible to
actually get rid of or disable the user's desktop...remembering that there
could possibly be multiple user logon names and passwords, each one already
opening up to their own personal desktop. Once shut down or disabled my app
or Web page would then be created full screen and around the taskbar. I'd
set it up so that it couldn't be shut down and replaced by the desktop
again. Once the app was closed it would either nag for a restart, do it
automatically, or shut the system down. And one of the other concerns is
that I think I would need some way to make it always stay at the bottom of
the z-order wouldn't I? Otherwise an app or dialog could potentially get
lost behind it! Any ideas, considerations or solutions appreciated!
from: Robert Meek at: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
dba "Tangentals Design" home of "PoBoy"
freeware Windows apps and utilities
located at: www.TangentalsDesign.com
Proud to be a moderator for the
"Delphi Programming Lists" at: elists.org
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