[Solved] Problem with Controls being Unselectable in Win 10
Transparent Forms !
lazarus / 34-Windows

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loaded · 2022-12-12 08:26

Hi All,
I have an application that contains a form where I apply the
transparency process due to some needs. I wrote this application in
"win7 prof" operating system and used it without any problems.
Now, when I want to use the same application in "Win10 enterprise"
operating system, I saw that some controls in the Form do not work
with mouse selection and click.
Attached is a small application that I try to explain the situation.
In other words, the form works fine in normal condition, but after
transparency, especially the checkbox becomes unselectable with the
mouse.
But it can be controlled with the tab key.
I would be very pleased if you share your views and suggestions on the
subject. Respects.

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loaded · 2022-12-20 11:42

Disabling the "Use manifest resource" option from the project options
solves the problem.
But this time access to form background is disabled.
Now;
I'm looking for a way to make the form itself transparent, except for
the components in the form, without using any windows api. By the way,
the controls on the back of the form should also be accessible!

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-20 12:11

Maybe my windows example you can convert to crosscompile, instead of
try making the form transparent, what would end in transparent
controls, cut out what you not want on your form from the form itself.
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]window.onload = function(){var x1 =
document.getElementById("main_content_section"); if (x1) { var x =
document.getElementsByClassName("geshi");for (var i = 0; i procedure
TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);  var    LeftRgn : HRGN;   
RightRgn : HRGN;    NewRgn : HRGN;  begin        LeftRgn  :=
CreateEllipticRgn(10,10,width div 2, height-10);        RightRgn :=
CreateEllipticRgn(width div 2, 10, width-10, height-10);        NewRgn
:= CreateRectRgn(0,0,0,0);       
CombineRgn(NewRgn,LeftRgn,RightRgn,RGN_OR);       
DeleteObject(LeftRgn);        DeleteObject(RightRgn);       
SetWindowRgn(handle,NewRgn,false);  end;

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loaded · 2022-12-20 13:26

Thank you very much KodZwerg for the answer,
This may be a solution, but it seems like it will be a bit of a
hassle...

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-20 13:41

In Delphi I can do this, have no Lazarus right here to test.
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]window.onload = function(){var x1 =
document.getElementById("main_content_section"); if (x1) { var x =
document.getElementsByClassName("geshi");for (var i = 0; i procedure
TForm7.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);var  AControl : TControl;  A,
Margin, X, Y, CtlX, CtlY : Integer;  FullRgn, ClientRgn, CtlRgn :
THandle;begin  Margin := ( Width - ClientWidth ) div 2;  //First, get
form region  FullRgn := CreateRectRgn(0, 0, Width, Height);  //Find
client area region  X := Margin;  Y := Height - ClientHeight -
Margin;  ClientRgn := CreateRectRgn( X, Y, X + ClientWidth, Y +
ClientHeight );  //'Mask' out all but non-client areas  CombineRgn(
FullRgn, FullRgn, ClientRgn, RGN_DIFF );   //Now, walk through all the
controls on the form and 'OR' them  // into the existing Full region. 
for A := 0 to ControlCount - 1 do begin    AControl := Controls[A];  
if ( AControl is TWinControl ) or ( AControl is TGraphicControl ) or (
AControl is TControl )        then with AControl do begin      if
Visible then begin        CtlX := X + Left;        CtlY := Y + Top;  
    CtlRgn := CreateRectRgn( CtlX, CtlY, CtlX + Width, CtlY + Height
);        CombineRgn( FullRgn, FullRgn, CtlRgn, RGN_OR );      end;  
end;  end;  //When the region is all ready, put it into effect: 
SetWindowRgn(Handle, FullRgn, TRUE);  DeleteObject(ClientRgn); 
DeleteObject(FullRgn);  DeleteObject(CtlRgn);end;Added two pictures,
one of the form designer to show what i created
and another when you execute the app.

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loaded · 2022-12-20 13:55

Firstly ;
Thank you very much for taking your precious time, effort and
preparing an example.
When I run it in Lazarus, a different view is created.
-There is no frame for the form
-There is a shift in control positions.
Again ; A very good example to start with.
After that, I'll do trial and error.
I don't want to tire you out any more. Respects.

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-20 14:04

Quote from: loaded on December 20, 2022, 02:55:48 pmFirstly ;
Thank you very much for taking your precious time, effort and
preparing an example.
When I run it in Lazarus, a different view is created.
-There is no frame for the form
-There is a shift in control positions.
Again ; A very good example to start with.
After that, I'll do trial and error.
I don't want to tire you out any more. Respects.
You are welcome, I do not exactly know in what Lazarus is doing
different than Delphi does, since all I use is Windows API... very
strange 
Maybe a Lazarus LCL mod can say what I do wrong in belonging to
Controls and Positioning, I mean what cause that big shifting and
taking Caption away... 

Best of Luck

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-20 15:13

I am now on a machine with Lazarus 2.2.4 (rev lazarus_2_2_4) FPC 3.2.2
x86_64-win64-win32/win64
I did found the problem, to me it looks like that this is a bug or on
purpose interpreted like that?
ClientWidth and ClientHeight are same as Width and Height so my
calculation based on that area is wrong since the LCL gives me back
not the correct needed value.
Top, Left, Width, Height, those are the dimensions of a full formular
+ OS individual border/shadow
ClientWidth and ClientHeight is the area inside of that full formular
to us developers to play with, outside of that begins the world of NC
(NonClient).
I will look if I can come up with own method for ClientWidth and
ClientHeight calculation, when that is fixed my above code will work
on Lazarus/LCL.

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-20 15:16

Here I show you the result when I do insert this line after "ClientRgn
:= CreateRectRgn( X, Y, X + Self.ClientWidth, Y + Self.ClientHeight
);"
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]window.onload = function(){var x1 =
document.getElementById("main_content_section"); if (x1) { var x =
document.getElementsByClassName("geshi");for (var i = 0; i  
ShowMessage(Format('Left: %d Top: %d Width: %d Height %d' + sLineBreak
+                     'Width: %d Height: %d',                     [X,
Y, X + Self.ClientWidth, Self.ClientHeight, Self.Width,
Self.Height]));First the Delphi Result second the Lazarus Results,
both compiler for Windows as Target.

//edit, sorry, I made a mistake, on what is called left on picture
means top and vice versa. I apology. (above code now corrected)

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-20 15:43

Switching to "Self.ClientRect.Width" or "Self.ClientRect.Height" does
not help, it gives also wrong value back on LCL, something I do
wrong...

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-20 15:55

To Answer myself, the LCL just does not include what I need.
Lazarus_FAQ

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loaded · 2022-12-20 16:01

Quote from: KodeZwerg on December 20, 2022, 04:55:14 pmTo Answer
myself, the LCL just does not include what I need. Lazarus_FAQ

It doesn't matter whether KodeZwerg codes work or not. Thank you very
much for your efforts, your effort is more valuable than anything
else. I'll handle the rest.
Besides, I owe you a coffee. Respects.

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-20 17:25

Without intense testing, this I come up with, hopeful works for all
Lazarus Editions same on Windows.
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]window.onload = function(){var x1 =
document.getElementById("main_content_section"); if (x1) { var x =
document.getElementsByClassName("geshi");for (var i = 0; i procedure
TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);var  AControl : TControl;  A,
Margin, X, Y, CtlX, CtlY : Integer;  FullRgn, ClientRgn, CtlRgn :
THandle;  cW, cH, cWidth, cHeight: LongInt;  ClientRec: TRect;begin 
Windows.GetClientRect(Self.Handle, ClientRec);  cW :=
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSIZEFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXBORDER) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXFIXEDFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXEDGE) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXFOCUSBORDER);  cH :=
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSIZEFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYBORDER) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYFIXEDFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYEDGE) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYFOCUSBORDER) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYCAPTION); 
cWidth := ClientRec.Width - cW;  cHeight:= ClientRec.Height - cH; 
Margin := (Self.Width - cWidth) div 2;  //First, get form region 
FullRgn := CreateRectRgn(0, 0, Self.Width + cW, Self.Height + cH); 
//Find client area region  X := Margin;  Y := Self.Height - cHeight -
Margin - GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYBORDER);  ClientRgn := CreateRectRgn(
X, Y, X + cWidth + cW, Y + cHeight + cH);//'Mask' out all but non-
client areas  CombineRgn( FullRgn, FullRgn, ClientRgn, RGN_DIFF ); 
//Now, walk through all the controls on the form and 'OR' them  //
into the existing Full region.  for A := 0 to ControlCount - 1 do
begin    AControl := Controls[A];    if ( AControl is TWinControl ) or
( AControl is TGraphicControl ) or ( AControl is TControl )       
then with AControl do begin      if Visible then begin        CtlX :=
X + Left;        CtlY := Y + Top;        CtlRgn := CreateRectRgn(
CtlX, CtlY, CtlX + Width + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXEDGE), CtlY + Height
+ GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYEDGE) );        CombineRgn( FullRgn, FullRgn,
CtlRgn, RGN_OR );      end;    end;  end;  //When the region is all
ready, put it into effect:  SetWindowRgn(Handle, FullRgn, TRUE); 
DeleteObject(ClientRgn);  DeleteObject(FullRgn); 
DeleteObject(CtlRgn);end;There are still hardcoded numbers inside for
what I do need to get a good GetSystemMetrics(), this is just a alpha
working release.

Please let me know if this works for you.

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loaded · 2022-12-20 18:08

Quote from: KodeZwerg on December 20, 2022, 06:25:34 pmPlease let me
know if this works for you.
All I'm looking for is;
It was to be able to see and check the background and use the controls
on the forum.
Yes it worked now. Thank you very much.

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-20 18:22

Ah, now I see what you are doing. You are welcome

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KodeZwerg · 2022-12-21 03:44

Updated to be able to work better for different BorderStyle settings.
Make this method part of your form and call it in OnCreate and
OnResize.
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]window.onload = function(){var x1 =
document.getElementById("main_content_section"); if (x1) { var x =
document.getElementsByClassName("geshi");for (var i = 0; i procedure
TForm1.MakeTransparent;var  AControl: TControl;  A, Margin, X, Y,
CtlX, CtlY: Integer;  FullRgn, ClientRgn, CtlRgn: THandle;  cXBorder,
cYBorder, cWidth, cHeight: LongInt;begin  // calculate different
border styles  case Self.BorderStyle of    bsDialog:      begin      
cXBorder := 0;        cYBorder := GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYCAPTION);    
end;    bsNone:      begin        cXBorder :=
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXBORDER);        cYBorder :=
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYBORDER);      end;    bsSingle:      begin     
 cXBorder := 0;        cYBorder := GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYCAPTION);   
 end;    bsSizeable:      begin        cXBorder :=
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSIZEFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXBORDER) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXFIXEDFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXEDGE) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXFOCUSBORDER);        cYBorder :=
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSIZEFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYBORDER) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYFIXEDFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYEDGE) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYFOCUSBORDER) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYCAPTION); 
   end;    bsSizeToolWin:      begin        cXBorder :=
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSIZEFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXBORDER) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXFIXEDFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXEDGE) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXFOCUSBORDER);        cYBorder :=
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSIZEFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYBORDER) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYFIXEDFRAME) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYEDGE) +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYFOCUSBORDER) + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYCAPTION); 
   end;    bsToolWindow:      begin        cXBorder := 0;       
cYBorder := GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYCAPTION);      end;  end;   // set
client dimension  cWidth := Self.ClientRect.Width - cXBorder; 
cHeight:= Self.ClientRect.Height - cYBorder;  Margin := (Self.Width -
cWidth) div 2;   // get form and client area region  X := Margin; 
case Self.BorderStyle of    bsDialog:      begin        FullRgn :=
CreateRectRgn(0, 0, Self.Width + cXBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), Self.Height + cYBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYDLGFRAME));        Y := Self.Height - cHeight -
Margin + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYDLGFRAME);        ClientRgn :=
CreateRectRgn(X, Y, X + cWidth + cXBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), Y + cHeight + cYBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYDLGFRAME));      end;    bsNone:      begin    
  FullRgn := CreateRectRgn(0, 0, Self.Width + cXBorder, Self.Height +
cYBorder);        Y := Self.Height - cHeight - Margin -
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYBORDER);        ClientRgn := CreateRectRgn(X, Y,
X + cWidth + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXBORDER), Y + cHeight +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYBORDER));      end;    bsSingle:      begin    
  FullRgn := CreateRectRgn(0, 0, Self.Width + cXBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), Self.Height + cYBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYDLGFRAME));        Y := Self.Height - cHeight -
Margin + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYDLGFRAME);        ClientRgn :=
CreateRectRgn(X, Y, X + cWidth + cXBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), Y + cHeight + cYBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYDLGFRAME));      end;    bsSizeable:      begin 
      FullRgn := CreateRectRgn(0, 0, Self.Width + cXBorder,
Self.Height + cYBorder);        Y := Self.Height - cHeight - Margin -
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYBORDER);        ClientRgn := CreateRectRgn( X,
Y, X + cWidth + cXBorder, Y + cHeight + cYBorder);      end;   
bsSizeToolWin:      begin        FullRgn := CreateRectRgn(0, 0,
Self.Width + cXBorder, Self.Height + cYBorder);        Y :=
Self.Height - cHeight - Margin - GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYBORDER);      
ClientRgn := CreateRectRgn( X, Y, X + cWidth + cXBorder, Y + cHeight +
cYBorder);      end;    bsToolWindow:      begin        FullRgn :=
CreateRectRgn(0, 0, Self.Width + cXBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), Self.Height + cYBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYDLGFRAME));        Y := Self.Height - cHeight -
Margin + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYDLGFRAME);        ClientRgn :=
CreateRectRgn(X, Y, X + cWidth + cXBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), Y + cHeight + cYBorder +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYDLGFRAME));      end;  end;   // 'Mask' out all
but non-client areas  CombineRgn(FullRgn, FullRgn, ClientRgn,
RGN_DIFF);   // Now, walk through all the controls on the form and
'OR' them into the existing Full region.  for A := 0 to
Pred(ControlCount) do    begin      AControl := Controls[A];      if
((AControl is TWinControl) or (AControl is TGraphicControl) or
(AControl is TControl)) then        if AControl.Visible then         
begin            CtlX := X + AControl.Left;            CtlY := Y +
AControl.Top;            case Self.BorderStyle of             
bsDialog:                begin                  CtlRgn :=
CreateRectRgn(CtlX + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), CtlY, CtlX +
AControl.Width + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), CtlY +
AControl.Height);                end;              bsNone:           
   begin                  CtlRgn := CreateRectRgn(CtlX, CtlY, CtlX +
AControl.Width, CtlY + AControl.Height);                end;         
   bsSingle:                begin                  CtlRgn :=
CreateRectRgn(CtlX + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), CtlY, CtlX +
AControl.Width + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), CtlY +
AControl.Height);                end;              bsSizeable:       
       begin                  CtlRgn := CreateRectRgn(CtlX, CtlY, CtlX
+ AControl.Width + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXEDGE), CtlY + AControl.Height
+ GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYEDGE));                end;             
bsSizeToolWin:                begin                  CtlRgn :=
CreateRectRgn(CtlX, CtlY, CtlX + AControl.Width +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXEDGE), CtlY + AControl.Height +
GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYEDGE));                end;             
bsToolWindow:                begin                  CtlRgn :=
CreateRectRgn(CtlX + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), CtlY, CtlX +
AControl.Width + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXDLGFRAME), CtlY +
AControl.Height);                end;            end;           
CombineRgn(FullRgn, FullRgn, CtlRgn, RGN_OR);          end;    end;  
// When the region is all ready, put it into effect: 
SetWindowRgn(Handle, FullRgn, TRUE);   // clean up the mess 
DeleteObject(ClientRgn);  DeleteObject(FullRgn); 
DeleteObject(CtlRgn);end;Enjoy transparent forms for Windows

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loaded · 2022-12-21 04:59

Yes this code is better. I can't thank you enough for your hard work.
Respects.