Backround Cycler

Strange things will be happening in SVN

2012-02-11T15:11:00.001-08:00

I have a few people that like to check out the Development code that is in the SVN. As some people know, Backround Cycler is going into version 6 and with that i want to move from WinForms to WPF. this will require that i redo the Projects. I am switching over to WPF to learn WPF as Backround Cycler was a way to learn C# and WinForms

Backround Cycler Version 5 released

2012-01-23T20:06:00.001-08:00

I am proud to announce Backround Cycler version 5 was released today. Changes from version 4 are minor but the list is :

Redesigned the error reporting system, It is now windows Vista and 7 compatible.
Changed some wording inside of the program.
Added a tooltip that will display the current desktop background that is displayed.
- known limitations are that it will still display the last image selected if the user changes the desktop background using the built in Windows background changer
Code cleanup.

You can download the program here
You can download the source code here [or in a 7z file]

Why codename “V6”

2011-11-06T06:08:00.001-08:00

A question that I have gotten on the remake of Backround Cycler is “Where did you get the codename ‘V6’ if it is not Version 6?” Well I did not get the codename “V6” as a version number, as a matter of fact the codename is a reference to a 6 cylinder engine inside of cars. I believe the move to C++/win32++ will produce a better program. As I, the developer, will have better control over the memory. One major problem is C# is the Garbage collector is not clearing the image right after I no longer need it. It is not uncommon for the program to have 3-4 pictures loaded into memory even long after the program is done using them and properly called the destroy methods. The only time the program seems to clear the image is when it loads a large image (+10 mb)

Do you have any comments or suggestions about Backround Cycler?

2011-11-03T01:30:00.001-07:00

I have opened a thread on my forums just for comments and suggestions here http://forums.mccormickcomputers.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=88

Backround Cycler v5 beta 1 Released

2011-10-31T10:40:00.001-07:00

Backround Cycler v5 beta1 (v4.9.0.1904) has been released today.
to download it you can use this link here

Version 4.9.0.1900 Released (Not on SourceForage)

2011-10-18T00:02:00.001-07:00

Backround Cycler version 4.9.0.1900 Alpha 3 has been released and can be downloaded here http://static.allaboutwilliam.com/Downloads/BackroundCycler.v4.9.test.exe

This is a Test release for a New installer system that I am using. I have switched from NSIS to INNOsetup. The program title will read BETA but it is not ready for that yet this is still a Alpha product . I am not releasing this version on Source forage Because I am not packaging or branching the source code in any way if you would like the source code for this one version you can download it from the SVN Trunk the Revision number is 319. Do to the fact that I am not releasing the source code with the release I cannot release it on Source Forage. I plan on having a Beta Build by the first week of November.

What happened to Backround Cycler

2011-10-16T23:12:00.001-07:00

Short answer is, I got busy with life things. I will be releasing another version in the next few days with some changes to the way the installer works. Also I have a Road map for version 6 in the wings that will increase the speed of the program. expect a new beta release in the next month.

do to little time version 5 will not contain a web service but I still have plans to roll it in a future version.

Backround Cycler version 4.9.0.1389 (alpha 2) released

2009-11-22T06:25:00.001-08:00

Backround Cycler version 4.9 alpha 2 (for 5.0) is out Changes are:

Changed some of the Core to prep for access to a web source.
Changed the way the FileList loads the files
- In a future release it will use XML, have test functions that are not called in the release
- Changed the checking if the file exists, for speed, I check if the file exists on a change background call
Added a Check Subfolders check box to the images list so you can change it in that window and not have to go to the behavior section to change it. Picture here

Download Backround Cycler version 4.9.0.1389 (alpha 2) here

edit: new system requirement .net 3.5 framework

also in edit: no packaged source files but you can download the source file in the SVN release here http://backroundcycler.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/backroundcycler/branches/v4.9.0.1389 This is a SVN site and will not display correctly in a web browser.

Changes in the Upcoming release

2009-11-10T20:24:00.001-08:00

A problem with the SVN server and my client SVN app cleared most of my changes from version 4.0 to the alpha release, making updates slow to come.

Changes in alpha 2 will seem like nothing in the GUI but i have scraped ability to change the pictures list it will now always be in Detail view. Another key change is i have sorted some of the classes in a way that seems to make the application run faster. I am hoping to have alpha 2 released next week.

Update on Web images

I am looking into using Picasa to get images. At the moment this plan is only a idea but after BC alpha 2 is released i will start testing that idea out

Version 4.9.0.845 Released

2009-09-28T21:38:00.001-07:00

Backround cycler version 4.9.0.845 (a 5.0 alpha) was released today

Some new features are:

you can now change the Display of the Pictures list (but it is not persistent so will always load to Detail view)
now i have a feature to display a balloon with info about the picture that is currently loaded by the application
Changed where the DEBUG.txt file is saved for people on VISTA and later OSes so that if/when the app crashes it can save a stack trace for better debugging.
some modifications to two classes that Deal with the Pictures List.

It already has some known bugs in it that will be fixed in alpha 2, they are:

The List of pictures does not auto save (result of modifying the 2 classes should be fixed in next release)
you cannot save the display view (it does not have a setting option yet)

you can download the installer here

no packaged source files but you can download the source file in the SVN release here http://backroundcycler.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/backroundcycler/branches/v4.9.0.845/4.9.0.245 This is a SVN site and will not display correctly in a web browser.

Progress report on what is being done

2009-09-05T14:45:00.001-07:00

work on bug report #2812201 (Top Priority) (believed to be done, but could never reproduce the bug)
Improved ImageList by improving my FileList class about 15% faster.
Get Images off a web service (am running multiple options in my head and any suggestions is much appreciated)
Work on making my application Better.

also am not planning on upgrading to the .net 3.5 framework at the moment but is in the list of possibilities for version 5. a development preview release (alpha release) is planed for the next month

New awards for BackroundCycler

2009-08-29T09:25:00.001-07:00

My project has Been awarded two awards from http://www.downloadtube.com they are Virus/spyware/malware free

and this Top Quality Stability and Performance award

I will me making a page just for the awards that my project has made in the coming weeks

Changes and Apologies

2009-08-21T12:12:00.001-07:00

I have neglected this application for two reasons

I have run out of Idea’s to add to this app.
I have been busy with other stuff.

Now i have returned to the project and my plans for Version 5.0 includes,

work on bug report #2812201 (Top Priority)
Get Images off a web service (am running multiple options in my head and any suggestions is much appreciated)
Work on making my application Better.

Also i am looking for people willing to test the application on Windows 7, i have no access to this OS at the moment and want preliminary data on compatibility

Any suggestions can be made in the Comments section of this post or to my email at williammccormic <at> users.sourceforge <dot> net

William Edward McCormick
Project Admin

Backround Cycler 4.0 Released

2008-12-31T23:28:00.001-08:00

The long awaited release of Backround Cycler version 4.0 has been released

there are no changes from version 3.9 beta 2 in this release

changes from version 3.0 are

fixed a bug in the Debug display now the number of items in the Pictures List are counted
Added an Edit settings option to the context menu, it will take you strait into the setting pain of the program
Added the option to Scale the Image now your images can be scaled down/up to size and not look stretched out
Added option to allow user to change background on application startup
Added option to display GUI on application startup
Improved FileList class
Started Implementing additional language support (right now only English is supported)

You can download it here

Sorry for the long delay Happy New Year

like always Comments are always supported. i even allow anonymous comments.

William Edward McCormick

email (remove spaces): williammccormic @ users.sourceforge.net

Backround Cycler version 3.9 Beta 2 (a 4.0 beta) released

2008-11-09T10:58:00.000-08:00

Version 3.9 Beta 2 of Backround Cycler has been released.

Updates to this package are:

fixed a bug in the Debug display now the number of items in the Pictures List are counted
Added an Edit settings option to the context menu, it will take you strait into the setting pain of the program
Added the option to Scale the Image now your images can be scaled down/up to size and not look all stretched out

William Edward McCormick

Common Questions I have Received & updates

2008-11-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

I have received many questions about the Backround Cycler project I will answer them in this post.

Question 1) Did you know that you spelled background wrong?

Answer) yes, the misspelling was happened when I was registering the project with SourceForge i missed the g. But instead of me contacting SourceForge and asking if they can fix it, I decided to just use the spelling like that.

Question 2) Why use the name Backround Cycler?

Answer) I did not think that the project would do as good as it did and I was just using it for my Resume. But when I started getting Feedback i started putting thought into my work.

Question 3) Why did you change sites?

Answer) I was having trouble Administrating SourceForge site for some time. To make things easier on myself i started using this site for Project news. Also Spam had become a problem on the other site and SourceForge does not allow external site linking so i could not implement proper anti-spam mesures.

Question 4) Why is Advertising on your site?

Answer) To make a little money off the project. I try to make the Advertising as non distractive as posible but if you find it to over the top let me know and I will see what i can do to fix it

Updates:
I know that Beta 2 is a little late but i ran into a problem with releasing it. I am fixing the problem as fast as posible and will try to have it released by November 12, 2008.

version 4.0 Beta 2 is comming

2008-10-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

the next beta for Backround cycler is coming out, the only change is I added an option for scaling an image, display issues are still being worked out.

William McCormick

Backround Cycler Version 3.8 Beta 1 released

2008-08-29T04:49:00.000-07:00

The first beta for Backround Cycler version 4 has been released

This has a lot of differences from Version 3
- added option to allow user to change background on appication startup
- added option to display GUI on application startup
- Improved FileList
- Started Implementing additional language support (right now only English is supported)

This is a Beta Version so it is to be used at your own risk.
Download it here

William Edward McCormick

Welcome

2008-08-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the New Backround Cycler project website. Blogger will give me more options than i had when i was using the webhosting option with sourceforge.

A new release is being packaged now and should be uploaded within the hour.