Is this possible?

[kasje]

I see xlobby as a nice skin where i can structure my databases inand show them in a nice fashion. I know there are many people who want to do everything with xlobby but i don't see the point of it.

The base of xlobby is: - to show your music collection and play them
- To show your moviecollection and play them
- To show your picture collection and show them

Then to show the weather ..what is a nice thing cause everybody in the whole world uses it.

All the other stuff that most of us want, are things that i don't want to be integraded with xlobby.
Why? cause first it's to difficult to integrade in xlobby and second...there are many other programs that does these things better.

If i was a programmer, i made something like a adeptable background so when i make a button in the main menu...... exemple msn messenger..i go to a page with the same background as in the menu but where i can draw a transparant rectangle with the same size and on the same place as msn messenger when it opens. So i could see a part of my desktop..the part where msn meesenger opens.
From now on, i can addept every other program that not opens fullsize (like msn, skype etc) to xlobby. Very easy and i don't need all those difficult plugins. (sorry guys, i now you put so much work in these plugins but for me, most of them are to difficult to master).

There are only 2 sorts of programs that you can use on a pc..those that opens fullscreen and those that opens in a adaptable window.

So now i can make all the buttons i want in the menu to start every program i like and still get the feeling i'm working with xlobby.

Maybe something like this is not possible...but maybe it's worth of thinking about it?

My main question is.....is this possible??

greetz

[Colby]

There are only 2 sorts of programs that you can use on a pc..those that opens fullscreen and those that opens in a adaptable window.

Yet you are asking for a program that acts as both. A fullscreen with a hole in it. I dont think its possible in Windows. And I agree several other programs we want integrated with XL work better on their own, so why reinvent the wheel. However, for uniformity and functions sake of a HTPC, mouse driven programs often wont do. Also many of these programs have a ton of features where you only need a small number of them inside Xlobby. "I dont need to configure all my contacts and phone list in XL, but it would be nice to see who is calling" ...get it?

My personal opinion is the more Xl can integrate the stronger the program. It is nice to skin all the functions of whatever program the way you want, this makes plugins essential. Its also nice to link Xl features with other programs.

[P3rv3rt B3ar]

Actually there is a program which can be used to help integrating with other programns, us carpc people are very familiar with, it its called skinbedder, its magnificient piece of code, but i havent been testing it in context of xlobby yet. But if it turns out that it is possible to Xmovewindow skinbedder correctly together underlying application it can be great help for embedding programs, which dont otherwise fit so well in your skin, ofcourse that is not quite in spirit of Xlobby, but might be only thing u can do with programs which dont have SDK, or customizable skins.

For the philosophical point here, i agree partly with both of you. My view is to keep core light (and as so easy to manage) and on otherhand have lot of integration with different pieces of software based on plugins (which can be installed based on needs).

[kasje]

Thanks for thinking with me. Colby, you're right...i also like to have most programs integraded in xlobby.
But it's not possible. Now i use sidebar, so i have an overview..weatherforcast newsfeeds (headlines) and for me very important..i can see who is online with msn messenger.

I want to build xlobby as my nervecentre..so i have a overview of everything..like..a few webcams of my other properties...newsfeeds...who is on or offline with messenger and skype.
What on television at this moment. A main controle for volume.
So these things has to stay on my screen even if ik play some music or is search trough my movie or music library.

I've made most of the buttons at the side..and a big main window in de middle of my main screen. The problem is that i can not do 2 things at the same time. if i scroll in the big middle window trough my music collection, i have to close it before i can let another small window (excemple a webcamview) open.

Thats why i suggested the above..that made live easier for me:-)