Text Ticker 2.2

Text Ticker 2.2  is designed as a useful tool that scrolls the contents of a text file at the top or bottom of the screen, or floating anywhere on the desktop. The text appears in a so-called "appbar" which is similar the the Windows Taskbar. All settings- font, color, text file, etc.- are saved between sessions.

Any text file can be dropped on the ticker and the program will begin to scroll that files contents. A file can also be browsed for and loaded by selecting Load File on the menu. Text Ticker can also be started with a specific file by dropping the file on the Text Ticker application icon, or by setting up shortcuts with the filename as the only parameter.

Left-clicking the tray icon alternately shows and hides the ticker.

Multiple tickers can be run, each with its own file, speed, colors, etc. Each one acts independently. When you later start Text Ticker, the first ones settings will be used; if you start a second one, the second ones settings will be used, etc.

The popup menu is available by right-clicking either the ticker or the tray icon. Select Options to open the Options window.

Options include control over how it looks visually, horizontal or vertical scrolling, scrolling speed, image file used for a logo on either edge of the ticker, timed file reload if the file has changed, show/hide ticker depending on the file status, play a sound when the file is reloaded, and more.

Major Features:

1. Main tab
   
   • Font can use any font installed on your system, including any size and color available. Note that some combinations may not work well. Some italic fonts do not scroll smoothly. In vertical mode, larger fonts, especially in certain color combinations, may flicker. This depends on machine speed and video card.
   • Font Color gives you more precise control of the font color.
   • Back Color selects the main, or background, color of the ticker.
   • Scroll the text horizontally or vertically one line at a time.
   • Use a frame. The floating bar can only be sized when the frame is visible.
   • Stay on top of other windows.
   • Stay on top of fullscreen applications (presentations, etc.).
   • Display (or not) an icon in the Windows System Tray (next to the clock). If the tray icon is disabled, it will still show up if the ticker is hidden.
2. File tab
   
   • The file currently loaded is displayed in the box.
   • Click Open File to change the file.
   • Scroll the whole file or just the first or last part. Showing the first (or last) several lines makes a good log watcher.
   • Scroll tab
   • Horizontal
   • • Scroll Delay is how often, in milliseconds, the text moves.
     • Scroll Distance is how many pixels the text moves at a time.
   • Vertical
   • • Line Delay is how often a new line is scrolled up.
     • Scroll Delay is how often, in milliseconds, the text moves.
     • Scroll Distance is how many pixels the text moves at a time.
     • Note that some combinations may not work well. In vertical mode, telling it to scroll the next line before the previous line has finished scrolling does not look pretty!
3. Logo tab
   
   • Select Use Logo to display a logo (picture file) on the edge of the ticker.
   • Click Logo File to set the picture file for the logo. Any jpg, bmp, ico, emf, or wmf file can be used.
   • Show the logo on the left or right edge.
4. Auto tab
   
   • The automatic hide and show functions are useful when Auto Reload is used.
   • Hide the ticker if a nonexistant file is attempted to be loaded.
   • Hide the ticker if the file loaded is empty.
   • Hide the ticker after so many seconds.
   • Auto Reload will check to see if the file has a new timestamp, and if so, reload it.
   • If the ticker is hidden, show it when the file changes.
   • Continue scrolling so many seconds after pausing.
   • Run Text Ticker whenever Windows starts.
5. Sound tab
   
   • Sound is an auto feature but is on its own tab due to size constraints.
   • Play a sound when the file changes
   • Clck Sound File to set the sound file to play. Any wav file can be used.

Enhancements:

• locked version available
• added start with Windows on/off
• works on any desktop monitor
• added floating bar
• now drag ticker into desired position
• added stay on top on/off
• added stay on top of fullscreen apps
• added frame on/off
• added play sound on file change
• added hide after a certain time has elapsed
• added unpause after a certain time has elapsed
• reworked options (rearranged and fixed some odd behavior)
• fixed file read bug if another program "owned" the file
• fixed logo not always showing up at startup

Requirements: Windows 95 or newer

WareSeeker Editor