Allow Panel Background Color to be Transparent

[TheQ]

I would like to have the ability to make a Front Panel background transparent without making the whole window transparent (where the later is currently possible through property nodes).  This one item would expand the UI possibilities.  It would allow for the creation of Front Panels that seem to be borderless similar to many splash screens, about screens, and gadgets.  Below are some industry examples:

Adobe Splash Screen (No border, has shadow, not square)

  Microsoft Word 2010 Splash Screen (No border, rounded corners)

 Resource Meter Windows Gadget (No border, specialized graphic)

Windows Media Center Gadget (Empty-transparent space between two UI elements)

[tomlawton]

No, you see that wouldn't work- if you made the panel transparent, the user would be able to see your diagram behind it.. 😉

(Sorry- Friday afternoon silliness!)

[X.]

As a possible workaround, check this thread, which will lead you to other ones where you'll find a solution for Windows. A native support would be nice though.

[TheQ]

I heard of the Windows API method of doing this from a coworker just after posting.  Thank you for the link, I will look into it.  Still, as you said, native support would be nice though.

[TheQ]

Well, the workaround does some of the functionality I described in Idea. But there are a few shortcomings and caveats. 1) It does make the window transparent to the set color but only that color. Shadows will not blend into the background. Even when using a PNG file where the shadow blends to the background. The gradient region of the shadow will show mixed with the selected color instead of blending to transparent. 2) The color selection must be limited to 256 colors or something. If a color is selected in between, Windows will still act as if the color is transparent, allowing clicks to go through. However, the color won't actually appear transparent. 3) Anything else the same color as the set color also goes transparent. Selecting white or black as the color will cause the LabVIEW Run, Stop, and other buttons to become partially transparent and difficult to click on. So, it is better to use some odd color like pink/fuchsia. This was still difficult because it made the color box go transparent and then it could no longer be selected. 4) There is an input for alpha channel but this controls the window's transparency just like the current property node does. All-in-all, the workaround works well for some things and I will start using it. I really wish there could be support for shadows or fading such that the front panel appears to blend into the desktop like PNG graphics can do.

[SteenSchmidt]

None of the workarounds for LabVIEW are much good really. This idea would be very nice if implemented, and a step toward the current millenium when it comes to UI flexibility 😉

/Steen

[TheQ]

On point #2 above... after some experimentation, looks like the red and blue channels have to be the same and the green channel can be anything.  

[MichaelAivaliotis]

Can someone post a use-case for this besides fancy splash screens? Like something in test and measurement or automation or...

[fabric]

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@michael_Aivaliotis wrote:

Can someone post a use-case for this besides fancy splash screens? Like something in test and measurement or automation or...

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Seriously?!

Next you'll be asking us to justify the colour picker. Couldn't all test systems just be black and white?? 

[SteenSchmidt]

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@michael_Aivaliotis wrote:

Can someone post a use-case for this besides fancy splash screens? Like something in test and measurement or automation or...

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Any UI from this millenium could benefit from this really. The OP names a few examples himself, for instance gadgets and widgets besides splash screens. But basically anything that have to do with UIs that're not common windows. How about a tiles-like interface? Dockable UI-parts? So not just for looks, but plainly for functionality as well. This idea belongs to the domain where LabVIEW is a programming language more than a virtual instrument (even a TestStand UI could benefit from looking snazzy though, or if not snazzy, then at least blend in on that Mac or Win7/8 OS it loads on).

As with all other UI elements it should be used just enough, which means sometimes a lot, but probably most often not at all. Currently we can't make a window background transparent in any meaningful way, and that's one of the many many situations where it's not possible to create a modern UI with LabVIEW.

/Steen

[SteenSchmidt]

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@michael_Aivaliotis wrote:

Can someone post a use-case for this besides fancy splash screens? Like something in test and measurement or automation or...

---

Any UI from this millenium could benefit from this really. The OP names a few examples himself, for instance gadgets and widgets besides splash screens. But basically anything that have to do with UIs that're not common windows. How about a tiles-like interface? Dockable UI-parts? So not just for looks, but plainly for functionality as well. This idea belongs to the domain where LabVIEW is a programming language more than a virtual instrument (even a TestStand UI could benefit from looking snazzy though, or if not snazzy, then at least blend in on that Mac or Win7/8 OS it loads on).

As with all other UI elements it should be used just enough, which means sometimes a lot, but probably most often not at all. Currently we can't make a window background transparent in any meaningful way, and that's one of the many many situations where it's not possible to create a modern UI with LabVIEW.

/Steen

[Intaris]

There are NO use cases because clearly test and measurement clearly eliminates the ability to have a snazzy UI......

</sarcasm>