transparent window pane

[X.]

Just wondering whether one can make a window pane transparent. The idea is to have a window with 4 panes, the lower right pane being invisible to save screen space.

Using the pane "color" property and a "transparent" color doesn't do the trick. Using Panel transparency makes all panes transparent.

Thanks for your comments.

[RavensFan]

Look at these two messages by tst.

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Independent-Transparency-Settings-for-Frontpanel-Windo...

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Darren-s-Weekly-Nugget-04-17-2006/m-p/352929#M179807

[X.]

Raven Fans,

from what I understand (and tried), this is reproducing the now existing "set transparency" property of a *VI Panel*. I don't quite see how the "open hole" effect displayed in the first post can be achieved with the DLL calls used in the second.

I am looking for a similar property for a Front Panel *Pane*. I am not sure this is a widely wanted feature but I am attaching a schematic of what I  have in mind.

[tst · Accepted solution]

The DLL function allows you to control the transparency of a single color in the entire window (the "crkey" input, like one of those links said), even to the degree of making it disappear. In the "hole" example, this is simply a circle painted with that color. In your case, you can set the color of the pane background to the color you want to make disappear.

This is NOT the same as the transparency property, as the transparency property affects the entire window.

[X.]

I see. I had misunderstood the function of the DLL call. I guess using a decoration with the proper dimension and set to "scale with pane" will then fulfill my needs. Which, BTW, calls for a "Fit Decoration to Pane" property...although I could use a dummy control instead of a decoration.

Thanks a lot.

[tst]

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@xavier wrote:

I guess using a decoration with the proper dimension and set to "scale with pane" will then fulfill my needs.

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Or just color the background of the pane itself.

[X.]

Even better!