Introducing Windows Vista Sidebar and developing a gadget (Channel 9)

Author: Hi, I am Daniel Moth Big Smile

Introduction: You may read about Sidebar and gadgets on my blog here, here and here.

Video Content:
00' - 08' Sidebar and gadget feature review
08' - 19' Building your first gadget from scratch
19' - 21' Other gadget APIs
21' - 22' Summary
22' - 24' Built-in gadget code
24' - end Close

Video Download: Either click on the left to play the video (from a streaming file) or to download it in a zip file save it from here.

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TommyCarlier Widen your gaze

Nov 11, 2006 at 5:49 AM

Nice overview. Thanks.
Daniel Moth

Nov 12, 2006 at 4:57 PM

Thanks Tommy, glad you enjoyed it
christianw

Nov 16, 2006 at 4:07 AM

Nice... But OH ... MY ... GOD! what an annoying soundtheme! Almost made me turn the sound off!

Christian...
Daniel Moth

Nov 16, 2006 at 12:40 PM

Lol... You are right Christian... I almost re-recorded the thing when I realised, but thought it was too annoying not to share [6]
jBuelna Never mistake motion for progress.

Nov 17, 2006 at 3:21 PM

Daniel Moth wrote:

Lol... You are right Christian... I almost re-recorded the thing when I realised, but thought it was too annoying not to share

Ah, Camtasia clicks. Lovely. I really enjoyed this screencast.
Daniel Moth

Nov 18, 2006 at 5:26 AM

jBuelna wrote:

Daniel Moth wrote: Lol... You are right Christian... I almost re-recorded the thing when I realised, but thought it was too annoying not to share

Ah, Camtasia clicks. Lovely. I really enjoyed this screencast.

Thanks... Rest assured those pesky clicks are not present in any captures following this one... e.g. check this one out (shameless plug )!
jTakasu(Moo) Moooooooooooooooooo!

Dec 13, 2006 at 10:16 PM

It is good-looking.

I will make the gadget referring.
nikez2k4 You know you want to...

Jan 11, 2007 at 2:16 PM

Daniel...

That has to be one of the best tutorial videos I have ever seen. Really enjoyed watching it...even if it did include the clicks!

Had to register just to say thanks for posting it. I am very new to Channel9 so not really sure what I am doing yet...but have you done any other Sidebar videos?

Take care,
MOZ
Daniel Moth

Jan 13, 2007 at 11:17 AM

Hi MOZ

Welcome to channel9 and thanks for your kind words, much appreciated

Sorry, I have not done any other Sidebar videos but there are plenty of links to more gadget information from the links to my blog at the top.

For more videos like this one but on other topics, check out the channel9 screencasts section (and filter as you wish by clicking on the tags on the left of that page e.g. Vista-only or Windows Mobile etc).

Have fun!
pkellner

Jan 19, 2007 at 6:12 PM

Seems I'm following you. I use to read your mobile stuff, now that I've moved back to web development, here you aer again doing gadgets (which I'm just learning). What are we doing next?

Seriously, thanks for the video. It was a big help.

Peter Kellner, MVP ASP.NET
Daniel Moth

Jan 20, 2007 at 2:30 AM

pkellner wrote:

Seems I'm following you. I use to read your mobile stuff, now that I've moved back to web development, here you aer again doing gadgets (which I'm just learning). What are we doing next?

Seriously, thanks for the video. It was a big help.

Peter Kellner, MVP ASP.NET

LOL.. Thanks Peter!

Well, "we" are always doing mobile, that never goes away. And Vista stuff will stay with us as well.... Next we are doing all things "Orcas" so get ready for the ride
Eike

Jan 21, 2007 at 7:54 AM

Thank you for this quick overview
Daniel Moth

Jan 25, 2007 at 11:52 AM

Glad you enjoyed it Eike
Daniel Moth

Feb 15, 2007 at 1:32 AM

For those experiencing difficulties with using a hyperlink for the flyout, please use a button instead:

<button onclick="toggleFlyout();">Toggle Flyout</button>
debbiesdreams

Mar 03, 2007 at 5:05 AM

This is awsome!! Time to get creative
Daniel Moth

Mar 06, 2007 at 5:01 AM

Thanks! BTW, some more resources you can check out are here:
http://www.danielmoth.com/Blog/2007/02/windows-vista-sidebar-gadget-articles.html
bcgreen

Jul 14, 2007 at 2:17 AM

I've tried a couple of "Hello, world" gadget examples, including one straight from Microsoft. I even cut and pasted the code. But this is the result I get. Notice how the gadget is cut off (even though body size is set to 130x50, again-- I cut and pasted the code):

Gadget problem

Any suggestions? Thanks! Bryan
Daniel Moth

Jul 17, 2007 at 2:15 AM

bcgreen wrote:

Any suggestions? Thanks! Bryan

My suggestion is that you post full details asking for help at the free online support forums

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=1063&SiteID=1

Good luck!
guptasan90

Jan 25, 2008 at 1:11 AM

Hi Daniel,
I viewed your blog and video about 'Introducing Windows Vista Sidebar and developing a gadget'. I really appreciate your work.

I want to know whether I can use gadgets in my application(using VC++)? I mean, can i display the gadgets installed in System into my dialog window in the same way they are displayed in sidebar. If yes, how?

I will be really thankful for any help of yours.
Daniel Moth

Jan 25, 2008 at 3:57 AM

Hi guptsan90. Not out of the box, unless you want to replicate the sidebar host functionality in your C++ application.
guptasan90

Jan 25, 2008 at 4:25 AM

Thanks Daniel for your quick reply.

I have two questions:
1) Is there any documentation digging into the sidebar host functionality ?
2) Is it not possible for any container other than sidebar to host gadgets now? If no, will it be possible in future?

Thanks in advance.
Daniel Moth

Jan 26, 2008 at 9:55 AM

Guptasan, I thought I answered both those questions in my previous reply and over email. In a nutshell, "No" and "Not that I know of". Please do use the dedicated Sidebar forums for generic questions. Hope you get it working
pcarew

May 16, 2008 at 10:32 AM

Thanks for the turorial, it was helpful.
I am however confused by the difference/discrepancy between your manifest tags and those contained in the Microsoft TechNet tutorial:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/topics/vista/gadgets-pt1.mspx

The Microsoft Technet tutorial uses a different set of tags for specifying the html code. Here is a snippet from the Technet article:

    <gadget>
      ...
      <sidebar>
        <type>html</type>
        <permissions>full</permissions>
        <code>test.htm</code>
        <website>www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter</website>
     </sidebar>
    </gadget>

This is instead of the:
<hosts>
   <host>
      <base>
         ....

Was there/are there two competing sets of manifest tags?
Daniel Moth

May 17, 2008 at 3:31 PM

pcarew, sorry I don't know (my instant reaction is "use what works"). Please do post to the dedicated Sidebar forums.
WidgetsGuy Widgets and Gadgets Guru

Aug 25, 2008 at 1:44 AM

I saw your name on the Creating Vista Gadget book, Did you co-authored that book ?
Daniel Moth

Nov 08, 2009 at 11:52 AM

WidgetsGuy, there are many books on gadgets, and no I have not participated in authroing any of them. I have only co-authored the Mobile Development Handbook.

Cheers

Daniel