Kioske with WinXP taskbar visible

[K1200]

Does anyone know how to bring up the XP taskbar while running in kioske mode?

... Maybe an FMP script parameter? ... Or an XP script?

I've been able to do it manually once my FMP application is running by:

1. pressing the Windows Logo key to access the Start Menu

2. selecting Settings, then Taskbar and Start Menu

3. selecting both Auto-hide and Keep on top, then OK

4. then repeat the above three steps, but turning off Auto-hide

This causes the XP taskbar to lock onto the screen and be usable while my application runs. It's just not something I can ask a user to do each time they start my application on their PC.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance from a first-time visitor.

[Inky Phil]

Hi K1200

I cannot answer your question directly but in my experience we just tell the user to hit the windows key whenever anyone wants to use email etc.

This doesn't involve any training of any kind, it keeps kiosk mode just as it should be with no confusion as to which icon to press whilst working within the solution and I have had no negative feedback to using the windows key as a switch in this manner.

HTH

Phil

[Reed]

If you want to allow people to use the windows key, taskbar and start menu, then why use kiosk mode in the first place? Since you can pretty well control what menu items a user sees in your solution with v8...

[K1200]

The short answer is ...

I have an FMP application that interacts with various other WinXP apps and I'd like to provide my users with "single click" access to them.

I use kioske mode for my app because it looks so much cleaner/better without all the clutter that comes with running in an XP Window.

So, I'm still seeking a solution. Ideally, someone at FileMaker will extend kioske mode to become a true "frameless window" mode in the future (i.e., XP compatible, but simple and clean). To me, it would be a way to "one-up" Windows, itself, and really enhance the possibilities for innovative FMP apps on the PC.

[SteveB]

I started out with a kiosk solution over 5 years ago, and developed a WinBatch script that caused the desktop to appear when the user clicked on a fake minimize button when running a kiosk. It 'sort of' worked.

I gave up on the kiosk, because users really want control of their PCs, and I also run all MS Office apps from with my solution. I believe the best approach is to use Dacons Menu Control. This allows me to control the naviagtion with my own menus and presents a fairly standard interface so users feel comfortable.

If you have v8 Advanced, you can try FM menus, but I found the initial release half-baked.

Steve

[Wim Decorte]

Here's a quick VBscript that may get you going on the right path:

[color:green]' ***************************************************

'

' VBScript to simulate hitting the windows key

'

' Author: Wim Decorte

' Date: Monday, January 23, 2006

' Version: 1.0

'

' ***************************************************

[color:blue]Const kCtrl = "^"

Const kEsc = "{ESC}"

Set sh = CreateObject("wscript.shell")

[color:green]' hit ctrl + esc to simulate the windows key

[color:blue]sh.SendKeys kCtrl & kEsc, True

[color:green]' hit esc to hide the program list

' sh.SendKeys kEsc, True