BB8Ball  v1.0
description
BB8Ball is a Magic 8 Ball plugin for Blackbox for Windows.

BB8Ball v1.0 tested on BBLean 1.12 and XobLite latest version

revision history

BB8Ball 1.0 (2004-06-05) / Theo

  • Original release.
  • future releases?
  •  
  • known issues
  • No known issues, but if anyone finds a bug, or discovers an issue, please let me know. I don't have a windows 9x or ME machine to test anything, so if any user using one of those systems has a problem, let me know, and I will try to work with you.
  • license information
    © 2004 Miroslav Petrasko [Theo]

    BB8Ball IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF THE AUTHOR OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

    initial setup

    To load BB8Ball you simply need to add the relative path of the plugin (from your Blackbox directory) to the Blackbox configuration file plugins.rc (located in the Blackbox directory). For example, if you installed Blackbox into c:\Blackbox, and BB8Ball.dll is located in c:\Blackbox\plugins\BB8Ball\, you should add the line...

    plugins\BB8Ball\BB8Ball.dll
    for when you are not loading the BBSlit plugin. Or...
    &plugins\BB8Ball\BB8Ball.dll
    for when loading it with or in the BBSlit plugin.

    ...to plugins.rc. Simple, eh? :) Make sure to note the '&' at the beginning of the second load line.

    You should also have a look at the BB8Ball.rc file after you load the plugin, in case there are any settings you would want to customise. The file will be saved if there is no file found.  You can access this file by right clicking on the plugin and choosing the "Settings" submenu, then choose "Edit Settings".  These settings are shown below.

    how to use BB8Ball...

    Mouse Input

    Once the plugin is loaded, a few things can be done with a simple click on the BB8Ball window.

    Left Click  Give prediction
    Left Click + Ctrl    Move 
    Double Left Click   none 
    Middle Click  none
    Right Click  Opens configuration menu 
    Right Click + Ctrl   none

    The Menu

    The plugin menu let's you change or select various things, and most should be self-explanatory. However, there is one submenu worth mentioning - the "Settings" submenu.

    This submenu let's you "Save Settings" (current) to file, or "Reload Settings" that you have edited. These are important because a) BB8Ball only writes settings when you tell it to, or on plugin shutdown, and b) you do not need to reconfigure bb4win in order to have BB8Ball reload settings from the BB8Ball.rc file.  One more thing to note.  If you change any of the settings, or move the window, you may want to choose "Save Settings", otherwise when you choose "Reload Settings" BB8Ball will go back to the last saved configuration. When you change files manually from the .rc file and save them, always choose "Reload Settings" so that BB8Ball will get the new settings.

    Keyboard Input

    None.

    Miscellaneous Notes  

    The predictions can be:

    • Signs point to yes.
    • Yes.
    • Reply hazy, try again.
    • Without a doubt.
    • My sources say no.
    • As I see it, yes.
    • You may rely on it.
    • Concentrate and ask again.
    • Outlook not so good.
    • It is decidedly so.
    • Better not tell you now.
    • Very doubtful.
    • Yes - definitely.
    • It is certain.
    • Cannot predict now.
    • Most likely.
    • Ask again later.
    • My reply is no.
    • Outlook good.
    • Don't count on it.

    BB8Ball.rc settings

    If a configuration file for some reason (e.g. you deleted it <g>) can not be found at startup (BB8Ball will first search for it in the same directory as the plugin, then in the Blackbox directory), BB8Ball will automatically create one for you in the same directory as the plugin.  Most settings are configurable from the menu. 

    BB8Ball.x: 0 X position of the analog clock.
    BB8Ball.y: 895 Y position of the analog clock.
    BB8Ball.inSlit: true Tells BB8Ball to reload/load in/out of the slit. Only works if the BBSlit plugin is loaded in the plugins.rc file.
    BB8Ball.alwaysontop: true Tells BB8Ball to be ontop of all windows.
    BB8Ball.transparency: false Tells BB8Ball to use the alpha value for tranparency opacity.
    BB8Ball.alpha: 160 Sets the tranparency level. 0-255, 0 being completely transparent.
    BB8Ball.snapwindow: true Tells BB8Ball to snap to the edges of the screen.
    BB8Ball.pluginToggle: true Tells BB8Ball to hide with other plugins.
    BB8Ball.hideMode: true Tells BB8Ball to hide. With this selected the only way to unhide BB8Ball is by edditing .rc file or by using Br@ms.

    Please note that BB8Ball automatically saves the current running configuration when you quit or restart Blackbox, overwriting the previous contents of the file. If you want to change these values and make BB8Ball read them again, edit the file, then save the file, and then select "Reload Settings" from the plugin's "Settings" submenu.

    BB8Ball bro@ms

    @BB8BallPredict  Gives a prediction
    @BB8BallHideMode  Hides/unhides BB8Ball

    @BBShowPlugins  Standard BB bro@m to show all plugins
    @BBHidePlugins  Standard BB bro@m to hide all plugins 

    @BB8BallAbout  Shows the about window 

    @BB8BallPluginToggle  Toggles whether BB8Ball hides with other plugins 
    @BB8BallOnTop  Toggles whether or not BB8Ball is always ontop 
    @BB8BallEditRC  Opens the BB8Ball's RC file for configuration 
    @BB8BallReloadSettings  Tells BB8Ball to reload settings from the RC file
    @BB8BallSaveSettings  BB8Ball will save currently loaded settings. 

    acknowledgements
    Special thanks to ........(dont forget to fill) who had this idea.  :)