A way to set the transparent backround?

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 09/18/2004 - 02:05

I'm not sure - perhaps I invented a way to set the transparent background in Tkabber? The idea is just to create transparent PNG image (it could have just 1x1 pixel dimensions...) - and then fill the background using "tiled image" - instead of using "solid color fill".

But I really don't know, is it possible using Tcl/Tk - what you, developers, think about it?

I think it's unlikely

Submitted by badlop on Sat, 09/18/2004 - 07:51.

I have not much Tcl or Tk knowledge, but this is what I think.
Maybe someone else can provide more information on the subject:

Putting a transparent PNG on the application background will allow you to see the application color background, not the desktop.
I don't really know if Tk allows transparent PNGs, or even PNG at all, or images as the background.
Until some Tk guru gives you the final answer, you can try other Tcl/Tk applications (or at least look at their screenshots) and see if anyone has transparent backgrounds. check this thread

wm attributes . -alpha

Submitted by patthoyts@jabber.org on Thu, 11/25/2004 - 16:05.

Tk as of 8.4.8 (maybe 8.4.7 too) has a wm attributes . -alpha option that uses you platform's transparency if it has one. This works on Windows XP and I think on MacOS Aqua.

wm attributes . -alpha 0.5 would make the main window 50% transparent.
It's not really very useful except in spash screens. Although having the app fade a bit when its not active can be interesting.

tkabber with transparency

Submitted by patthoyts@all.t... on Mon, 02/28/2005 - 12:32.

See http://tclers.tk/~jabber/tkabber-pat.kit

This version includes a plugin with some transparency support when run on a platfrm for which Tk provides such. (ie: Windows XP).

Select the Services->Plugins->Autofade menu item to have it drift to about 80% transparent when it looses focus.
The splash screen will also be partially transparent.