Slashback Software

Slashback Associates, Inc. Quality software since 1996. Text Ticker v2.4
30 day trial. Single license $20. Go to the store and click on "Text Ticker quantity pricing" for other quantities. Text Ticker scrolls the contents of a plain text file at the top or bottom of a monitor, or floating anywhere. The text appears in a so-called "appbar" which is similar to the W indows Taskbar and can be dragged to any position on the desktop. All settings (font, color, text file, etc.) are saved between sessions. Any plain text file can be dropped on the ticker and the program will begin to scroll that file's contents. (Actually, any file at all can be used, but only plain text files are readable by humans!) A file can also be browsed for and loaded by selecting Load File on the menu. Text Ticker can also be started with a specific file by dropping the file on the Text Ticker application icon, or by setting up shortcuts with the filename as the only command line parameter. It also can be changed in the Options window. Text files can also be retrieved from a web server (http:// or https://). This can be set in the File tab of the Options window, or by setting up shortcuts with the web address (URL) as the only command line parameter. The URL must begin with http:// or https://. Left-clicking the tray icon alternately shows and hides the ticker. Double-clicking the ticker pauses the scrolling. Multiple tickers can be run, each with its own file, speed, colors, etc. Each one acts independently. W hen you later start Text Ticker, the first one's settings will be used; if you start a second one, the second one's settings will be used, etc. The popup menu is available by right-clicking either the ticker or the tray icon. W hen the ticker is hidden, only the tray icon gives access to the program. In this case, the menu only offers Restore, Help, About, and Exit. Select Options to open the Options window. Text Ticker uses very little system resources and takes up little screen space, making it ideal for reminding yourself of encouraging words, help with memorization, watching a log file or any other text file that changes periodically. A number of companies use Text Ticker to keep employees informed of the current status of call center queues, sales and stock information, or any other company news everyone needs to know. A locked version of Text Ticker is available which does not allow users to make any changes or close the program. Utilities to simplify network deployment are also available. Contact TextTicker@SlashbackAssociates.com for more information. Options Window Pause and all of the automated features are turned off while the options window is shown.
Main tab

Font can use any font installed on your system, including any size and color available. Note that some combinations may not work well. Some italic fonts do not scroll smoothly. In vertical mode, larger fonts, especially in certain color combinations, may flicker. This depends on machine speed and video card. Font Color gives you more precise control of the font color. Bar Color selects the main, or background, color of the ticker. Scroll the text horizontally or vertically one line at a time. Use a frame. The floating bar can only be sized when the frame is visible. Stay on top of other windows. Don't move icons and windows to accommodate the ticker. Display (or not) an icon in the W indows System Tray (next to the clock). If the tray icon is disabled, it will still show up if the ticker is hidden. Completely hide the ticker instead of minimize.
File tab

Use a file from the internet. Type the URL of the web file (or copy and paste from a web browser). Use a local file. This can be any file W indows can access directly (local drives, mapped drives, network shares, etc.). The current local file is displayed in the box. Y ou can type or paste in this box. Click Local File to browse for a file.
Lines tab

Scroll the whole file or just the first or last part. Showing the first (or last) several lines makes a good log watcher. Number of lines to show. Comment character. Lines starting with this character will be ignored.
Scroll tab

Horizontal Scroll Delay is how often, in milliseconds, the text moves. Scroll Distance is how many pixels the text moves at a time. Vertical Line Delay is how often a new line is scrolled up. Scroll Delay is how often, in milliseconds, the text moves. Scroll Distance is how many pixels the text moves at a time. Note that some combinations may not work well. In vertical mode, telling it to scroll the next line before the previous line has finished scrolling does not look pretty! Although Scroll Delay is in milliseconds, it is unlikely that current computers can actually render the changes that quickly.
Auto tab

The automatic hide and show functions are useful when Auto Reload is used. Hide/minimize the ticker if a nonexistent file is attempted to be loaded. Hide/minimize the ticker if the file loaded is empty. Hide/minimize the ticker after so many seconds. Auto Reload will check to see if the file has a new timestamp, and if so, reload it. If the ticker is hidden/minimized, show it when the file content changes. If the ticker is minimized (not hidden) on a screen edge, show it when the mouse moves to that edge. Continue scrolling so many seconds after pausing.
Logo tab

Select Use Logo to display a logo (picture file) on the edge of the ticker. Click Logo File to set the picture file for the logo. Any jpg, bmp, ico, emf, or wmf file can be used. Show the logo on the left or right edge. The current correct height for the logo is shown. Create your logo image file in a graphics program to make sure it looks its best.
Sound tab

Sound is an auto feature but is on its own tab due to size constraints. Play a sound when the file changes. Click Sound File to set the sound file to play. Any wav file can be used.
Settings tab

Save settings in the registry or an .ini file. Save settings for yourself only or for all users of the computer. Run Text Ticker when W indows starts for yourself only or for all users of the computer. Suggestion are always welcome. Please include the product name in the subject line of any email. Email TextTicker@SlashbackAssociates.com. Credits Text Ticker was developed using: Delphi, Appbar component from Eric Janssen, Marquee component from DithoSoft Software Solutions, and code from 1000 places on the internet. Distribution package created with Inno Setup. History Version 2.4 added read file from internet added store settings in .ini file added all users/current user only added comment character for lines added logo height information added hide instead of minimize added do not adjust desktop added show ticker on mouse move to edge removed stay on top of fullscreen apps (not reliable) Version 2.2 locked version available added start with W indows on/off works on any desktop monitor added floating bar now drag ticker into desired position added stay on top on/off added stay on top of fullscreen apps added frame on/off added play sound on file change added hide after a certain time has elapsed added unpause after a certain time has elapsed

reworked options (rearranged and fixed some odd behavior) fixed file read bug if another program "owned" the file fixed logo not always showing up at startup Version 2.0 added logo added (centered) vertical scrolling added hide if file empty added hide if file missing added show if hidden on file change small changes for unlikely situations rewrite of options Version 1.6 added showing n lines from top or bottom of file Version 1.5 special build with no options and cannot be closed Version 1.4.2 corrected always starting bold added saving italic Version 1.4 added multiple tickers can start with file by dropping on executable or via shortcut parameter Version 1.2 added auto-reload option moved all options to the options window Version 1.0 couldn't find one, so wrote it 2010 Slashback Associates, Inc.