Super Backdrop
by Glynn Clements

When run, this application opens a backdrop window the size of the screen to
which icons can be 'stuck'. That is, when a file icon is dragged to the
backdrop, the icon is displayed on the backdrop in the position to which it
was dragged. The icon then behaves as if it were in a directory viewer, in
terms of what happens if it is Double clicked, Shift Double clicked, or
dragged. It is possible to display a sprite on the backdrop, thus allowing
you to have your own favourite picture on the screen while you work.

Clicking Menu over the backdrop displays a menu containing 12 entries. The
first is Info, which displays a standard information box. The next five
entries are only available if Menu was clicked over an icon. Remove icon
removes the icon. Background and Text lead to colour menus allowing the
icon's text foreground and background colours to be set. Small icon allows
the icon format to be toggled between large or small. File/App./Dir. 'xxx'
leads to a submenu allowing the corresponding file/directory to be subjected
to any of the commands *Count, *Info, *Access, *Cat, *Ex or Dir. The last
three commands can only be used on directories.

The Lock option enables you to lock the positions of the icons on the
backdrop. This prevents them from being moved inadvertently if you move the
mouse slightly while double clicking on an icon. When the menu option is
ticked, the icons are locked. There is one exception to this - when you
place a new icon on the backdrop, its position will not be locked until
either the application is re-run, or another icon is stuck to the backdrop.
This allows you to move a new icon around until you are satisfied with its
position.

Choosing Save saves the current backdrop state in the file
!SuperBD.!StateSave. The backdrop will then start up in this state the next
time that it is run. Choosing Rename displays a dialogue box containing two
writeable icons and an OK box. Dragging a directory to either of the
writeable icons results in the pathname being entered into the icon; this
can then be edited as required. Clicking on OK results in any icons from the
source directory being renamed so that they refer to the destination
directory. This is used where a directory has been renamed or moved, and the
icon pathnames must be updated accordingly. Note that the pathnames are case
sensitive.

The lower set of Background, Text and Small icons entries have the same
affect as the upper set of Background, Text and Small icon entries, except
that they do not affect any existing icon, but those added to the backdrop
from then on. Finally, the Quit option quits the application and removes the
backdrop from the screen.

Function keys F10 and F11 can be used to send the backdrop window to the
front or the back of the Desktop respectively. This can be useful if you
want to access an icon which is obscured by open windows. The same functions
are performed by Ctrl-F11 (send to front) and Shift-Ctrl-F11 (send to back).
This is because DeskEdit uses keys F10 and F11, so if you have a DeskEdit
window open which has the input focus, it will intercept these keys.

To display a picture on the backdrop, you should first create a sprite using
Paint, in the mode which you normally use for most of your work.
Alternatively you may find a picture you like which already exists - perhaps
a public domain picture or a sample from an art package. SuperBD will use
the first sprite in the file !SuperBD.Sprites, so this is where you should
put your chosen sprite. With a little imagination, you can create an
attractive backdrop, using the text and background colour facility described
above to make your icons fit into the picture harmoniously.

