ReDecorator :: The Wonderful World Of Skinnybrown

java This program is written in Java, you may wish to read this first.

This program rotates Windows wallpapers, so that each time you start your computer you are presented with a different backdrop.

How to install

Create a directory somewhere, and put ReDecorator.jar in it.
Now put any pictures in there that you wish to use as backdrops.
These pictures should be bitmap files with the .bmp extension.
Double click on ReDecorator.jar.
If you see a box asking which program you want to open the file with, then your computer is not set up to run executable jar files properly. You can find out what you need to do here.

If ReDecorator gives you a message, then you need to follow the instructions given there.
If everything went ok, then a file called ReDecorator.conf should have been created, and one of the pictures will have been renamed to Current.bmp.
Right-click on the desktop and click on Properties
Go to the Desktop tab.
Click Browse...
Navigate to where you saved ReDecorator.jar and select Current.bmp
Click Select then Ok
Double click on ReDecorator.jar again.
Drag, with the right mouse button, ReDecorator.jar onto the Start button. Do not let go of the mouse button yet.
When the Start menu appears, still holding down the mouse button, move the mouse over the Programs menu (All Prorgams on WindowsXP).
Still holding down the mouse button, move the mouse over the Startup menu.
Move the mouse onto the menu that appears, then let go.
Select Create Shortcuts Here

To do:

Write an installer
Write a decent version of the getDirectory() method.

Downloads:

ReDecorator.jar (27kb), includes source code and javadoc documentation

Sample wallpapers (these work best when tiled) - Wallpapers.zip (209kb)

You can see an online version of the javadocs here.

Version History

5.5 - Internal changes only. The most significant being moving the program into the net.skinnybrown package.

4.6 to 5.4 - I have no idea where these versions went :-S

4.5 - The file location methods are now much more robust.

4.4 - Error messages now produce much more useful debugging info (Exception type and top of stack trace).

4.3 - ReDecorator is now capable of handling the situation where no wallpapers can be found, by alerting the user appropriately. - First public release.

4.2 - ReDecorator now displays a message when things go wrong.

4.1 - Added URL decoding to support JDK 1.4

4.0 - Re-written in Java.

3.1 - Added the retention of the last file name to allow easier deleting of unwanted pictures.

3.0 - Completely re-written due to hard disk failure.

2.0 - Re-written in Visual Basic, added file name preservation.

1.0 - One of my first C programs.

I welcome your feedback, queries and suggestions. You can post brief comments using the chat bar on the left, or you can use the forum for extended comments and suggestions. If you wish to contact me personally, you can use this contact form.

This site has been designed to work as best as possible in all resolutions, but has been optimised for 1024x768 resolution.

Below are some links to sites that will verify that my HTML is top notch, and should display correctly in all complient browsers.

Site last updated 1930 Thursday 10^th April 2008 BST

You are visitor number

since Thursday 20^th November 2003