The Transparent utility will turn your Windows 95 or NT desktop icon  text backgrounds transparent; allowing your wallpaper to show through. You can also change the icon text color! It's completely free  and with no splash. It can optionally stay in memory to automatically  fix the transparency if your desktop gets changed or reset. My program, TransparentGUI, adds a user-friendly interface to Jay Guerette's Transparent.

Screenshot of main window (Click to enlarge)

Screenshot of shortcut window (Click to enlarge)

Features

• a color dialog that let you choose from all color imaginable
• a preview of the changes that will be applied to your desktop
• add/remove shortcut in your Startup folder or on your Desktop using your chosen settings
• display the command line for Transparent.exe that will be in the shortcut
• display the hexadecimal & RGB values of the icon text color
• sets the icon text color using either hexadecimal or RGB values (Color conversion)
• docking of shortcut window to main settings window (Fun^_^)
• keep the program "Always on Top" of all other windows (Useful)
• unload Transparent from memory if present/resident
• will detect changes in your desktop background color and update preview area accordingly
• keep your program settings (in a XML file)

To be added features

• system tray for TransparentGUI
  Right-click, and get a list of options (white, black, desktop, custom color, show main window, always on top, unload transparent, exit)

Why

Interest in desktop icon transparency.
Came across Jay Guerette's Transparent.

Installation

No special installation is required on Windows.
Transparent can be put in any folder (together with other required files).

As Transparent needs to be run each time you start your computer, you need to have a shortcut to it in your StartUp folder, so it will be run each time you start your computer.

The easiest way to do that is to click on "Put Shortcut in Startup folder" under the Shortcut menu, after you have set all your settings.

DOWNLOAD TRANSPARENTGUI NOW  (49KB)

Troubleshooting

* When I click on the OK or Apply button, an error occurs.

You can try unchecking 'KillTransparentIfResident' under the 'Options' menu, and see if the problem disappears.
This will deactivate a function call that is to kill the Transparent.exe process if it is already running in the background (but then you may have to click on Apply twice, because if Transparent.exe is already loaded, running it again will unload it from memory and running it again will load it into memory).

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Basic list of VB runtime files and MS scripting file required in your system
msvbvm60.dll
scrrun.dll
mscomctl.ocx
msxml3.dll


* When I try to run TransparentGUI, it dies with the following error: Component 'MSCOMCTL.OCX' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid

If you encounter this error, you will need to install the file MSCOMCTL.OCX to your computer.
Download sites:
- http://www.majorgeeks.com/faqshow.php?id=8
- Missing MSCOMCTL.OCX Library File
- http://www.geocities.com/nitin_speed/resources.htm#mscomctl


* When I try to run TransparentGUI, it dies with the following error: The file 'MSVBVM60.DLL' cannot be found...

MSVBVM60.DLL is a support file required to run any Visual Basic 6 program.
If you encounter this error, you will need to install the 'Visual Basic 6.0 Runtime Module'.

Visual Basic 6.0 Runtime Module
Download sites:
- Direct Download from Microsoft site
- Missing MSVBVM60.DLL Library File


* When I try to run TransparentGUI, it dies with the following error(s):
Run-time error '429' ActiveX component can't create object
Run-time error '-2147221231 (80040111)': Automation error ClassFactory cannot supply requested class

In summary, your system lacks scrrun.dll.
Download & install Microsoft Windows Script 5.6 for your version of windows from
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/downloads/list/webdev.asp

The error that you have encountered is caused by some VB runtime and MS scripting files not being properly installed or uninstalled from the system.

One way that the run-time error 429 occurs is when one of the components that is needed by the program is not registered correctly.
The File System object is contained in the Scrrun.dll file. Make certain that this DLL file is installed on the target computer, and that it is correctly registered.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/247979/EN-US/


* When I try to run TransparentGUI, it dies with the following error:
Run time error '430': Class does not support Automation or does not support expected interface

This error message does not mean that there is something wrong with MDAC. It means that some DLL file, which is referenced from the application, is missing.
However it is recommended that you get your system updated to MDAC 2.5 SP3 or higher.
- MDAC Downloads
- PQ Systems - MDAC Information

Version History

2.1 (Sep 20, 2002)
- Modified the appearance of all textboxes
- Modified the hyperlinks and information in the About dialog
- Added config.xml that will Keep your program settings
- Added an item under 'Options' menu to deactivate function call KillTransparentIfResident
- Added 'Put Shortcut on Desktop' under the 'Options' menu

Disclaimer

Transparent is owned by its original author (Jay Guerette) and not me.
This program is free. You may distribute it, but you may not charge money for it. 

Send suggestions and comments to: 
mangokun@hotmail.com

Programmed by Goh Mingkun using Visual Basic 6.0.

Source Code

Download Full Source Code (47KB) here.