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.NET Forum / .NET Framework / New Users / October 2006How-To: Custom Desktop
A friend of mine has little kid. Big enough to use the computer. He created a kid user with restricted user account for his kid but he would like to remove the confusing start menu, etc.... with a simple, home made, kiosk style, fullscreen GUI interface. Which could just launch a bunch of game and logout/shutdown. And he ask how to do that. But I don't know! It's why.. ahum.. I'm asking you, how to (or what's the best way to) write a "kiosk style, fullscreen GUI" which lauch at the start of the session and prevent the WINDOWS, WINDOWS+E, WINDOWS+M and ALT+TAB keys to work, or that sort of things... Any tip or link? >A friend of mine has little kid. Big enough to use the computer. > He created a kid user with restricted user account for his kid but he > would like to remove the confusing start menu, etc.... with a simple, home > made, kiosk style, fullscreen GUI interface. Not a gdi problem. Hi Lloyd, You can write an HTML application (.hta), which supports a full-screen kiosk mode, renders a web page-style interface and can execute JavaScript to run programs, etc. Unfortunately, you won't be able to prevent ALT+TAB (and probably the Windows keys too) from being activated. You can run this program (or any program) at startup by dropping a shortcut in the Start-->Program Files-->Startup folder for the user. Introduction to HTML Applications on MSDN: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/workshop/author/hta/overview/ htaoverview.asp If you're more comfortable using .NET or would just like more control then you can use an HTA as the shell and write a custom WinForms UserControl to supply the interface (using the <object> tag in your HTA). Hosting WinForms UserControl in IE (MSDN): http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/01/UserCtrl/ Technically, you could also write the entire application in managed code if you want but you'll have to figure out how to hide the task bar. Create a WinForms application and add a startup Form. Hide all border chrome and set the Form's WindowState to Maximized. Add a shortcut to your .exe in the Startup folder just like you would with an HTA. I believe Windows supports a kiosk mode that you might be able to use; however, it might only be available on a Windows XP Embedded, although I'm not really sure of that either. Anyway, I think HTA is your best option if you have any experience writing web pages already and little experience writing managed code. HTA supports a true kiosk mode and you can also embed .NET controls to render a GUI, or an MDX (managed DirextX) GUI, if you want. However, no matter your choice it's not going to be possible to disable certain key combinations such as ALT+TAB and CTRL+ALT+DEL. GL  SignatureDave Sexton >A friend of mine has little kid. Big enough to use the computer. > He created a kid user with restricted user account for his kid but he would like to remove the confusing start menu, etc.... with [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Any tip or link? hihi... Truth to be told, I have much better experience writting .NET application than HTML pages.... Although HTML pages are not that difficult :-) > Hi Lloyd, > [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] >> >> Any tip or link? Hi Lloyd, The purpose of the HTA is not necessarily to write the entire interface in HTML, but to act as the fullscreen shell that will completely cover the desktop, task bar and any docked tools windows. You really don't need to know much about html. The link I gave you supplies all of the information that you need (and links to other references as well) to get started. You just need a single web page with an .hta extension. This will serve as the program file and it should contain the HTA header that specifies the fullscreen setting, and an object tag that points to a WinForms UserControl that supplies the interface. The html required is really quite small if you want to host a managed control as the interface. Once you have a blank, fullscreen UserControl to work with the possibilities are endless. Add a TabControl if you want for navigation. One of the tabs could even host a WebBrowser control for internet access. HTH SignatureDave Sexton > hihi... > Truth to be told, I have much better experience writting .NET application than HTML pages.... [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] >>> >>> Any tip or link? > A friend of mine has little kid. Big enough to use the computer. > He created a kid user with restricted user account for his kid but he would [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Any tip or link? Sounds like you need to replace the shell, from explorer to something other/simpler. ALT+TAB and windows key shortcuts will remain. However you can easily disable the windows keys (or any other) by a proper registry entries. There is such thing like scandcode map, though I'm not sure if it can be defined for each user individually. SignatureGrzegorz Wróbel http://www.4neurons.com/ 677265676F727940346E6575726F6E732E636F6D Thanks! >> A friend of mine has little kid. Big enough to use the computer. >> He created a kid user with restricted user account for his kid but he [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > entries. There is such thing like scandcode map, though I'm not sure if it > can be defined for each user individually. Loyd Just drag and drop and than using the righ button on the start menu you can remove all the settings from the start menu. Be aware that you have to do as well all All Users settings. Cor >A friend of mine has little kid. Big enough to use the computer. > He created a kid user with restricted user account for his kid but he [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Any tip or link? > A friend of mine has little kid. Big enough to use the computer. > He created a kid user with restricted user account for his kid but he would [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Any tip or link? I'm reading stuff about seperate shells, using html pages.. what ever happened to just using the policies? Give the kid a separate login and with the policy manager remove all rights except that what you allow. SignatureRinze van Huizen C-Services Holland b.v What is this policy manager you talking about? I have XP Home edition, I looked into the Control Panel and into the Accessories, but I didn't find it... >> A friend of mine has little kid. Big enough to use the computer. >> He created a kid user with restricted user account for his kid but he [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > happened to just using the policies? Give the kid a separate login and > with the policy manager remove all rights except that what you allow. > What is this policy manager you talking about? > I have XP Home edition, I looked into the Control Panel and into the > Accessories, but I didn't find it... Ah ok, that's not available in XP Home. SignatureRinze van Huizen C-Services Holland b.v > It's why.. ahum.. I'm asking you, how to (or what's the best way to) write a > "kiosk style, fullscreen GUI" which lauch at the start of the session and > prevent the WINDOWS, WINDOWS+E, WINDOWS+M and ALT+TAB keys to work, or that > sort of things... I can strongly recommend KCSDK from Meliora Software, which does exactly what you want. I have very good experience with it (with a kiosk application that we developed). It can disable any key combination (Ctrl+Esc, Ctrl+Alt+Del, Alt+Tab): http://www.meliorasoft.com/kits/keyboard/index.php It's not free, but it's not likely that you can develop such a solution on your own. You'd have to replace the keyboard driver as well as the logon manager. Do yourself a favor, and get a tested, reliable solution like KCSDK. Tom Free MagazinesGet these publications absolutely FREE for up to 12 months. There are no hidden fees and no obligation. Simply choose a title, complete the application form and submit it. Read more ...
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