Flex/AIR Application Desktop Toolbar

0
votes

I am currently constructing an AIR application using the Flex framework for deployment on Windows platforms and it would be preferable (for the sake of UX) that the main application window acts as a Application Desktop Toolbar on the right edge of the screen (similar to the new Facebook Desktop Messenger application when "docked").

What is the best way (if any) to perform this using AIR? In the case that there is no solution, can native processes or native extensions be used? If so, how?

1
actionscript-3apache-flexairflex4air-native-extension
A screenshot would say a lot more than that MSDN page. – RIAstar
Of course, there are screenshots of the docked Facebook Messenger (which most closely resembles what I am trying to achieve) at the following links: sumtips.com/2011/12/…, axleration.com/facebook-messenger-for-windows – Chris Smith
If I understand, You want to Dock an AIR app to one side of the Windows Desktop? Can the user do this just by dragging the window to one side and it will dock automatically? You might be able to simulate docking w/ placement and a custom chrome to prevent the user from moving it; but I'm not sure other windows would honor that. I wouldn't expect AIR to have this functionality available. Perhaps with a Native Extension? – JeffryHouser
Indeed, the two problems I have encountered so far are: other windows covering the application and the application not staying on top. I am not an expert in AIR native extensions. Help in regards to how this can be done would be appreciated. – Chris Smith
@www.Flextras.com Now I get it. But since there are AutoHotkey scripts out there that can resize windows, I guess it should be feasible to do something similar through NativeProcess. – RIAstar

1 Answers

1
votes

you can use alwaysInFront to keep the application on top of other windows

in flex: <s:WindowedApplication alwaysInFront="true" ...

in as3: nativeWindow.alwaysInFront=true;

As for the docking part, this link may help you.