Date at bottom of screen?

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

In message , VanguardLH
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

That just lets you change it for those particular elements of _all_
window objects, or rather those elements in _all_ windows;

Yep, I gave what Windows XP provides for user-configurable options, not
substitute 3rd party software.

KenK's original question asked if there was a way to include the date.
Various people answered that raising the height of the taskbar included
it. Ken subsequently said he'd had to go to three rows. You said that
changing DPI etc. might get it in two (which indeed it might). Ken then
asked "I don't see those options in the taskbar properties. Where can I
find it? Or will I need to do this for the entire display? If so, I'll
stay with three lines." You then answered with instructions (in your
usual exhaustive detail!) on how to get at the settings - which would
indeed affect such settings for the entire display: not what Ken had
asked.

KenK was
asking if there's a way of changing them just for the clock. AFAIK there
isn't in generic XP - you need a third-party tool (TClockEx will do it,
probably TClock as well) to _just_ change the settings for the clock.

I thought Tclock[ex] *replaced* the Windows-provided clock object in the
system notification area (aka system tray). You load Tclock. It stays
loaded in memory. It is a separate process.

It probably does. Although preferable to do everything with the built-in
facilities, nothing in any of KenK's questions excluded the use of
third-party software. However, if you have a way of changing the DPI
and/or font _just for the built-in clock_, and not other parts of
Windows, I'm sure we'd like to hear them.
[]

I responded because you made it sound like Tclock changed the font size
in the systray for the Windows clock. Maybe I misunderstood the intent
of your response.

"KenK was asking if there's a way of changing them just for the clock.
AFAIK there isn't in generic XP - you need a third-party tool (TClockEx
will do it, probably TClock as well) to _just_ change the settings for
the clock."

Tclock isn't changing the settings for the Windows clock. It isn't
doing anything about fonts elsewhere, including in the systray. The
program is merely changing the settings for its *own* window. Any app
can specify whatever fonts for use within its own window(s).

So, with not using 3rd party software, you're stuck using what Windows
provides to change fonts (family, style, size). I don't know if font
size within the systray is part of the theming API; if so, a 3rd party
theming modify tool might accomplish changing just the systray fonts.
Alternatively use an app that paints its *own* window in the systray or
elsewhere where you can configure that program to specify what fonts it
uses in its own window(s). I didn't repeat the latter solution
suggested by others but instead referenced what Windows provides. As
you have repeatedly noted, using Windows-only methods results in
changing attributes for fonts in more than just the systray.

Also, there is no evidence yay or nay that the OP did not previously
modify his Windows theme (himself manually or using tweakers or other
software). That's why I mentioned he should reselect the Windows theme
to reset to its defaults. I remember doing that to get the 3-line
display for the Windows clock; however, it's been so long since then
that I don't remember if that was to reset to a known theme config and
then I reduced an object's font size. As I recall, I had to change an
objects font size by just 1 point; i.e., change it from 10 to 9. The
difference in font size was tiny but enough get 3 lines for the Windows
clock in the systray, and the change was so tiny that it made little
difference elsewhere.

Sorry, but it has been way too long since I customized Windows XP
(which, for this type of stuff, is done within the first week after
installation) to remember which item in the drop-down listbox under
Advanced - Appearance tab affected the font size for the Windows clock
shown in the systray.

In message , VanguardLH
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

In message , VanguardLH
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

That just lets you change it for those particular elements of _all_
window objects, or rather those elements in _all_ windows;

Yep, I gave what Windows XP provides for user-configurable options, not
substitute 3rd party software.

KenK's original question asked if there was a way to include the date.
Various people answered that raising the height of the taskbar included
it. Ken subsequently said he'd had to go to three rows. You said that
changing DPI etc. might get it in two (which indeed it might). Ken then
asked "I don't see those options in the taskbar properties. Where can I
find it? Or will I need to do this for the entire display? If so, I'll
stay with three lines." You then answered with instructions (in your
usual exhaustive detail!) on how to get at the settings - which would
indeed affect such settings for the entire display: not what Ken had
asked.

KenK was
asking if there's a way of changing them just for the clock. AFAIK there
isn't in generic XP - you need a third-party tool (TClockEx will do it,
probably TClock as well) to _just_ change the settings for the clock.

I thought Tclock[ex] *replaced* the Windows-provided clock object in the
system notification area (aka system tray). You load Tclock. It stays
loaded in memory. It is a separate process.

It probably does. Although preferable to do everything with the built-in
facilities, nothing in any of KenK's questions excluded the use of
third-party software. However, if you have a way of changing the DPI
and/or font _just for the built-in clock_, and not other parts of
Windows, I'm sure we'd like to hear them.
[]

I responded because you made it sound like Tclock changed the font size
in the systray for the Windows clock. Maybe I misunderstood the intent
of your response.

Sorry if I gave that impression. I didn't know (nor, I will admit, care
much) _how_ TClockEx did what it did. I'm sure you're probably right
about it _replacing_ the Windows clock.

"KenK was asking if there's a way of changing them just for the clock.
AFAIK there isn't in generic XP - you need a third-party tool (TClockEx
will do it, probably TClock as well) to _just_ change the settings for
the clock."

Tclock isn't changing the settings for the Windows clock. It isn't
doing anything about fonts elsewhere, including in the systray. The
program is merely changing the settings for its *own* window. Any app
can specify whatever fonts for use within its own window(s).

OK, you're right! It changed it's _own_ settings and turned off or
obscured the built-in one.

So, with not using 3rd party software, you're stuck using what Windows
provides to change fonts (family, style, size). I don't know if font
size within the systray is part of the theming API; if so, a 3rd party
theming modify tool might accomplish changing just the systray fonts.

I don't know either, though I suspect the systray uses the same
fonts/sizes/colours as some other element. (It certainly isn't listed
separately in the Display Settings list of things, like title and menu
bars, window contents, action buttons, and so on.)

Alternatively use an app that paints its *own* window in the systray or
elsewhere where you can configure that program to specify what fonts it
uses in its own window(s). I didn't repeat the latter solution

Like TClock(ex) (-:.

suggested by others but instead referenced what Windows provides. As
you have repeatedly noted, using Windows-only methods results in
changing attributes for fonts in more than just the systray.

Also, there is no evidence yay or nay that the OP did not previously
modify his Windows theme (himself manually or using tweakers or other
software). That's why I mentioned he should reselect the Windows theme
to reset to its defaults. I remember doing that to get the 3-line
display for the Windows clock; however, it's been so long since then
that I don't remember if that was to reset to a known theme config and
then I reduced an object's font size. As I recall, I had to change an
objects font size by just 1 point; i.e., change it from 10 to 9. The
difference in font size was tiny but enough get 3 lines for the Windows
clock in the systray, and the change was so tiny that it made little
difference elsewhere.

OK.

Sorry, but it has been way too long since I customized Windows XP
(which, for this type of stuff, is done within the first week after
installation) to remember which item in the drop-down listbox under
Advanced - Appearance tab affected the font size for the Windows clock
shown in the systray.

Me too! (Though I've recently looked at that list again, as it survives
remarkably unchanged under Windows 7 if you manage to dig deep enough to
find it, which is why I'm pretty certain the word tray as such is not
included.)

It always amused me that it was under "Advanced", because it wasn't in
Windows '9x - thus implying that users of the new OS had to be protected
from themselves more than the Old Hands. Nothing changes (-:!
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Don't play "stupid" with me... I'm better at it.

KenK wrote:

VanguardLH wrote in :

KenK wrote:

VanguardLH wrote in :

If you enlarge the height of the Windows taskbar (assuming it is
positioned at the bottom of the screen) then there is more room to
display more date/time information. Then you'll see the date.


That got it! Had to increase to three rows. Accidently somehow moved
taskbar to top of screen while adjusting it. Major panic when it
disappeared until I discovered it there!

Changing the DPI and font sizes might let you get it inside of 2 rows.


I don't see those options in the taskbar properties. Where can I find it?
Or will I need to do this for the entire display? If so, I'll stay with
three lines.

TIA

I'm at home so don't have a Windows XP to look at right now. Something
that might work to make the taskbar just slightly larger so you get a
3-line clock display would be to use large icons in the taskbar.

In Windows 7, there are separate settings for the Start menu icons and
for taskbar icons regarding size. In Windows XP, as I recall, you only
have the option to specify the Start menu's icon size. Since it isn't
the Start menu's icon size you want to change but the size of the
taskbar buttons (which would require a taller row to accomodate the
larger buttons), perhaps changing the view for a toolbar shown in the
taskbar would work. With the taskbar unlocked, right-click on a unused
area of a toolbar (e.g., QuickLaunch). From its context menu, select
View and then pick to use large icons.

If upping the icon size for toolbars doesn't work to slightly increase
the height of rows in the taskbar, then look at Kelly's Corner
(http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm), #97 solution, which
addresses the size of taskbar buttons. You'll want to run the .vbs
script on the right side of the table for #97 to make taskbar buttons
larger.

The idea is to make icons bigger in the taskbar which means each row has
to be a bit larger to accomodate the larger icons. The downside is that
increasing the size of taskbar buttons (icons) means less of them can be
shown within the length of the row in the taskbar. You can change
grouping behavior using TweakUI to group similar buttons together under
1 button at an earlier rate than the default for Windows. If you don't
want to get TweakUI (a Microsoft powertoy), you can edit the registry to
alter grouping behavior; see:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7162307_twea...-grouping.html

Many users don't want to directly edit the registry and prefer a tool,
like TweakUI, to edit the registry for them. Of course, with the
addition of a 2nd (or 3rd) row to the taskbar, you can drag all toolbars
(with the taskbar unlocked) to the bottom row and reserve the other rows
just for buttons (for app windows).

***
Just in case Gilliver jumps in this subthread claiming this changes the
entire Windows taskbar size and not just the font size for the Windows
clock, yeah, it does. My objective is to increase the size (height) of
the Windows taskbar so it can accomodate 3 lines for the display of the
Windows-provided systray clock object, not to recommend 3rd party clock
programs that consume more memory, suck up more CPU cycles but with the
hidden Windows clock object still operating, anyway, and add yet another
entry to the list of startup items to further slow the startup and
logging into Windows.

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

It always amused me that it was under "Advanced", because it wasn't in
Windows '9x - thus implying that users of the new OS had to be protected
from themselves more than the Old Hands. Nothing changes (-:!

Just wait until you get to Windows 7 (and probably back in Vista, too)
where all those handy dialogs with tabs are now separated into wizards
so the functionality is no longer grouped under one window. Microsoft
made it far more difficult to find the Windows settings by slicing them
out and hiding them under new dialogs. Rather than add more options per
tab panel or add more tab panels or add more Control Panel applets they
instead dummified access to the settings with guides or wizards.

I'm not in their wealth position to do research on the intelligence of
Windows users but apparently Microsoft thinks [newer] users are becoming
more stupid. Frankly, I can't really disagree with that conclusion
(/and, no, I'm not now calling you Frank/).

In message , VanguardLH
writes:
[]
I'm at home so don't have a Windows XP to look at right now. Something
that might work to make the taskbar just slightly larger so you get a
3-line clock display would be to use large icons in the taskbar.
[]
If upping the icon size for toolbars doesn't work to slightly increase
the height of rows in the taskbar, then look at Kelly's Corner
(http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm), #97 solution, which

Ooh, not a third-party solution is it? (I know, I know - just a tweak to
settings, not something continuously running.)

addresses the size of taskbar buttons. You'll want to run the .vbs
script on the right side of the table for #97 to make taskbar buttons
larger.
[]
Just in case Gilliver jumps in this subthread claiming this changes the
(Name's John, by the way.)
entire Windows taskbar size and not just the font size for the Windows
clock, yeah, it does. My objective is to increase the size (height) of
the Windows taskbar so it can accomodate 3 lines for the display of the
Windows-provided systray clock object, not to recommend 3rd party clock
programs that consume more memory, suck up more CPU cycles but with the
hidden Windows clock object still operating, anyway, and add yet another
entry to the list of startup items to further slow the startup and
logging into Windows.
Indeed. Though the cycles - and startup time - for TClockEx are minimal.
But doing without it (or similar) is certainly not a bad aim.

FWIW I've now been issued with a 7-64 machine at work, and can't run it
there (other things having also been tightened). So I'm trying (see in
the 7 newsgroup) to find a way to make the built-in popup calendar
(which was the part of TClockEx I used most at work, anyway) stay popped
up - do you know one?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Here it's someone else's job to deal with the money. Clinical decisions
revolve around the patient's needs without any competing financial interests,
and there is no financial incentive to perform unnecessary or more expensive
procedures. That is a real plus. - Neurosurgeon Ludvic Zrinzo, in Radio Times
23-29 March 2013

On 9 Nov 2013 17:31:46 GMT, KenK wrote:

VanguardLH wrote in :

If you enlarge the height of the Windows taskbar (assuming it is
positioned at the bottom of the screen) then there is more room to
display more date/time information. Then you'll see the date.


That got it! Had to increase to three rows. Accidently somehow moved
taskbar to top of screen while adjusting it. Major panic when it
disappeared until I discovered it there!

i THINK IT'S good to have 3 lines in the clock. Otherwise I woudln't
know what day of the week it is.

But still just two lines in the task bar portion and the quicklaunch
bar.