# PowerToy DLL Project For Visual Studio 2019 ## Installation - Put the `ModuleTemplate.zip` file inside the `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Visual Studio 2019\Templates\ProjectTemplates\` folder, which is the default *User project templates location*. You can change that location via `Tools > Options > Projects and Solutions`. - The template will be available in Visual Studio, when adding a new project, under the `Visual C++` tab. ## Contributing If you'd like to work on a PowerToy template, make required modifications to `\tools\project_template\ModuleTemplate.vcxproj` and then use the dedicated solution `PowerToyTemplate.sln` to export it as a template. Note that `ModuleTemplate.vcxproj` is actually a project template, therefore uncompilable, so we also have a dedicated `ModuleTemplateCompileTest.vcxproj` project referenced from the `PowerToys.sln` to help keeping the template sources up to date and verify it compiles correctly. ## Create a new PowerToy Module - Add the new PowerToy project to the `src\modules\` folder for all the relative paths to work. - For the module interface implementation take a look at [the interface](/src/modules/interface). - Each PowerToy is built as a DLL and in order to be loaded at run-time, the PowerToy's DLL name needs to be added to the `known_dlls` map in [src/runner/main.cpp](/src/runner/main.cpp). ## DPI Awareness All PowerToy modules need to be DPI aware and calculate dimensions and positions of the UI elements using the Windows API for DPI awareness. The `/src/common` library has some helpers that you can use and extend: - [`dpi_aware.h`](/src/common/dpi_aware.h), [`dpi_aware.cpp`](/src/common/dpi_aware.cpp) - [`monitors.h`](/src/common/monitors.h), [`monitors.cpp`](/src/common/monitors.cpp) ## PowerToy settings ### Settings architecture overview PowerToys provides a settings infrastructure to add a settings page for new modules. The PowerToys Settings application is accessed from the PowerToys tray icon, it provides a global settings page and a dedicated settings page for each module. The PowerToys settings API provides a way to define the required information and controls for the module's settings page and methods to read and persist the settings values. A module may need a more complex way to configure the user's preferences, in that case it can provide its own custom settings editor that can be invoked from the module's settings page through a dedicated button. The settings specification can be read at [doc/specs/PowerToys-settings.md](/doc/specs/PowerToys-settings.md). A PowerToy can provide this general information about itself: - **[name](#name)**: The name of the PowerToy. - **[description](#description)**: A text describing the PowerToy. - **[icon_key](#icon_key)**: The identifier of the PowerToy icon in the [`settings-web` project](/src/settings-web#updating-the-icons). - **[overview_link](#overview_link)**: A link to an extended overview of the PowerToy. - **[video_link](#video_link)**: A link to a video showcasing the PowerToy. A PowerToy can define settings of the following types: - **[bool_toggle](#bool_toggle)**: A boolean property, edited with a Toggle control. - **[int_spinner](#int_spinner)**: An integer property, edited with a Spinner control. - **[string](#string)**: A string property, edited with a TextBox control. - **[color_picker](#color_picker)**: A color property, edited with a ColorPicker control. - **[custom_action](#custom_action)**: A custom action property, invoked from the settings by a Button control. Here's an example of what the settings look like in the Settings screen: ![Image of the Options](/doc/images/settings/example_settings.png) ### How to add your module's settings page The PowerToy can set its settings information and controls by overriding the [PowerToy's Interface `get_config` method](/src/modules/interface/README.md#get_config) and returning a serialized [`PowerToysSettings::Settings`](/src/common/settings_object.h) object that's been filled with the required information and controls. The PowerToy can receive the new values by overriding the [PowerToy's Interface `set_config` method](/src/modules/interface/README.md#set_config), parsing the serialized [`PowerToysSettings::PowerToyValues`](/src/common/settings_object.h) object and applying the new settings. Here's an example settings implementation: ```cpp // Return JSON with the configuration options. virtual bool get_config(wchar_t* buffer, int* buffer_size) override { HINSTANCE hinstance = reinterpret_cast(&__ImageBase); // Create a Settings object. PowerToysSettings::Settings settings(hinstance, get_name()); settings.set_description(L"Serves as an example powertoy, with example settings."); // Show an overview link in the Settings page settings.set_overview_link(L"https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys"); // Show a video link in the Settings page. settings.set_video_link(L"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3LHo2yXKoY&t=21462"); // Add a bool property with a toggle editor. settings.add_bool_toggle( L"test_bool_toggle", // property name. L"This is what a BoolToggle property looks like", // description or resource id of the localized string. g_settings.test_bool_prop // property value. ); // Add an integer property with a spinner editor. settings.add_int_spinner( L"test_int_spinner", // property name L"This is what a IntSpinner property looks like", // description or resource id of the localized string. g_settings.test_int_prop, // property value. 0, // min value. 100, // max value. 10 // incremental step. ); // Add a string property with a textbox editor. settings.add_string( L"test_string_text", // property name. L"This is what a String property looks like", // description or resource id of the localized string. g_settings.test_string_prop // property value. ); // Add a string property with a color picker editor. settings.add_color_picker( L"test_color_picker", // property name. L"This is what a ColorPicker property looks like", // description or resource id of the localized string. g_settings.test_color_prop // property value. ); // Add a custom action property. When using this settings type, the "PowertoyModuleIface::call_custom_action()" // method should be overridden as well. settings.add_custom_action( L"test_custom_action", // action name. L"This is what a CustomAction property looks like", // label above the field. L"Call a custom action", // button text. L"Press the button to call a custom action in the Example PowerToy" // display values / extended info. ); return settings.serialize_to_buffer(buffer, buffer_size); } // Called by the runner to pass the updated settings values as a serialized JSON. virtual void set_config(const wchar_t* config) override { try { // Parse the input JSON string. PowerToysSettings::PowerToyValues values = PowerToysSettings::PowerToyValues::from_json_string(config); // Update the bool property. if (values.is_bool_value(L"test_bool_toggle")) { g_settings.test_bool_prop = values.get_bool_value(L"test_bool_toggle"); } // Update the int property. if (values.is_int_value(L"test_int_spinner")) { g_settings.test_int_prop = values.get_int_value(L"test_int_spinner"); } // Update the string property. if (values.is_string_value(L"test_string_text")) { g_settings.test_string_prop = values.get_string_value(L"test_string_text"); } // Update the color property. if (values.is_string_value(L"test_color_picker")) { g_settings.test_color_prop = values.get_string_value(L"test_color_picker"); } // If you don't need to do any custom processing of the settings, proceed // to persists the values calling: values.save_to_settings_file(); // Otherwise call a custom function to process the settings before saving them to disk: // save_settings(); } catch (std::exception ex) { // Improper JSON. } } ``` ### Settings Informations The PowerToys settings object supports adding additional information to a PowerToys Settings description: #### name The name of the PowerToy. Its a required information that's applied in the settings object constructor: ```cpp PowerToysSettings::Settings settings(hinstance, get_name()); ``` #### description A short description of the PowerToy. ```cpp settings.set_description(L"Serves as an example powertoy, with example settings."); ``` or ```cpp settings.set_description(description_resource_id); ``` where `description_resource_id` is the UINT index of a resource string in the project .rc file. #### icon_key The identifier of the PowerToy icon in the [`settings-web` project](/src/settings-web#updating-the-icons). By default, a `CircleRing` icon from *FabricUI* is shown for the PowerToy if no icon is specified. ```cpp settings.set_icon_key(L"pt-shortcut-guide"); ``` #### overview_link A link to an extended overview of the PowerToy. ```cpp settings.set_overview_link(L"https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys"); ``` #### video_link A link to a video showcasing the PowerToy. ```cpp settings.set_video_link(L"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3LHo2yXKoY&t=21462"); ``` ### Setting Controls #### bool_toggle A boolean property, edited with a Toggle control. It can be added to a `Settings` object by calling `add_bool_toggle`. ```cpp // Add a bool property with a toggle editor. settings.add_bool_toggle( L"test_bool_toggle", // property name. L"This is what a BoolToggle property looks like", // description or resource id of the localized string. g_settings.test_bool_prop // property value. ); ``` It can be read from a `PowerToyValues` object by calling `get_bool_value`. ```cpp // Update the bool property. if (values.is_bool_value(L"test_bool_toggle")) { g_settings.test_bool_prop = values.get_bool_value(L"test_bool_toggle"); } ``` #### int_spinner An integer property, edited with a Spinner control. It can be added to a `Settings` object by calling `add_int_spinner`. ```cpp // Add an integer property with a spinner editor. settings.add_int_spinner( L"test_int_spinner", // property name L"This is what a IntSpinner property looks like", // description or resource id of the localized string. g_settings.test_int_prop, // property value. 0, // min value. 100, // max value. 10 // incremental step. ); ``` It can be read from a `PowerToyValues` object by calling `get_int_value`. ```cpp // Update the int property. if (values.is_int_value(L"test_int_spinner")) { g_settings.test_int_prop = values.get_int_value(L"test_int_spinner"); } ``` #### string A string property, edited with a TextBox control. It can be added to a `Settings` object by calling `add_string`. ```cpp // Add a string property with a textbox editor. settings.add_string( L"test_string_text", // property name. L"This is what a String property looks like", // description or resource id of the localized string. g_settings.test_string_prop // property value. ); ``` It can be read from a `PowerToyValues` object by calling `get_string_value`. ```cpp // Update the string property. if (values.is_string_value(L"test_string_text")) { g_settings.test_string_prop = values.get_string_value(L"test_string_text"); } ``` #### color_picker A color property, edited with a ColorPicker control. Its value is a string with the `'#RRGGBB'` format, with two hexadecimal digits for each color component. It can be added to a `Settings` object by calling `add_color_picker`. ```cpp // Add a string property with a color picker editor. settings.add_color_picker( L"test_color_picker", // property name. L"This is what a ColorPicker property looks like", // description or resource id of the localized string. g_settings.test_color_prop // property value. ); ``` The `'#RRGGBB'`-format string can be read from a `PowerToyValues` object by calling `get_string_value`. ```cpp // Update the color property. if (values.is_string_value(L"test_color_picker")) { g_settings.test_color_prop = values.get_string_value(L"test_color_picker"); } ``` #### custom_action A custom action property, invoked from the settings by a Button control. This can be used to spawn a custom editor by the PowerToy. It can be added to a `Settings` object by calling `add_custom_action`. ```cpp // Add a custom action property. When using this settings type, the "PowertoyModuleIface::call_custom_action()" // method should be overridden as well. settings.add_custom_action( L"test_custom_action", // action name. L"This is what a CustomAction property looks like", // label above the field: a string literal or a resource id L"Call a custom action", // button text: a string literal or a resource id L"Press the button to call a custom action in the Example PowerToy" // display values / extended info: a string literal or a resource id ); ``` When the custom action button is pressed, the PowerToy's `call_custom_action()` is called with a serialized [`PowerToysSettings::CustomActionObject`](/src/common/settings_object.h) object. ```cpp // Signal from the Settings editor to call a custom action. // This can be used to spawn more complex editors. virtual void call_custom_action(const wchar_t* action) override { static UINT custom_action_num_calls = 0; try { // Parse the action values, including name. PowerToysSettings::CustomActionObject action_object = PowerToysSettings::CustomActionObject::from_json_string(action); if (action_object.get_name() == L"test_custom_action") { // Custom action code to increase and show a counter. ++custom_action_num_calls; std::wstring msg(L"I have been called "); msg += std::to_wstring(custom_action_num_calls); msg += L" time(s)."; MessageBox(NULL, msg.c_str(), L"Custom action call.", MB_OK | MB_TOPMOST); } } catch (std::exception ex) { // Improper JSON. } } ``` ### Settings Persistence By default, the PowerToys settings are persisted in the User's `%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\PowerToys` path. Each PowerToy has its own folder for saving the persisted settings data. Loading and saving the settings in the default location can be achieved through the use of a [`PowerToysSettings::PowerToyValues`](/src/common/settings_object.h) object. #### Loading settings The PowerToy can load the saved `PowerToyValues` object through the use of the `load_from_settings_file` method. Here's an example: ```cpp // Load the settings file. void ExamplePowertoy::init_settings() { try { // Load and parse the settings file for this PowerToy. PowerToysSettings::PowerToyValues settings = PowerToysSettings::PowerToyValues::load_from_settings_file(get_name()); // Load the bool property. if (settings.is_bool_value(L"test_bool_toggle")) { g_settings.test_bool_prop = settings.get_bool_value(L"test_bool_toggle"); } // Load the int property. if (settings.is_int_value(L"test_int_spinner")) { g_settings.test_int_prop = settings.get_int_value(L"test_int_spinner"); } // Load the string property. if (settings.is_string_value(L"test_string_text")) { g_settings.test_string_prop = settings.get_string_value(L"test_string_text"); } // Load the color property. if (settings.is_string_value(L"test_color_picker")) { g_settings.test_color_prop = settings.get_string_value(L"test_color_picker"); } } catch (std::exception ex) { // Error while loading from the settings file. Let default values stay as they are. } } ``` #### Saving settings The PowerToy can save the `PowerToyValues` object received in `set_config` through the use of the `save_to_settings_file` method. Here's an example: ```cpp // Called by the runner to pass the updated settings values as a serialized JSON. virtual void set_config(const wchar_t* config) override { try { // Parse the input JSON string. PowerToysSettings::PowerToyValues values = PowerToysSettings::PowerToyValues::from_json_string(config); ... values.save_to_settings_file(); } catch (std::exception ex) { // Improper JSON. } } ``` Alternatively, the `PowerToyValues` object can be built manually and then saved if more complex logic is needed: ```cpp // This method of saving the module settings is only required if you need to do any // custom processing of the settings before saving them to disk. void ExamplePowertoy::save_settings() { try { // Create a PowerToyValues object for this PowerToy PowerToysSettings::PowerToyValues values(get_name()); // Save the bool property. values.add_property( L"test_bool_toggle", // property name g_settings.test_bool_prop // property value ); // Save the int property. values.add_property( L"test_int_spinner", // property name g_settings.test_int_prop // property value ); // Save the string property. values.add_property( L"test_string_text", // property name g_settings.test_string_prop // property value ); // Save the color property. values.add_property( L"test_color_picker", // property name g_settings.test_color_prop // property value ); // Save the PowerToyValues JSON to the power toy settings file. values.save_to_settings_file(); } catch (std::exception ex) { // Couldn't save the settings. } } ``` ## Add a new PowerToy to the Installer In the `installer` folder, open the `PowerToysSetup.sln` solution. Under the `PowerToysSetup` project, edit `Product.wxs`. You will need to add a component for your module DLL. Search for `Module_ShortcutGuide` to see where to add the component declaration and where to reference that declaration so the DLL is added to the installer. Each component requires a newly generated GUID (you can use the Visual Studio integrated tool to generate one). Repeat the process for each extra file your PowerToy module requires. If your PowerToy comes with a subfolder containing for example images, follow the example of the `PowerToysSvgs` component.