New Feature: Dual Monitors as One Aquarium

tweaker · 03-08-2006, 07:39 PM

I was testing out the trial version of SereneScreen when I contacted tech support about running on dual monitors. They showed me where on the 2nd monitor it was set to black (doh!).

I then asked them how do I make it where it uses both of my monitors as one aquarium? They hinted for me to join the mailing list and request it as a future possibility.

So I'm asking, how's about if you have multiple monitors you can stretch (not widescreen mind you) but make it where the fish will travel from one monitor to the other?

feldon34 · 03-09-2006, 12:23 PM

So you're ok with the background repeating on the 2 screens (there isn't a 'dual width' background available), but you want one set of 10 fish to go between the screens?

Edgar · 03-09-2006, 12:41 PM

Some video cards with multiple output already supports the spanning of any screensaver. Note that MA has a limit of 1600 wide and 1600 tall. Also there will be black borders if you keep the aspect ratio correct.

Do you have a single video card with multiple output?

tweaker · 03-09-2006, 12:59 PM

Well the background would/could not repeat actually. It would be a different 'background' for a much wider viewing area. Like say, coral on one side and caves on another. Think like that.

As for my monitor setup, it's one card, two Dell 1901FP monitors. I'm already setup in spanning mode (where I can go from one monitor to the other). But if at 1600 x 1600 we could do say 1600 wide to whatever it would be tall (mathmatically) we'd be set! Course, that would be feldon30's point of the same background or a 'stretched' background.

typhoon · 03-09-2006, 03:21 PM

I have my computer set to extend my desktop onto the second monitor and then if I change the monitor from 1 to 2 in the screensaver program it still shows on the first moinior.

Your way of showing on the second monitor relies on clone mode yes??

When you have clone they show the same thing when you have extneded desktop it should make one big one. I think that is what they mean.

Jim Sachs · 03-09-2006, 08:47 PM

Where do you get the caves?

tweaker · 03-09-2006, 08:58 PM

The caves was just an example of something else that could be physically on the other screen. I don't think there is a 'cave' feature programmed.

All I was simply saying is it would be rather cool if I could utilize both monitors, not just at the same time in a mirror looking format. Have some elements on screen 1 and other elements on screen 2 and have the fish go litterally between the monitors.

Jim Sachs · 03-09-2006, 09:53 PM

The existing background is a 2-dimensional image which took me just under a year to complete. I don't plan to do any more work on that version. The 3.0 version of the Aquarium will have a 3-dimensional background which is about as wide as two widescreen images. The user can either span this across two monitors, or pan the view on a single monitor.

andr0id · 03-10-2006, 10:07 AM

I'm sure there is a lot of work involved in drawing backgrounds. But, mirroring is not a good method to support dual monitors. Many dual monitor users run mixed resolutions on each monitor. Mine is not an uncommon setup. As pivoting flat panel displays become more common, you will have to take dual monitor support to the next level. I bought the 2.6 upgrade to support your work. I hope you correct this defect in the future.
Andy

Jim Sachs · 03-10-2006, 02:55 PM

With the wide 3D background in 3.0, whatever slice of the tank fits into your aspect ratio would show up on the monitor. Not sure how I would be able to tell if someone has rotated the monitor 90 degrees, though.

Tiny Turtle · 03-11-2006, 02:46 PM

You'd be able to tell as the pivot-function capable monitor itsef tells the system it's running rotated and at 1024x1280 now. IIUC the "mirroring" function negates this feature.

I don't see how you'd be able to handle such a dual setup though. Is andr0id expecting the SS to figure out how much the top part of the rightmost screen is situated above the top of the left one? You'd be required to have additional background gravel just for these situations.

Jim Sachs · 03-11-2006, 03:08 PM

Well, if Edgar is still involved in the project at that point, he is welcome to program all that Windows stuff. Figuring out what weird setups a few people might be running doesn't sound like fun to me.

cjmaddy · 03-11-2006, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by andr0id:

.... I bought the 2.6 upgrade to support your work. I hope you correct this defect in the future.
Andy

That's a defect! ???

Rotation settings could take care of that, (and retain the proportions). - Or you could turn the monitor back to horizontal!

Incidentally that looks like a 4x3 (not a 5x4 1280x1024).

/Tiny difference!

tweaker · 03-13-2006, 11:14 AM

Jim,

If 3.0 will span across two monitors, big ups to you and your skills!! I can't wait!

virtualcharlie · 03-15-2006, 03:27 PM

I'm doing my homework to read up on this thread as I brought up the issue of multi-monitors on another thread.

I'm afraid with my three monitors at 1600x1200 I'll be one of those of odd settings that Jim has better things than to think about.

Sigh, this is a vanity thing anyway and I'm not sure that it is worth huge effort. I'd love it when folks walked into my office that I had a realistic set of three monitors running the aquarium. I'd be happy if I could simply launch MA as an app three times.

I do appreciate the great product though.

feldon34 · 03-15-2006, 05:04 PM

I don't think it's beyond the realm of expectations that different instances (at least of the fish) could be seen on each monitor. Now there's something that Prolific could upsell.

tweaker · 03-15-2006, 05:33 PM

Well I understand your environment virtualcharlie, but 2 monitors aren't that uncommon now a days with major video cards supporting VGA, DVI and s-video. Having a fish swim between the two monitors doesn't sound all that unrealistic to ask IMHO. But that decision is up to Jim.

flyingfish · 03-16-2006, 04:48 PM

I now run dual monitor using a Matrox Parhelia video card. 2048x768. in windowed mode stretched to fill two of three screens. Is nice because you can still work on one screen. However, 2.6 would not do this. The wide original version does and 2.0 does.

flyingfish · 03-16-2006, 05:25 PM

Hi,

After reading some of the responses. It appears that some people don't realize that when using dual monitor that they need to go the the video properties setup by right click on the desktop and then settings, advanced. Then find you video set for multi monitors and set to extend window desktop to both monitor so it doesn't just clone the first monitor.

Then in Aquarium 2.o multi-monitor version you should set to windowed mode (F) and be able to stretch the Aquarium over the entire desktop. ( doesn't work in 2.6)

CountryDevil · 03-18-2006, 12:57 PM

What is the estamated date the v3.0 will be out? Are there any beta testing programs?

03-08-2006, 07:39 PM	#1
tweaker Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	New Feature: Dual Monitors as One Aquarium I was testing out the trial version of SereneScreen when I contacted tech support about running on dual monitors. They showed me where on the 2nd monitor it was set to black (doh!). I then asked them how do I make it where it uses both of my monitors as one aquarium? They hinted for me to join the mailing list and request it as a future possibility. So I'm asking, how's about if you have multiple monitors you can stretch (not widescreen mind you) but make it where the fish will travel from one monitor to the other?

03-09-2006, 12:23 PM	#2
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	So you're ok with the background repeating on the 2 screens (there isn't a 'dual width' background available), but you want one set of 10 fish to go between the screens? "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

03-09-2006, 12:41 PM	#3
Edgar Prolific/SereneScreen Developer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 513	Some video cards with multiple output already supports the spanning of any screensaver. Note that MA has a limit of 1600 wide and 1600 tall. Also there will be black borders if you keep the aspect ratio correct. Do you have a single video card with multiple output? *Edgar Tolentino* Prolific Developer www.prolific.com www.LifeGlobe.com

03-09-2006, 08:47 PM	#6
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Where do you get the caves? Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

03-09-2006, 09:53 PM	#8
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	The existing background is a 2-dimensional image which took me just under a year to complete. I don't plan to do any more work on that version. The 3.0 version of the Aquarium will have a 3-dimensional background which is about as wide as two widescreen images. The user can either span this across two monitors, or pan the view on a single monitor. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

03-09-2006, 12:59 PM	#4
tweaker Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	Well the background would/could not repeat actually. It would be a different 'background' for a much wider viewing area. Like say, coral on one side and caves on another. Think like that. As for my monitor setup, it's one card, two Dell 1901FP monitors. I'm already setup in spanning mode (where I can go from one monitor to the other). But if at 1600 x 1600 we could do say 1600 wide to whatever it would be tall (mathmatically) we'd be set! Course, that would be feldon30's point of the same background or a 'stretched' background.

03-09-2006, 03:21 PM	#5
typhoon Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1	I have my computer set to extend my desktop onto the second monitor and then if I change the monitor from 1 to 2 in the screensaver program it still shows on the first moinior. Your way of showing on the second monitor relies on clone mode yes?? When you have clone they show the same thing when you have extneded desktop it should make one big one. I think that is what they mean.

03-09-2006, 08:58 PM	#7
tweaker Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	The caves was just an example of something else that could be physically on the other screen. I don't think there is a 'cave' feature programmed. All I was simply saying is it would be rather cool if I could utilize both monitors, not just at the same time in a mirror looking format. Have some elements on screen 1 and other elements on screen 2 and have the fish go litterally between the monitors.

03-10-2006, 10:07 AM	#9
andr0id Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3	My Fish are Sideways I'm sure there is a lot of work involved in drawing backgrounds. But, mirroring is not a good method to support dual monitors. Many dual monitor users run mixed resolutions on each monitor. Mine is not an uncommon setup. As pivoting flat panel displays become more common, you will have to take dual monitor support to the next level. I bought the 2.6 upgrade to support your work. I hope you correct this defect in the future. Andy

03-10-2006, 02:55 PM	#10
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	With the wide 3D background in 3.0, whatever slice of the tank fits into your aspect ratio would show up on the monitor. Not sure how I would be able to tell if someone has rotated the monitor 90 degrees, though. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

03-11-2006, 02:46 PM	#11
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	You'd be able to tell as the pivot-function capable monitor itsef tells the system it's running rotated and at 1024x1280 now. IIUC the "mirroring" function negates this feature. I don't see how you'd be able to handle such a dual setup though. Is andr0id expecting the SS to figure out how much the top part of the rightmost screen is situated above the top of the left one? You'd be required to have additional background gravel just for these situations. Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

03-11-2006, 03:08 PM	#12
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Well, if Edgar is still involved in the project at that point, he is welcome to program all that Windows stuff. Figuring out what weird setups a few people might be running doesn't sound like fun to me. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

03-11-2006, 03:57 PM	#13
cjmaddy Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 7,854	Originally posted by andr0id: .... I bought the 2.6 upgrade to support your work. I hope you correct this defect in the future. Andy That's a defect! ??? Rotation settings could take care of that, (and retain the proportions). - Or you could turn the monitor back to horizontal! Incidentally that looks like a 4x3 (not a 5x4 1280x1024). /Tiny difference!

03-13-2006, 11:14 AM	#14
tweaker Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	Jim, If 3.0 will span across two monitors, big ups to you and your skills!! I can't wait!

03-15-2006, 03:27 PM	#15
virtualcharlie Registered Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 6	I'm doing my homework to read up on this thread as I brought up the issue of multi-monitors on another thread. I'm afraid with my three monitors at 1600x1200 I'll be one of those of odd settings that Jim has better things than to think about. Sigh, this is a vanity thing anyway and I'm not sure that it is worth huge effort. I'd love it when folks walked into my office that I had a realistic set of three monitors running the aquarium. I'd be happy if I could simply launch MA as an app three times. I do appreciate the great product though. http://charlie.balch.org

03-15-2006, 05:04 PM	#16
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	I don't think it's beyond the realm of expectations that different instances (at least of the fish) could be seen on each monitor. Now there's something that Prolific could upsell. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

03-15-2006, 05:33 PM	#17
tweaker Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	Well I understand your environment virtualcharlie, but 2 monitors aren't that uncommon now a days with major video cards supporting VGA, DVI and s-video. Having a fish swim between the two monitors doesn't sound all that unrealistic to ask IMHO. But that decision is up to Jim.

03-16-2006, 04:48 PM	#18
flyingfish Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 18	I now run dual monitor using a Matrox Parhelia video card. 2048x768. in windowed mode stretched to fill two of three screens. Is nice because you can still work on one screen. However, 2.6 would not do this. The wide original version does and 2.0 does.

03-16-2006, 05:25 PM	#19
flyingfish Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 18	dual monitor setup Hi, After reading some of the responses. It appears that some people don't realize that when using dual monitor that they need to go the the video properties setup by right click on the desktop and then settings, advanced. Then find you video set for multi monitors and set to extend window desktop to both monitor so it doesn't just clone the first monitor. Then in Aquarium 2.o multi-monitor version you should set to windowed mode (F) and be able to stretch the Aquarium over the entire desktop. ( doesn't work in 2.6)

03-18-2006, 12:57 PM	#20
CountryDevil Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1	What is the estamated date the v3.0 will be out? Are there any beta testing programs?