Single Monitor Webpage/Software Overlay

Apps, websites, tools and helpers for Elite: Dangerous
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wooleyx64
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Single Monitor Webpage/Software Overlay

Postby wooleyx64 » Wed Jan 03, 2018 10:47 pm

This is not so much a tool as it is a collection of pieces of software I have used for many different things over the course of my career. I found a very helpful use for these tools in Elite Dangerous...Figured I would share.

I like many, find myself alt tabbing out of game a lot for very simple things. I only have 1 Ultrawide monitor attached to my PC currently. No aux monitor to throw things up on and leave up and work off of.

For instance I want to do an explorer run for HMC/TWW/ELW. (Road to Riches) I accomplish this with little work via Voice Attack commands, but found myself constantly alt-tabbing to get the next hop and trying to see how many ls away the next planet was I needed to scan in that system.

These tools are not specific to Elite and not limited to web browsers, but I figured I would share my use case and allow anyone else to make best use of a single monitor if they don't enjoy alt tabbing out constantly.

Tools:
Google Chrome with Desktop Applet: saved for no browser bars and minimal view. (This was perfect for the route plotter since its the only site I am going to use for my exploring.
Turbo Top - Will keep the windows you select always on top.
See Through Windows - Enables opacity on any window (transparency)

I am using road to riches from http://edtools.ddns.net

I did not want to have to edit my own chrome settings(remove bookmarks bar and address bar) each time I wanted to run this in order to create a minimalist approach. Google made it simple you can save any page as a desktop app and load it up every time it will just give you a window with the webpage displayed.

Please Note: I am not 100% sure if this works in full screen mode (Elite Client) as I run in windowed mode for the purpose of jumping into other PCs on my network as well as to be able to interact with other windows on my screen.

Google Desktop App instructions:
1. Navigate to your destination page: http://edtools.ddns.net/expl.php (Road to riches)
2. Click on the Triple dot menu icon on the far right of chrome broswer
3. Click More Tools...
4. Add to Desktop...
5. Name accordingly and ensure the check box is selected for open in window.
You will now have a direct link with a minimal browser pane to load your routes.
6. Open the new desktop icon created by chrome.

Here is what the window looks like after you launch it from the desktop:
► Show Spoiler


Turbo Top - Enables you to keep ANY window in site above Elite
I am still new here and not sure on the rules for external links, so I will be cautious and just say that you can google Turbo Top and grab that down. The website where it is from is very old looking, but I vouch for this program as I have been using it for years in multiple places. Especially for Kodi to keep it in foreground on my HTPC. (Other apps periodically attempt to jump in front and that really kills me, then I have to get up and fix it)
1. Install Turbo Top.
2. Run it and go down to the system tray, right click the icon and choose which apps you want to stay always on top.
Note: when I got this up and running on my new windows install I had already opened the route window before installing. The product did not seem to be able to engage always on top. I closed the google chrome desktop pane and then re-opened it and then Turbo Top was able to engage always on top on that window.

If you GET STUCK! For instance you cannot get out of an app. Hit Windows key + D (This will bring you to Desktop so you can go and toggle off the turbo top window)

See Through Windows - Enables transparency on windows
1. Install See Through Windows.
2. Open the menu from the system tray.
3. Select your hotkey (I use Ctrl+Shift-Z) This will engage the transparency on the current active window.
4. Choose transparency window setting to your liking. (I have mine around 50%)
5. Select the Chrome desktop applet you have open and activate the transparency on that active window.

Move the window where you want it to enable you to still play.
Note: If you want to click into the web browser page be sure to UNCHECK the Make window 'Click-Through' option in See Through Windows.

Here is an example of how it looks on my system:
► Show Spoiler




I hope this has been helpful to someone,
-Wooleyx64

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Re: Single Monitor Webpage/Software Overlay

Postby Renown » Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:10 pm

I've used Road to Riches, I just saved the webpage results to a PDF and printed them out, then just crossed through them when done to keep track of where I was. :)

Ps I used this version - https://www.spansh.co.uk/riches which works well when printed.


As an alternative.
Image

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wooleyx64
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Re: Single Monitor Webpage/Software Overlay

Postby wooleyx64 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:10 am

Nice alternate site thank you for the link.

It is nice that it has a slider for max distance from star...although the problem I was looking to solve was not alt tabbing out. Which if I had the list of 700 systems printed out (no printer) would require either manual typing in the system names or again alt tabbing into a pdf which I couldn't cross out as I progressed.

The one I linked has the option on the right for visited and the cache stays for up to 60 days. it remembers where you have been, you just pick up from where you left off.

Using voice attack the only thing I do to interact with the window in my screen shot is toggle the visited to yes and then highlight the next system name and "copy". say "Plot Next Hop", VA kicks in: opens gal map, pastes the system name in, plots route, closes out the gal map, initiates jump to next system, drops to throttle 0, discovery scan, targets star on delay so i can line up the shot and starts scanning the star, opens comm panel on delay. I then take a look at the window on the right to target the planet using the distance.

Rest is manual for any remaining bodies in the system, but then its back to step one.

It def gets boring fast, just watching TV and listening to music. Its a grind for sure, but its worth it. Hopefully using these tools would have other uses for users with single monitors. I know others use OnTopReplica, but that wont work in this scenario since being able to interact with the webpage is helpful.

Edit: I know that OTR has the click forwarding feature, but I found that I could not click and drag into that window to highlight the system names for easy "copy+paste".

Enjoy,
-Wooleyx64

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Re: Single Monitor Webpage/Software Overlay

Postby JazHaz » Wed Mar 07, 2018 6:28 am

I go another route and just use the Chrome browser on my tablet (or phone). That way I can have whatever ED site I'm using on the tablet and not to have to obscure the game on my monitor.

I have Chrome on my tablet synced to it on my pc.

That's a much more simple solution.
Cmdr JazHaz
aka James Haslam


Founder Pilots Association,

Only flying a Krait Mk.II these days.


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