8/3/2019 Windows Gadgets
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/windows-gadgets 1/3
Working with Windows Gadgets
Azim Zahir
Introduction
In this article, I have described the steps to create a Windows Vista Gadget. I have demonstrated
the article with an example of a digital clock gadget.
Background
8/3/2019 Windows Gadgets
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/windows-gadgets 2/3
Windows Vista Gadgets are small applications which are hosted on the Sidebar. Windows Vista
Gadgets are simply made up of HTML and JavaScript code.
User-created gadgets are stored in the following folder:
C:\Users\<current user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets
Every gadget is stored in its own folder under the above mentioned folder. The folder name
should be the same as the gadget name followed by the .gadget extension.
Every gadget has two files associated with it. One is an HTML file with embedded JavaScript
code to define the functionality of the gadget. The other file is an XML file called gadget.xml
and is also known as the gadget manifest.
Using the Code
In the HTML file, the style element is used to specify the layout and format of the gadget. Thescript element is used to specify the content and working of the gadget. Finally a span
element is used to display the gadget.
Following is the HTML/JavaScript code for our digital clock gadget ( DigitalClock.html ):
<html>
<head>
<title>Digital Clock</title>
<style>
body
{
margin: 0;width: 130px;
height: 65px;
}
#gadgetContent
{
width: 130px;
top: 24px;
text-align: center;
position: absolute;
font-family: Verdana;
font-size: 10pt;
}
</style>
<script language="javascript">
function showtime()
{
var now=new Date(); // Find current date
var h=now.getHours(); // Find current hour
var m=now.getMinutes(); // Find current minute
var s=now.getSeconds(); // Find current second
h=(h<10)?"0"+h:h; // Convert hour to 2 digits
m=(m<10)?"0"+m:m; // Convert minute to 2 digits
8/3/2019 Windows Gadgets
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/windows-gadgets 3/3
s=(s<10)?"0"+s:s; // Convert second to 2 digits
gadgetContent.innerHTML="<h2><font color='red'>"+h+":</font>
<font color='lime'>"+m+":</font><font
color='cyan'>"+s+"</font></h2>";
// Set time on the span element
setTimeout("showtime()",1000); // Display time after every one
second
}
</script>
</head>
<body onload="showtime()" bgcolor="black">
<span id="gadgetContent"></span>
</body>
</html>
The gadget manifest file is an XML file which describes the properties of the gadget.
Following is the code of the gadget.xml file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?><gadget>
<name>DigitalClock</name>
<namespace>Example.Azim</namespace>
<version>1.0.0.0</version>
<author name="Azim">
<info url="www.example.com" />
</author>
<copyright>Azim</copyright>
<description>Digital Clock</description>
<hosts>
<host name="sidebar">
<base type="HTML" apiVersion="1.0.0" src="DigitalClock.html" />
<platform minPlatformVersion="1.0" />
<permissions>Full</permissions>
</host>
</hosts>
</gadget>
Perform the following steps to add the gadget to the sidebar.
• Create a folder called DigitalClock.gadget in the following folder:
C:\Users\<current user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets
•
Copy the files DigitalClock.html and gadget.xml into the DigitalClock.gadget folder.• Right click on the sidebar and select Add Gadgets... option.
• Select the DigitalClock gadget.
