Toasting (like MSN Messenger)

Here is the code for an example program that looks like this:

Form1 contains options for adjusting the speed of the toast.   Form2 pops up like a piece of toast when you click the Toast! button.  Form2 appears semi-transparent over top of other windows and the desktop background.

Download the code by clicking on the Zip file.

Form1 contains 3 timers that animate the toasting of Form2.  Form2 contains a BackgroundPicture that appears semi-transparent when the form is toasted.  Check out the example code to see the details of this.

The following code was added to Form1:

// create a second form
private Form2 f2;
// the screen location for the toast to go up to
private int top;
// the screen location for the toast to start at
private int bottom;

private void Form1_Load(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    // set the timers to an initial value   
    tmrUp.Interval = trkUp.Value;
    tmrDown.Interval = trkDown.Value;
    tmrWait.Interval = trkWait.Value;

    // load up the second form (the toast!)
    f2 = new Form2();
    // make the second form transparent
    f2.Opacity = 0.8;
    f2.TransparencyKey = f2.BackColor;
    // make it on transparent over all other windows
    f2.TopMost = true;
    // set some properties about the form to make it non-standard
    f2.ShowInTaskbar = false;
    f2.FormBorderStyle = FormBorderStyle.None;

    // the screen location for the toast to go up to
    top = 600;
    // the screen location for the toast to start at
    bottom = top + f2.Height;

}

private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    // perform the toast

    // show the toasting form
    f2.Show();
    // position the toasting form in the bottom left corner
    f2.Left = 0;
    f2.Top = bottom;
    // start the animation
    tmrUp.Enabled = true;

}

private void trkUp_Scroll(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    tmrUp.Interval = trkUp.Value;
}

private void trkDown_Scroll(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    tmrDown.Interval = trkDown.Value;
}

private void trkWait_Scroll(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    tmrWait.Interval = trkWait.Value;
}



private void tmrUp_Tick(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    // move the form up to show it
    f2.Top = f2.Top - 10;
    if (f2.Top <= top)
    {
        tmrUp.Enabled = false;
        tmrWait.Enabled = true;
    }

}

private void tmrDown_Tick(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    // move the form back down to hide
    f2.Top = f2.Top + 10;
    if (f2.Top >= bottom)
        tmrDown.Enabled = false;
}

private void tmrWait_Tick(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    // let the form wait before it goes back down
    tmrWait.Enabled = false;
    tmrDown.Enabled = true;
}