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--- blog:change_windows_desktop_background_for_day_and_night_using_batchfile [2010-12-23 07:59] – brb
+++ blog:change_windows_desktop_background_for_day_and_night_using_batchfile [2010-12-26 07:26] (current) – brb
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Change windows desktop background for day and night, using batchfile ======
-<code batch>
+Having a bright, blue wallpaper for day use and a darker, reddish wallpaper for evening/night is useful stay in synch with the real time of day. So, i wanted my windows xp machine automatically switch to the day wallpaper from 7-20 and to night from 20-7 hours. The following batch script does this, without any add-on software. To use, copy-paste the file and store it to your scripts directory (e:\etc in my case).
-::==chwallpaper.bat
-Echo %Time%
+{{:blog:wallpaper_day.jpg?320|}} {{:blog:wallpaper_night.jpg?320|}}
-for /f "tokens=1-3 delims=:." %%a in (
-"%time%") do set hours=%%a
-set wallpaper=e:\etc\wallpaper_tag.bmp
+Advantages:
-if %hours% LSS 8 goto setnight
+  * No additional software (apart from the script) has to be installed
-if %hours% GTR 20 goto setnight
+  * No additional load on the computer by a desktop switcher, except from the tasks that you define yourself
+Notes:
+  * You must convert your jpg wallpaper to bmp (changing the dimensions to exactly match your screen). You can't directly use a jpg file as a windows wallpaper (the settings dialog creates a bmp file behind your back!).
+  * Configuration is by changing the set ... variable at the top of the file
+  * Test by calling the batchfile
+  * To automate the wallpaper switch:
+    * make a link in the windows autostart folder
+    * add an hourly task to the task manager (or even cleaner, two tasks at the switch times (7:00 and 20:00)
+<code winbatch>
+REM :: chwpdn. batchange to CHange the WallPaper for Day and Night
+REM :: v1.0 B.Brunner, 23.12.2010 (brb_trash at epr dot ch)
+REM Prepare two bmp files to be used during day and night
+REM - jpgs dont work directly, convert to bmp of your screen resolution first!
+REM - change start and end day hour to your needs
+REM - store this batchfile in a place like e:\etc
+REM - make a link to this batchfile in your autostart folder (set minimized in the link)
+REM - using the task manager have the batchfile start every hour, to switch during the day
+REM
+REM Configuration changes go here
+set wpnight=e:\etc\wallpaper_night.bmp
+set wpday=e:\etc\wallpaper_day.bmp
+set daystarthour=7
+set dayendhour=20
+REM Set hours variable
+for /f "tokens=1-3 delims=:." %%a in ( "%time%") do set hours=%%a
+REM Use day wallpaper, except from 00:00-08:00 and 20:00-23:59
+set wallpaper=%wpday%
+if %hours% LSS %daystarthour% goto setnight
+if %hours% GTR %dayendhour% goto setnight
 goto setit
 :setnight
-set wallpaper=e:\etc\wallpaper_nacht.bmp
+set wallpaper=%wpnight%
 :setit
 Echo Setting wallpaper to %wallpaper%
 REG ADD "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v Wallpaper /t REG_SZ /d %wallpaper% /f
 RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters
-:finish
 </code>