=================
havTransparentWnd

 VERSION 1.0.0.0
=================

Copyright (c) 2026 René Nicolaus

Build: Windows (.NET 10, WinForms)
Hotkey: Ctrl + Alt + T (Customizable in source code)
Source Code: https://github.com/Havoc7891/havTransparentWnd

========
Contents
========
1. What it does
2. Features
3. Requirements
4. How to run
5. Start with Windows (Optional)
6. Tray menu
7. Customizing the hotkey
8. Notes
9. Uninstall
10. Troubleshooting
11. Changelog
12. License

===============
1. What it does
===============
A WinForms app that allows you to make windows transparent.

===========
2. Features
===========

- System tray integration for easy access
- Adjustable opacity for transparent windows
- Toggle transparency on / off with a global hotkey
- Explicitly block applications from being made transparent
- Support for multiple languages (English & German)
- Save and load settings
- Lightweight and efficient

===============
3. Requirements
===============
- Windows 10 or later
- .NET 10 Desktop Runtime (x64)

If you don't already have the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime, download and install from: https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/10.0/runtime

=============
4. How to run
=============
1) Extract the ZIP anywhere (e.g., C:\Apps\havTransparentWnd).
2) Run havTransparentWnd.exe (No admin required).
3) Find the tray icon and right-click it to open the settings menu. Use the global hotkey (Ctrl + Alt + T) to toggle transparency.

================================
5. Start with Windows (Optional)
================================
Option A - Startup folder (Per-user)
- Press Win + R -> type: shell:startup -> OK
- Place a shortcut to havTransparentWnd.exe in that folder

Option B - Registry (Per-user)
Create a file named 'havTransparentWnd-Startup.reg' with the content below, edit the path, then double-click to add:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"havTransparentWnd"="\"C:\\Apps\\havTransparentWnd\\havTransparentWnd.exe\""

============
6. Tray menu
============
Find the tray icon and right-click it to open the settings menu.

Menu items:
- Opacity: shows current transparency percentage; drag the slider to change it
- Enabled: toggle transparency on / off without exiting the app
- Foreground only: if enabled, applies transparency only to the currently active window
- Blocked processes: choose apps that should never be made transparent
 - Check / uncheck per-process entries
 - Add process...: add a new process name to the list
 - Remove process...: remove a process from the list
 - Reset to defaults: restore the default blocked list
- Reset transparency: restores all windows to fully opaque
- Language: switch UI language; choosing a language restarts the app
 - System default: try to match the OS language; falls back to English if unsupported
- About: shows version, description, and the hotkey
- Exit: saves settings, resets transparency, and quits

=========================
7. Customizing the hotkey
=========================
The hotkey is compiled in. To change it:
- Edit MainForm.cs -> HOTKEY_MODIFIERS / HOTKEY_VK
- Compile the executable with: dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained false -p:PublishReadyToRun=false -p:DebugType=none -p:DebugSymbols=false

========
8. Notes
========
- Uses a global system-wide hotkey; if Ctrl + Alt + T is taken, the app shows an error.
- No elevation required. Works in the user session.

============
9. Uninstall
============
- Exit from the tray -> delete the app folder
- Delete config file in %AppData%\havTransparentWnd (Win + R -> %AppData% -> Enter)
- If you enabled auto-start: remove the shortcut from shell:startup or delete the 'havTransparentWnd' value from:
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

===================
10. Troubleshooting
===================
- Hotkey doesn't work: Another app may own the combo. Pick a different hotkey and rebuild.
- No tray icon: Make sure Windows hasn't hidden it; expand the tray overflow.

=============
11. Changelog
=============
Version 1.0 - 2026-01-31
- First release.

===========
12. License
===========
Licensed under MIT - see LICENSE.txt

===========
End of file
===========