Text Ticker 2.4

Text Ticker, a “scrolling banner” or “marquee”, scrolls the contents of a plain text file at the top or bottom of a monitor, or floating anywhere. The text appears in a so-called “appbar” which is similar to the Windows Taskbar and can be dragged to any position on the desktop. All settings (font, color, text file, etc.) are saved between sessions.

Any plain text file can be dropped on the ticker and the program will begin to scroll that file's contents. (Actually, any file at all can be used, but only plain text files are readable by humans!) A file can also be browsed for and loaded by selecting Load File on the menu. Text Ticker can also be started with a specific file by dropping the file on the Text Ticker application icon, or by setting up shortcuts with the filename as the only command line parameter. It also can be changed in the Options window.

Left-clicking the tray icon alternately shows and hides the ticker. Double-clicking the ticker pauses the scrolling.

Multiple tickers can be run, each with its own file, speed, colors, etc. Each one acts independently. When you later start Text Ticker, the first one's settings will be used; if you start a second one, the second one's settings will be used, etc.

The popup menu is available by right-clicking either the ticker or the tray icon. When the ticker is hidden, only the tray icon gives access to the program. In this case, the menu only offers Restore, Help, About, and Exit. Select Options to open the Options window.

Text Ticker uses very little system resources and takes up little screen space, making it ideal for reminding yourself of encouraging words, help with memorization, watching a log file or any other text file that changes periodically.

Options window:

Main tab:

• Font can use any font installed on your system, including any size and color available. Note that some combinations may not work well. Some italic fonts do not scroll smoothly. In vertical mode, larger fonts, especially in certain color combinations, may flicker. This depends on machine speed and video card.
• Font Color gives you more precise control of the font color.
• Bar Color selects the main, or background, color of the ticker.
• Scroll the text horizontally or vertically one line at a time.
• Use a frame. The floating bar can only be sized when the frame is visible.
• Stay on top of other windows.
• Don't move icons and windows to accommodate the ticker.
• Display (or not) an icon in the Windows System Tray (next to the clock). If the tray icon is disabled, it will still show up if the ticker is hidden.
• Completely hide the ticker instead of minimize.

File tab:

• Use a file from the internet.
• Type the URL of the web file (or copy and paste from a web browser).
• Use a local file. This can be any file Windows can access directly (local drives, mapped drives, network shares, etc.).
• The current local file is displayed in the box. You can type or paste