Project Description

Photo slideshow implemented in PowerShell -> Windows Forms

Simply target a (nested) folder of images. Local or LAN UNC path supported.

Features:

• task tray icon to start slideshow on demand...
• otherwise kicks off after user defined idle timeout (honors running video)
• good randomization - one soon realizes pleasantly random photos are the key want of a photo slideshow ... fortunately PowerShell has a readily available random commandlet that seems to do quite well
  • persists "lastShown" for each subfolder and avoids re-showing within XX days (currently 1 month)
• image fade-in and slide for ambience
• several hotkeys functional:
  • open current image folder
  • copy current image to My Photos
  • rotate current image (and save) - generally honors EXIF rotation metadata where present, this option allows for manual correction where EXIF is missing
  • reverse to previously shown photo (left cursor)
  • pause/play (space)
  • hotkey legend pops up on any other keypress
• screen click functions:
  • double click in center hides slideshow
  • single click in center pauses slideshow
  • click arrows on far left and right for prev/next image
• skips .hidden folders
• plays videos via VLC
• open to modification - it's just PowerShell :) no compiling tools required

Install - basically just launch the ps1... here's some tips:

1. only the ps1 and ico files are needed, download them to a folder
2. ensure VLC.exe is in your path
3. (see screenshot below) create a shortcut to the ps1 and tweak the target to include powershell before the ps1 filename...
4. example full shorcut command line: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden \\beejquad\Dev\_PersonalProjects\PoShSlideshow\PoShSlideshow.ps1 -photoPath \\beejquad\photos -idleTimeout 2
5. select Run: Minimized to make script launch more polished
6. add -WindowStyle Hidden after powershell.exe on target command line for further polish
7. then hit the Advanced button and select Run as administrator - this is only required for the powercfg /requests used to identify running video and avoid starting slideshow after user input idle timeout (wouldn't mind hearing a slicker approach???)
8. script parameters:
   • add -photoPath {path\to\your\images} to the end of the shortcut path - UNC shared folder fair game, write permissions required to persist folder cache flat file
   • add -idleTimeout 2 to the end of the shortcut path - units are in minutes
9. Copy this shortcut to shell:startup in Windows FileExplorer to automatically launch this script when you login to your desktop

Wishlist

• [done] show videos as well - thinking VLC convenient