Text Ticker iconText Ticker v2.4
Download Purchase

30 day trial. Single license $20. Go to the store and use the form for other quantities.

Text Ticker, a “scrolling banner” (“marquee” or “crawler”), 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.

Text files can also be retrieved from a web server (http:// or https://). This can be set in the File tab of the Options window, or by setting up shortcuts with the web address (URL) as the only command line parameter. The URL must begin with http:// or https://.

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.

Network deployment

A number of companies use Text Ticker to keep employees informed of the current status of call center queues, sales and stock information, or any other company news everyone needs to know. A locked version of Text Ticker is available which does not allow users to make any changes or close the program. Utilities to simplify network deployment are also available. Use the Contact form or email "TextTicker at SlashbackAssociates.com" for more information.

Options window

Pause and all of the automated features are turned off while the options window is shown.
Main tab
File tab
Lines tab
Scroll tab
Auto tab
Logo tab
Sound tab
Settings tab

Suggestion are always welcome. Please include the product name in the subject line of any email.
Use the Contact form or email "TextTicker at SlashbackAssociates.com".

Credits

Text Ticker was developed using:
Delphi,
Appbar component from Eric Janssen,
Marquee component from DithoSoft Software Solutions,
and code from 1000 places on the internet.
Distribution package created with Inno Setup.

History

Version 2.4
added read file from internet
added store settings in .ini file
added all users/current user only
added comment character for lines
added logo height information
added hide instead of minimize
added do not adjust desktop
added show ticker on mouse move to edge
removed stay on top of fullscreen apps (not reliable)

Version 2.2
locked version available
added start with Windows on/off
works on any desktop monitor
added floating bar
now drag ticker into desired position
added stay on top on/off
added stay on top of fullscreen apps
added frame on/off
added play sound on file change
added hide after a certain time has elapsed
added unpause after a certain time has elapsed
reworked options (rearranged and fixed some odd behavior)
fixed file read bug if another program "owned" the file
fixed logo not always showing up at startup

Version 2.0
added logo
added (centered) vertical scrolling
added hide if file empty
added hide if file missing
added show if hidden on file change
small changes for unlikely situations
rewrite of options

Version 1.6
added showing n lines from top or bottom of file

Version 1.5
special build with no options and cannot be closed

Version 1.4.2
corrected always starting bold
added saving italic

Version 1.4
added multiple tickers
can start with file by dropping on executable or via shortcut parameter

Version 1.2
added auto-reload option
moved all options to the options window

Version 1.0
couldn't find one, so wrote it


“...I may be completely off base, and panicking prematurely.”
“I don’t think so.  I think you’re panicking post-maturely.  In fact, if you were panicking any later it would be practically posthumously.  I’ve been panicking for days.”
Miles & Ivan, Cetaganda, Lois McMaster Bujold