Thread: JAVA TaskBar toolbar integration

Hello guys,

I am writing a small app (using SWT). Basically it has several modes of work, and depending on the mode some buttons lock on and off.
For all of this I use a window with all of the buttons but sometimes I have to switch back and forth between this program and other programs. This is not the best way and not very comfortable.
I have tried to keep the window on top, but yet again, since there are quite some buttons it takes a lot of place and I have to move it from time to time so it would not obstruct the desktop view.

And so comes the question: Would it be possible to integrate all of those buttons to windows taskbar (i.e. like in windows 7 when you hover over a Skype icon you get ability to select your status or when you hover over media players icon you get playback controls so you can control those programs without activating them). JavaTB-1.png
Alternatively, would it be possible to dedicate entire row in a taskbar for this program and add all of the buttons to it. JavaTB-2.png
Do you have any other ideas how to make the app more convenient? I am using Windows 7 but this app should work on XP.

If this is possible, could anyone recommend a tutorial/class i should look at?
Any other ideas? Should i use some other programming language instead (say C++ or C#)?

Would it be possible to integrate all of those buttons to windows taskbar

Perhaps System Tray Icon Support will help. And the more detailed article it links to: New System Tray Functionality in Java SE 6

There may possibly be SWT components which encapsulate this functionality, but play better with the rest of the library/framework, I don't know.