Widescreen resolutions VS 4:3 projectors

[Mr_Andy]

Hi all. Long time reader though not much of a poster usually, but..

I've received a batch of shiny new wide TFTs, but after hooking up to a machine with a 4:3 projector there's an typical expected problem when it comes to resolution. (All machines go through splitters, not dual output.)
At the moment I've gone with 1280 x 768, but this means either a letterbox or vertically stretched image on the projector, and obviously a res for the projector means a fat image on the monitor.

Does anyone know of a solution to suit both devices? It's driving me mad as it seems so obvious, and I've already melted my head in VB today.

Thanks in advance,
Andy

[OutToLunch]

Could you just stick a shortcut on the desktop to quickres or similar which will knock the resolution on the PC down to say 1024x768 when a teacher actually wants to use the projector and another to knock it back up to native res when the projector isn't in use?

[penfold]

Used the method OutToLunch suggested previously on an old projector which couldn't provide a good enough image beyond 800x600. Just stuck a shortcut to switch between 2 screen resultions so it was easy for the teacher to modify quickly.

[Mr_Andy]

Excellent, thanks.
Now the hardest part of showing people how to do this...

[OutToLunch]

Now the hardest part of showing people how to do this...

Grab a copy of SetRes - Program screenshot - and chuck it into the Windows directory on your projector machines (or I keep mine in the netlogon folder on the server which saves messing about). Add 2 shortcuts to the desktop "Use projector" "No projector" and tweak the shortcut for each. Not many people should struggle with the concept of "Click this"

[elsiegee40]

Excellent, thanks.
Now the hardest part of showing people how to do this...

Nope... the hardest part is getting them to remember to do what you told them!

[Geoff]

Don't forget to put something in your development plan about this. When these rooms come up for being redone make sure you spec up machines with dual port graphics cards in them. That way you can run both the TFT and the Projector at the right resolution. The alternative more expensive option is to replace your projector with a widescreen one though. But last time I checked the prices were a bit mad.

[Mr_Andy]

Not many people should struggle with the concept of "Click this"

You'd think wouldn't you?

[SYSMAN_MK]

Put together a VBScript for SetRes. Maybe someone else will find it useful.

        intAnswer = _
    Msgbox("Are You Connected To A Projector?", _
        vbYesNo, "CHANGE RESOLUTION")

If intAnswer = vbYes Then

Msgbox"Changing Resolution to 1024x768"

Dim WSHShell
Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run("C:\SetRes\SetRes.exe h1024 v768")

Else
    
Msgbox "Changing Resolution to 1280x800"
Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run("C:\SetRes\SetRes.exe h1280 v800")
	
End If