ZBar is a utility for those who use multiple monitors. If you have a single screen, then there's nothing to see here. Move on.

If you have two more more monitors, then Windows only puts the task bar at the bottom of one of those monitors, and although you can move windows to the second monitor, the task bar button for those windows still lives at the bottom of the primary monitor. This doesn't "feel" right to me, so ZBar was born.

Functionality

ZBar will:

• Put a taskbar across bottom of all non-primary screens, in three styles, with optional clock
• Provide control-alt-z and control-alt-x keyboard shortcuts to move windows one screen along
• Organise your desktop wallpaper one image per screen or one image across all screens

Restrictions

I had to learn a lot to get ZBar running, and it's taught me that although Windows clearly defines how applications should create windows and use the task bar, there are a number which don't use these conventions. Yes, I'm talking to you WinAMP, Office and Skype. As I use those apps myself, I've been able to make a special case for them within the ZBar code, but there will no doubt be more.

I spent a long while trying to get the wallpaper code to work every time. My virtual desktop is 3200x1200, and it works every time. However, when I added a third monitor to make the wallpaper 4800x1200 in size, it would work once or twice before failing. Rebooting means it would work again.

You'll also notice the tray icon is just a red square. Right now, ZBar is really a test. It has worked just fine for me for months at home and work, so I thought I'd release it, but I know it needs more polishing.

Alternatives

Does this sound all a little ... alpha release ... to you? There are a few alternatives you could try, like MultiMon, DisplayFusion, Desktop Wallpaper Tool, but the daddy of them all is Ultramon. However, ZBar is the only one which provides multiple taskbars, manages wallpaper, and is free.

zbar.zip (52k)