Resolution Changer can change the display resolution, run a program, then restore the original settings. (It can also change the resolution permanently.) I originally wrote this application for my children because they had programs that require 640x480 with 256 colors or 800x600 with 32-bit color or some other combination. I didn't expect my (then) 4-year-old to be able to change Windows display settings, so I wrote this program to do it automatically. Now, of course, it does much more.

Resolution Changer allows you to change your desktop width, height, color depth, and refresh rate (frequency) temporarily or permanently (via command line switches). You can have Resolution Changer run another application in a specific display resolution and return to the previous resolution when the application finishes. The command lines switches let you alter only certain dimensions and choose the best refresh rate (or a specific one).

This help screen is displayed when reschange.exe is run without any switches:

There is also a console edition (reschangecon.exe) that you can use from a batch file or script.

Basic Commands

If you have an application that requires certain display settings (e.g., many children's programs require 640x480x256 colors), you can modify that program's shortcut to something like this:

reschange.exe -width=640 -height=480 -depth=8 -refresh=72 "c:\Program Files\Hasbro\Freddi.exe"

This shortcut will change to VGA resolution, run freddi.exe, and then restore the original display settings when freddi.exe stops running. If you don't specify a program, it will just change the settings for you (and not restore them).

The "8" represents an 8-bit color depth or 256 colors. "4" is 16 colors; "16" for 16-bit; "24" for 24-bit; "32" for 32-bit.

This example opens a spreadsheet:

reschange.exe -width=800 -height=600 cmd /c "c:\Documents and Settings\Susan\Desktop\Club.xls"

If you don't specify a parameter, the program uses the current setting for that value. To select the maximum value of width, height, color depth, or refresh rate, specify "max" for the switch’s value.

Multi-monitor Support

If your computer has multiple monitors, there are a couple of switches you can use to control each monitor individually.

The -listmonitors switch will display the “friendly” name of the monitor (e.g., “Dell 2001FP (Digital)”) as well as a more specific device name (e.g., “\\.\DISPLAY1”). You can use the friendly name as long as it’s unique among your monitors, but if your monitors are all the same model, you will need to use the device name. The switch will also add the word “primary” to indicate the display you’ve specified as your main display.

The -monitor="NAME" switch indicates which monitor to apply the resolution to. For example:

reschange.exe -monitor="Dell 2001FP (Digital)" -width=1024 -height=768

reschange.exe -monitor="\\.\DISPLAY1" -width=1024 -height=768

If the monitor name isn’t recognized, it will use the primary monitor.

Please note that this switch cannot be used to control where the application appears—that’s something only the application can decide.

The 3.40 Beta 1 release has these enhancements:

• New -lx=## and -ty=## switches for positioning the specified monitor in a multiple monitor (multi-monitor) configuration. Note that at least one pixel must be adjacent to another monitor for this to work.
• New -rotate={left|right|up|down} switch for changing the direction the display of the specified monitor is rotated. (Of course, this must be supported by your video adapter and monitor.
• New -interlaced switch to specify interlaced output. This might not work because Microsoft says this is now "invalid." So, if you try it, please let me know. (And, as always, if your monitor or TV catches fire or explodes, I'm not responsible.)
• Fixed handling of the refresh rate (frequency) when it's configured in hardware or an external utility. (In these cases, the rate was displayed as 0 or 1.)

Example:

reschange.exe -monitor="Dell 2001FP (Digital)" -lx=-1280 -ty=288

Beta 2 will take a little while to be posted. I'm working on allowing configuration of all monitors at once, adding a monitor, and removing a monitor.

Warning

Normally, Resolution Changer will prevent you from using a mode that is not supported by your video card and monitor. You can use the -force switch to use an unsupported video mode. Please be aware that you can damage your video card or monitor by using an unsupported mode. 12noon assumes no responsibility or liability for your use of Resolution Changer.

Sometimes, even with -force, Windows won't let it use that resolution. You can sometimes work around that by going to Display Properties > Settings > Advanced > Monitor. On that page, clear the "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display" checkbox.

Requirements

Resolution Changer runs on Microsoft^® Windows^® Vista, XP Home and Professional, 2000, Me, NT, and 98.