Desktop Notes Reminder: How to Create Widgets for Windows 11

How to build a custom Desktop Notes Reminder from scratch. Learning how to Create Widgets for Windows 11 gives you total control over your workspace aesthetic and functionality.

Whether you are a student or a professional, a dedicated Desktop Notes Reminder helps you keep track of deadlines without opening a single app. Let’s dive into how you can Create Widgets for Windows 11 that are smart, interactive, and beautiful.

Why Use a Custom Desktop Notes Reminder?

When you Create Widgets for Windows 11 yourself, you aren’t limited by default settings. Our Desktop Notes Reminder features:

• Smart Sorting: Today’s tasks automatically move to the top.
• Auto-Highlighting: Highlights your current date so you never miss a deadline.
• Minimalist Design: A clean look that fits perfectly on any Windows 11 wallpaper.

Step 1: Install the Engine to Create Widgets for Windows 11

To build our Desktop Notes Reminder, we need Rainmeter. This is the standard tool used to Create Widgets for Windows 11 because it is lightweight and highly customizable.

1. Download Rainmeter: Visit [Link to Rainmeter] and install the latest stable version.
2. Launch the App: Ensure the Rainmeter icon appears in your system tray. Now you are ready to Create Widgets for Windows 11!

Step 2: Set Up Your Desktop Notes Reminder Folder

All files for your Desktop Notes Reminder must live in a specific directory.

1. Navigate to Documents\Rainmeter\Skins.
2. Create a new folder named Desktop Notes Reminder.
3. Inside this folder, create a text file named Notes.txt. This is where your Desktop Notes Reminder will pull data from.

Step 3: Scripting the Desktop Notes Reminder

To make our goal to Create Widgets for Windows 11 truly “smart,” we use a Lua script. This allows the Desktop Notes Reminder to sort your notes by date automatically.

1. Create a file named Sort.lua in your folder.
2. Paste this code to enable smart sorting for your Desktop Notes Reminder:

Sort.lua Codes

function Update()
    local titles = SKIN:GetMeasure('MeasureNotesFile'):GetStringValue()
    local today = SKIN:GetMeasure('MeasureToday'):GetStringValue()
    local topNotes = ""
    local bottomNotes = ""
    for line in string.gmatch(titles, "[^\r\n]+") do
        if string.find(line, today, 1, true) then
            topNotes = topNotes .. line .. "\n"
        else
            bottomNotes = bottomNotes .. line .. "\n"
        end
    end
    return string.gsub(topNotes .. bottomNotes, "\n$", "")
end

Step 4: The Main Code to Create Widgets for Windows 11

Now we write the configuration file that defines how the Desktop Notes Reminder looks on your screen. This is the heart of learning how to Create Widgets for Windows 11.

1. Create a file named NotesWidget.ini.
2. Paste the following code into the file. This code handles the fonts, colors, and the refresh/maximize buttons for your Desktop Notes Reminder.

Ini, TOML

[Rainmeter]
Update=1000
AccurateText=1
DynamicWindowSize=1

[Variables]
FontName=Segoe UI
FontSize=12
FontColor=255,255,255,255
BackgroundColor=0,0,0,160
HighlightColor=255,220,50,255
WidgetWidth=350
NormalHeight=85
ExpandedHeight=400

[MeasureToday]
Measure=Time
Format=%d/%m/%Y

[MeasureNotesFile]
Measure=WebParser
URL=file://#CURRENTPATH#Notes.txt
RegExp=(?s)(.*)
StringIndex=1
UpdateRate=10
RegExpSubstitute=1
Substitute="(?m)^[^#\r\n].*\r?\n?":"","(?m)^\s*\r?\n":"","(?m)^#\s?":""

[MeasureSorter]
Measure=Script
ScriptFile=Sort.lua
DynamicVariables=1

[MeterBackground]
Meter=Image
SolidColor=#BackgroundColor#
W=#WidgetWidth#
H=([MeterNotesText:H] + 55)
DynamicVariables=1

[MeterTitle]
Meter=String
X=15
Y=12
FontColor=100,200,255,255
FontSize=14
FontFace=#FontName#
StringStyle=Bold | Underline
Text=Desktop Notes Reminder
AntiAlias=1

[MeterRefreshButton]
Meter=String
X=(#WidgetWidth# - 50)
Y=14
W=20
H=20
Text=↻
LeftMouseUpAction=[!Refresh]

[MeterMaxButton]
Meter=String
X=(#WidgetWidth# - 25)
Y=14
W=20
H=20
Text=🗖
LeftMouseUpAction=[!SetOption MeterNotesText H "#ExpandedHeight#"][!UpdateMeter *][!Redraw]

[MeterNotesText]
Meter=String
MeasureName=MeasureSorter
X=15
Y=15R
W=(#WidgetWidth# - 30)
H=#NormalHeight#
FontColor=#FontColor#
FontSize=#FontSize#
FontFace=#FontName#
ClipString=1
LeftMouseDoubleClickAction=["#CURRENTPATH#Notes.txt"]
DynamicVariables=1
InlineSetting=Color | #HighlightColor#
InlinePattern=(?m)^(.*[MeasureToday].*)$

Step 5: Load Your New Desktop Notes Reminder

1. Open the Rainmeter Manager.
2. Click Refresh All.
3. Find the Desktop Notes Reminder folder, select the .ini file, and click Load.

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to Create Widgets for Windows 11. Your new Desktop Notes Reminder is now active and ready to keep you productive.

Full Video Tutorial & Project Files

If you want a visual guide on how to Create Widgets for Windows 11, watch our full video below. You can also download the complete Desktop Notes Reminder project files to save time!

📥 [DOWNLOAD FULL PROJECT FILES: DESKTOP NOTES REMINDER]

Check this full tutorial Video