Several Questions for Object Desktop gurus

from WinCustomize Forums
Hi all. I've been exploring Object Desktop recently, and I think my main problem is being simply bewildered be the extent of options. But I do have some requests for specific info, if anyone would be kind enough to help!
1> Weather trackers. Using DesktopX and ObjectDock I've explored several of these. None have worked for me. I'm pretty sure the problem is with weather.com - can't even access it with browser. Has anyone had a working weather object in the last week or longer?

2> WindowBlinds skins. After trying several of these I have been very impressed. But why do they take so long to load (apply), and always reset my open window sizes? More importantly, to me, a number of skins have an attractive area for the systray, but this area is a bit out of alingnment with icons, and often doesn't resize to fit the number of icons. Is there an easy way to fix this?

3> RAM meters. There are several DesktopX objects that track the available ram - my fav is from the Stinger series. This is a bit embarassing, but when I first started using these, I assumed the RAM meters behaved like the CPU and Disk Space meters - the bar or dial shows the USED amount of RAM, the text displays the USED percentage. As you can imagine, I was distraught when it appeared just loading DesktopX and WindowBlinds caused my RAM to be 95% used. Once I finally realized my error, I tried editing some meters to display in what I consider the more intuitive way, but have only been able to succeed in FUBARing them. Can anyone point my to where I can make this change?

4> I just want to change the darn wallpaper, and keep it from being hijacked. Easiest way? Off the top of my head, I can think of three ways to change my wallpaper. Right click an image in explorer, and set as background, or in Mozilla and set as wallpaper. Or I can right click on desktop, properties (and wait up to 60 seconds while the window opesns - what's up with that wait?) and use the desktop tab. Another option is to Configure DesktopX and use the Appearance tab. Each method seems to only intermittently communicate with the others. When I reboot, the monitor quickly flashes a desktop I ed last week with the right click on image method, but have since replaced many times. Where is it finding the info to flash this old wallpaper, and why? When I use the desktop properties method, more often than not it crashes both DesktopX and WindowBlinds - especially if I also futz with the screen saver. The most reliable way since installing OD has been via DesktopX Appearance tab, but even that sometimes just refuses to respond. I an image, and choose resize(stretch)method. It looks bad, so I want to try tile. It pauses for a few seconds, flickers, then remains as before. Later I breifly see a flash of a tiled desktop as I close a window.

In short, what gives with the wallpaper? Shouldn't there be one spot, a txt file say, that says here is where the image is stored, here's the display type, and whatever method I use to adjust the wallpaper, they can all reference and adjust this info?

I use WinXP Home. Of the four user accts, only two use DesktopX and WindowBlinds. (just in case this affects any responses)

I sure appreciate y'all reading this! Didn't think it'd get so long, but thought one long cry for help prefrable to a half dozen new threads.

rabidrobot
wincustomize
2,267 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oooh, ooh, one more. When I right click on a DesktopX object it has an option "Persist". Couldn't find any info on this in docs. What is it?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't think I can answer them all, but will answer what I can.

1> Weather trackers. Using DesktopX and ObjectDock I've explored several of these. None have worked for me. I'm pretty sure the problem is with weather.com - can't even access it with browser. Has anyone had a working weather object in the last week or longer?

No problems at all here now with weather objects. ALthough I used to before when I was in a zip code beginning with zero. It worked though at that time at weather.com even if the objects didn't work.


2> WindowBlinds skins. After trying several of these I have been very impressed. But why do they take so long to load (apply), and always reset my open window sizes? More importantly, to me, a number of skins have an attractive area for the systray, but this area is a bit out of alingnment with icons, and often doesn't resize to fit the number of icons. Is there an easy way to fix this?


They do take a minute perhaps to load/apply depending upon the speed of your machine. I do not feel it is that long, when it has to change the look of all the controls that are there. Someone more technical may be able to explain why. I haven't had the window sizes affected for me in anyway though. The problems you have with the systray may be skin specific. I have found some skins don't work as well there. Make sure you are trying several skins before noting a particular behavoir as being due to WB itself. Although in regards to DX it is known that some icons do not show up properly in a tray and I do not know why.
4> I just want to change the darn wallpaper, and keep it from being hijacked. Easiest way? Off the top of my head, I can think of three ways to change my wallpaper. Right click an image in explorer, and set as background, or in Mozilla and set as wallpaper. Or I can right click on desktop, properties (and wait up to 60 seconds while the window opesns - what's up with that wait?) and use the desktop tab. Another option is to Configure DesktopX and use the Appearance tab. Each method seems to only intermittently communicate with the others. When I reboot, the monitor quickly flashes a desktop I ed last week with the right click on image method, but have since replaced many times. Where is it finding the info to flash this old wallpaper, and why? When I use the desktop properties method, more often than not it crashes both DesktopX and WindowBlinds - especially if I also futz with the screen saver. The most reliable way since installing OD has been via DesktopX Appearance tab, but even that sometimes just refuses to respond. I an image, and choose resize(stretch)method. It looks bad, so I want to try tile. It pauses for a few seconds, flickers, then remains as before. Later I breifly see a flash of a tiled desktop as I close a window.In short, what gives with the wallpaper? Shouldn't there be one spot, a txt file say, that says here is where the image is stored, here's the display type, and whatever method I use to adjust the wallpaper, they can all reference and adjust this info?


Well there is basically one spot for windows wallpaper application. However of course when you add other programs like WB and DX they can affect that. However I never have WB set the wallpaper included with a skin, which could possible cause some of your problems? Also in DX I have set wallpapers with the themes and they work just fine, but sometimes before that wallpaper gets set through DX, whatever one is set in display properties is shown. Its only because DX isn't started before windows defaults.
I have no idea why display properties takes so long to show, although I believe it has to do with the skin listing being large. Trimming it down should help with that. Some ppl create folders for skins, and swap them out to keep the list small. (not me though, I just live with it).

I hope this helped some. SOme others may be able to provide greater clarification on my answers.
Also I do not exactly know what the persist means in regards to DX.



Powered by SkinBrowser!
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks GhoS!
I'm still having trouble with weather objects. It's funy, I don't think I actually want one on my desktop, but I like to make things work.

I did disable wallpapers from WB skins, and have a blank wall set through desktop properties. I guess I'll just use the DX appearance tab as my only method for changing it, although I will miss simply right clicking on an image file and ing use as desktop background.

Your mention of creating folders and swapping them out sounds interesting. It reminds me of something I tried to do early on. I initially installed OD on my main HDD, but as I gathered additions and such, decided that I would prefer to have the whole stored on secondary D: drive. First I just moved the folder, which was a bad idea, then I uninstalled and tried to install on new drive, but CM didn't behave well. So, now I have it back where I started. The only component that I've found that allows me to store data on other drive is Icon Packager, which lets you define a path to theme folder, so all my icon stuff is on D: - and I like playing with icons so this is a large amount of data. Is there an easy way to tell other components, DX and WB specifically, that I'd like their objects to be automatically stored somewhere other than their base folder?

whew, again I ramble too long. Thanks again!
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Unfortunately they are sticklers for having their skins stored where they say. DX can easily import from other directories, however once imported the objects/themes are copied to the DX folder anyway.
WB can also import .wba files from other folders, which it then creates a folder for the skin in its main directory.
So as far as I know you can't force them to use another directory, unless you installed them into that directory when installing. I usually use the directory structure given with Stardock products since it makes things easier for the programs, although maybe not so much for me lol.

As far as weather objects, ram objects not working... just make sure you do have the latest version of DX for one thing. If you do and they still don't work I don't know why. The weather objects require minimal setup, just clicking on it somewhere usually to input proper zip code. ALthough if you are having problems at weather.com then maybe your area isn't supported? Try other zip codes to see.
Ram objects should work no matter what right out the "box".
Good luck.




Powered by SkinBrowser!