What ObjectDock features would you like to see?
This is a brainstorming thread.....
Monday, August 28, 2006 by Corky_O | Discussion: Personal Computing
I thought it might be good to start a thread for brainstorming ideas on features wanted in ObjectDock to give the developers some idea of what users want. Whether it is possible to implement is another story, but this is brainstorming after all.
I would like to see the addition of the following:
1 - Virtual/Dynamic Folder support
2 - Distance adjustment for 'Alignment' on top of the one for 'Position', allowing for adjustments in both the 'X' and 'Y' axis simultaneously.
What would you like to see?
I would like to see the addition of the following:
1 - Virtual/Dynamic Folder support
2 - Distance adjustment for 'Alignment' on top of the one for 'Position', allowing for adjustments in both the 'X' and 'Y' axis simultaneously.
What would you like to see?
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ZubaZ
Reply #4 Monday, August 28, 2006 10:18 AM
Reply #4 Monday, August 28, 2006 10:18 AM
I think docklet development for non-Stardock apps should be handled by the user-base, not Stardock. I just want more SD integration.
seldomseen
Reply #5 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:03 PM
If I dbl-click just the tabbed dock, I can drag it to center or where I want it, but the sides and bottom stay where they are. It's o.k. but x/y settings would be nicer, yes.
More docklets sounds like a great idea to me. I've tried in the past to create action-specific docklets, i.e: 'shutdown', 'restart', and the like, and get bozzled-up in the forms and processes. Would be great to have, perhaps, a gallery section for docklets, that could be installed easily, like the default weather app, so the user could tailor them as wished, with a minimum of fuss/clicks. Like pop-ups in weather widgets to enter zip code?
Animated docklets? I've put Winky on one of my docks, in animated form, that I got here, but I can't seem to link him to any function, like, say, opening wbconfig.exe.
Corky_O: Thanks for the thread! Great idea.
...would that be me, as consumer? Or artists/developers/skinners to present here...?
Reply #5 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:03 PM
| Distance adjustment for 'Alignment' |
If I dbl-click just the tabbed dock, I can drag it to center or where I want it, but the sides and bottom stay where they are. It's o.k. but x/y settings would be nicer, yes.
More docklets sounds like a great idea to me. I've tried in the past to create action-specific docklets, i.e: 'shutdown', 'restart', and the like, and get bozzled-up in the forms and processes. Would be great to have, perhaps, a gallery section for docklets, that could be installed easily, like the default weather app, so the user could tailor them as wished, with a minimum of fuss/clicks. Like pop-ups in weather widgets to enter zip code?
Animated docklets? I've put Winky on one of my docks, in animated form, that I got here, but I can't seem to link him to any function, like, say, opening wbconfig.exe.
Corky_O: Thanks for the thread! Great idea.
| the user-base |
...would that be me, as consumer? Or artists/developers/skinners to present here...?
ZubaZ
Reply #6 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:08 PM
yes
Reply #6 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:08 PM
| ...would that be me, as consumer? Or artists/developers/skinners to present here...? |
yes
Adamness
Reply #7 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:11 PM
Reply #7 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:11 PM
Drag to launch!
I've been emailing (read: bothering
) Stardock about this, and made a forum post or two as well. 
Basically, you should be able to drag a file, like a .jpg, over a program shortcut in the dock, such as Photoshop or Paint Shop, and have it open in that program, rather whatever the default is when you double click the file.
When you drag a file to the dock, it just wants to add the file itself to the dock.
It might also be good to have an easier way to install backgrounds. Maybe make a special ObjectDock file (.od?) for themes and backgrounds that you just need to double click to install, like a .wba installs a WB skin easily.
I've been emailing (read: bothering
) Stardock about this, and made a forum post or two as well. 
Basically, you should be able to drag a file, like a .jpg, over a program shortcut in the dock, such as Photoshop or Paint Shop, and have it open in that program, rather whatever the default is when you double click the file.
When you drag a file to the dock, it just wants to add the file itself to the dock.
It might also be good to have an easier way to install backgrounds. Maybe make a special ObjectDock file (.od?) for themes and backgrounds that you just need to double click to install, like a .wba installs a WB skin easily.
Koasati
Reply #8 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:19 PM
You can drag a tabbed dock to any spot you want. (I don't know what double-clicking accomplishes) The x/y setting Corky mentions, would be for a standard dock, tabbed docks don't need it.
You can also resize your tabbed dock, just as you would a normal window.
Reply #8 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:19 PM
| If I dbl-click just the tabbed dock, I can drag it to center or where I want it, but the sides and bottom stay where they are. It's o.k. but x/y settings would be nicer, yes. |
You can drag a tabbed dock to any spot you want. (I don't know what double-clicking accomplishes) The x/y setting Corky mentions, would be for a standard dock, tabbed docks don't need it.
You can also resize your tabbed dock, just as you would a normal window.
seldomseen
Reply #9 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:40 PM
I have to dbl-click in order for my cursor to "grab" the dock. It might make a difference that I have my mouse set to "open with single-click" rather than default dbl...
Yes, I was thinking of non-tabbed ones.
Yes! Like dragging a file to my printer icon on my desktop prints it!
Lately, it must just be something I'm doing in the process, but when I drag a desktop icon/shortcut to the dock, it then generates a popup saying there's no valid link, and I have to go to Dock Entry Properties and replace the C:\ location with the link I want. No big deal, but if I drag a shortcut to the dock it'd be nice to have that duplicate shortcut go to where the original does.
Reply #9 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:40 PM
| yes |
I have to dbl-click in order for my cursor to "grab" the dock. It might make a difference that I have my mouse set to "open with single-click" rather than default dbl...
| tabbed docks don't need it. |
Yes, I was thinking of non-tabbed ones.
| Drag to launch! |
Yes! Like dragging a file to my printer icon on my desktop prints it!
| When you drag a file to the dock, it just wants to add the file itself to the dock |
Lately, it must just be something I'm doing in the process, but when I drag a desktop icon/shortcut to the dock, it then generates a popup saying there's no valid link, and I have to go to Dock Entry Properties and replace the C:\ location with the link I want. No big deal, but if I drag a shortcut to the dock it'd be nice to have that duplicate shortcut go to where the original does.
Island Dog
Reply #10 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:47 PM
Reply #10 Monday, August 28, 2006 12:47 PM
Folder linked tabs. It was mentioned in another thread recently.
WebGizmos
Reply #11 Monday, August 28, 2006 2:09 PM
Reply #11 Monday, August 28, 2006 2:09 PM
More control in the coding or behavior when creating side/top/bottom docks (zoomers) would be great. As it is now, its a real pain when putting side a dock together containing gradients, and graphics at the top and bottom tend to get cut off and then having to manipulate the graphics in order to get them to work. Yeah I know...dream on. 
rabidrobot
Reply #12 Monday, August 28, 2006 3:15 PM
Reply #12 Monday, August 28, 2006 3:15 PM
In previous versions of ObjectDock we could add "foregrounds" to our skins for dock backgrounds, which would draw on top of the icons, but otherwise behave very similarly to the background image.
Recent versions of OD draw foregrounds differently than in the past, tiling (in a single direction) now rather than stretching, which makes them nearly unusable. Indeed, I don't see any mention of foregrounds anymore in the v2.0 RC1 SkinningTheDock.txt, so maybe they've been abandoned.
I think some really cool docks could be made with foregrounds that draw as they did in previous versions (or even better than previously, with full background.ini tag support), and request this feature be considered for reinstatement.
Recent versions of OD draw foregrounds differently than in the past, tiling (in a single direction) now rather than stretching, which makes them nearly unusable. Indeed, I don't see any mention of foregrounds anymore in the v2.0 RC1 SkinningTheDock.txt, so maybe they've been abandoned.
I think some really cool docks could be made with foregrounds that draw as they did in previous versions (or even better than previously, with full background.ini tag support), and request this feature be considered for reinstatement.
KiloKrash
Reply #13 Monday, August 28, 2006 3:51 PM
Reply #13 Monday, August 28, 2006 3:51 PM
I dunno if this is a realistic request, but would it be possible to have implementation of an arched dock. One similiar to the arched dock that AveDesk offers. Or maybe a feature that allows the user to arch it their self, via the Dock settings, similiar to the automatic distance option. Sorry if this is completely impossible, not familiar with development.
Arched Dock Example -----> Link
Arched Dock Example -----> Link
Island Dog
Reply #14 Monday, August 28, 2006 8:27 PM
Reply #14 Monday, August 28, 2006 8:27 PM
Hmmm....that looks really familiar. Now where have I seen something like that before?
Cavan1
Reply #15 Monday, August 28, 2006 9:34 PM
Reply #15 Monday, August 28, 2006 9:34 PM
Along the same line as WebGizmos has started; for outsideborder for the screen edge of a dock to actually move the icons off screen edge.
Sea Hourse
Reply #16 Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:35 AM
Reply #16 Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:35 AM
Continuing the idea of a curved OD how about one that is a complete circle and could be expanding or contracted? I see a fair number of screenshots where people have arranged their icons in a circle around something so I know there are users who would use something like this if it was possible to create.
Chris TH
Reply #17 Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:50 AM
Reply #17 Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:50 AM
I'd like OD to be aware of changes to system variables (used to be 'environment variables' in the old days) and be able to pass them on to the apps that are launched subsequent to those changes.
c242
Reply #18 Tuesday, August 29, 2006 3:57 AM
Reply #18 Tuesday, August 29, 2006 3:57 AM
Standard menus as default in the 'fly out menu' functionality no matter how many entries are in.
seldomseen
Reply #19 Wednesday, August 30, 2006 10:31 PM
Good idea. I can already see it on wallpapers with a central "hubcap" theme
Reply #19 Wednesday, August 30, 2006 10:31 PM
| Continuing the idea of a curved OD how about one that is a complete circle and could be expanding or contracted? |
Good idea. I can already see it on wallpapers with a central "hubcap" theme
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Reply #1 Monday, August 28, 2006 8:34 AM