DX Tutorial what do you want to see?

Monday, February 12, 2007 by RomanDA | Discussion: OS Customization

If someone was to take the time to make a Good starter guide as well as a more in-depth guide to DX, what would you want to see?

Ex:
How do i make a simple clock?
How do you make a Folder Object?
What is a Group?
How do you store settings in DX?
Etc?

Please be detailed, it can help.
65 Reply 19 Referrals
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SirSmiley
Reply #41 Friday, February 16, 2007 11:45 AM

All we need now is a dedicated web site to do this on.... wonder if stardock will give me space on a server? www.dxtutorials.com?


I can think of an easier one than this. If they extended the tutorials section to include categories it would be a heck of a lot easier to access only the dx tutorials

I.R. Brainiac
Reply #42 Friday, February 16, 2007 1:52 PM
Hiya RoManda!Your the man who got me started on widgets when I decided to see how you did the analog cpu meters.
I need a script that calls up left and right sound levels...input levels,and maybe output.VU meters capable of monitoring a sound files actual volume.
I want to make a media player with DX.Or just have the meters running beside WMP.

I know thats a little specific for a tutorial,but maybe a tut that will allow us to make any kind of similar widgy.
Thanks dude.  

ZubaZ
Reply #43 Friday, February 16, 2007 1:58 PM
I need a script that calls up left and right sound levels...input levels,and maybe output.VU meters capable of monitoring a sound files actual volume.


I wonder if WMI holds that data?

ZubaZ
Reply #44 Friday, February 16, 2007 2:47 PM
I wonder if WMI holds that data?


WMI doesn't (duh)
But a call to DirectSound through DirectX might.
Might need a plugin too . . not sure. 

This might be a starting point or maybe this

I.R. Brainiac
Reply #45 Friday, February 16, 2007 4:12 PM
Thanks,that second link might be of help.(if I knew what I was doing)  Winamp has them and sysmetrics...so its got to be possible.  

Jaramia
Reply #46 Saturday, February 17, 2007 2:43 PM
How to make objects that interacte with the internet...
For example, the word of the day object.

thomassen
Reply #47 Saturday, February 17, 2007 5:05 PM
How to make objects that interacte with the internet...
For example, the word of the day object.

I think this is a good one. Especially since DX got new methods to download internet content.
I've been thinking of making a little code snipped that makes it easy to traverse XML data. I'll see if I can get that soon now seeing that I'm unemployed. Just got to get my portfolio out of the way first.

RomanDA
Reply #48 Sunday, February 18, 2007 9:04 PM
Especially since DX got new methods to download internet content.


What new methods? did i miss something?

now seeing that I'm unemployed


sorry to hear that man, wish i could help.

Ronan H
Reply #49 Monday, February 19, 2007 9:19 AM
Hey RomanDA, thank you for offering to help out with this! So far your ideas look great...

I have one request, and you have already replied somewhat in a separate thread about it, its the standard rightclick context menu in DX, when you click on the desktop an annoying menu comes up with Favourites, Programs etc... on it and i would love to be able to turn that off altogether or modify it in some way. Having said all this, its probably up to the developers of DX to do something like that moreso than yourself, but maybe you could pass that on to the right people?

Apart from that, my own issue (apart from the lack of natural talent regarding graphics) would be scripting, and as you suggested above starting with some objects and some code to play around with would be top class!

Well done and thanks again...

Ronan H

RomanDA
Reply #50 Monday, February 19, 2007 4:31 PM
when you click on the desktop an annoying menu comes up with Favourites, Programs etc... on it and i would love to be able to turn that off altogether or modify it in some way.


Ronan,

I believe you want RIGHT-CLICK from Stardock, its part of object dock.

Here is the link: RIGHT-CLICK

Here is what it says:

RightClick lets you design your own right-click desktop menu. Add program short-cuts, folders, disk space monitors, RSS readers, and virtually anything you can imagine to it. Get it on its own or as part of Object Desktop.

Your desktop is usually covered with windows. No problem, RightClick enables you to assign a hot-key to bring it up any time, anywhere. It's also fully skinnable and supports adding DesktopX widgets to your menus.


Highlights:

* Display running tasks, short-cuts, system commands, internet links and more.
* Add start menu items and even supports hiding the start menu.
* Be customized and can inherit the WIndowBlinds visual style being used.
* Be launched by a hotkey if the desktop background is covered with windows.

ZubaZ
Reply #51 Monday, February 19, 2007 5:47 PM
I'm not sure David . . DX may interupt take precedence over RC.  I'll try a test later.

thomassen
Reply #52 Monday, February 19, 2007 5:58 PM

Especially since DX got new methods to download internet content.


What new methods? did i miss something?

now seeing that I'm unemployed


sorry to hear that man, wish i could help.


System.DownloadFile(remoteUrl, localPath, bAsync)

System.SendRequest(remoteUrl, postParams, bAsync)

System.SimpleWrite(path, content, param)

System.SimpleRead(path, param)


Apparently these functions should be more friendly with scriptblockers and anti-virus programs.


As for my unemployed status, i just sent of some CV's today and I've already got one job offer and one interview. No biggie really. I could've stayed at my old place, but I had itchy feet and wanted to try something new.


Btw, I'm going to look into hotkeys. They don't seem to be very straight forward.

gef
Reply #53 Monday, February 19, 2007 7:01 PM
Hi Dave, I might be the second most downloaded DX author on Wincustomize, but I ALWAYS have trouble making themes Resolution independant.

I'm pretty sure there is no way unless the theme is a simple one. With all the widescreen resolutions about now especially.


ZubaZ
Reply #54 Monday, February 19, 2007 10:54 PM
DX may interupt take precedence over RC. I'll try a test later.
RightClick does allow one to replace the DX desktop rightclick menu.  So there you go.

thomassen
Reply #55 Tuesday, February 20, 2007 5:43 AM
DX desktop rightclick menu

Rightclick menu for object, or rightclick menu when you rightclick the desktop?

Quentin94
Reply #56 Tuesday, February 20, 2007 7:33 AM
I'm pretty sure there is no way unless the theme is a simple one. With all the widescreen resolutions about now especially.


ok i agree at 100% with this!
You can't make all objects with height width in % of the screen with all conflicts that make between objects in the theme!

ZubaZ
Reply #57 Tuesday, February 20, 2007 7:48 AM
Rightclick menu for object, or rightclick menu when you rightclick the desktop?

Rightclick on the desktop when a DX theme (*.desktop) is running.  There's a screenshot in his other post that makes it pretty clear.

thomassen
Reply #58 Tuesday, February 20, 2007 8:06 AM
What what what? I've never seen that.
I still get the standard window menu. Can't even find a setting for it. What am I missing here?
(I bet it's right in front of my eyes... The most difficult place to find.)

RomanDA
Reply #59 Tuesday, February 20, 2007 7:28 PM

Make a new object
make its state "TEXT" and add the following to the script:

Sub Object_OnScriptEnter
object.text = "system.ScreenHeight: " & system.ScreenHeight & vbnewline
object.text = object.text & "system.ScreenWidth: " & system.ScreenWidth & vbnewline
object.text = object.text & "system.ScreenWidth: " & system.ScreenWidth & vbnewline
object.text = object.text & "system.VScreenHeight: " & system.VScreenHeight & vbnewline
object.text = object.text & "system.VScreenLeft: " & system.VScreenLeft & vbnewline
object.text = object.text & "system.VScreenTop: " & system.VScreenTop & vbnewline
object.text = object.text & "system.VScreenWidth: " & system.VScreenWidth & vbnewline
End Sub

Save and see with it shows.

The VScreen is used for multiple monitors.
With these you can always know what the screen width and height are.

These can be used to determine where to place items, ie.

Object.left = system.width - object.width 'will move the object to the right side of the screen, no matter what the res is.

You can also add

Sub System_OnScreenChange
Object.left = system.width - object.width
Object.height = system.height
End sub

WORKAREA changes is a result of screen resolution changes or taskbar resize

Sub System_OnWorkareaChange
Object.Width = System.ScreenWidth - 350
End Sub

Hope this helps with this one.


epyk
Reply #60 Tuesday, February 20, 2007 10:24 PM
i got something you probly never heard...
how do you create a virtul explorer.. in other words view a directory structure, and have DesktopX show it in either an explorer pane or a 3d plane

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