Images are missing for Objects and Widgets

Saturday, May 19, 2007 by Neeznoodle | Discussion: DesktopX

I have noticed that, when importing Objects and Widgets, some of the icons are missing. I've opened the folder where these are kept and see there is a thumbnails folder with all the icons. Only, some are there and others aren't. I have figured out that in some cases I can create a new image by importing an object, deleting the file from the folder, then exporting the object back into the folder. But this doesn't always work. This is driving me nuts! What am I doing wrong?
15 Reply 4 Referrals
Bichur
Reply #1 Sunday, May 20, 2007 1:46 PM
bump

sViz
Reply #2 Sunday, May 20, 2007 6:54 PM
First thing that pops in my head is that the creator of the widget/object used images stored on their own computer and did not include them in custom files. But it really could be any number of things.

Can you give the name/link to the widget/object your having problems with?


Neeznoodle
Reply #3 Sunday, May 20, 2007 7:11 PM
sViz - I don't think it's from the creators. Most of the items had images when I open the 'Import' option, but sometimes they disappear, or if there are multiples items (like folders with 12 different colors all in the same item) there is no image. Or, if the original image is dark and on a dark background (I'd have to look up the specifics, but one of my DesktopX themes is of a laboratory and I exported the beating heart, all of which was very dark) there is an image when I export it, but if I try to import it onto a light background and reexport it, the image disappears. If you would still like me to give you links let me know and I'll find them. Lastly, how do I make a space between my paragraphs? Seems a stupid question, but simply pressing the 'Enter' button does nothing for me...


sViz
Reply #4 Sunday, May 20, 2007 7:18 PM
Yeah, post the links to the widgets, please. I'm not gettig a clear picture of what you mean just yet.


Spaces: Looks like you're postig via SDCentral. Don't use it myself but you could


try using the line break code. (Type: "<", "br", ">")

Neeznoodle
Reply #5 Sunday, May 20, 2007 9:13 PM
Yes, I am responding via SDCentral. For some reason I can't reply via the internet. Go figure. Ok, I'm about to try a break:

Instead of links I think I will post some images of what I'm talking about, as pictures are so much better than words. I will work on uploading them now and will post them shortly.

Neeznoodle
Reply #6 Sunday, May 20, 2007 9:14 PM
Yeah, my break worked   

Thanks for that tip.

Neeznoodle
Reply #7 Sunday, May 20, 2007 10:10 PM
Ok, now I'm really confused. Everything that I previously said wasn't working is now working. I started taking screenshots to show you what I was talking about. For this I imported items without images that I was previously unable to create images for, and sure enough I can now create images for them. Every single one I tried worked. I'm not including the images since I can now do this, unless you still want me to simply to see what I was talking about.

Regarding the multiple items (i.e. folders of many colors within a single item, such as Animated MAC folder colors) I figured out how to create my own image. If any one cares to know, open the item to your desktop, take a screenshot of the items (make them fairly close to each other), paste the image into a photo editor, resize the image to 100x75 pixels, and save it with the same extension name as the item, with a .bmp at the end. For example, widget.dxpack (the item name and extension) need an image file named widget.dxpack.bmp (yes, keep the .dxpack extension in the name). Save this image to the thumbnails folder where your item is kept.

Thank you for your help, even if you didn't get a chance to do much for me. I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond to my post.


Neeznoodle
Reply #8 Sunday, May 20, 2007 10:15 PM
Well, it seems I spoke too soon. I just refreshed my object importer and lost several images. It's too late for me to continue working on this tonight, but hopefully I will get a chance to upload images tomorrow to show you what's happening.

ZubaZ
Reply #9 Sunday, May 20, 2007 10:24 PM
ctrl-M also inserts line breaks in SDC

Bichur
Reply #10 Sunday, May 20, 2007 10:45 PM
but hopefully I will get a chance to upload images tomorrow to show you what's happening.


If you have the link to one or at least the name, it would be helpful also.

Neeznoodle
Reply #11 Tuesday, May 22, 2007 9:56 AM
I'm putting this to rest. I don't think posting a link would make a difference as there is no consistency to which images disappear. Sometimes widget A's image will stay if I refresh, sometime it won't. And so on.

I've resolved this by keeping a backup folder of my thumbnail images. If I refresh and lose some pictures, I can copy and paste them back in.

Thank you, though, for your help and time.

milksama
Reply #12 Tuesday, May 22, 2007 10:27 PM

I have never experienced an issue myself when importing objects or widgets and do so fairly often. It sounds like you're already aware, but images, scripts, sounds for current objects that are running end up being stored in

%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Stardock\DesktopX\CurrentTheme

The thing with objects, they're just actually renamed .zip files. If you rename the file.dxpack into file.zip and extract it, you should find the images in there.

As mentioned previously, a likely cause for why images might not be showing up is when images are not explicitly loaded into an object through the Object Properties interface. If a picture is loaded through the Object namespace in a script, DesktopX will not copy this/these image(s) over during the exporting process.

If you do encounter this problem again, I would be interested to know which object/widget it was that you had loaded/imported.

-Mike
[Stardock Support]


I.R. Brainiac
Reply #13 Tuesday, May 22, 2007 11:22 PM
if the image isnt a child of the background or in the right z order...they can appear lost...tho this may not be what your talking about...

I buggered this up a few times and elements didnt remain in the correct places
    

Neeznoodle
Reply #14 Wednesday, May 23, 2007 10:33 AM
Mike - No, I didn't know where the images are kept, and that was something I've searched for unsuccessfully. Thank you so much for posting it here!

Brainiac - No, I don't think this has been my problem. That being said, I do admit to monkeying around with the items and tweaking them to my liking, so it's not out of the realm of possibilities that my problem was caused by my actions   

Working on this has given me the bug to create my own objects. I have absolutely no background in this kind of thing, but I've been able to figure out how to make a background transparent for odd-shaped items. Do any of you know where I can go to research making moving objects? (I.E. Like 'Enterprise,' 'Waterplant,' or any kind of zoomer icon.)


milksama
Reply #15 Wednesday, May 23, 2007 11:52 PM

My suggestion for delving into the world of DX building would be to start by looking at the tutorials available in the DesktopX Documentation:
https://www.stardock.com/products/desktopx/documentation/index.html

You may also find RomanDA's tutorials very informative:
https://www.wincustomize.com/articles.aspx?aid=145066

Of course if you had any specific questions or were looking for an example you couldn't otherwise locate, you should have no trouble finding assistance in the forums.

-Mike
[Stardock Support]


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