Taskbars in skins with round Start buttons don't hide completely
Friday, January 4, 2008 by JeffBDVS | Discussion: WindowBlinds
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.01 (build 40 x86)
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to RADEON 9800 SERIES
Wblind.dll 2007/11/06 19:17:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/10/04 16:58:04
Wbconfig.exe 2007/11/02 14:30:08
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 16:47:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/08/27 10:54:07
Wbui.dll 2007/11/06 10:13:05
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 16:58:21
Screen.exe 2007/11/02 14:33:51
First, I apply a skin with a Vista-style round Start button. Exapmles are the Diamond theme, Ares, Arrow, etc. When I hide the taskbar via AutoHide, or when it gets hidden by ObjectDock, the top edge of the round Start button remains visible at the extreme edge screen. Here's a couple of small screenshots of the lower-left corner of my display:
Any idea what's going on?
Thanks,
-Jeff
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to RADEON 9800 SERIES
Wblind.dll 2007/11/06 19:17:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/10/04 16:58:04
Wbconfig.exe 2007/11/02 14:30:08
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 16:47:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/08/27 10:54:07
Wbui.dll 2007/11/06 10:13:05
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 16:58:21
Screen.exe 2007/11/02 14:33:51
First, I apply a skin with a Vista-style round Start button. Exapmles are the Diamond theme, Ares, Arrow, etc. When I hide the taskbar via AutoHide, or when it gets hidden by ObjectDock, the top edge of the round Start button remains visible at the extreme edge screen. Here's a couple of small screenshots of the lower-left corner of my display:
Any idea what's going on?
Thanks,
-Jeff
Cavan1
Reply #2 Friday, January 4, 2008 2:08 PM
Reply #2 Friday, January 4, 2008 2:08 PM
It is because that skin and others like it have an oversized start button. This is a done by using an overlay image for the start button, thus the start button is bigger than the taskbar height and is therefore still slightly visible when taskbar is hidden.
vStyler
Reply #3 Friday, January 4, 2008 2:24 PM
Reply #3 Friday, January 4, 2008 2:24 PM
Yup, only solution.. only use skins with start buttons no taller than the Taskbar.
DrJBHL
Reply #4 Friday, January 4, 2008 2:48 PM
Reply #4 Friday, January 4, 2008 2:48 PM
Always wondered about that...thanks Cavan1! I learned something! 
JeffBDVS
Reply #5 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:22 PM
Reply #5 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:22 PM
Thanks, guys, for responding!
I don't think that this is strictly a "that's how the taskbar works" issue. The reason I say that is because of the way that the "Eminence" taskbar looks. This is a screenshot of the same corner of my monitor with the Eminence visual style applied:
I'm going to try to see how Vista handles its own default taskbar (I'm on XP) and compare the results. If it turns out that Vista can do it properly, then I'm going to push for WB to do it properly.
-Jeff
I don't think that this is strictly a "that's how the taskbar works" issue. The reason I say that is because of the way that the "Eminence" taskbar looks. This is a screenshot of the same corner of my monitor with the Eminence visual style applied:
I'm going to try to see how Vista handles its own default taskbar (I'm on XP) and compare the results. If it turns out that Vista can do it properly, then I'm going to push for WB to do it properly.
-Jeff
Cavan1
Reply #6 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:33 PM
That skin does not have an oversized start button. Comparing apples and oranges.
Reply #6 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:33 PM
I don't think that this is strictly a "that's how the taskbar works" issue. The reason I say that is because of the way that the "Eminence" taskbar looks.
That skin does not have an oversized start button. Comparing apples and oranges.
JeffBDVS
Reply #7 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:36 PM
Reply #7 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:36 PM
@vStyler (or any other skinner who knows):
Is there a skin element that I could remove or modify in SKS that would essentially "turn off" the part of the Start button graphic that extends above the taskbar?
Since I don't see the taskbar except on system start/stop, this would be less annoying than to always have the button remnant showing.
I could select a different taskbar skin for use with the rest of the Diamond VS, but then I'd lose the very nice Start Menu that comes with Diamond.
I'm not above tweaking things to try to get this looking good on my system.
-Jeff
Is there a skin element that I could remove or modify in SKS that would essentially "turn off" the part of the Start button graphic that extends above the taskbar?
Since I don't see the taskbar except on system start/stop, this would be less annoying than to always have the button remnant showing.
I could select a different taskbar skin for use with the rest of the Diamond VS, but then I'd lose the very nice Start Menu that comes with Diamond.
I'm not above tweaking things to try to get this looking good on my system.
-Jeff
JeffBDVS
Reply #8 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:42 PM
Reply #8 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:42 PM
OK, y'all are answering too fast for me to keep up! (That's very cool, BTW )
@Cavan1 - I hear you and I understand. My comment that you quoted was in response to unclerob.
Any ideas for dealing with this in SkinStudio are welcome.
Thanks again,
-Jeff
)@Cavan1 - I hear you and I understand. My comment that you quoted was in response to unclerob.
Any ideas for dealing with this in SkinStudio are welcome.
Thanks again,
-Jeff
MikeB314
Reply #9 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:55 PM
Reply #9 Friday, January 4, 2008 3:55 PM
If you open the skin in SkinStudio and remove the Start Button Glow image, that will take care of it.
BoXXi
Reply #11 Friday, January 4, 2008 4:20 PM
Reply #11 Friday, January 4, 2008 4:20 PM
If you buy MikeB314's new master skin "sirus", you will see that he has used that oversized start button in a very clever and imaginative way. Wish I'd thought of it....hehe 
JeffBDVS
Reply #12 Friday, January 4, 2008 4:34 PM
Reply #12 Friday, January 4, 2008 4:34 PM
MikeB314,
Your solution worked great! Thank you.
(I agree with BoXXi - that looks very clever. The style of Sirus isn't my cup of tea - I think Ares and Arrow suit my tastes much more - but it is some very nice work.)
Best regards,
-Jeff
Your solution worked great! Thank you.
(I agree with BoXXi - that looks very clever. The style of Sirus isn't my cup of tea - I think Ares and Arrow suit my tastes much more - but it is some very nice work.)
Best regards,
-Jeff
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Reply #1 Friday, January 4, 2008 2:08 PM
- I think it's the same idea in your example