Dealing with Weather Backdrops!
Easy Solution For Saving them all!
Saturday, August 16, 2008 by WebGizmos | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
As many of you have seen I have started creating Weather backdrops with all of my recent docks and mostly everyone else has followed along with this.
Here is an easy solution for saving them and not losing any of your weather backdrops that you may start accumulating. Create a "Weather Backdrops" folder in your "My Documents" folder to store them in...and as you acquire them....just name them starting with backdrop1.png and continue on increasing your number of backdrops accordingly. Make sure that you start with the next number in line of your collection as you acquire more of them before moving them to the "Weather Backdrops folder" you created...since when they are created they are usually numbered according to the particular side docks they were created for.
Now...all you have to do if you want to change your Weather backdrop is this...copy and re-paste the backdrop you want to use to the same folder your collection is in....rename it to backdrop.png and move it to the Weather docklets folder in Objectdock and let it overwrite the one that is already in there. You can do this at any time without changing your side docks and you won't lose any backdrops...as long as you continue renumbering them in the Weather backdrops folder.
Note: This works easily with XP....not so sure now with Vista!
Here is an easy solution for saving them and not losing any of your weather backdrops that you may start accumulating. Create a "Weather Backdrops" folder in your "My Documents" folder to store them in...and as you acquire them....just name them starting with backdrop1.png and continue on increasing your number of backdrops accordingly. Make sure that you start with the next number in line of your collection as you acquire more of them before moving them to the "Weather Backdrops folder" you created...since when they are created they are usually numbered according to the particular side docks they were created for.
Now...all you have to do if you want to change your Weather backdrop is this...copy and re-paste the backdrop you want to use to the same folder your collection is in....rename it to backdrop.png and move it to the Weather docklets folder in Objectdock and let it overwrite the one that is already in there. You can do this at any time without changing your side docks and you won't lose any backdrops...as long as you continue renumbering them in the Weather backdrops folder.
Note: This works easily with XP....not so sure now with Vista!
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zakai1369
Reply #22 Sunday, August 17, 2008 12:56 AM
Reply #22 Sunday, August 17, 2008 12:56 AM
Great tip WG. I've actually been just dropping the ones i'm taking off to a separate folder and then dropping the new ones in.
ALMonty
Reply #23 Sunday, August 17, 2008 1:02 AM
Reply #23 Sunday, August 17, 2008 1:02 AM
To answer Mirsguy question. The picture below shows the inside the weather docklet folder and the picture above is what the weather docklet is actually showing.
The only way I can see to fix this is to reinstall OD. I'm in no hurry to do this, the one thing that baffles me is where is the image that is showing on my dock? A couple weeks ago I saw messiah create a background for the weather docklet. So I created one for Rapture using one of Mirsguy's tiled backgrounds. So the big question is where is that backdrop.png located? I can take the image out of that folder above and the backdrop on the docklet is still there.
I don't know maybe it's just me
Oh yea.. it's on Vista Ultimate.
The only way I can see to fix this is to reinstall OD. I'm in no hurry to do this, the one thing that baffles me is where is the image that is showing on my dock? A couple weeks ago I saw messiah create a background for the weather docklet. So I created one for Rapture using one of Mirsguy's tiled backgrounds. So the big question is where is that backdrop.png located? I can take the image out of that folder above and the backdrop on the docklet is still there.
I don't know maybe it's just me
Oh yea.. it's on Vista Ultimate.
WebGizmos
Reply #25 Sunday, August 17, 2008 7:13 AM
Reply #25 Sunday, August 17, 2008 7:13 AM
AlMonty...First thing....you should not have to reinstall Objectdock. About the only thing I can think of that could be causing this is a spelling error or a space in the name. Take a backdrop that you have downloaded and rename it exactly this....backdrop.png....making sure there are no empty spaces in the name...then click on it and and choose Move to that folder or just copy it and go to the folder and physically paste it there. Let me know what happens.
Oh....and put it in the Programs/Stardock/ObjectDock/Docklets/Weather folder. And if you make one for yourself make sure its 130x112 in size.
Oh....and put it in the Programs/Stardock/ObjectDock/Docklets/Weather folder. And if you make one for yourself make sure its 130x112 in size.
messiah1
Reply #26 Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:10 AM
Reply #26 Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:10 AM
ooh I know. Al Monty, do you have photoshop? If so, open photoshop and then select open from the file menu, navigate to the weather docklet folder and tell me if you see the file you created in there.
ALMonty
Reply #27 Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:37 AM
Reply #27 Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:37 AM
WG if you look at the screenshot everything is spelled correctly and changing the image even taking it out of the folder does nothing. Thanks anyway
messiah yea I have photoshop. I opened up the image and it was the default one(the one in the folder ss) and resaved it. Still nothing
What I did find out the backdrop image doesn't have to be 130x112 It could be 256x256. I wanted to see if I had any problems on my XP machine so I just grabbed an image and dropped it in. That works fine.
Oh did I metion I replaced the whole weather docklet folder with the one from my XP machine and still nothing.
messiah yea I have photoshop. I opened up the image and it was the default one(the one in the folder ss) and resaved it. Still nothing
What I did find out the backdrop image doesn't have to be 130x112 It could be 256x256. I wanted to see if I had any problems on my XP machine so I just grabbed an image and dropped it in. That works fine.
Oh did I metion I replaced the whole weather docklet folder with the one from my XP machine and still nothing.
WebGizmos
Reply #28 Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:43 AM
Reply #28 Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:43 AM
AlMonty....send me the image your using @msn.com....the one you created.
ALMonty
Reply #29 Sunday, August 17, 2008 10:06 AM
Reply #29 Sunday, August 17, 2008 10:06 AM
WG I didn't create any image. I took one of the tiled backgrounds from here WWW Link and named it backdrop.png dropped it in the folder and it changed the background shown in the ss in reply #10 (which disappeared). And now it won't return to the default.
Another ss for #10 post.
Another ss for #10 post.
messiah1
Reply #30 Sunday, August 17, 2008 10:45 AM
Reply #30 Sunday, August 17, 2008 10:45 AM
Monty, I didn't mean to actually open it up. What I meant was, with photoshop open go into that folder like you were going to open a file in there. Can you see the other backdrop file? I ask because when in Vista, I changed some files in a folder and even added them, but just viewing the folder in the Explorer window, I can't see the new files, but if I nav in from PS, they are all there.
Cavan1
Reply #31 Sunday, August 17, 2008 10:52 AM
Hey WG, using a 256x256 image here and it works fine.
Reply #31 Sunday, August 17, 2008 10:52 AM
And if you make one for yourself make sure its 130x112 in size.
Hey WG, using a 256x256 image here and it works fine.
bk13GarbageMan
Reply #32 Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:23 PM
Looks like I'm late to the party ! But I was going to say the same thing, I had the same problem as Monty, for some reason there was an invisible backdrop , I went nuts trying to figure it out. And besides for browsing for it with a program, I was able to see it through a folder menu on right click.
Also, once you find it, however you do it, like messiah said, don't open it, just delete it right from the
"open file" browser window. What I do now, just to avoid any problems is, I rename and copy the one that I want to use, then I delete the one that's in the docklet folder, and then I paste the new one, instead of overwriting.
Reply #32 Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:23 PM
Monty, I didn't mean to actually open it up. What I meant was, with photoshop open go into that folder like you were going to open a file in there. Can you see the other backdrop file? I ask because when in Vista, I changed some files in a folder and even added them, but just viewing the folder in the Explorer window, I can't see the new files, but if I nav in from PS, they are all there.
Looks like I'm late to the party ! But I was going to say the same thing, I had the same problem as Monty, for some reason there was an invisible backdrop , I went nuts trying to figure it out. And besides for browsing for it with a program, I was able to see it through a folder menu on right click.
Also, once you find it, however you do it, like messiah said, don't open it, just delete it right from the
"open file" browser window. What I do now, just to avoid any problems is, I rename and copy the one that I want to use, then I delete the one that's in the docklet folder, and then I paste the new one, instead of overwriting.
ALMonty
Reply #33 Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:03 PM
Reply #33 Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:03 PM
Messiah answer to your question is NO. There is only the folder, the default backdrop and the dll file.
Cool thing I discovered was when you right click inside a folder and select properties if you select the tab that says Previous Version you can choose a date that will show you all the stuff you had in that folder. Example: I created a folder inside the weather docklet folder call Backdrops. Yesterday I deleted this folder just to find out what was going on with the backdrops. Just now I click on Previous Versions and selected the date 7/29/08 and the backdrop folder was in there.
Cool thing I discovered was when you right click inside a folder and select properties if you select the tab that says Previous Version you can choose a date that will show you all the stuff you had in that folder. Example: I created a folder inside the weather docklet folder call Backdrops. Yesterday I deleted this folder just to find out what was going on with the backdrops. Just now I click on Previous Versions and selected the date 7/29/08 and the backdrop folder was in there.
messiah1
Reply #34 Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:33 PM
Ok, thought maybe somebody else might be experiencing the same thing as me. Don't know what to tell you then bud. Real strange that.
Reply #34 Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:33 PM
Messiah answer to your question is NO
Ok, thought maybe somebody else might be experiencing the same thing as me. Don't know what to tell you then bud. Real strange that.
ALMonty
Reply #35 Monday, August 18, 2008 12:24 AM
Reply #35 Monday, August 18, 2008 12:24 AM
I'm sorry I was wrong. 
I didn't see it with Photoshop but I do see it with Paintshop Pro. But...nothing happens when I change the image. I can open it up with PSP, make it blue and it's still the image in the screenshot above. 
I didn't see it with Photoshop but I do see it with Paintshop Pro. But...nothing happens when I change the image. I can open it up with PSP, make it blue and it's still the image in the screenshot above. 
zakai1369
Reply #36 Monday, August 18, 2008 1:36 AM
probably the best thing to try
Reply #36 Monday, August 18, 2008 1:36 AM
But...nothing happens when I change the image. I can open it up with PSP, make it blue and it's still the image in the screenshot above.
Also, once you find it, however you do it, like messiah said, don't open it, just delete it right from the
"open file" browser window.
"open file" browser window.
probably the best thing to try
WebGizmos
Reply #37 Monday, August 18, 2008 3:40 AM
I guess it doesn't really matter then...I was basing my images on the original backdrop that came with the weather docklet. So if that sizes works...cool.
And I'm assuming all you guys that are having this problem are on Vista? I'm on XP and its a simple matter of sending the new image there and it changes on the fly. I never thought something so simple could become so complicated.
Reply #37 Monday, August 18, 2008 3:40 AM
Hey WG, using a 256x256 image here and it works fine.
I guess it doesn't really matter then...I was basing my images on the original backdrop that came with the weather docklet. So if that sizes works...cool.
And I'm assuming all you guys that are having this problem are on Vista? I'm on XP and its a simple matter of sending the new image there and it changes on the fly. I never thought something so simple could become so complicated.
messiah1
Reply #38 Monday, August 18, 2008 5:40 AM
So was I but then I just tried a 200x200 size and it worked just as well. It's doing it's own resize apparently.
Yup, only happens to me when I'm in Vista.
Reply #38 Monday, August 18, 2008 5:40 AM
guess it doesn't really matter then...I was basing my images on the original backdrop that came with the weather docklet.
So was I but then I just tried a 200x200 size and it worked just as well. It's doing it's own resize apparently.
And I'm assuming all you guys that are having this problem are on Vista?
Yup, only happens to me when I'm in Vista.
WebGizmos
Reply #39 Monday, August 18, 2008 6:28 AM
Yeah I figured that as well....I tried making it a bit bigger since the text seemed to be overlapping the sides....but it didn't work. (
Reply #39 Monday, August 18, 2008 6:28 AM
It's doing it's own resize apparently.
Yeah I figured that as well....I tried making it a bit bigger since the text seemed to be overlapping the sides....but it didn't work. (
messiah1
Reply #40 Monday, August 18, 2008 11:52 AM
Same here. Be nice if you could control these through the od config like other stuff. Be able to turn the days at the bottom on/off...text size on the backdrops etc...wish there was a thread about that...wait a minute...Some things I'd like to see for ObjectDock
Reply #40 Monday, August 18, 2008 11:52 AM
Yeah I figured that as well....I tried making it a bit bigger since the text seemed to be overlapping the sides....but it didn't work
Same here. Be nice if you could control these through the od config like other stuff. Be able to turn the days at the bottom on/off...text size on the backdrops etc...wish there was a thread about that...wait a minute...Some things I'd like to see for ObjectDock
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Reply #21 Saturday, August 16, 2008 8:38 PM