Fences and Wallpaper Changers
ManageDesktopImageCache
Friday, April 3, 2009 by SM123456 | Discussion: Fences
There seems to be an issue with wallpaper changers. If a wallpaper changer updates a single file to contain a different wallpaper, like the Windows XP power toy wallpapertoy.exe, Fences does not update its desktop image cache. There is something regarding desktop image caching in the DesktopDock.dll.
The background image does update infrequently, but I am not sure what causes it to update, it could be just a long regular interval, I have not timed it.
I think the Desktop Image Cache should be updated more frequently, or there should a registry setting or GUI setting to set a frequency for desktop background cache updates.
Reply #2 Sunday, April 5, 2009 1:13 AM
I use both Webshots and Magentic to change my wallpapers alternately (Webshots set to every 15 minutes, Magentic to every 30) and have no problems of any kind with Fences. You might like to try these changers and see if they do better for you.
Reply #3 Sunday, April 5, 2009 4:49 AM
No way.. Nuonsoft rules for wallpaper changer.. works with mulitple displays well.. can create your own layout with a calendar, time, ect.. it's an advanced wallpaper cycler so the way it has to work is to just take the next wallpaer and rename it to the same file so windows just uses that same file for it's wallpaper. I would not use what is crap to me like Webshots.. not with a ten foot pole.. Nuonsoft features rule.. calendar, time, rss, create categories for wallpapers that only show at night or at specific times of the year or even links on the wallpaper.. it is really awesome and I won't give it up for fences.
Reply #4 Thursday, April 23, 2009 4:17 PM
I've looked into this issue, and Microsoft's powertoy fails to broadcast a WM_SETTINGCHANGE message upon changing the wallpaper, as is required for any other program other than the shell itself to know that some setting has changed. Microsoft, violating their own rules... go figure.
Am looking in to ways of detecting the wallpaper changing without just continuously checking the file for changes, hopefully the next update of Fences has a workaround for this.
Reply #5 Thursday, May 7, 2009 6:15 AM
I changed to another wallpaper changer {Nuonsoft Wallpaper Cycler Lite}, but that also displays the same behavious, so it must not be sending that broadcast either.
Is a WM_SETTINGCHANGE brodcast the only condition that the desktop cache is updated, or is there a builtin interval it also updates after? I ask because the wallpaper background does change, but it is unpredictable.
Reply #6 Thursday, May 7, 2009 7:18 AM
I also recommend the free and very powerful John's Background Switcher. 
Reply #7 Thursday, May 14, 2009 9:47 AM
Does it solve the problem, because Nuonsoft Wallpaper Cycler Lite does not.
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Reply #1 Saturday, April 4, 2009 11:21 PM
I have the exact same problem! STUPID caching the desktop! I want to turn this stupid feature off.. but no way to turn it off and not getting a single response from Stardock on this problem!