ObjectDock 0.55
Monday, November 25, 2002 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
A new version of ObjectDock is available. This is a new build (as of today, as opposed to a buggy version that got leaked over the weekend).ObjectDock is a task manager / program launcher that does it with style. The new beta has these features:
+ Ability to have really really big magnification (almost 200 pixel sized icons)
+ Ability to move the dock left, right, top or bottom.
+ Skinnable backgrounds (defaults to metallic).
+ More font options
Download at www.objectdock.com
Incidentally, please feel free to post this news on other sites, We're a bit swamped right now and would appreciate spreading the word. Thanks.
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Septimus
Reply #22 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 9:45 AM
Reply #22 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 9:45 AM
Very impressed with this release, fast and smooth on my laptop unlike any of the other docks.
The Thing That Should Not Be
Reply #23 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 10:38 AM
Reply #23 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 10:38 AM
Well, the 0.51 beta looked buch better. Maybe there is a way to make 0.55 look like 0.51 with the transparency and all of that but I was so dissappointed that I installed 0.51 right away. 
>
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oneiros3682
Reply #24 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 10:48 AM
Reply #24 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 10:48 AM
Dan; reinstall 0.55 and copy the two files linked from my previous post into your ObjectDock folder - the result is as close to 0.51 as makes no difference. 
gbachand
Reply #25 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 10:53 AM
Reply #25 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 10:53 AM
bmetelsky - How do you delete the background?
KingSky
Reply #26 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 11:56 AM
Reply #26 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 11:56 AM
Objectdock is a wonderful program... I've been keeping my eye on it and like where it is going! However, Objectdock does take system resources. If I am going to be able to use it, I need to be able to use it as a complete start menu replacement. I don't want to have them both running.
I know that you can have a start button and system tray with other Stardock products but I don't want to have anything else running besides Objectdock really.
I hope that these features are added in in the future. I know that Stardock really listens to it's users so I'm sure they will be eventually. But until they do so, Objectdock is really just a toy. You can't access all your programs, and you can't use instant messaging. And like I said, if I have my windows taskbar open too, then why would I need Objectdock?
I know that you can have a start button and system tray with other Stardock products but I don't want to have anything else running besides Objectdock really.
I hope that these features are added in in the future. I know that Stardock really listens to it's users so I'm sure they will be eventually. But until they do so, Objectdock is really just a toy. You can't access all your programs, and you can't use instant messaging. And like I said, if I have my windows taskbar open too, then why would I need Objectdock?
iOn
Reply #27 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 12:06 PM
Reply #27 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 12:06 PM
yea i agree with kingsky, objectdock should have a start button, that would be extremely usefull. Im looking forward to the next version if it ever gets implemented
KingSky
Reply #28 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 12:12 PM
Reply #28 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 12:12 PM
One other thing I forgot to mention is the clock. If it is going to remain a clock, it should show the TIME!
DixonHill
Reply #30 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 1:38 PM
Reply #30 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 1:38 PM
Perhaps one idea for offering "skinning" capabilities, is to do pretty much what every other Stardock program does... rename a zip file to something like "mytheme.dock", and just unzip it to a folder in the ObjectDock install directory. Then instead of modifying background.ini to accommodate changes to the background or separator PNGs, it would just contain the name of the directory where it can find a new background.ini as well as supplimentary appimages.ini & dockitems.ini files.
Then, as a user, you'd just have the option to say "My INI files take precendece over skin INI files" or "Skin INI's take precendence over mine". That way, if a "skin" contained some images, the author could create additional dock images or application/class images which could override the defaults (or not, depending on the selection you make above).
In fact, they could probably just allow dock items specified in the skin to add on to the end of your own dock items, if you select that option. And if not, you could just choose some images from the skin manually to replace your own. ObjectDock already reads any images from all subdirectories, so it doesn't seem like it would be too hard to group the images according to the skin name.
Then, as a user, you'd just have the option to say "My INI files take precendece over skin INI files" or "Skin INI's take precendence over mine". That way, if a "skin" contained some images, the author could create additional dock images or application/class images which could override the defaults (or not, depending on the selection you make above).
In fact, they could probably just allow dock items specified in the skin to add on to the end of your own dock items, if you select that option. And if not, you could just choose some images from the skin manually to replace your own. ObjectDock already reads any images from all subdirectories, so it doesn't seem like it would be too hard to group the images according to the skin name.
DixonHill
Reply #31 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 1:51 PM
Reply #31 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 1:51 PM
is anyone else having the problem that the recycle bin object doesn't accurately reflect whether the recycle bin has items in it or not?
jarget
Reply #32 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 2:13 PM
Reply #32 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 2:13 PM
::oneiros::, would it be too difficult to explain how you made the docks semitransparent? E-Mail me if you like. [email protected] If you don't have the time, no problem I understand.
Thanks,
jarget
Thanks,
jarget
klw
Reply #34 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 3:07 PM
Reply #34 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 3:07 PM
Doesn't ANYBODY know what wallpaper that is ? please ?!
MogWaEE
Reply #35 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 3:09 PM
Reply #35 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 3:09 PM
I'm having problems with the dock showing up over my cursor whenever I come out of a D3D app (such as Unrel Tournament 2003). Then, whenever I press an icon, it goes behind the dock bar . Also, it seems to crash very often when exiting Outlook (not express).
Aside from that, this is a great app!
. Also, it seems to crash very often when exiting Outlook (not express).Aside from that, this is a great app!
MogWaEE
Reply #36 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 3:10 PM
Reply #36 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 3:10 PM
Forgot to mention: I'm also using cursorXP plus.
DixonHill
Reply #37 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 4:28 PM
Reply #37 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 4:28 PM
jarget:
the easiest way to do transparency is to open the PNG file in Adobe Photoshop, and in the "layers" window, just decrease the opacity (85% is reasonable, depending on the background), then resave the file back as a PNG and restart ObjectDock.
If you have Corel PhotoPaint, it's a little more complex - you have to open the image, go to the Mask menu and pick "Select All", then Edit->Cut, and then Edit->Paste>as new object, then right click the image, select Object Properties and decrease the opacity, and resave. (That's with version 11 - in previous versions, I believe you have to increase transparency, rather than decrease opacity).
As for any other program, like PaintShop Pro - I'm not sure off hand, but it will likely be something similar to one of the above methods.
Also, MogWaEE: I have the same problem, but I'm not running cursorXP plus. However, I have also applied a registry patch that allows Outlook to minimize to the tray instead of the taskbar - when I disable that option, it doesn't seem to crash any more. Perhaps you have a similar configuration?
the easiest way to do transparency is to open the PNG file in Adobe Photoshop, and in the "layers" window, just decrease the opacity (85% is reasonable, depending on the background), then resave the file back as a PNG and restart ObjectDock.
If you have Corel PhotoPaint, it's a little more complex - you have to open the image, go to the Mask menu and pick "Select All", then Edit->Cut, and then Edit->Paste>as new object, then right click the image, select Object Properties and decrease the opacity, and resave. (That's with version 11 - in previous versions, I believe you have to increase transparency, rather than decrease opacity).
As for any other program, like PaintShop Pro - I'm not sure off hand, but it will likely be something similar to one of the above methods.
Also, MogWaEE: I have the same problem, but I'm not running cursorXP plus. However, I have also applied a registry patch that allows Outlook to minimize to the tray instead of the taskbar - when I disable that option, it doesn't seem to crash any more. Perhaps you have a similar configuration?
jarget
Reply #38 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 5:12 PM
Reply #38 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 5:12 PM
DixonHill I tried it in Paintshop Pro 7 but couldn't get it to work. Oh well thanks anyway for your help.
Emmitt_Nervend
Reply #39 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 5:52 PM
Reply #39 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 5:52 PM
Jarget:
It does work! Under the "Layers" menu, you should see "Properties," and the opacity slider is there. I just set it my new background and seperator PNGs to 52% (for MY taste
) and it looks GREAT.
DixonHill:
Thanks for the info! I, too, have PSP7, have used PSP for years, but mostly just for simple photo cleanup, etc. As a result, I wasn't sure about layers usage. Glad my previous post wasn't as dumb as I thought!
It does work! Under the "Layers" menu, you should see "Properties," and the opacity slider is there. I just set it my new background and seperator PNGs to 52% (for MY taste
) and it looks GREAT.DixonHill:
Thanks for the info! I, too, have PSP7, have used PSP for years, but mostly just for simple photo cleanup, etc. As a result, I wasn't sure about layers usage. Glad my previous post wasn't as dumb as I thought!
jarget
Reply #40 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 6:11 PM
Reply #40 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 6:11 PM
Dang, now I got it. Thanks Floyd R. Turbo and Thanks DixonHill. I am quite the happy camper.
Rock The Nation.
jarget
Rock The Nation.
jargetPlease login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
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Reply #21 Tuesday, November 26, 2002 9:32 AM
>> http://www.oneiros.demon.co.uk/files/background.png
>> http://www.oneiros.demon.co.uk/files/seperator.png
Enjoy.