ObjectDock 2 Released!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010 by Island Dog | Discussion: WinCustomize News

Stardock has released the long awaited update to the popular ObjectDock application.  ObjectDock is an application that gives users the ability to organize shortcuts, programs, running tasks, etc. into an animated dock for Windows.  This new version is a significant update with a variety of new features.

ObjectDock 2 new features:

  • New user interface.
  • Icon reflections.
  • Background blur-behind (Win7/Vista)
  • New mouseover effects
  • New “Ghost-mode”
  • Aero Peek-like feature
  • Folder-View tabs (Plus version)
  • And much more!

You can take a walkthrough of some of these new features here.  ObjectDock has both a free and Plus version.  Current ObjectDock Plus users can upgrade to 2.0 for $9.95, and the Plus version is $19.95.  Users who pre-ordered OD+2 can update via Impulse.

https://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/

The free version of ObjectDock 2 can be downloaded from Download.com!

10-12-2010 5-23-58 PM     10-12-2010 5-27-53 PM

First Previous Page 2 of 2 Next Last
Cavan1
Reply #21 Wednesday, October 13, 2010 7:41 PM

minor question.... what happens with the plus/minus images.

More like a major question. That was one feature I wanted in OD and I don't understand why it's not in this latest version. This is one reason why I probably won't update to this latest version...I don't understand why features are always taken out of some updates. Kind of takes away from customizing.

They are still there, what changed is the path is no longer needed in the .ini, just the image name

[Extras]

PlusImage=plus_button.png

MinusImage=minus_button.png

For old docks with path in the .ini you must edit the .ini.

There is a easy way to do this now, open OD2 config, select tabbed dock, style, click to change background, from the dialog with all your installed tabbed docks you just need to right click a dock and select open .ini and edit it. You can quickly go thru and edit them all without endless opening of folders.

sophiesboy
Reply #22 Wednesday, October 13, 2010 9:42 PM

I assume that I am missing something truly simple here, but what happened to the idea of themes?

In the older version of OD, I could create different dock layouts and combinations, save them, and then load the one I wanted to work with at any time. Granted, the theme management system was not top of the line, but now it has disappeared completely.

From what I can see so far, I am stuck with whatever is on the screen; if I want to change the layout I have to add docks, install new shortcuts, etc. - essentially build a new layout from scratch. Then if I change my mind, I have to go through the entire process in reverse. What happened to the idea of clicking on a theme name and loading an alternative layout?

 

Wizard1956
Reply #23 Wednesday, October 13, 2010 9:52 PM

What happened to the idea of clicking on a theme name and loading an alternative layout?

It got more complicated. Open config and go to Settings then click on Troubleshooting Options.Click on "Open my Objectdock settings folder so I can backup my settings." (yes, they got all that on one looong button,lol.) Copy everything in the folder for each setup and then I assume to change themes you just replace the contents as needed.

This used to be so easy.

sophiesboy
Reply #24 Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:18 PM

Wizard1956

Copy everything in the folder for each setup and then I assume to change themes you just replace the contents as needed.
 

So as best I can figure it out, I copy the contents of the "CurrentTheme.ini" file into a new file with a different name, say "theme2.ini", create a new layout (which is stored under "CurrentTheme.ini", then make a copy of the rebuilt "CurrentTheme.ini" file under a different name, say "theme3.ini", then if I want to swap to the first layout, copy the contents of the "theme2.ini" into the "CurrentTheme.ini" file, and reload the docks.

That's what, five steps to accomplish what used to be accomplished by one click on a theme name?

It would appear that Stardock no longer has any understanding of the "user-friendly" concept. There certainly seems to be a decided lack of an ability to customize in this version of "customization" software.

beachbummer
Reply #25 Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:32 PM

Sorry, not user-friendly at all - finding & changing docks is a chore - back to rocketdock or nexus.

Wizard1956
Reply #26 Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:35 PM

One could copy the entire folder, in my case C:\Users\Wizard\AppData\Local\Stardock\ObjectDockPlus and rename it theme one, then repeat for the next theme, and so on.  You should be able to replace and rename the folders to change over. I may be making that harder than it is that way though, never tried your way.  I know, what a contorted way to do something that should be so simple. 

I hope the old method can be reimplemented at some time in the future.  On the plus side, all the new features are quite nice, OD+ looks better than ever.

sophiesboy
Reply #27 Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:50 PM

I have also noticed that the "folder view" tabs do not work well at all.

I have had to do a restart four separate times while trying to set these up. The program doesn't seem to be able to handle more than one "folder view" in the same dock. If you try for more than one, the images freeze up on the screen and all interaction comes to a halt. Maybe it's a 64-bit Win7 issue, but I have given up on the concept and am sticking with the stack docklet, which continues to work quite nicely.

WebGizmos
Reply #28 Thursday, October 14, 2010 1:49 AM

They are still there, what changed is the path is no longer needed in the .ini, just the image name

[Extras]

PlusImage=plus_button.png

MinusImage=minus_button.png

For old docks with path in the .ini you must edit the .ini.

There is a easy way to do this now, open OD2 config, select tabbed dock, style, click to change background, from the dialog with all your installed tabbed docks you just need to right click a dock and select open .ini and edit it. You can quickly go thru and edit them all without endless opening of folders.

Thanks Cavan...I'll try that and see if it works. But if you have to edit each one aren't basically opening each folder in a sense...just differently?

OldMsgt
Reply #29 Thursday, October 14, 2010 9:00 AM

I have 2.0 but use 1.9, I also use Winstep Extreme the Work Shelf and start bar and Nexus.

WebGizmos
Reply #30 Thursday, October 14, 2010 9:58 AM

I have 2.0 but use 1.9

Didn't the final release remove your 1.9 version?

OldMsgt
Reply #31 Thursday, October 14, 2010 10:04 AM

No Impulse shows Object Dock Plus and Object Dock Plus2

Wizard1956
Reply #32 Thursday, October 14, 2010 10:08 AM

WebGizmos

I have 2.0 but use 1.9


Didn't the final release remove your 1.9 version?

It didn't for me. I still have both but I see no further need for 1.9. ODPlus 2.0 does almost everything better than the old version. I'll hang on to it for a bit then say farewell.   

Diamond12a
Reply #33 Thursday, October 14, 2010 1:24 PM

I have not seen anyone ask this yet so maybe I am the only one experiencing?

 

I have set the new ObjectDock (Free) to open when Windows Starts.  When it loads, it also loads and displays the settings dialog. How do I diable to settings dialog from coming up everytime automaticially?

NOTE - ISSUE FIXED - It had to do with some leftover startup shortcuts from my Object 1.9 install. Once extra old shortcut removed, the settings dialog did not appear anymore.

adni18
Reply #34 Thursday, October 14, 2010 6:51 PM
There is no "Load previous dock" or "Save current dock"??? It is very important option for customization!
Jeff Gamble
Reply #35 Thursday, October 14, 2010 8:16 PM

 

I have also noticed that the "folder view" tabs do not work well at all. I have had to do a restart four separate times while trying to set these up.

I have had issues with "folder view" tabs also, including having to quit OD several times.  In addition, I have had issues with the background color of the folder tab.  I had another tabbed dock (not folder view) that had a black background. Even though I changed that dock to a default theme, the "folder view" tab still has a black background.  Not sure what else to try short of resetting all my docks and rebuilding them from scratch.

Oh, one more thing about folder-view.... Maybe its just me, but when creating a new "folder view" tab a dialog box comes up titled "Choose a Folder", but I cant actually choose a folder... I have to choose a file in that folder?!?!?!?  Annoying if the folder I'm trying to choose only has folders in it. I know I can temporarily put a file or shortcut in there so I CAN choose it, but I shouldn't have to.  And, because of this there is no way to choose "My Computer" for a folder view tab. 

Onklifiziert
Reply #36 Saturday, October 16, 2010 5:52 AM

Well, ObjectDock 2 works great - no problems here, ...but: the flyout-menu is still bad. I have a flyout-menu with all my programs and it's still confusing. What about a menu like the Mac one?

gef
Reply #37 Saturday, October 16, 2010 8:30 AM

I take it that there is now a Start menu option that works with Windows 7?

RogerCale
Reply #38 Saturday, October 16, 2010 8:08 PM

I posted this on the sapport site and I guess the poor Techs are doing the best they can, one had me try verifing the install through impulse and the other one had me delete a bunch of folders to see if that fixed it. The little I know, I know that it's a C++ problem and the way objectdock plus 2 was compiled, I'm still waiting for a fix! Maybe you guys in the comunity might know one. here is the error. Thanks guys... Roger

Debug Assertion Failed!

Program: C:\Program Files
(x86)\Stardock\ObjectDockPlus2\ObjectDock.exe
File f:\dd\vctools\crt_bld\self_x86\crt\src\dbgheap.c
Line: 1317

Expression: _CrtlsValidHeapPointer(pUserData)

For Information on how your program can cause an assertion
failure, see the visual C++ documentation on asserts.

(Press Retry to debug the application)

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