Anyone here use DX consistantly?
Wednesday, June 1, 2005 by Stupendous Man | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
From a thread I was reading yesturday there are some here who would like to see a few more changes to DX, but is there anyone here who likes it enough to use it as their desktop on a day-in-day-out basis? I've tried and I always seem to revert back to windows standard (skinned by WB, IP, widgets et al of course). There seems to be something missing but I can't put my finger on what it is that's lacking. I really would like to be able to use it as my main desktop, but for now it just doesn't feel right. 
NightTrainthedark
Reply #3 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 2:52 PM
Reply #3 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 2:52 PM
Making themes to suit your specific needs and style is what is missing. Give it a shot, you will see. 
Tarkus
Reply #4 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 3:52 PM
Reply #4 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 3:52 PM
I use widgets consistently, but prefer XP for my overall "theme." 
aufisch
Reply #6 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 4:24 PM
Reply #6 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 4:24 PM
I would love to use it more if I wouln't have to completely personalyse each and every theme. It takes hours to do so and since I love having a desktop that changes according to my mood the seasons and the current politics, customizing each and every theme becomes really tedious. However, now and then a really cool new theme/desktop comes out and I will happily go through all the customizing trouble.
I wish DX would have something like LiteStep, a textfile that contains all the shortcuts and links-info, which can be read by DX and used to set up the shortcuts automatically. Someone who builds a theme then does not have to tediously set up all the shortcuts either.
I wish DX would have something like LiteStep, a textfile that contains all the shortcuts and links-info, which can be read by DX and used to set up the shortcuts automatically. Someone who builds a theme then does not have to tediously set up all the shortcuts either.
Tarkus
Reply #7 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 4:35 PM
Exactly! You took the words right off my keyboard.
Reply #7 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 4:35 PM
| I would love to use it more if I wouln't have to completely personalyse each and every theme. It takes hours to do so and since I love having a desktop that changes according to my mood the seasons and the current politics, customizing each and every theme becomes really tedious. |
Exactly! You took the words right off my keyboard.
ZubaZ
Reply #8 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 4:36 PM
Reply #8 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 4:36 PM
There was a system a while back called CUI; common user interface. The goal was to set up a local file (registry?) with your steetings and an author could call that config if it is there.
So a theme could call "group 1" and it would pull your "group 1" settings which might be Business app, or games or utils or whatever. Same with weather widgets or whatever.
I was really waiting for that. But I think interest was low.
Too bad.
So a theme could call "group 1" and it would pull your "group 1" settings which might be Business app, or games or utils or whatever. Same with weather widgets or whatever.
I was really waiting for that. But I think interest was low.
Too bad.
thomassen
Reply #9 Thursday, June 2, 2005 12:58 PM
Reply #9 Thursday, June 2, 2005 12:58 PM
Zubaz: It was Marting proposing a standard way of saving widget information. After discuissions it was agreed that XML was the way to go. Have a look at his WC site http://martin.wincustomize.com/ for more info.
My thing with DX is that I feel that it isn't very friendly for scripting. At least when your scripts become a little more complicated and bigger. There is much room for improvement when it comes to the script editor.
My thing with DX is that I feel that it isn't very friendly for scripting. At least when your scripts become a little more complicated and bigger. There is much room for improvement when it comes to the script editor.
ZubaZ
Reply #10 Thursday, June 2, 2005 1:08 PM
OK, I read the article and looked at the object samples . . . are developers using it?
Reply #10 Thursday, June 2, 2005 1:08 PM
| It was Martin proposing a standard way of saving widget information. After discuissions it was agreed that XML was the way to go. Have a look at his WC site Link for more info. |
OK, I read the article and looked at the object samples . . . are developers using it?
Stupendous Man
Reply #11 Thursday, June 2, 2005 2:28 PM
Reply #11 Thursday, June 2, 2005 2:28 PM
From #6
"I would love to use it more if I wouln't have to completely personalyse each and every theme. It takes hours to do so and since I love having a desktop that changes according to my mood the seasons and the current politics, customizing each and every theme becomes really tedious."
Maybe aufisch hit on it, because I can use 2 or 3 different WB skins in an average week. I guess the problems more with me than something with DX. Also, due to the fact that there are so many excellent themes available it can be tough sticking to one for any real length of time. At least it is for me.
"I would love to use it more if I wouln't have to completely personalyse each and every theme. It takes hours to do so and since I love having a desktop that changes according to my mood the seasons and the current politics, customizing each and every theme becomes really tedious."
Maybe aufisch hit on it, because I can use 2 or 3 different WB skins in an average week. I guess the problems more with me than something with DX. Also, due to the fact that there are so many excellent themes available it can be tough sticking to one for any real length of time. At least it is for me.
John Hamp
Reply #12 Thursday, June 2, 2005 4:16 PM
Reply #12 Thursday, June 2, 2005 4:16 PM
I use it all day every day. I've got my To-Do list and a weather widget. Going to rain tomorrow. Sigh. My kids use it like crazy too, their desks are full of walking creatures.
Frogboy
Reply #13 Thursday, June 2, 2005 4:33 PM
Reply #13 Thursday, June 2, 2005 4:33 PM
I use it every day. I have a small server monitor widget that runs at the corner of my desktop and some remote drive space monitoring objects that I have hidden except when I hit F10.
Frogboy
Reply #14 Thursday, June 2, 2005 4:35 PM
Reply #14 Thursday, June 2, 2005 4:35 PM
| I would love to use it more if I wouln't have to completely personalyse each and every theme. It takes hours to do so and since I love having a desktop that changes according to my mood the seasons and the current politics, customizing each and every theme becomes really tedious. However, now and then a really cool new theme/desktop comes out and I will happily go through all the customizing trouble. I wish DX would have something like LiteStep, a textfile that contains all the shortcuts and links-info, which can be read by DX and used to set up the shortcuts automatically. Someone who builds a theme then does not have to tediously set up all the shortcuts either. |
This is more of an ObjectBar thing. What you would do is build your dekstop using ObjectBar and embed various DesktopX content that is theme neutral. Then set ObjectBar to inherit your current WindowBlinds skin.
Jingles
Reply #15 Thursday, June 2, 2005 6:00 PM
Reply #15 Thursday, June 2, 2005 6:00 PM
I use it every day, also.I like Window blinds and all for the look of windows. But I'm running 9 diferrent dx desktops [like Martins and Boxxi's vector 4, also] for diferent reasons so I can access my programs documents and libraries in different ways for different uses.
I've saved all my desktops the way I like them and access them through icons [or objects ] I've made to jump between tops.
It works for me and and the diferances between them all is what makes DX better than any thing else.To standardize it seems like turning it into an os rather than an os controller.
keep up the great work
I've saved all my desktops the way I like them and access them through icons [or objects ] I've made to jump between tops.
It works for me and and the diferances between them all is what makes DX better than any thing else.To standardize it seems like turning it into an os rather than an os controller.
keep up the great work
j dott
Reply #17 Thursday, June 2, 2005 7:09 PM
Reply #17 Thursday, June 2, 2005 7:09 PM
I use it constantly, except when I'm installing something. I'm really busy and I had similar time issues with customizing new themes--what I ended up doing is using ObjectDock+ for most of my links, and using DX to change to look of the desktop and ad useful objects/widgets. Even then, I usually keep pretty much the same look (I seem to completely change every couple of weeks) and just adjust some colors and, of course, the wallpaper. I use all of the Object Desktop components to increase productivity (looking nice is a plus), and DesktopX is particularly useful because I can just make an object real quick to do whatever I need done. I'm a PhD student, and I often end up making objects to search various databases, etc. I also have one that tells me when my library books are done or there is something in the library that I need to pick up (it just checks my account at the library twice a day). I also have an object that checks my department web calendar several times a day and throws up a message if there is something to watch for. I always have a clock (taskbar hidden), I use Rainlendar (I'm waiting for a seemless way to plug DX calendars into Outlook, but don't have time myself), and I track the weather on Object Dock. I also have a cluster of guages that I bring up when needed, and have a really stripped down media player on my desktop at all times. When I don't have dual monitors running, I also like to use the multiple desktops feature.
I guess that's a really long way of saying, "yeah, I use it all the time". In fact, I couldn't imagine living without Windowblinds (transparency and roll-up are huge productivity boosters), ObjectDock Plus (a great way to organize everything I need to get to, email checker, weather, and the magic 8 ball Q: "should I give this student a C-", A: "without a doubt"), RightClick (because that's just what should happen when you right-click), and Cursor XP (I can actually see my cursor at high resolutions, without it looking horrible). Plus, having a nice environment to look at seems to really boost my productivity.
I guess that's a really long way of saying, "yeah, I use it all the time". In fact, I couldn't imagine living without Windowblinds (transparency and roll-up are huge productivity boosters), ObjectDock Plus (a great way to organize everything I need to get to, email checker, weather, and the magic 8 ball Q: "should I give this student a C-", A: "without a doubt"), RightClick (because that's just what should happen when you right-click), and Cursor XP (I can actually see my cursor at high resolutions, without it looking horrible). Plus, having a nice environment to look at seems to really boost my productivity.
Frank Leon
Reply #18 Saturday, June 4, 2005 6:08 PM
Reply #18 Saturday, June 4, 2005 6:08 PM
I use it all the time here. I basically replaced my desktop icons with DesktopX objects. I have little need for the much-hyped widget nonsense. If people wanted widgets so badly, they'd have long since switched to stuff from 545 Studios or Samurize or whatever where such little gizmos have been available for years.
For me, DesktopX is about building desktops. Not for finding out what the temperature is outside or having other crap on the desktop that is of limited value.
For me, DesktopX is about building desktops. Not for finding out what the temperature is outside or having other crap on the desktop that is of limited value.
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Reply #1 Wednesday, June 1, 2005 1:08 PM