Well...It's almost a whole year since this post started...and since it seems obvious nothing will ever get done about this flooding of the Object"Dock" library with icons/pngs...I have to make some decisions in regards to this issue.

I know all this may sound or seem petty to some people...thats a given...you'll get over it...but it just doesn't make sense to me to take the time to create something that will end up buried and not seen or used. Kinda pointless huh? I agree!

It certainly wasn't my first choice...But with the exception of updating older docks...and 1 last upload ...which is for a certain skin to arrive here at WinCustomize soon...I will not be uploading any new docks to the Object"Icon"Dock library (I may...not sure yet...continue to upload to my gallery here). In addition, I am also "considering" just moving them to another library where they will not be buried under a ton of icons/pngs.

For whatever reason...the Object"Dock" library has become (or was) a dumping ground for unwanted pngs (icons in disguise) and a flop house for icons that for some reason don't like their own library..."Misc Icons". And I've heard all the reasonings for why pngs aren't allowed in the Misc Icons library....but quite frankly it doesn't make any sense and is just plain silly. Pngs are in part nothing more than an icon by another name, unless of course they were created as pngs...and icons can be turned into pngs in about 1 second...making file size, extension name, and a slight appearance change the only difference between the 2...and of course they now have rabies or something and aren't allowed in the Misc Icons library.

The Object"Dock" software is about docks "for" your icons/pngs as well as "dock"lets...it is not about icons/pngs...thats what IconPackager & IconDevolper is for. Just as WindowBlinds is about skins for windows...and even though you use icons/pngs in windows...you dont' expect to find either of those in the WindowBlinds library. And since Icons as well as pngs (icons in disguise) already have a library...thats where they should be kept. But thats just because it makes sense to me.

Uploading a dock to the Object"Dock" library these days is like jumping in quicksand made up of icons/pngs....they quickly disappear. And I have watched earlier uploads become forgotten as a result. So...since this is not my website...and I have no say in anything that happens here...and obviously can do nothing about this. I have no choice but to think about what I created and whether or not to accept letting my docks get buried and forgotten...and the answer to that is no...I will not. I'm not yet sure if I will upload them all to another library and delete them here or just simply upload them elsewhere...but the one thing I am sure about is that I won't be uploading anymore here until things change.

I will of course continue to create them and let people know where to find them since I have fun doing that...I will do requests...provided the skin has whats needed to create docks and the graphics work in ObjectDock...not all skins do. And if or when things change here and make sense I will begin uploading here again.
Have a nice day!

Hey WG, after seeing your reference to WindowBlinds, I think the best solution would be a ObjectDock Dock gallery and a seperate OD Icon ( png only ) gallery.
I say this as for with WB, Progress Animations ( 61 items ) and Toolbar Icons ( 68 items ) both have their own gallery. All that would be needed is to combine the animation and toolbar icons galleries thus making room for a new gallery to send all the png icons and leave docks and docklets in the OD gallery.

The new PNG icon gallery could be named OD/DX/IconX as they can be used for all.
Which since there are no galleries for IconX and stock DX png icons, I think that some are not aware the icons can be used for them.

So now what is it again, a poll for a petition or a petiton for a poll.

This whole thread just caught my attention. One of the first moves I make when DLing a new theme/skin is to see if it has a matching Object Dock with tabs and side docks, etc. to complete my desktop. I've gotten quite used to OD+ and rely on it without thinking much about it anymore...taking it for granted, it's how I navigate around and get things done. The idea that WG won't be doing docks as usual is an eye-opener for me at least. I didn't realize there was a situation where work is quickly buried by incoming creations, but now I see it. When I try on a new skin/theme, I usually go to WGs site and shop for matching docks. Just used to that way of dressing up my GUI. There's also a lot of other artists here that do docks for Obj Dock that are way high on my list to check out, diafragma's glass shelves come to mind.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is, if there's a need for a sharper delineation between .pngs, .icos, docks, backgrounds...I'm all for it. Whatever makes it more appealing and user-friendly for the artists to showcase their work for us consumers. For me, Windowblinds without the best docks would be like a BMW w/o available M-series mods(...I actually drive a beater Mazda van, but I can dream, right?)

Don't quote me on this, but I have a feeling some of this will be addressed when the new version of WC comes out. We can only hope.

new version of WC

  

In this case Cavan I think I might get the poll.  

THIS POST IS 98% JEST! LOOK HARD FOR THE OTHER 2%

ok...we've been at this for a long while...and if Giz is gonna stop uploading, so am I (not really)! I mean...I must be contributing to burying his docks and stuff (honestly) by uploading so many pngs (which arent icos converted to pngs and have nothing to do with icon packager, but are made in photoshop and fireworks). Since the OD gallery is the only place where I can upload my pngs (truthfully) and no other gallery will let me post them there, I will stop uploading my pngs (that's a lie) and stop filling requests from the requested icons thread (again, another lie).

I want to see a resolution to this problem (not crossing fingers, now telling truth).
a seperate OD icon/png gallery seems to be the simplest and best idea!
I'm behind it 100%, if that makes any difference.

The Object"Dock" software is about docks "for" your icons/pngs as well as "dock"lets...it is not about icons/pngs...thats what IconPackager & IconDevolper is for. Just as WindowBlinds is about skins for windows...and even though you use icons/pngs in windows...you dont' expect to find either of those in the WindowBlinds library. And since Icons as well as pngs (icons in disguise) already have a library...thats where they should be kept. But thats just because it makes sense to me.

this is the only statement I have a question about...what's a pretty dock with no shiny icons on it....if Im using the smoothest dock ever created, Giz...do you want me to just drag fuzzy shortcuts of my programs up to it?

Can't something be found here that will allow all of us to get along? I don't want this site to lose an artist like WG, nor do I want to be part of the problem that causes his artwork to vanish from the galleries. I also do not want to stop creating icons for OD (I use OD+, and really don't see how others survive without it)

I will of course continue to create them and let people know where to find them since I have fun doing that...

I have fun creating icons as well, WG...lets find a place to put them and not stop griping until we do...I can get behind your effort here, as I am sure many others will...just please, reconsider the stark decision you are making...we wanna keep you and your work!

WG... please calm down. Seperate libraries are being considered, but you should know, nothing happens here in a flash. The main thing that bothers me about your comments is "since Icons as well as pngs (icons in disguise) already have a library...thats where they should be kept." It's been pointed out to you that PNG icons aren't allowed in the Misc Icon library. (the Mods don't make the rules, we just try to enforce them)Another problem with this is, the ObjectDock library is 3 years older that the Misc Icon library. So where would you suggest the dock icons to have been submitted prior to Jan. 2005?.

One other thing that's bugging me is, you complain that your docks get buried in a flood of single icons. The same can be said for any icons submitted.... they get buried. Perhaps we should have a seperate library for icons that are created from scratch, as opposed to those created from images found on the web, and such.....

Personally, I'm with WG on this one. I've never understood why the png files are in the OD library. Docks are docks and png's are png's. Regular icons can be used to signify app shortcuts on docks so why aren't ico files in the OD library? As for things not changing in a flash here at WC, I understand that. There are good reasons for this and nobody can argue them. You have to admit WG's stance on this subject is quite valid, though. I understand his frustration in this. Maybe someone who is "in the know" of the behind the scenes workings of WC can comment on this soon. I'm hopeful of it, anyway. I think the idea of a seperate OD/DX/IconX library makes a lot of sense. That's my 2 cents. In parting, allow me to wish everyone a grand day.    

A seperate library is a great idea. Suggesting it in the forums is a great idea. Not posting here anymore because your work gets buried is as dumb as not submitting because of the ratings.
The suggestion has been acknowledged by WC. Post your work and see what happens in the future, or don't post it. But this threat crap for attention isn't needed. The "I'm taking my ball and going home" stuff is contrary to the idea of skinning because you like to.

Ok...geezus...lets get this all straight before it gets way out of hand.

Randy...If I got any calmer you'd be at my wake

As far as seperate libraries being considered that great, but since I had no way of knowing that...I felt I had to take steps to resolve things on my own...its nothing personal...I'm not waving an I hate WinCustomize banner or anything like that, I love this place... I saw nothing changing so I felt I had to make my own changes. And to say changes are being considered is fine, but it still doesn't solve my concern...considering is vague...this year, next year...who knows...and again...thats fine...but I see a problem that needs "my" attention and consideration now...I'm creating something for a specific software that needs to be seen...not buried...and I'm not one to sit around waiting for some change I don't know is even a thought. I brought this up once before and nothing was really ever said about it or even put out there as a consideration for that matter. Actually it seemed to be thought of as a dead horse...so...I decided to stop beating it and doing something about it...or at least consider it...plain and simple.

As far as the "icons in disguise" comment...I still don't understand how an icon is any different from a png that would make it basically banned from the Misc Icons library? I just think that in itself is a bit extreme. I can convert an icon in 1 second to a png and the only difference that "I" can see is file size and a slight appearance change. In fact, I use nothing but pngs in my docks. The only place I use icons is through IconPackager for windows.

As far as the time difference in the creation of each library...I completely understand that...ya can't submit an icon/png to a library that doesn't exist. But after it was created, I would have though they would have been diverted to that library...but hey thats me...and then we do have the png ban thing.

As for docks getting buried under icon/pngs versus icon/pngs getting buried under docks. Its one thing to get bumped a space by a dock, but to have something uploaded and then have someone right after you (this is hypothetical...ok) upload about 30 icons/pngs that should clearly be in a package (this actually happened) or just a crap load of single icon/pngs which bump you back pages...not spaces...is quite different. The point is...if my docks were getting buried under other docks...no problem...but thats not whats happening.

Boss...I'm 52...I have no need for attention...nor do I have any intention of "taking my stuff and going home" as you say...thats just plain childish, counterproductive, and isn't even close to what this is about...and I really don't care about the ratings all that much...its nice to see them but not many people do it...or comment for that matter. Downloads tell me more than anything else. And when I see older docks not getting downloaded it tells me people aren't seeing them.

It is about skinning, and I do it because I like to, among other reasons, but theres no point in doing it and uploading it if people don't see them as readily as they do WindowBlinds or icons or pngs, and have to wade through tons of icons/pngs that have really nothing to do with the particular software before they even find a dock...Its called ObjectDOCK...not ObjectIcon or ObjectPng. Yes...icons & pngs are used with the software...but without the docks you have desktop icons...period. But if you want to go down that alley...WindowBlinds/IconX/DesktopX use icons in them as well....lets start uploading them there as well...just kidding!

People that are here a lot and have seen and are aware of my docks can easily find them, but people that are new might not find them as easily, so its great if you already know where they are, but if you go to the Object"Dock" library looking for docks you'll find over 8000 icon/pngs as opposed to maybe 300 docks...give or take how ever many. So if you go there looking for docks and all you see is icons/pngs you might not bother looking any further...or even bother buying the software. Even when I first went to the ObjectDock library to look for docks for the software I just bought then I had a hard time finding any.

That was the main reason I started doing docks...because at the time there wasn't really anything in here that even remotely resembled the skins I was using...and there were only a few docks I even liked. So...I started making these for myself and then thought why not share them...then I saw a further need for them since no one was really doing them based on skins. And at this point I've made dock "sets" for over 200 skins plus some still on the drawing board.

Lets just put it this way...a lot of my time and work went in to making these...and yes...I do it mainly for fun and because I can...I also do it to help promote skins...I do it to help promote ObjectDock...I do it so people have docks to match the skins they use...I do it because not many others are doing it...so these are my babies so to speak...I love to see people using them...but if they don't I'm not going to have a hissy fit over it and delete everything...that would be kinda stupid after all the work I put into them and defeat the other reasons for doing them...at the same time I don't want to see them getting buried...and if that means I have to move them or upload them somewhere else to insure that they get seen and used...then thats what I have to consider doing...its nothing personal...I would not be "taking my stuff and going home"...I'm just "considering" a new or alternative home...and the whole point of that is so that people see them and don't have to hunt through tons of something to else in order to find them.

Somebody just shoot me already!   

As for not uploading anything else...its like I said...I'm tired of them getting buried, deal with it...the ObjectDock library is not conducive to promoting docks, the skins they represent or the software. If that does change...fine...but I don't see it doing that yet...telling me something is being considered is fine...but that still doesn't mean anything...its just a consideration...again...fine. Now "I" have things to consider as well...do I want to wait, keep uploading them and let all my work continue to get buried while things are being considered or do I find an alternate home for them and upload any new stuff there?

I assure you...this was not a spur of the moment decision/consideration...there were no temper tantrums involved...no protesting...banner waving...or foot pounding...I'm not pissed at anyone and I haven't really made any decisions other than to not upload anything new until I see if a change "is" going to happen...if it does...Great!...if it doesn't...Great!...it makes my decision that much easier!

I'm not in "the loop" so I don't get to hear of any considerations...So the only thing I can do is make my own considerations based on what I know. And if the powers that be here at WinCustomize decide to not make any changes to these libraries they are well within their rights to make them and I will respect that. But for the same token, I put alot of work into these, not to just let them disappear.

So, for now, I am in the process of updating older docks and creating new ones to be uploaded at some later time or place...depending on these considerations...but thats about it. So no one will miss anything new since you haven't seen it yet...so...everyone...calm down.

And I'm sure there are others that will upload new docks...just not me...for now. I will give the considerations stated by Randy way more than enough time before I make any concrete decisions myself. So take a deep breath and chill out.  

wow! did you carb up before you typed all that?

Like I said...somebody just shoot me already! I should be flogged! I'm a vile and dispicable person. I need meds...any meds!  

meds? Meds?! What Meds!! Wait 'til Medicare partD takes yer meds and holds 'em just outa reach while you dig all around for change to "co-pay" for...!#@&*!!+!!...whoah! Sorry about that...just pushed a button there somehow...
...docks? What Docks?! O.K. so where's the !*@#!! docks at anyways...?!

Before this thread slips into the nothing again...I want to thank everyone that understands what I'm hoping to see changed here. It's much appreciated.