CustomBar

[Curt]

Windows is pretty good software! 

-thefritz_j (December 15, 2006, 01:30 PM)

You're right. And it is not even as expensive as most. But it may somehow be too complicated to be as stable as one would like it to be.

[jgpaiva]

Ehh... How have you solved the problem with not being able to click the windows (Close, minimize, hide)???

-Curt (December 15, 2006, 01:27 PM)

Curt: notice you can also place that bar on the left or on the right of the screen, where it won't affect the buttons on the caption on the windows.

[Curt]

I hide my the icons on my desktop so i can enjoy my wallpaper!

If the toolbar you add is the "Desktop" then icons for -every item- will show up in the toolbar.  It's like having an auto-hide copy of your desktop!  It is so useful!  especially considering it's already built in to Windows! 

-thefritz_j (December 15, 2006, 01:00 PM)

Hmm...
At first the icons were 'blur' on the desktop, but present in the new toolbar.
Now the icons on the desktop are all hidden, but also gone from the new toolbar!! 

Are there more than one level when we click "hide" in Properties in a shortcut?? I know only of one. The icons are hidden on the desktop, but now they are also hidden in the toolbar. No, not hidden; they are not there! Arghh! Maybe this ís a difference between Win2K and XP??

 

[Curt]

you can also place that bar on the left or on the right of the screen, where it won't affect the buttons on the caption on the windows.

-jgpaiva (December 15, 2006, 02:48 PM)

Yes, I have done that with the new toolbars, one for My Documents, and one for My Pictures. It's a little funny with a toolbar on every side of the screen, but someday I might grow up... 

---

I am so disappointed that the hidden icons on the desktop, also are hidden in the new toolbar:
Arghh!! 

[jgpaiva]

Don't despair, Curt. I know what happened.
That's not the way to hide the icons on the desktop.
You can't go to their properties and choose "hidden". That makes them be really hidden.
What you have to do, is choose an option that will allow you not to show any icons on the desktop. But they'll be there, and not hidden.
First of all, let's get your icons back
Go to "my computer", and select "tools -> folder options". On the new box that comes up, select "view". Then, search for an option that says something like "show hidden files". Check that, select apply and close the box. That'll make your icons come back, "blured". That means they are hidden. Just go to their properties, and deselect "hidden".
Then, do the process i mentioned above again, and deselect the option "show hidden files".

[Curt]

First of all, let's get your icons back

-jgpaiva (December 15, 2006, 03:19 PM)

Done.

 

[jgpaiva]

Ok, i hope you managed to get your icons back.

Now i noticed a small problem. Possibly, what i'm going to tell you to do next, won't work because you don't have winxp. let's see.

Now that they are back, let's make them disappear.
Just right-click on the desktop. then, select "align icons by.." then untick "show icons on the desktop".
If that option is missing, there's no way you can do this.. Sorry.

Nevertheless, you still can use it all the same way, you'll only still have the icons there, taking part of your wallpaper

[Curt]

won't work because you don't have winxp. let's see.

If that option is missing, there's no way you can do this..

-jgpaiva (December 15, 2006, 03:34 PM)

You're right, this feature is not part of Win2K 

Can this be a snack??
---

Its twenty to eleven in the evening here in DK,
so I'll think more about all this tomorrow.

But, Thank you!

[thefritz_j]

Actually, I use the "WallMaster" wallpaper manager and I'm pretty sure it has a feature to hide the desktop icons, even when not using XP.

[Curt]

Actually, I use the "WallMaster" wallpaper manager and I'm pretty sure it has a feature to hide the desktop icons, even when not using XP.

-thefritz_j (December 15, 2006, 05:11 PM)

Yes, it will hide the icons in Win2K as well   
- but it will not remember this setting after startup! 

More, Windows will not remember the new toolbar after startup! 

Right now I am frustrated 

Is there some box I have to check or uncheck somewhere???

[Curt]

Actually, I use the "WallMaster" wallpaper manager and I'm pretty sure it has a feature to hide the desktop icons, even when not using XP.

-thefritz_j (December 15, 2006, 05:11 PM)

Yes, it will hide the icons in Win2K as well   
- but it will not remember this setting after startup! 

-Curt (December 15, 2006, 06:07 PM)

Sorry, I was too quick to complain! The answer is: WallMaster Control Panel > Options > Hide desktop icons using force mode (not available on XP).

-

But I still need to understand what I am doing wrong, since Win2K will not remember the new toolbar after restart. 

[Curt]

But I still need to understand what I am doing wrong, since Win2K will not remember the new toolbar after restart.

-Curt (December 15, 2006, 06:55 PM)

Now I think I've got it. I always use the program Quick ShutDown to close my PC. The shutdown really will be quick - but maybe too quick! It seems that saving new personal settings can fail. Because, I created another toolbar on the desktop, but this time I used Process Explorer to close the PC, this way giving Windows more time to save personal settings. And it worked; the new toolbar was remembered and ready to go after restart. I then restarted, using Quick ShutDown again, and the new toolbar is staying at the right position.

So now 'everything' (on this matter) is okay   

[thefritz_j]

Yay!

[lanux128]

Now I think I've got it. I always use the program Quick ShutDown to close my PC. The shutdown really will be quick - but maybe too quick! It seems that saving new personal settings can fail.

-Curt (December 16, 2006, 04:40 AM)

maybe that tells you something about these quick shutdowners.. i used to have one but gave up on it after some pondering..

[mouser]

I'd be very interested in hearing reasons why people might prefer other tools over my own LaunchBar Commander (info here).  It's always helpful to hear suggestions for improvements from people who have evaluated a bunch of similar tools.

[Nighted]

If you want to hide your desktop icons, get Iconoid. I think I reviewed it here.

www.sillysot.com

[Curt]

Back to the subject; a custom bar:

Todays (Jan. 30 - 2006) giveaway offer is NLauncher, normally $20

I've not tried it, but it seems it can do just a little more than what any Explorer can do... ?? 

[lanux128]

for $20, i think LaunchBar Commander is a better option.. but no harm trying this though, since it's free for one day..

[Curt]

RocketDock has launched version 1.3.0 Final
- and is still free (depending on voluntary donations).

Live pre-view in Dock / tray (Vista). Translated into 47 languages!

• Features:
  
      * Minimize windows to the dock
      * Real-time window previews in Vista
      * Running application indicators
      * Simple drag-n-drop interface
      * Multi-monitor support
      * Supports alpha-blended PNG and ICO icons
      * Icons zoom and transition smoothly
      * Auto-hide and Popup on mouse over
      * Positioning and layering options
      * Fully customizable
      * Completely Portable
      * ObjectDock Docklet support
      * Compatible with MobyDock, ObjectDock, RK Launcher, and Y'z Dock skins
      * Runs great on slower computers
      * Unicode compliant
      * Supports many languages and can easily be translated
      * A friendly user base
      * And best of all... its FREE