ObjectDock Plus 1.3 - Windows Vista RC1

Using a tabbed dock causes apparent window click-through issues

from Stardock Forums
I just installed ObjectDock Plus 1.3 (the latest downloaded version) on my desktop, running the RC1 version of Windows Vista.

The application runs fine... except for a rather severe quirk which I seem to have narrowed down to an incompatibility with tabbed docks and the so-called "desktop compositing" utilized by the fancy Vista Aero interface.

If I have a tabbed dock running, I essentially lose the ability to click within a region of the desktop at the top left of the screen -- as though the OS thought there was a window there, but it wasn't visible. I first noticed this when roll-over effects stopped working in this part of the screen... I can literally roll in and out of the "invisible window"'s border, and watch the window my cursor's supposedly over stop responding to the cursor. Also, if I right-click inside this region, I get the context menu for the tabbed dock, as if I'd clicked on it.

In attempting to troubleshoot, I tried changing the position of the tabbed dock, as well as auto-hide, always-on-top, and other settings. I also tried switching backgrounds, etc. No luck...

My next step was to run through the "Compatibility" options in the Windows application properties dialog. Setting ObjectDock to run in XP SP2 compatibility mode had no effect, nor did disabling things. The problem was, however, resolved when I disabled "desktop compositing" -- which, of course, entails all of the pretty UI effects Vista is all but synonymous with.

I love ObjectDock... But I'm not ready to kill Vista's prettiness to get it to work...

I know Vista's still in beta, but if anybody has any suggestions, they'd be much appreciated.

Thanks!
objectdock
6,345 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hm. How curious. I just tried it myself. I didn't notice it until you meantioned it, but I think that was because I had the dock to the top left to begin with. I moved it way fro the top right and I also noticed that an area of the screen was not responding to the mouse. For me it the area was a little bit away from the left about 20px and about 100/150px high and wide.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, I've accidentally run across an apparent workaround for this issue...

I launched ObjectDock, with the Vista "Aero" interface enabled. As expected, I lost mouse response to the aforementioned area of the screen.

Debating whether or not I felt ObjectDock's functionality was worth losing Vista's pretty (but admittedly pointless) effects, I decided to switch the the "Vista Basic" theme -- adios, Aero. Also as expected, the mouse response problem disappeared.

For kicks, I then re-enabled the Aero effects... And what do you know? For whatever reason, the problem didn't return with the pretty interface. The "invisible window" is nowhere to be found, and I don't have to sacrafice my prettily pointless UI.

Now, I'll probably have to switch the effects off and back on like that every time I restart... I guess we'll see... I'm definitely hoping that Stardock will update ObjectDock with official Vista support as soon as possible.

In any case, I hope this info helps somebody else. Another pseudo-crisis averted...
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Whoops... Scratch that.

It worked great... Until I dragged a new shortcut onto the dock -- after which my "invisible window" reappeared. Eh, so to speak.

Guess I'll just keep an eye on Stardock Central for updates. *sigh*
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
The application runs fine... except for a rather severe quirk which I seem to have narrowed down to an incompatibility with tabbed docks and the so-called "desktop compositing" utilized by the fancy Vista Aero interface.

If I have a tabbed dock running, I essentially lose the ability to click within a region of the desktop at the top left of the screen -- as though the OS thought there was a window there, but it wasn't visible. I first noticed this when roll-over effects stopped working in this part of the screen... I can literally roll in and out of the "invisible window"'s border, and watch the window my cursor's supposedly over stop responding to the cursor. Also, if I right-click inside this region, I get the context menu for the tabbed dock, as if I'd clicked on it.


I have the exact same problem with Vista RC2. I hope Stardock gets on this ASAP as RC2 is very close to RTM.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
hi 2all
i want to add all mentioned above with one bug that annoyed me too much.
i can't empty recycle bin - the icon with full basket doesn't change.
nothing has changed in Vista RC2 build 5744.
is there any solution of this problem?
thanx
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am having the same problems. Now that Vista RC2 is out we should be seeing a new version of ObjectDock very soon(I hope). My Vista RC2 desktop is feeling pretty naked without it and I am just plain missing the use of it. Developers should have been working on getting their programs up to snuff as soon as RC1 hit the streets over a month ago.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey Everyone,

Just so you know we've now added proper Vista support to ObjectDock! Little change on how they handle their semi-transparent windows that I had to work around, no biggie. You'll find the update next month in v1.5

-Jeff
ObjectDock Developer
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great!

...hang on... v1.5? What happened to version 1.4? Did I miss anything?
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
...hang on... v1.5? What happened to version 1.4? Did I miss anything?


Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
If you need a beta tester for v1.5, please feel free to let me know. I'll always beta test.  
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
If I have a tabbed dock running, I essentially lose the ability to click within a region of the desktop at the top left of the screen -- as though the OS thought there was a window there, but it wasn't visible. I first noticed this when roll-over effects stopped working in this part of the screen... I can literally roll in and out of the "invisible window"'s border, and watch the window my cursor's supposedly over stop responding to the cursor. Also, if I right-click inside this region, I get the context menu for the tabbed dock, as if I'd clicked on it.
No offense, but I'm glad I'm not alone. I thought I was going nuts and it took a while to pinpoint the problem to ObjectDock. I never would have figured out it was a transparent window. I hope v1.5 comes out soon because I miss using ObjectDock.

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Nothing has changed in new ObjectDock version 1.50.527

one bug that annoyed me too much.
i can't empty recycle bin - the icon with full basket doesn't change.
nothing has changed in Vista RTM build 6000.
is there any solution of this problem?
thanx