Some questions / comments from newbie

from Stardock Forums
I have recently downloaded the free version of object dock and will soon upgrade to plus as I think its a very nice piece of work. I have some questions and would like to make some recomendations.

1. I have the same problem as many with the weather docklet - the today, tomorrow, etc are wrong for most of the day. I guess this is to do with timezones. I have read you are working on this - any idea when a fix will be available.

2. I find the start button docklet unusable as for 80% of the time I try and use it I get the error about failed to inject start menu helper. I have seen others commenting on the same problem. The easy workaround is to use the windows keyboard key but again I was wondering if this is being worked on.

3. My usual way of working is to drag files and drop them on an application icon on the desktop to open them and work on them. I cannot do this with the ObjectDock icons. I think that if objectdock icons could receive dropped files this would be a valuable addition to the software.

4. I know that plus allows you to group several icons into one dock icon. I dont know exactly how this is implemented in plus. Perhaps someone could advise whether it works how I would like it to. For example I would like to group all my office icons together. I would like all the icons to display (like the weather icons) when the mouse hovers over the icon for a (customizable?) time. When I click on one of the displayed icons (say WORD) it would obviously run word but would also replace the main icon for the group in objectdock. Next time I want to run word I just need to click on that icon as that was the last application to be run from the group. Many applications work like this for example Photoshop. I just hope I have explained myself well enough.

Otherwise a great piece of work - thanks for making a free version!
objectdock
1,481 views 1 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I do not work for Stardock, nor am I an expert but maybe I can help / comment on some of these things.

3. My usual way of working is to drag files and drop them on an application icon on the desktop to open them and work on them. I cannot do this with the ObjectDock icons. I think that if objectdock icons could receive dropped files this would be a valuable addition to the software.


When you drag a file or folder to ObjectDock you are creating a shortcut. An ObjectDock icon would have no predetermined destination. It cannot know where the file it was made for is presiding in windows. Keep in mind that not all people keep Files and Programs in the same place. In fact I knew a man who kept everything on his computer in the C drive folder. Documents, music, pictures, programs and everything in one folder. ObjectDock will set most known programs to its default icons. It's really not that hard to right click on dock properties and set the icon you want. Besides it allows for more customization such as...

4. I know that plus allows you to group several icons into one dock icon. I dont know exactly how this is implemented in plus. Perhaps someone could advise whether it works how I would like it to. For example I would like to group all my office icons together. I would like all the icons to display (like the weather icons) when the mouse hovers over the icon for a (customizable?) time. When I click on one of the displayed icons (say WORD) it would obviously run word but would also replace the main icon for the group in objectdock. Next time I want to run word I just need to click on that icon as that was the last application to be run from the group. Many applications work like this for example Photoshop. I just hope I have explained myself well enough.


...creating a folder with all MS Office programs in it. (Shortcuts made from the original exe.) Dropping the folder onto the ObjectDock bar then right clicking and selecting dock properties. Then setting the folder's Icon to,, well, whatever you would like. Then select " Show Folder in a Menu".
Dont forget that in ObjectDock Plus that you have "Tabs" for your groups.
Remembering the last program run would, in my opinion, probably end up using more resources. I would like OD to use as little memory as possible. It seems already headed in the direction of blout ware. Don't need that.

I don't have any problems with the start button docket but I don't really use it. Seems to defeat the purpose of OD. ( To me that is making everything just one click away.)
I do use the weather Docklet, but I have only had problems once or twice. Pretty good compared to Windows. I might add that I also use "Weather Pulse" from time to time and it has had countless problems. Not to mention the amount of memory it uses. (Still its not a bad program.)

You have a lot of good ideas here; maybe stardock could pull some of them off.