DX Desktop path locations

from WinCustomize Forums

I'm trying to create a front-end for RND's DX creations, and perhaps others, that will let you set all the shortcut paths in one doalog instead of right-clicking and browsing one at a time.  Trouble is, I can't find where the gadgets store the paths.  If possible, I'd also like to optionally change the name of the target description ("games, security, etc.).  If any of this ends up in the DX itself I'm probably out of luck.  But if external text files, such as XML or INF files are used, I should be able to accomplish my goal.

 

Anyone familiar with DX enough to know if external files are used to store user changes?  

 

I've search the app data folder under C:\Users\<my username>\AppData\Local\Stardock\DesktopX for any files containing the paths I've defined with no luck.

3,688 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

O:)

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Seems to me this can only be done in DX Builder.

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hi Gevan.

Each shortcut object in a theme is usually a DesktopX object which is a 'shortcut' type and has the target specified.

We could feasibly write an object script which scans every object in a theme, identifies the shortcut type ones, and produces a DesktopX form for each object with it's target property.

Then we could read the changed values back and apply them to each shortcut object via the Command and CommandParameters properties.

:-) Hope this gives you an idea - sounds like a worth while idea.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

There 'is' a file in each theme directory which is an ini file and it would contain all the information as well. But it's a pain in the ass to parse, and you can only modify it when a theme is unloaded, otherwise DesktopX would overwrite your changes when it unloads.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

@Skarny, that may be ok, it just means the utility needs to run when the DX is not loaded.  Where can I find this ini file?

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting gevansmd, reply 5
@Skarny, that may be ok, it just means the utility needs to run when the DX is not loaded.  Where can I find this ini file?
End of gevansmd's quote

 

C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Local\Stardock\DesktopX\CurrentTheme        sub your name.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

you can only modify it when a theme is unloaded, otherwise DesktopX would overwrite your changes when it unloads. 

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

@Jim, I had found that ini file and searched for  either my paths or yours (the default) without success.   I see them now, wonder how I missed it.   :|

 

Ok, stupid question:  If the paths are saved in the CurrenTheme folder and I change to another theme, do they have to be redefined when I go back the original DX?

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I know nothing of paths, or the ini. I just know where it's located. Sorry. Skarny can answer this best.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Jim, my last question referred to how things operate.  If I routinely change DX themes (which I have not), do I have to reset the paths every time I start a DX I've already used?  What I do is keep running one until an alternative I like comes out.    

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting gevansmd, reply 10
Jim, my last question referred to how things operate.  If I routinely change DX themes (which I have not), do I have to reset the paths every time I start a DX I've already used?  What I do is keep running one until an alternative I like comes out.    
End of gevansmd's quote

When you use a DX theme, you make your changes to it, you must save the changes. Else you load a different one, come back to the first one and it will have reverted to it's original state.

 

You must always save your changes.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Everytime you load a '.desktop' file - it replaces that entire currentTheme folder. So yes, you would lose the shortcut paths defined within the old theme.

Because each theme can be made to work differently, with different object names and by different authors with different scripts, there isn't a standard to where shortcut paths should be saved for users and what format they should be in.

So keeping shortcuts from one theme to the next would be a bit tricky to standardize.

A possible way would be to provide a shortcuts 'exporting' object - which saves the details to a file, and then a shortcuts 'import' object which lets you pick a shortcut object from the current theme and specify which of your imported shortcuts should be assigned to it.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks Skarny.  I didn't realize it was normal to lose the paths when you change to a new theme and then go back to the the prior one.  Is the theme.ini created when you invoke the DX from some internal data?  I mean, it always reverts back to the same paths, for example on Jim's PC, so where is that stored if not in a text file?