Kinda confused and lost about a few things.

from Stardock Forums

Ok first up, some of this will be kinda ranty (since I felt a little ripped off to begin with), but I know I should have read the fine print instead of assuming Stardock works like other companies. Thought purchase was like purchase, rather than the subscription thing. Kinda gutted, but should have read the fine print. A little confusing as it mentions it in some areas and not in others.

Anyway, brought Object dock a few years back, loved it, use the crap outta it. Could not use windows without it. Amazing piece of software. The rest of stardocks lineup tho, kinda iffy.

Let me explain, "Object desktop your complete windows customization suite" is not so complete. Its missing software that would make sense to include (like cursorFX) and includes software that is kinda pointless to include (see below).

As an example, shadowFX, great program idea. I was keen to grab this. However if you use windows blinds, you cant use shadowFX. Why include it? Or more to the point why block its use if you use windows blinds. Am I missing something?
Fences, the functionality is included in WindowFX making the separate software pointless.
Start10 doesn't really seem to do much. Thought I might need it for custom start menu. Seems pretty useless. Completely lost here. Theres a custom start menu in the themes for blinds but doesn't work.

 

TLDR summary of questions.

If I buy individual programs instead of the suite is it also a 12 month sub? The only thing I can find that mentions a subscription is the suite.

How do I alter the start menu in win10 to look like the blinds themes ones?

 

33,793 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Stand-alone apps are not subscriptions, you get to use the version that was purchased for as long as you want. Major upgrades are not included.

To use Start10 with a WindowBlinds theme you need to select the Windows 7 style menu to match the WindowBlinds skin.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Cheers for that. I'm hoping someone has some time free at some point to help me out with some settings and things. Skype or discord would be preferable to expanding this topic into 20 pages of posts.

I got a theme for blinds as a base and I'm slowly editing it but a lot of things just make no sense. For example shadows, ShadowFX is simple, fast, and works great but if you use windows blinds shadowfx is disabled. I cant work out how to get it to work in skinstudio. I dont know how but steam has it.

Changing different things is skin studio doesn't make the expected changes.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Gaskell, reply 2

I cant work out how to get it to work in skinstudio.
End of Gaskell's quote

The shadows are built into the images.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Theres a shadow section in skin studio.

Is this for some settings for windows that already have them? How do you add them?

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Gaskell, reply 2

Changing different things is skin studio doesn't make the expected changes.
End of Gaskell's quote

List one thing you changed in SKS that you thought should make a change in what area. 

After that it may be better to ask how to make a certain change. There are people here that will help.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

As an example I found that changing the taskbar image to a different one in the theme changes the preview to look how I pictured it would, but the taskbar itself doesn't change right.

Has issues with changing buttons as well. I see some things have multiple things in the image, is that a specific number for a reason?

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Gaskell, reply 6

As an example I found that changing the taskbar image to a different one in the theme changes the preview to look how I pictured it would, but the taskbar itself doesn't change right.

Has issues with changing buttons as well. I see some things have multiple things in the image, is that a specific number for a reason?
End of Gaskell's quote

When not knowing exactly how to set things I suggest if you make a new image you use the same size as the one in there. If you did that and say for simple purposes only changed the color. you would save your image and put it in the correct location using SKS. click Apply and it will change. 

The buttons. Yes they have different states. Some have 3 to as many as 6 states. Example. Normal, Mouseover, Pressed, Open and some states you may just make them like the Normal state. Again you would have to make the new image, save it and always click Apply to see change. 

One more example. Say you want to change the TB (taskber) button. go to the location in SKS and click on "Edit Image" it will open it in your image program. Now you can see what you have. Check some of this out and you will see what it takes to make a new complete WB. Basically a lot of work but like other things if you enjoy making them not so much work as more enjoyment.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

So currently my taskbar has an odd split to it right through the middle of the language selection. I tried changing the taskbar from the double image to the single hoping it would remove it, but it just went all weird and removed the colour from itself 

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Gaskell, reply 4

Theres a shadow section in skin studio.
End of Gaskell's quote

I'm not at all familiar with that, don't know what it might do or how it might work.  I've always seen the shadows built into the individual frame images.

Quoting Gaskell, reply 8

So currently my taskbar has an odd split to it right through the middle of the language selection.
End of Gaskell's quote

That can be caused by having the top and bottom painting margins set too high.  E.g., if the image is 40 pixels tall, the sum of the top and bottom margins should be 39 or less or else so that there is a "free" area left in between to be stretched or tiled.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Ok I managed to fumble my way through by using and editing different images. The Taskbar and the tray. The transparency seems odd, not sure how that works. I assumed it was as simple as saving a file with a transparent section. Apparently not, but I managed to find a file with the transparent shape I wanted and edit that. This software feels so clumsy and awkward compared to how it could have been designed, I seem to struggle with a lot of programs that are designed to work oddly for some unknown reason.

Next thing thats buggin me is in skin studio teh FILE, TOOLS, HELP is red (which matches my theme) but when I open up an editing thing they turn purple. Also mouseover text has a purple window too. Cant find where to change either of those.

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks, I'll check it out. But yea you can kind of see why I thought a skype or discord chat with someone would be easier or faster.

I do appreciate the help from all of you.

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

I wanted to open my Object Desktop just now but I need to reinstall it. Where are my purchased programs? I don't want to upgrade yet. Kinda miffed that I'm logged in and can't find my software links.

 

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top

https://store.stardock.com/myaccount

Use the email address & PW you registered when you purchased to log in.  Purchased items will be there under My Downloads.

If somehow they're not, contact sales@stardock.com to request your purchase/registration info.