Bug with DesktopX and multiple monitors

I have observed that a number of the DeskTopX widgets and objects display problems with my 3 monitor setup. These problems seem to be related to the X and Y values for monitors. My setup has 3 monitors setup as follows:

[2] [1] [3]

Monitor 1 : primary monitor (1600x1200)
upper left (0,0)

Monitor 2 (1280x1024)
upper left (-1280, 0)

Monitor 3 (1280x1024)
upper left (1600, 0)

The basic problem that I see is that certain widgets dont like to exist in negative x and y. For example, if I fire up a fish in the background, the fish will only ever swim on monitors 1 and 3 - it will never enter monitor 2 willingly. Furthermore, if I drag the fish off the screen onto monitor 2, it turns to the right and high tails it back to monitor 1. This one is just a bit annoying as the monitor on the left will never have any fish on it.

A bigger problem is with certain apps like the to do lists. If I try to put one of these on monitor 2, I end up with even stranger behavior. With the to do list, I can locate the main list box on monitor 2, but all dialog boxes (add new task, task properties, etc.) end up at the edge of monitor 1. This is really annoying as its nowhere near the main list box.

I do not know if these are caused by the widget code or DesktopX itself. I can understand where you dont want your fish swimming off your monitor into never never land, but it would be nice to have some sort of min/max settings so that all monitors are useful. Either that or take multiple monitor configurations into consideration in the base API for these things.

thanks
1,566 views 3 replies
Reply #1 Top
I'd be willing to bet it's the code in the DX object. For example, the fish probably thinks that if it's X position is negative then it is off the screen i.e. not visible and that it needs to do something about that, hence the rapid about face to return to screen 1. As far as you problem with menus and dialogs only appearing on monitor 1, I've seen this with my dual-monitor setups and it seems to be related to something similar but I've never really been able to figure it out.. Anyway, if you find a workaround be sure to post it here as I'm sure there are others with the same problem..
Reply #2 Top
It appears you are having trouble with only monitor #2 which you happen to be running a different screen resolution than the others. That might have something to do with it but not sure. Just a thought.
Reply #3 Top
actually I am running the center at 1600x1200 and the side monitors at 1280x1024. You are correct however in that I am only having trouble with monitor #2 though. However I have the same problems at work where all 3 screens are running at 1600x1200. I believe the problem to be the fact that #2 has negative values for the X axis since the center monitor is set to primary.

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