Always-On-Top

Should be called Sometimes On Top

Is there any way to make sure my object dock doesn't go behind other windows. It's set to Always On Top but even then sometimes it disappears behind other windows for no reason, and I have to de-select Alwas On Top and then select it again to get it to come back to the front. Anyone else have this problem?
20,434 views 21 replies
Reply #2 Top
Any update on this....it's getting very annoying. So much OD+ may have to go
Reply #5 Top
Same problem

Object Dock 1.2
WinXP SP2
Dell Dimension 4600

Object Dock 1.1 had the exact same problem.

This guy apparently is also having this problem:
https://forums.stardock.com/?ForumID=176&AID=85960

If StarDock is trying to sell this product, they should at least get the free version of their software to work well. This bug is non-stop and drives me freakin crazy. I'd consider upgrading for the pay-for version, but if they can't even debug this simpler Object Dock, why would I pay for something more complicated?
Reply #6 Top
I'm using the free 1.2 but I haven't had this issue yet. When I put it on top, it stays on top. Usually, I have it on autohide.
Reply #7 Top

It's the same situation here, although intermittent, but always during the day at one point or another I end up minimizing IE and closing OD, maximizing IE and re-opening OD to keep it on top. It's one of my most used apps and I would also upgrade if this glitch was addressed.


Robert

Reply #8 Top
This issue might relate to how specific programs behave, though I'm not sure what about that behavior it would be.

Firefox and Eclipse (an open source Java development program) are the 2 most common to cover up ObjectDock for me. Eclipse does it constantly... every time I run a JUnit Unit Test in it, this bug occurs.
Reply #9 Top
Citizen SoopahMan: Do you have a customized icon for eclipse? If so, could you please point me in its direction?

Sorry for publicly messaging you like this but i dont know of any other way to contact you.
Reply #10 Top

I haven't run into the issue yet, myself, and use OD frequently (ie, it's always open).

I'm using

  • XP SP2 Build 2600
  • OD v1.20a.015
  • IE 6.0 2900.2180

What's everyone else running?

-Mike
[Stardock Support]

Reply #11 Top

Doesn't look like anyone has replied, but I just started using the free version of OD two days ago and I'm having this problem quite often. It seems that when I restart my PC, OD stays on top of everything for a while. Then, the longer I use the PC without rebooting, the more OD seems to stay behind other windows.


For me, it is not just maximized windows that are causing the problem, it is any sized window.


I'm using:



  • XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 SP2

  • OD 1.20 (free version just downloaded on Dec 5)

  • IE 6.0.2900.2180, but I'm using Maxthon 1.5.0 (this uses IE)

Matt

Reply #12 Top
I'm getting the same problem with ObjectDock Plus v1.20.522u and since the first releases.
Considering Stardock is not interested into fixing this did anybody find a solution?
Reply #13 Top
don't know for sure Stardock isn't interested in fixing it...but considering only one person posted an answer to Milksama's question...and that took 36 days....
Reply #14 Top
Same problem here,
winxp pro
registered version 1.20.522u +
hp compaq P4
I wish Stardock would get some people on fixing anoying bug
I even gave up using the flyout menus
Reply #15 Top
Same problem on OD+ which I just purchased (not too happy about this to be honest). It looks very similar to the conflict between cursorXP and WB5- in that the top of the titlebar obscures OD+ and in effect disables always on top. I also find that sometimes my window frames disappear completely- the only way to get them to come back is to right click and maximise in the taskbar.

I bought OD+ yesterday and have not installed anything else since so I reckon again OD+ is causing this bug.
Reply #16 Top

Interesting,

Version 1.20.522u Plus

Tabbed dock = "Always on top", and "Tabs always on top when docked" working

Non-tabbed dock = "Always on top" working

All programs including IE and WMP respect settings in OD+

Two machines:

Homebuilt desktop - XP Pro w/SP2, IE 6.0.2900.2180, WMP 10

Notebook - XP Home w/SP2, IE 6.0.2900.2180, WMP 10

BTW - I tested this using the default Windows XP theme, so those experiencing the issue may have found an incompatibility between OD+ and other customization programs.

You might try saving the ObjectDock theme > unload ObjectDock > clear the cache (instructions here http://corkyo.wincustomize.com/Articles.aspx?SID=5463&AID=82461) > reload ObjectDock (it will load with default settings) > load theme and test again.

Note - I do know that ObjectDock, CursorXP, and some other programs are seeing issues with the "Overlay" used by some programs (Games, Media Players, etc.) - and this is currently thought to be created by weaknesses in the Windows OS. Stardock is looking into this problem, and trying to find a way to work around the "flaw".

Reply #17 Top
My tabbed OD+ dock disappeares totally. I'm on a win2k PC, and started to run IconX so that I can get rid of the icon label backgrounds.

For those of you not remembering pre-XP desktops, the desktop icon labels have a background, that has the same color as the desktop background color. No problem if you don't use any wallpaper, but if you do, they are simply ugly. Well OK, now that I use IconX, I use its sophisticated features, but anyway, there's a conflicz between OD+ and IconX.

The way how I can imagine how IconX can work is that it creates a virtual desktop covering the real desktop, and the fancy shadowed, custom labeled, animated icons are on this desktop. Now I'm afraid, my tabbed OD+ dock stucks between the real and this IconX desktop.
Once this happens, the way to get it back is this painful:
-Click the "configure dock" icon on my non-tabbed dock
-Press the "My Docks" button
-Select "Docked Tabs on the Left edge"
-Press the "Edit thid Dock" button
-Uncheck "Always on top" or the "Show dock as a drawer" option
-Recheck it
-Press the "Close" button (Takes 5 seconds!!)
-Press the "Close" button on the below window (Takes another 4-5 seconds!!)
-Press the "Close" button on the original Object Dock Properties window (Takes another 5 seconds!!)

Sometimes it is enough to start an application in the non-tabbed dock to get the tabbed dock re-appear, sometimes it does not work.
Sometimes it is enough to click and hold the mouse button over such an icon on the non-tabbed dock, that is pointing to a folder, and when the content of that folder is displayed in a menu over the dock icon, the tabbed dock re-appeares, but sometimes this does not work neither.
So most of the time I start the above long sequence.

I have written about this long time ago in one of the support forums, but didn't get a single comment from Stardock yet. I feel so pissed off about this, and ignored as a win2k user when it comes to WB5! If any of the concurrent dock solutions (all of the others magnifying effect is a lot smoother, a lot closer to a MAC) come up with some grouping features, I'll swap OD+.
Reply #19 Top
I got rid of that problem. Well. Mmm. How should I say. After not getting any help I have tried rklauncher, which is just great, more responsive, and consumes less resources. And free.
Reply #20 Top
This is a real mystery for me, sometimes OD had its good days in regard to this other days..well it performs like its OD'd. Turning always on top off and on does tend to help but its no lasting solution. Its too bad becuase OD is ont thing that keeps me using a PC desktop, I get so annoyed at the XP and Vista interface. Anyway I do hope this gets resolved, OD had been perfect otherwise.

Reply #21 Top
when i had the free version, if i set it to always on top, thats where it stayed, now i have the plus version, i set it to always on top, thats where it stays too, so it might be something in your system preventing it from remaining on top when u want it to. or maybe ur graphics drivers are intefering or maybe your craphics chip is not up to it, there are many many reasons why this would happen, not all of them because of the program good luck