Start Menu Button not centered for Vista (large taskbars)

Reply #1 April 20, 2008 1:26 PM from

It's not a bug . . the button being higher is my artist intent.

Looks like you have other customizations going on that may be having some effect too. Dunno.

I see you have SlimServer. You have a Sqeezebox or Transporter? I can't imagine life without mine now. :CONGRAT:

Reply #2 April 20, 2008 1:31 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Nope no bug. I get the same effect when I make that skin double height.

Reply #3 April 20, 2008 1:45 PM from

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The start menu button has the same vertical alignment as the taskbar buttons. Anything else would look odd imo.

Reply #4 April 20, 2008 4:53 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

This is not a bug. As all WB skins on XP had the start button positioned at the edge of the taskbar, WB does some work to ensure this remains the case under Vista otherwise many older skins would break.

WB 6.1 will have a skin UIS setting to allow the button to also be positioned in the centre, but this is something that will have to be specifically enabled in a skin and it will be ignored on XP where the button will remain at the edge of the taskbar. In effect this setting will disable the code in WB that forces the button to be at the edge.

+1

Reply #5 April 20, 2008 5:57 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

That is a good thing Neil...I've never designed a skin for a floating start button.Any other position but the one it was designed for would look terrible.

Reply #6 April 20, 2008 7:49 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Okay, from what I understand, this problem exists due to providing compatibility for XP. I still consider it a bug. I dont think having an icon protrude the way it does is excepted or desirable behavior; at least not for someone who expects standard MS Windows Vista UI functionality.

Having to explicitly define a setting like this in the skin design is not an acceptable solution; since that would require all skin designers to change this setting for someone who uses large icons.

Pretty disappointing..

*sigh* I guess, my next support question on this forum will be how to cleanly remove all traces of Windows Blinds 6 (both in registry and filesystem) after uninstall and rebooting.

This is not a bug. As all WB skins on XP had the start button positioned at the edge of the taskbar, WB does some work to ensure this remains the case under Vista otherwise many older skins would break.
WB 6.1 will have a skin UIS setting to allow the button to also be positioned in the centre, but this is something that will have to be specifically enabled in a skin and it will be ignored on XP where the button will remain at the edge of the taskbar. In effect this setting will disable the code in WB that forces the button to be at the edge.

Reply #7 April 20, 2008 10:46 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

mkanet ...just to let you know, if Neil Banfield says it is not a bug you can take his word for it.

There will always be compatibility situations with a program that can and does apply to more than just one version of the Windows Operating System 'family'. The vast majority of OS users and thus Windowblinds users [and existing skins] are in Win XP. With the growing adoption of Vista, compatibility can [or will] be achieved with WB v6.1.

Similar instances have happened in the past with migration from '98 to XP as well...;)

Reply #8 April 29, 2008 12:42 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Hi Neil, since I wrote this post, I have actually gotten my feet wet with Skinstudio/WB 6.0

I very motivated to fix this problem for myself. Would you be kind enough to please help me get started with fixing this by answering the below questions:

1) If I upgrade to WB 6.1 beta, will it install in the same directory as the final release? It wont have a proprietary beta install like "C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\WindowBlinds beta 3"?

2) Will upgrading WB 6.1 beta to 6.1 final just as troublefree as going from 6.0 final --> 6.1 final?

3) Are there any Vista OS stability issues with 6.1 beta or the reason for the beta status is only for refining the new features that are added; not affecting system stability.

4) What exactly do I need to change in the skin to keep the Start Button centered for large taskbars and what setting do I need to specify in WB 6.1 to allow for this to happen?

Thanks a million! I am really starting to like SKS and WB!!!

-Michael

This is not a bug. As all WB skins on XP had the start button positioned at the edge of the taskbar, WB does some work to ensure this remains the case under Vista otherwise many older skins would break.
WB 6.1 will have a skin UIS setting to allow the button to also be positioned in the centre, but this is something that will have to be specifically enabled in a skin and it will be ignored on XP where the button will remain at the edge of the taskbar. In effect this setting will disable the code in WB that forces the button to be at the edge.

Reply #9 April 29, 2008 3:18 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

I am pleased to say that the next beta build of WB being released later today has an option under Advanced user settings (click Settings tab and then Advanced User Settings in the second row) called "I want to force the start button to be in the middle on all skins" which will force the Vista style behaviour on all skins.

Be aware that some skins will look wrong when you do this as the skin author may not have designed their graphics in a way which is compatible with this.

---

1) Beta builds install in the same directory as non beta builds

2) Yes upgrading from beta to final should work fine

3) The beta is near final. The build that is released later today has a number of significant updates to it

4) There will be a SKS6 update either today or Wednesday which will have an option under Extra settings for the startmenu section. This is where you can control it.

Reply #10 April 29, 2008 3:34 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Very cool news.

Reply #11 April 29, 2008 3:39 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks for the update info Neil.

Reply #12 April 29, 2008 4:21 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

I just updated the title to this thread to something that would be easier for someone to lookup in future forum searches. BTW, I've been looking and can't find where to find the latest beta builds for SKS/WB 6.1 (the specific ones mentioned in Neal's post).

If I dont want any kind of upgrade problems and remnants of previous builds... Is the below tool the best tool to clean up the registry / file system "mess" left behind after an uninstalls? I want to start completely clean without having to install my OS again.

http://sd.stardock.com/mike/apps/odnt_zapper.exe

Reply #13 April 29, 2008 8:21 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

http://sd.stardock.com/mike/apps/odnt_zapper.exe

it not only clean up the mess, it will uninstall it 1st

Reply #14 May 26, 2008 6:30 AM from

Stardock Forums Top

Where is this SKS6 update? I would like to fix this problem now that Windows Blinds 6.1 is out.

Thanks,
Michael

4) There will be a SKS6 update either today or Wednesday which will have an option under Extra settings for the startmenu section. This is where you can control it.

Reply #15 May 26, 2008 6:38 AM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

The SKS update is SKS 6.09a.[b] in SDC and Impulse. As this is a beta it is only available for those who own copies of SKS Pro either via standalone purchases or OD Ultimate purchases.

We will update the non pro version when we release SKS 6.1 as a non beta.

But you can force this via wbconfig in WB 6.1 without needing to modify skins (advanced user settings page in wbconfig)

Reply #16 May 26, 2008 12:21 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Hi Neil, after upgrading from my registered version of 6.0 (purchased less than 60 days ago) to 6.1, I am being prompted to buy the product again. How do I apply my registration code? Would it correctly accept my registrations code if I uninstall, reboot, run WWW Link, reboot, and install version 6.1?

Also, I hate to be a pest. But it looks like there are still a couple of issue related to large QuickLaunch icons. If you select large QuickLaunch icons, the large icons are not centered (the way they are in Vista Aero). Also, the System Tray icons are too big to show 2 rows (as they are in Vista Aero). I hope you dont think I'm sounding derogatory by saying this, but doesnt Q&A or the engineers notice basic things like this? I'm not sure why it would be desirable to have it look the way it does in WB 6.1

Original:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/mkanet/Screenshot-0202.jpg

WB 6.1:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/mkanet/Screenshot-0203.jpg

Thanks,
Michael

Reply #17 May 26, 2008 5:23 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

How did you install 6.1?

It sounds like you may have downloaded the 6.1 trial and installed that over your 6.0 install. You cannot do this as the trial cannot be converted into a full version of WB. You need to request your serial numbers again and you will be provided with a link to the 6.1 installer.

Regarding the issue in the screenshots, the margins on the taskbar are controlled by the skin and it may be that the skin author has chosen to use settings which are not ideal for large quick launch icons mode.

In general you would need to speak to the individual author of the skin you are using about that. It may be a mistake by the skin author, or they may have done that intentionally to make their skin work better in some other way.

I should add that while the icons show in the centre with aero when using larger quicklaunch icons, the taskbar items themselves do not. So there is no perfect way to handle them.

Reply #18 May 27, 2008 12:15 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Neil, I have Skinstudio.

It looks like my Start Menu button is still not perfectly centered, its still slightly high after forcing it to go to the middle in WB 6.1. Can I adjust this with the non-beta 6.0 release of SKS? I would prefer not to use SKS beta; as it may introduce new problems. I might try SKS beta if I absolutely have to, but I definitely dont want to install yet another software just to download it; a secure FTP/HTTP download would be nice.

Could you please tell me how to adjust my system tray icons so they show in two rows (as shown in my Vista Aero screenshot)? This is also normal behavior of standard Windows Aero, but doesnt look right with WB 6.1 and my skin. Currently they are too big to show in two rows; and, they arent even centered. It looks very bad this way.

BTW: You were right, I installed the trial version like a dummy

. I was able to download the enhanced version.

Thanks so much for your help Neil. I dont know how I would make this work without your help!
-Michael

How did you install 6.1?
It sounds like you may have downloaded the 6.1 trial and installed that over your 6.0 install. You cannot do this as the trial cannot be converted into a full version of WB. You need to request your serial numbers again and you will be provided with a link to the 6.1 installer.
Regarding the issue in the screenshots, the margins on the taskbar are controlled by the skin and it may be that the skin author has chosen to use settings which are not ideal for large quick launch icons mode.
In general you would need to speak to the individual author of the skin you are using about that. It may be a mistake by the skin author, or they may have done that intentionally to make their skin work better in some other way.
I should add that while the icons show in the centre with aero when using larger quicklaunch icons, the taskbar items themselves do not. So there is no perfect way to handle them.

Reply #19 June 3, 2008 12:01 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Neil???

Neil, I have Skinstudio.It looks like my Start Menu button is still not perfectly centered, its still slightly high after forcing it to go to the middle in WB 6.1. Can I adjust this with the non-beta 6.0 release of SKS? I would prefer not to use SKS beta; as it may introduce new problems. I might try SKS beta if I absolutely have to, but I definitely dont want to install yet another software just to download it; a secure FTP/HTTP download would be nice.Could you please tell me how to adjust my system tray icons so they show in two rows (as shown in my Vista Aero screenshot)? This is also normal behavior of standard Windows Aero, but doesnt look right with WB 6.1 and my skin. Currently they are too big to show in two rows; and, they arent even centered. It looks very bad this way.BTW: You were right, I installed the trial version like a dummy . I was able to download the enhanced version.Thanks so much for your help Neil. I dont know how I would make this work without your help!-MichaelHow did you install 6.1?It sounds like you may have downloaded the 6.1 trial and installed that over your 6.0 install. You cannot do this as the trial cannot be converted into a full version of WB. You need to request your serial numbers again and you will be provided with a link to the 6.1 installer.Regarding the issue in the screenshots, the margins on the taskbar are controlled by the skin and it may be that the skin author has chosen to use settings which are not ideal for large quick launch icons mode. In general you would need to speak to the individual author of the skin you are using about that. It may be a mistake by the skin author, or they may have done that intentionally to make their skin work better in some other way.I should add that while the icons show in the centre with aero when using larger quicklaunch icons, the taskbar items themselves do not. So there is no perfect way to handle them.

Reply #20 June 3, 2008 12:42 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Neil is a developer at Stardock and not super-active on the forums.

As an aside . . the small screenshot makes it hard to tell what's going on.

Reply #21 June 3, 2008 4:15 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

System tray icons can be manipulated by adjusting the context/text margins for the system tray.

Reply #22 June 3, 2008 5:10 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

System tray icons can be manipulated by adjusting the context/text margins for the system tray.

Adjusting those can also adjust the size of your taskbar.. back first!