Objetdock 3 CRASHES

Could be that there's a code in the URL which Objectdock doesn't understand or recognize. Which creates possible confusion, and therefore a "crash". My suggestion, if you are open to it,  is to find another way to retrieve weather information.  Rainmeter is a great app which can display weather information. Does Objectdock crash when you assign any other websites to the dock? I rarely use a dock, and when I do, it's Rocketdock, but I don't remember ever having assigned websites to the dock. Just different apps or programs. Or you can try assigning the weather app that comes with Windows 10 or Windows 11, depending on which OS you are using. There is also a weather thing that is part of the taskbar in some of the newer versions of Windows 10 and all versions of 11.  

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

If I had to guess, I would say it is something in the ObjectDock code that restrict the number of characters in a file name. This URL has 288 characters. Try another URL that has as many or more characters in the address, and see if it displays the same issue. Then try another URL that has less than 256 characters.

By default, Windows 11 uses a path length limitation (MAX_PATH) of 256 characters. I found this site which tells how to change this limitation.

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/The-Windows-10-default-path-length-limitation-MAX-PATH-is-256-characters.html#:~:text=By%20default%2C%20Windows%20uses%20a,Files%2C%20Paths%2C%20and%20Namespaces

I'm not sure if this will help with ObjectDock issue, but it's worth a try.

EDIT: I tested this by changing the Registry entry "LongPathsEnbled" to 1. I created the shortcut with your URL and tried to add it to a dock and ObjectDock still crashes.

I'm pretty sure my original assumption is correct. I created a new shortcut using your URL shortened to 'https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather' and it works.

Hi gscs,

Thanks for pointing this out, and thanks everyone here for the helpful posting. 

We've reproduced the findings with longer URLs and logged the issue internally.

Internal Ref: ODNT-8471

Thanks again and best regards,

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Customer Support Specialist

Hi Peliard 

Your shortened address does not get me to the local Coven interactive Weather Map which is what I require

I also believe that the windows restriction in entry length is not the answer as the link works fine on a desktop shortcut but if I drag the desktop shortcut and drop it on Objectdock it causes object dock to shut down and the link is lost

I think it could be that Objectdock is misreading one of the characters in the link causing it to crash

You could be right on that. If I had to guess, it would be the brackets.

To test this, I shortened your URL to

'https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/maps-and-charts/rainfall-radar-forecast-map#?bbox=[[51.97472977494965,-4.542846679687501],[53.332513191143505,0.26367187500000006]]&model=ukmo-ukv&layer=rainfall-rate&timestep=1718355600000'

which includes the brackets and is only 226 characters and ObjectDock still crashed.

The shortened URL 'https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather' which does not contain the brackets does work, so I think you are right about the special characters.

It's been logged, so maybe they will figure it out. In the mean time, it looks like pinning the shortcut to your taskbar or desktop is the only remedy.

Hi all – we have a fix available internally, but there is no timeline for a release. The issue is due to a path that is too long. ObjectDock currently only supports paths up to MAX_PATH which is 256 characters. They behavior can get a little imperfect (automatic image handling and naming won't work), but we've extended this limit now to 2000 characters. @pelaird, since there is no timeline for a release, you can get a copy of this patched copy at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vlrovrah5jl356fkv4x86/ObjectDock-Long-Path-Fix.exe?rlkey=cppa14p6ha28t3xwmhok06gn6&dl=0

I hope this helps!

Not quite sure how this patch is supposed to be applied. I tried downloading and running the patch, but it doesn't seem to install.

Exit ObjectDock. Copy the downloaded "ObjectDock-Long-Path-Fix.exe" to C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\ObjectDock and use it to start ObjectDock.

You can of course also rename the download ObjectDock-Long-Path-Fix.exe to ObjectDock.exe and overwrite the excisting one in C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\ObjectDock.

Okay, I tried this and it seems to load okay, but it still doesn't allow the OP's weather shortcut to be added. It doesn't crash the app anymore, but still can't be added to a dock. I really think it must be a special character in the URL that's preventing it from being added.

I tested on my system. And, it working for me. Refer my short video below.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I can also verify that the fix seems to work.

I just noticed that it was a tab dock.
 

For some reason, I am unable to create this shortcut on either a regular dock, or a tab dock by dragging the shortcut to the dock. However, I was able to add it by using the "Add Shortcut" dialog and pasting the link into the "Link" box, and it works.