DesktopX 3 Beta Reports

Two things I'm seeing...

1) This application has failed to start because ATL71.DLL was not found. When loading a previously created desktop.

2) The DXPerf4.dll could not be loaded. (also related to Performance Meters 2 not being on the Plugin list) When loading an object that uses Perf Meters 2.

Wicked.

Ok, the version of DXPerf2.dll that was in the zip file is dated 2/28/05 19:02...I pulled the version from the last DX2.X release (2/21/05 08:49), and Performance Meters 2 now shows up on the Plugin list...

Wicked.

I have been trying it out since this morning. I just want to first say the interface is great. Much more user friendly.

The only "problem" I have run into so far is when I started DesktopX, there were multiple identical tray icons. They were just the "standard" desktopx tray icons, but there were about three. I reloaded desktopx and it appears to be working normally now with just the one tray icon.

I have been taking some of my objects and exporting them as .exe's, no problems there. I am getting ready to create some new objects so I will post if any problems come up.

Tiggz twiddles thumbs...

Why and the heck is one of the best DX script writers waiting for the beta code? Can I just send him the zip files?

Wicked

Just be patient, he is sending them out.

I have no idea if its related or not, but this morning I realized that my Windows Scripting engine was messed up. My ASP pages on localhost wouldn't work, Norton Antivirus has some problems displaying my status, and Windows Update gave me a blank page. Had to download and install Windows Script 5.6 and now everything is back to normal. May not be related though, I don't know. But I don't know what else could have cause this to happen... Everything was still fine a few days ago.

I've not had much time to use it yet (damn you place-of-employment!) but I have been looking at the code of all the new widgets and dxpacks, and seeing what new things can be done (love the marquee effect on some of them...small thing eh? ) I did notice that the dxpacks were installed into the same place as the widgets.

so far:
love the new preferences dialog options - easy to understand and script
really love defining the width of text objects and having it word wrap if necessary (been after that for ages)
love the new system namespace properties - system.clipboard, system.CPUactivity etc
having a blast with the centralized scripting features
also started playing with the new object collections - object.children etc, very very handy indeed
like the new email plugin - does the example widget utilise all the scripting features of the plugin?

no problems encountered as of yet - all in all this is shaping up to be a very impressive upgrade from 2.4. Those who know me will know that I am not generally given to such hyperbole

Can't wait to see what magic you will work Matt

So far:

Single script controlling everything: very cool. In fact, it's EXTREMELY cool. I figured out how to control many buttons with single block of select case from that. That will be extremely useful once I convert something like Nodemaster to single script.

Sub Object_OnLButtonDownEx(obj,x,y)
'if objects is named something like Heyqqq1 to Heyqqq1000 or more, this code handles that.
NameVar=obj.name
If instr(NameVar,"qqq")<>0 Then 'detect if it's special batch with qqq.
breaker=split(NameVar,"qqq")
NameVar=breaker(0)'the name, without the qqq. qqq serves only as splitter between object name and object number.
NumVar=breaker(1)'number only
End If

Select case Namevar
case Hey
Msgbox NameVar & " number:" & NumVar & " has been pressed."
'handle buttons, use NumVar to find out which of bunch of button called it.
end select
end sub


New dialogs and etc: very cool.

In plans to be tested: custom propriety dialogs, plug-in scripting.

like the new email plugin - does the example widget utilise all the scripting features of the plugin?

Yes. It basically esposes the minimum functionality to let you make a multiaccount checker object etc, since you can use the requestID to match multiple responses with the correct request. Accounts configuration is left to the script, since the plugin should only provide the basic custom functionality.
And it is totally asynchronous - which is good here. Future plugin implementations could support more features like content preview, etc.

Also, I hope you guys can find an interesting use of scriptable animations.
That could be even better than CursorXP scripts, since you have total freedom here.
The most obvious idea is to use animation strips as displays. I.e.
Object.CurrentFrame = System.CPUActivity / 20 'I suppose the strip has 5 frames in it

Two things I'm seeing... 1) This application has failed to start because ATL71.DLL was not found. When loading a previously created desktop. 2) The DXPerf4.dll could not be loaded. (also related to Performance Meters 2 not being on the Plugin list) When loading an object that uses Perf Meters 2. Wicked.

What operating system?

1) This application has failed to start because ATL71.DLL was not found. When loading a previously created desktop. 2) The DXPerf4.dll could not be loaded. (also related to Performance Meters 2 not being on the Plugin list) When loading an object that uses Perf Meters 2.

Ok, thanks for the report. I fixed that. Wrong compiler setting with DXPerf4.dll.

When I click the "e-mail script" plugin to add to an object, then click to configure it, nothing happens.

When I click the "e-mail script" plugin to add to an object, then click to configure it, nothing happens.

There is nothing to configure. Check how the sample widget works.

Is there a way to get DX Builder to load on boot instead of the client?

.

Is there a way to get DX Builder to load on boot instead of the client?

I just put a shortcut from the DesktopX folder to the startup programs list.

Bug report:

In the "systray" object it shows my network connection but it shows it 3 times, not 1. Any ideas? I have checked this in several desktops, and it does it in all of them.

Other then that it looks pretty good.

Amendment to the network icon multiplying --- if you right click on them they all go away except the "real" one. Its weird.

I get this with OD+ as well - i.e not running DX at all!

I believe it's to do with SDMCP which AFAIK is the app that handles system tray stuff. ISTR that Stardock is working on an updated version?

Works great! I'd still like a colorizeable taskbar object though.

Interesting. Export as widget has this hue change options while export as stand-alone EXE don't. Is it something that can be changed? Maybe include it into native EXE itself so it don't have to be "decompiled" to support hue change?

Same weird bug I found (and posted in bug reports thread) still exists in DX3. Still stalling a project of mine, altough it's progressing slowly in other parts, I can't finish it till that bug is gone.

I don't have enough time to test it more lately. Weekends is bad time for me.