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gat0rjay

Join Date 10/2008

New Users Looking for some ObjectDock insights

Flyouts, Toolbars

I'm a new user and I'm just learning my way around ObjectDock. I'm running 1.9 Plus on XP SP3. I have two questions regarding functionality.

Is there any way for the flyout menus to cycle around simply by rotating the mouse scroll wheel once the flyout is expanded? I'm aware of the Stack Docklet, and I'm using it. However, there are some groups which I'd prefer to use the flyout. But when I have 30/40+ icons, using the arrows to cycle through is just annoying. With scroll wheel functionality, and since they're already sorted alphabetically, I could easily and much more quickly scroll to the item I desired. Any way to enable this?

I'd like to hide the Windows taskbar permanently. However, I require the use of the Windows Search Deskbar on occassion to monitor folders I use for work which store files in a very convoluted manner (and which I am not at liberty to modify). Is there any way to create a docklet for toolbars such as these. Or is there another program anyone knows of that would allow me to place the Windows Search Deskbar as an active item on the desktop, or something similar?

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Jason

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BigDogBigFeet

Join Date 12/2005

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Or is there another program anyone knows of that would allow me to place the Windows Search Deskbar as an active item on the desktop, or something similar?

There might be a workaround for this. I read in another post where someone had created a shortcut first to the Windows search function. They did it by opening the Windows Search Panel leaving it blank and then dragging the active search task from the Windows taskbar to the desktop which creates the shortcut. Then they just dragged the newly created shortcut to the dock.

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Is there any way for the flyout menus to cycle around simply by rotating the mouse scroll wheel once the flyout is expanded?

Not at this time. great feature request though!

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Thanks for the quick reply. I tried what you explained. The best I could accomplish with that method was creating a shortcut which would open a search window in explorer. Currently I'm using Windows Deskbar Search 4.0, and what I was hoping to do was create a docklet similar to the built in web search docklet; but one that will search local files using the Windows Deskbar Search and perform live "search as you type" functions that would presumably popup and be displayed in a single file stack.

I contemplated trying to configure the built in search docklet to use the Windows Search function, but I wasn't aware of what the local address or command for that toolbar was.. Any thoughts on trying to reconfigure the built in search docklet to use the local Windows Search Deskbar?

Thanks again for any help

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BigDogBigFeet

Join Date 12/2005

+397

Thanks for the quick reply. I tried what you explained. The best I could accomplish with that method was creating a shortcut which would open a search window in explorer

Yep that's the best that can be done that I'm aware of. The search docklet that comes with OD Plus is Web only. Object Bar might be able to do this but, I haven't checked it out yet. It would be a matter of linking Object Bar properly to the right executable for Search 4.0 which I also have. When I get time I'll try it out and see if I can get that to work.

There's a free SDK for Object Dock to build docklets but, I haven't tried it and don't know if I have the skills to make a docklet. These are the only options that come to mind for making the equivalent of a Search 4.0 launcher window on a Stardock App.

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I found a bit of a workaround for the search function. I was never aware of the hotkey combo to send the cursor to the windows search deskbar. So, "WIN+SHFT+F" will send your cursor to the taskbar/toolbar search. You just have to make sure you have the toolbar enabled before you hide the taskbar using OD. The only other catch is that you can't see what you're typing, you just see live search as you type results. I'm sure most of us here know what we type though, so that's not a big deal. My next thought process is to write an autohotkey for the WIN+SHFT+F and convert it to an exe then put a shortcut to it in my OD as "Search".. I think this is probably the simplest way to have OD enable Search 4.0 w/o having to write an entire docklet, or fool around w/ object bar. Though, if anyone ever did go through that process I'd certainly prefer an active search as a docklet. Anyway, if anyone is interested in that exe once I've done it, let me know.

Then I had one more question regarding functionality. Is there any way to allow the files/folders in a stack docklet to be "active" or "dynamic"? (not sure what the word I want is). Basically, I'd like to be able to right click on files/folders WHILE they're displayed in the stack docklet's view (in order to display the context menu for copy/cut/properties/etc). Is there any way to make this possible?

Thanks again

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Starting with your guidance, here is what I did and I think it worked out quite well.

Create an executable that types the shortcut "Windows_Start+Shift+F"
- I used the free application Autohotkey for this step and used the recorded to make a .AHK file and then converted it to an executable
Add this exe to your ObjectDock - I changed the icon to the included search icon as well
In ObjectDock options, make sure to uncheck the option "Hide the Windows Taskbar" (we will do this by moving the tasskbar away later)
Move your Windows to the top edge of screen (left or right should work too)
Open Taskbar properties and set it to autohide
Also, in Taskbar properties uncheck "Keep the taskbar on top of other windows" option.

This will leave your ObjectDock at the bottom where it should be with a search icon.
There will be no gap at the bottom between the ObjectDock and the bottom of the screen.
When you click your search icon in the ObjectDock, it exposes the taskbar with the search activated so you can see what you are typing and how it responds.
Step 6 is nice because it makes sure the taskbar only unhides when on your desktop so it does not annoyingly popup while using apps.

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