Announcement: Xwindows Dock 2.0.0.0

[BOBAH13]

I'm guessing stacks and the customizable animations won't be ready by the time you're busy again?

Those were awesome

May support docklets from OD, and my own API for plugins and docklets. Also, about last post (notifications) we already thought about it, when own docklets be ready, then implement this feature for them.

Ohh, what do you think, it makes sense to support OD Docklets ?

[Ghostwalker]

Ohh, what do you think, it makes sense to support OD Docklets ?

That has been the only reason I have not used your wonderful Dock. I would love to see this implemented and I would drop ObjectDock plus.

[csongi]

@Bobah : I have a BIG question, why don't you make this version to be exactly like the dock from Snow Leopard? I mean you add only the features and the settings options that SL dock has, without the setting of the pixels from the bottom or without the every little detail settings. You should keep the icon's distance from the bottom of the screen as the SL dock has, in the bottom position is 3D dock, on the left and right only 2D dock, no dock on the top of screen...and the other minimal and the most important features which you can find on the dock of Snow Leopard to be included. I think this would be the perfect dock if you want it to be exactly like SL dock. So please try to consider this as a little suggestion, you could save time if you leave the non useful settings behind and you focus only on the details which SL dock has too.

Btw you are doing the best job ever thanks

[BOBAH13]

@Bobah : I have a BIG question, why don't you make this version to be exactly like the dock from Snow Leopard? I mean you add only the features and the settings options that SL dock has, without the setting of the pixels from the bottom or without the every little detail settings. You should keep the icon's distance from the bottom of the screen as the SL dock has, in the bottom position is 3D dock, on the left and right only 2D dock, no dock on the top of screen...and the other minimal and the most important features which you can find on the dock of Snow Leopard to be included. I think this would be the perfect dock if you want it to be exactly like SL dock. So please try to consider this as a little suggestion, you could save time if you leave the non useful settings behind and you focus only on the details which SL dock has too.

Btw you are doing the best job ever thanks

You said a lot, and nothing is important. What do you mean under SNL dock ? Now dock in 3d can be only bottom, 2d top/bottom/left/right and use multi-monitor. What the features of the SNL dock ? So, I cannot see something what I can do in your post.

[AndrewYY]

You said a lot, and nothing is important. What do you mean under SNL dock ? Now dock in 3d can be only bottom, 2d top/bottom/left/right and use multi-monitor. What the features of the SNL dock ? So, I cannot see something what I can do in your post.

He means, don't let the user customize anything...

I think that's one major setback of apple's software, they try to dumb everything down too much. It's nice being able to change all of the settings. Perhaps an "advanced" tab in the settings with all of the small details would make him happy?

[mcshield]

hope xwindows dock 2.0.0 can be applied on windows 7 system~~

[iJesse]

Well what if he has a point....Well kinda. What if the skinner could put all the settings in the skin. So that they aren't in a settings panel but in the actual skin itself? I think that would be pretty Awesome. Cause then skinners like myself could release a skin that looks the same for everyone.

Just a thought.............

[Memophysic]

A nice feature for v2 would be to be able to choose a PNG icon designated to a certain file type in the stacks.

I have a stack which is all my school work, mainly Excel and Word files. I don't want to, each time I create a new file, have to change the icon manually in the stack (because the icon displayed right now is all blurry probably because the icon designated to those files is 52 pix).

So a solution is to have a tab in the stack preferences which regroup a list of file types and a link to a PNG file, so when this type of file is displayed in the stack (for example *.xlsx), the designated icon will be displayed instead of the default one. And the command "default" could just let it use the default icon linked to the file.

That's my only regret in the present release, hope you'll find my suggestion useful!

Thank you for your great program, since I got it, I never use my computer the same way!

Edited November 21, 2009 by Memophysic

[BOBAH13]

I'm glad to tell you guys, OD Docklets work with 2.0.0. But, one thing, I've made them to work with 2.0.0, but not all API work wholy, for example, you cannot browser image or setup dock's edge and so on. I've made it cause OD API is not "native" for 2.0.0 it was made to use cool docklet's like Matonga's Staks and so on. But in future will support and I will provide native API for plugins/docklets for 2.0.0

Thanks. Vlad.

Edit:

Now, about reflections of the windows: now only wallpaper, and if you want to reflect it, you have to find setting.ini and write it by your hands

Edit:

A small detail, it's rather funny When you enable windows' reflection in the dock, if

1. You have enabled Aero, you will see only wallpaper (may selection on the desktop or icons or not)

2. Aero is disabled, in XP, in Seven (think and in Vista) you will see anything in your Windows menus, windows, icons and so on.. just not layered windows.

[reenan]

hey vlad, some news about the progress? will we have a beta soon? *-*

[Ghostwalker]

I'm glad to tell you guys, OD Docklets work with 2.0.0.

Great to hear cant wait for your fist release I'm sure it will be impressive.

Edited November 21, 2009 by Ghostwalker

[Mattey]

I'm glad to tell you guys, OD Docklets work with 2.0.0. But, one thing, I've made them to work with 2.0.0, but not all API work wholy, for example, you cannot browser image or setup dock's edge and so on. I've made it cause OD API is not "native" for 2.0.0 it was made to use cool docklet's like Matonga's Staks and so on. But in future will support and I will provide native API for plugins/docklets for 2.0.0

hey, hey...

are you saying that XWD DOESN'T have stacks, like previews versions?

Do we gonna have to use them like a "plugin"?

I like Matonga's stacks, but XWD's stacks are MUCH BETTER!!!

Edited November 21, 2009 by Mattey

[BOBAH13]

hey, hey...

are you saying that XWD DOESN'T have stacks, like previews versions?

Do we gonna have to use them like a "plugin"?

I like Matonga's stacks, but XWD's stacks are MUCH BETTER!!!

What am I going to do for stacks in 2.0.0 ?

1. It will be a plugin. Not OD Docklet, it will be native XWD 2.0.0 Plugin

2. Or, I will make it by myself (I've already have code, I was working on it before XWD 2.0.0)

3. Or, Me and Matonga will fix/add features to Matonga's docklet and make it as XWD 2.0.0 Plugin

Edit:

AndrewYY: I told you, it would be a XWD 2.0.0 Native Plugin, that's why everything will be possible

[AndrewYY]

Matonga's stacks and the old XWD's stacks were both pretty equal in terms of features, but I liked how you could go into the XWD stacks, and change icons, settings, etc. Custom animations was pretty cool too.

[BOBAH13]

Developers and all: please look sometimes at my first post in this topic, to check the dock's API.

Thanks

How about a stack style docklet that shows Everest ultimate temperature readings etc?

I hate the Everest sidebar gadget, would be better to show readings in a dock?

I guess this wouldnt be too hard to implement as Everest has external application support, would be a great feature for XWD IMHO....

I think you are talking about to create new plugin for it, it doesn't depend on API.

[michaelosm]

How about a stack style docklet that shows Everest ultimate temperature readings etc?

I hate the Everest sidebar gadget, would be better to show readings in a dock?

I guess this wouldnt be too hard to implement as Everest has external application support, would be a great feature for XWD IMHO....

[csongi]

Well what if he has a point....Well kinda. What if the skinner could put all the settings in the skin. So that they aren't in a settings panel but in the actual skin itself? I think that would be pretty Awesome. Cause then skinners like myself could release a skin that looks the same for everyone.

Just a thought.............

you got my point, those settings belong in the skin file, so this way the program itself can be cleaner and will contain the functional settings, just like apple's dock. I know it's cool that the user can edit every little part on the dock, but those can be edited in the skin files and just like iJesse said, his skin will look the same for everyone. It's possible that I look like I am locked in a single point and I want the XWD to look exactly like apple's dock, but I think that apple's doch has every setting which has to be in the program. And the rest can be used in the skins...

[BOBAH13]

csongi do not worry about it, I'v already made the dock by this way about 2 weeks ago

[orionex]

Hi BOBAH13 i would really like to see something different on this new version XWD:

1.- the reserved screen area for the dock, regardless of the windows version is in use, always hide the borders when a window is maximized , this happen in the current version of XWD 5.6

But if you can do some changes in this new version i really like see something like this:

A Window capable of show their border when is maximized in "reserve screen area mode" could be great.

2.-Another thing is to preview the whole entire format of a kind of video. For example in one carpet you have 20 videos in .wmv (mkv, avi, mpg...) format, but when you added a stack folder to the dock it only preview a few many, on some appear ? simbol and on other a pic of the video, regardless of the codec pack you have installed . Sometimes when you reset the dock it does not preview all video on the stack. This feature is a big step for this Dock against others, thats why i love XWindows Dock.

3.- I see you are making some features like the way of changing the icons, better if i culd grab some ico or png to the shortcut and the icon change instantly .

4.- I like how RK Launcher minimize the windows respecting their resolution, they look like widescreen, in the current version of XWD looks so square. I hope this could be new in XWD 2.

Sorry for my english, i hope being the voice from others, all this just to have a better Dock.

By the way can you tell us a final release date?.

[BOBAH13]

Hello, and thanks for your request & questions.

1. I cann't do it, it depends like windows wants and does it. For example when you maximize windows, do you still can see windows' border ? Of course not, that's why you also cann't see it when dock reserve screen.

Anyway, all these questions are not so important for now, cause now dock must have the base to create/add new features. These questions connects to next step, not current.

About release data ? Do you really think that I can publish the dock now or soon ? Of course not, because now I haven't so much time to spend it only to dock and did you see the date when I told evetybody that I have been working on the dock ?

Sorry, but I cannot tell you when dock will be ready, but a lot of things are already done. The next step is plugins, and now working on it. Now only 23th of November

[Elevati0n]

Maybe as a Xmas gift Anyway, don;t rush and do the right job for...

[csongi]

csongi do not worry about it, I'v already made the dock by this way about 2 weeks ago

Thanks

[btb42693]

BOBAH, I cannot demonstrate how happy I am for your progress on the new version! Take your time; I'd rather have a fully ready version than a fully rushed version of 2.0.0

Now for some quick suggestions

If I were you, I'd plan for the future. Vista and XP are still out here, but I can foresee them being left in the dust in no time. I would focus on Windows 7 development for the time being, as XWD 5.6 can always be referenced as the "Vista/XP dock" because it still works on those OS's. This way, you won't have to worry about trying to develop on three different Microsoft OS's at the same time. I don't know about you, but I know ONE MS OS is enough for me! And as soon as it works alright in 7, go back to Vista and XP and develop on those when you have extra free time.

One thing. In W7, there are desktop wallpaper animations in the background. This sometimes conflicted with XWD 5.6. Now I know this dock is something entirely different, but you HAVE used the desktop animations while running 2.0.0 without a problem, right? Just to be sure

It would be great for a fullscreen option as well, so it doesn't pop out of nowhere while running a fullscreen application.

I will continue to update my list of suggestions as they come along, I am a little bit rushed right now and I am running out of time to think. I am sorry if I just posted a suggestion that somebody already posted, I'm just so excited for this new release! Great work!

[BOBAH13]

Thanks btb42693. Now when I create new feature I put great attention to it, to make stable and usefull, that's why a lot of you won't find a lot of features from 5.6. First I want to make the base stable dock. When it's done, will continue on other stuff.

Thanks. Vlad.

Edit:

Ohh.. I so do like API for 2.0.0, now done:

1. Image API - you can easly create images, load from files (any Gdiplus images also .ico provided by dock), Gdiplus bitmpas, from memory using scan0 + width + height and may other features (telling the truth it's a c++ class, which is used everything inside the dock ))

2. Menu API (only for docklet type of the plugins, you can add your own menu's items (checkboxes, lines and even infinite sub items))

3. Docklet API (a lot of base features, now going to implement GetRect, just forgot about this function )

4. Notification API - waiting for its turn

Now API has only 2 functions !! you will get how to use them in future, when release is ready.

XWDBool XWDAPICALL XWDExec(XWDFunction function, ...);
XWDError XWDAPICALL XWDGetLastError();

But I think a lot of you already know what it means

All plugins depends on API definitions, that means that you can create plugins using C and C++ too. Not sure about Delphi, cause I use "..." va-args it helps a lot.

Thanks. Vlad.

[reenan]

hey vlad!

I noticed now one thing that freaks me out...

why apps that are in stacks don't have a running indicator?? Can you add this to XWD 2??

can't wait to release of new dock *-*

sure that it will be THE Windows 7 Dock. ^^