Copy application to all desktops?

[Andrew]

Hi,

I have an app that I want to be available on all desktops.

I have created a rule that copies this apps to all desktops, and if I click on "Apply Rules" in the Desktop Rules dialogue box, it works fine; however, I can't figure out how to get it to happen automatically.

I have specified that the app is started in the Configure Desktops dialogue box, in the "all desktops" Start-Up tab - the app is set to launch when Dexpot starts. I would have thought this should make it available on all desktops, but it's only available on the desktop that is current when Dexpot starts (desktop 1). I then have to run my rule manually to make the app available on all desktops.

What am I doing wrong here? I'd love to RTFM but unfortunately my German is about as good as my Swahili!

Thanks.

[Gobo]

Hi Andrew,

to achieve your goal, you need both:
- Have the application start with Dexpot through Dexpot's Autostart function
- Have a rule which copies the application to all desktops. The rule condition is best based on the name of the executable.

If you have all this and it still doesn't work, it'd be great if you could give us some more information:
- Which version of Windows do you use?
- What application are we talking of?

Thanks

[Andrew]

Seems to be solved - I removed the application from the "All desktops" startup tab, then the "Copy to all desktops" rule works when the app is started.

Interestingly, if I start the app from within Dexpot (say from Desktop 1), the rule does execute but the app goes ballistic when it starts, littering lots of windows that the user should never see over every desktop; then closing the app results in runtime errors (object reference not set). However, if I start the app before Dexpot and then let Dexpot copy to all desktops via its rule it seems fine... I'm guessing there must be some difference in permissions when Windows starts the app compared to when Dexpot starts it.

I am running WinXP SP2 and Dexpot 1.3. The app is Vision Manager (by Performance Solutions) - it's a UI for PABX voice mail/phone management. My Windows user account does have local admin privilege (I know, I know - I'm getting around to fixing that up!) so it may be bad design within Vision Manager relying on admin rights at runtime. I will retest this once I have removed admin rights from my account.

[Gobo]

Hi Andrew,

please activate the option "Do not apply rule to invisible windows" in the Desktop Rules settings and try again ... if that doesn't help, please let us know

HTH, Gobo =8-)

[Andrew]

Well done! This fixed everything. I can now start the app from within Dexpot without getting all those spurious windows, and it works just the way it should.

Thank you. If only commercial software were as well supported as your product!