Refresh Option & Save to Current Option

Here you may post suggestions for improving and extending Dexpot.
User avatar
sgtevmckay
Moderator
Posts: 192
Joined: 30.04.2010 23:17:17
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Contact:

Refresh Option & Save to Current Option

Postby sgtevmckay » 23.12.2010 17:23:49

Greetings folks.

As I continue my work with the Dexpot/Rainmeter plugins/addons, I find that there are times when various objects are not placed, until after I restart Dexpot.
Additionally; I find that from time to time that Rainmeter skins are moved to the current screen for no apparent reason.
In order to assist in the way of a correction, would it be possible to add a Refresh option to the Dexpot systray Icon Context Menu?
A refresh, I assume, over a restart would serve the same purpose, and allow Dexpot to continue operation, without being shut down.

If this is possible; would it also be possible to add this Refresh option to command line and the Rainmeter plugin as well?
Maybe even set up and option so that a choice of refresh could be made if the systray Icon is double clicked, over showing "Full Screen Preview"???

Would it also be possible to add an option to command line and the Rainmeter plugin to Save To current "Profile" ???
Or even a way to Save To profile "X"?
Image

User avatar
Patrick
Developer
Posts: 7380
Joined: 04.03.2003 14:51:26

Re: Refresh Option & Save to Current Option

Postby Patrick » 23.12.2010 17:53:41

:dex:

sgtevmckay wrote:I find that there are times when various objects are not placed

Could you explain that a little further?

Additionally; I find that from time to time that Rainmeter skins are moved to the current screen for no apparent reason.

Could the skins have been shown, toggled or refreshed by Rainmeter bangs?

In order to assist in the way of a correction, would it be possible to add a Refresh option to the Dexpot systray Icon Context Menu?

Dexpot has no notion of a "refresh" operation. What do you suggest a refresh would do?

Would it also be possible to add an option to command line and the Rainmeter plugin to Save To current "Profile" ???
Or even a way to Save To profile "X"?

Yep, it's even on the to-do list already.

User avatar
sgtevmckay
Moderator
Posts: 192
Joined: 30.04.2010 23:17:17
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Contact:

Re: Refresh Option & Save to Current Option

Postby sgtevmckay » 23.12.2010 20:21:57

Patrick wrote::dex:

sgtevmckay wrote:I find that there are times when various objects are not placed


Could you explain that a little further?


As I upload skins and then add them to VDMConfig.ini. In order to get the skins to the appropriate VD, I have to restart Dexpot.
I, like others, am also dealing with desktop shortcut issues, where occasionally these get tossed from one desktop to another, or copied. More often than not, a restart of Dexpot will correct this.

Patrick wrote: Additionally; I find that from time to time that Rainmeter skins are moved to the current screen for no apparent reason.


Could the skins have been shown, toggled or refreshed by Rainmeter bangs?


I investigated this, and this does not appear to be the issue.
I guess I should mention at this time that this also happens to Rocket Dock from time to time as well, for which I created a rule to show on VD #3 only.
A restart of Dexpot is required to place both Rocket Dock and Rainmeter skins back to VD #3.
This happens intermittently and there is no specific time frame as to the occurrence, apparently random in nature, as it does not happen all the time, or during a specific operation/execution. The computer may be idle with no activity for several minutes, or while I am opening MS Word, at any time, or not at all.
Just often enough to be annoying ;)

Patrick wrote: In order to assist in the way of a correction, would it be possible to add a Refresh option to the Dexpot systray Icon Context Menu?


Dexpot has no notion of a "refresh" operation. What do you suggest a refresh would do?


This is actually a tough question for me, as I am no programmer.
I guess if I had to take a ball park guess as to what needs refreshed; it would be the last active plugins/addons for Dexpot and current saved Profile.
I am not sure if it would need to go deeper than that, but as I have mentioned a restart is time consuming. So I guess I am looking for a fast reaction reset/reload/refresh of what ever would correct the above, without a restart ;)
I may have to consider this more carefully and get back to you with a more appropriate (realistic ?) answer :roll:

Patrick wrote: Would it also be possible to add an option to command line and the Rainmeter plugin to Save To current "Profile" ???
Or even a way to Save To profile "X"?


Yep, it's even on the to-do list already.


I am embarrassed that I did not find this in the tracker, and should not have bugged about it :oops:
This is great though (WOOT!!!)
Image

User avatar
sgtevmckay
Moderator
Posts: 192
Joined: 30.04.2010 23:17:17
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Contact:

Re: Refresh Option & Save to Current Option

Postby sgtevmckay » 06.01.2011 20:21:15

After some considerable work I have nailed things down a bit.

I hate to sound incredibly selfish in the following, but it is going to happen.

The biggest bug that I have, and it is not a bug, is that when I refresh Rainmeter, any skin assigned to any other VD appears on the Active VD.
I also have an issue where some times, at start, some of the skins assigned to other VD will start on the one visible.

I must then either stop and start Dexpot or go into settings, plugins, and turn off then turn on RainDexer.
Either way is time consuming and frustrating.
I tried making just a link to activate RainDexer, but failed as expected, as it needs to be triggered by Dexpot.

On to the selfish part.

Once RainDexer is activated, can a command line, or addition be made to the collaboration in progress, that would allow Raindexer to activate and/or Refresh?

More often than not, I would be concerned with refreshing the Raindexer Plugin from something that may be built into a Rainmeter skin.
As we build skins, we are stuck refreshing several times, and have skins assigned to other VD's show up is distracting at best, especially when you are in the middle of a skins build.
It would seem that a refresh of RainDexer would be sufficient to clear the current VD of skins assigned to other VD and then carry on with production.


Thoughts?
Image

User avatar
sgtevmckay
Moderator
Posts: 192
Joined: 30.04.2010 23:17:17
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Contact:

Re: Refresh Option & Save to Current Option

Postby sgtevmckay » 02.02.2011 19:36:40

I think after much trial and error in testing I have the refresh request nailed down.

it looks as though the following would need a refresh option/tool/button/what-ever-you-want-to-call-it.

Refresh All Plugins:
In windows 7, I find that the logon on order changes depending on which program was installed (updated) last.
In this case; Rainmeter is updated weekly. Therefore it installs last in the boot order. After Dexpot.
This allows Rainmeter to show skins assigned to other VD's all to show on VD #1 after logon boot is completed.
Apparently there is an issue where some plugins will not take effect, or shut themselves off from time to time.
The option to refresh the plugins would need to deactivate last used plugins, prior to last shutdown, and then reactivate them.
This would also create a temporary solution to plugins that do not load when Dexpot is next started.

Refresh All Rules
I have one rule in place at this time. Rocket dock to VD #3 only.
Occasionally during logon boot, Rocket dock remains on all VD.
The only way I have found to correct this is to close and restart Dexpot.
A refresh for rules seems a logical work around to avoid this shutdown and restart to Dexpot.

Refresh Last loaded User Profile
Occasionally Dexpot does not seem to load the user profile at Logon.
Also; Dexpot may seem to loose the profile during long term use (ie. Computer has been on over 8 days). This may be caused by additions of materials added and deleted from the desktop (Shortcuts).
In order to get the profile back. I need to go into options and reload the profile.
I figure that this being part of the refresh option would be of great benefit.

Wrap the above three Refresh into one button
I do not know what kind of chaos that adding a profile refresh would be to the refresh request, but I figure that refreshing Plugins and Rules at the same time should be do-able.
If profile reload/refresh can be rolled safely, I would suggest just making a Refresh button/option to the systray context menu, Command Line, and where necessary to the SDK code and the Rainmeter Plugins/addons.

There you have it.
All of what my research has shown over teh last several weeks.

Thoughts?
Image


Return to “Feature requests”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests