Why does Desktop X not skin everything?

Am I not doing something right or is this the way these are?

DesktopX is a desktop extender allowing for objects, widgets, and themes. It does not skin the Windows GUI. You will need WindowBlinds for that.

Hmm, I'm not seeing the message I actually typed, so I'll just type it in here. Stupid. Seems the forums need some fixin. I was wondering why Desktop X doesn't theme the way WindowBlinds does. Desktop X themes the taskbar, the start menu and background, sometimes, media player and some widgets. But my documents, my computer, IE and all that doesn't get themed, so you end up having a clashing effect. Since, the theme is something, but you're in IE or my documents and those look like XP. Sometimes, these don't skin the start menu either, so all you have is a themed taskbar, wallpaper and some widgets. Is this how this is supposed to work? Am I not doing something right. Like the new blue/greenish Vista for Desktop X is like that. I don't have any screenshot software sorry.

wtf is wrong with these forums!!! I just replied to one of my threads that says "why" because I typed why, pressed the space bar and it submitted on it's own. So, I typed another one, which it let me finish and posted it, but that one was not showing up in the forums, so I replied to the why one with the same message as I stated above and it replied to the message that originally didn't show up. It posted to the one that I was not even in or replying too!!! Retardation!!!

Anyway, enough of that bs, with regards to WindowBlinds, I didn't think you could use both Desktop X themes and WindowBlinds at the same time, can you?

Because WindowBlinds also themes the taskbar, startmenu and all that, so how can you use both of them at once?

I didn't think you could use both Desktop X themes and WindowBlinds at the same time, can you?

Yes. You can.

Forums seem fine.

Yes, You can use Both WindowBlinds and DesktopX together...

Desktop X themes the taskbar, the start menu and background, sometimes, media player and some widgets.

DesktopX doesn't theme these, they are all created using DesktopX...someone coded them, then skinned them with graphics.

OK, so basically what I'm saying is how can you use something like Q's Simple Vista DX with window blinds? That is an excellent theme, but it only themes the taskbar, start menu and background. Has some widgets with it. Maybe it doesn't theme the start menu, I can't remember. But what you end up with is a killer looking desktop, but everything else is XP.

That is an excellent theme, but it only themes the taskbar, start menu and background.

Your confusing me here. Q's Vista DX theme DOES NOT skin the Taskbar and Start Menu.

Everything you see in that theme is Originally CREATED. It's not the actual default XP start menu and taskbar.

OK, so basically what I'm saying is how can you use something like Q's Simple Vista DX with window blinds?

Well I usually search for a WindowBlind that resembles the DX theme. There are many to choose from (I would go with a Vista Style) here or try DeviantArt for Vista Styles.

But Yes, You Can Use DX and WindowBlinds together...actually I've had almost every ODNT software running together without and conflicts at one time...don't ask me why.

DesktopX has settings in the configuration panel to select whether the Windows taskbar and or desktop icons are visible. These are typically set by the DesktopX author to indicate how the DesktopX theme is intended to be used. If you want to see say a Notepad window skinned in your DesktopX theme, then you would use Window Blinds for that. I always use Window Blinds and DesktopX together and I try to match my current Window Blind skin choice to my DesktopX theme choice. Sometimes DesktopX authors include in their themes a replacement for the Windows taskbar. This is fine because Window Blinds can still be used to skin the appearance of the other Windows components. Its up to you how much of Windows you wish to have themed and skinned and what combinations of available downloadable authored works you wish to use. Check out the Screen Shots section for some ideas and try out all the components of Object Desktop. Customizing is fun!

I sometimes run DX with the WB taskbar set to Auto-Hide so if I put the cursor at the edge of the screen where the taskbar usually is, it unhides. This can be top, bottom, or either side. Just drag-and-drop the Windows taskbar to where you want it, set to auto-hide or not as wished. You can also just drag part of the taskbar to another edge, say if you just wish Quick-Launch bar at top, and rest of Windows' taskbar at bottom. Also you can run ObjectBar2 and add a whole new dimension to your desktop. It's all really awesome and pretty much limited by imagination. I run a lot with DX, WB, ObjBar2, and ObjectDock, everything autohidden, no d.t. icons but a toolbar in the Windows' taskbar for "Desktop". That way if I want to see/select something on the desktop, all I do is click the "Desktop >>" next to the systray and I get a popup menu of the desktop inhabitants without having to see them on the visible desktop...
..starting to sound confusing, and it shouldn't be, so I'll quit.
Go for it!!

DesktopX does not skin the start or the taskbar or anything.

Everything is created. Your normal bar can be hidden when using a theme with a constructed bar.

Sometimes you can get a desktopx theme and find a matching WB skin

Alright, you guys are confusing me more. I am talking about a theme made for Desktop X. It's called Q's simple vista DX. Here is the link. https://www.wincustomize.com/ViewSkin.aspx?SkinID=3573&LibID=31
Please look at that. There is wallpaper, the taskbar is skinned and there are widgets. Not everything comes in the file, like the widgets. I have applied this theme before. I know it themes the taskbar. So, that is what you're desktop looks like, but then everything else is in XP. My Documents, My Computer, Internet Explorer and so on. Even if you could specify windows blinds to not theme the taskbar and whatnot, nothing would match. So, that's what I'm saying. Is that how this goes? The Q's Vista does only that and then the rest of your system is XP? How can you use a windows blinds theme without it themeing the taskbar, start and desktop properties? I don't see anything in there for that. It would be really cool if you could get the entire system looking like this. Follow me?

Magicka,

Please try to listen very carefully here. I'm going to try and put this in the simplest terms that I possibly can. (And help me guys to make sure I explain this well)

You need to understand the difference between a visual style (WindowBlinds skin) and a desktop theme (DesktopX themes).

1) Visual Style: A visual style is a set of graphical componants that give you the "look and feel" of your Windows environment. Typically we call them skins. Changing a WindowBlind skin is similar to changing the appearance of the "Windows and buttons" settings from the Display Properties control panel; under the Appearence tab.

2) Desktop Theme: These are the objects that make up your desktop environment, that conform to a common theme (all the objects are similar in look, though they have different functions). Examples of objects are widgits and gadgets (weather meters, to do lists, RAM and Memory gauges/meters), the Windows taskbar, an object dock, an object bar, icons...etc).

The critical part you need to understand is that these 2 "things" are different animals, yet work together to give you the total look and feel of your desktop environment and functionality.

Using DesktopX, you create objects (like those mentioned in number 2). Some of thes objects will take on the look and feel of the visual style (WindowBlind skin) you apply, for instance the Windows taskbar; while others wont, for instance icons, or wigits and gadgets.

Using WindowBlinds, you change the overall look and feel of the Windows themselves (and the windows taskbar), for instance the title bars, scroll bars, min/max/zoom buttons, or virtually every componant that makes up a window, the Windows Taskbar, and the Start menu.

Do you see how it works now? DesktopX gives you the ability to create an object or a functional object, and WindowBlinds defines the look and feel of the Windows.

Now, I'll tell you how to make your desktop look like Q,s Simple DX DesktopX theme:

1) Write Q from the email listed on his WinCustomize site, and ask him what WindowBlind Skin and wallpaper he is using on the screenshot he used to display the objects he created using desktopX; download the skin and apply it using WindowBlinds and apply the wallpaper.

2) Apply Q's Simple DX theme using DesktopX.

Once you do these 2 things, your desktop will look and feel just like the screenshot Q used to show us his DX theme.

I believe that's a created taskbar (with windows' taskbar being hidden - the start panel shown in the pic is also created


DesktopX does not 'skin' - it is a 'creation' program - you can create it to look any way you want - you can use it to enhance your desktop or replace it.

Window blinds replaces the skins around the windows with the WB skins