Object Dock Doesn't Save Dock Icons? Or Am I Doing Something Wrong?

from WinCustomize Forums
I Need Some Advice Regarding Object Dock.
I Like Changing Docks Frequently And I'm Having Problems Saving The Docks I Make As Themes.

Problem: When I Use "Package Theme", OD Never Saves The Dock Icons Used With The Theme. Instead, It References Their Locations In The .ini File. I Have My Downloaded Docks Saved In a Seperate Non Object Dock Folder. I Also Rerarange My Folder And File Locations Frequently. When This Happens, The Theme.ini File Refers To Non Existant Files Because They Have Been Moved.

Is There A Way To Get OD To Package The Dock Icons With The Theme? So Far It Only Packages The Background Png's, Background.ini, Any Docklets Used And Any Icons Used By The Docklet (The MSN Status Png's For Example). I Use The Advanced>Package The Entire Dock & All Of Its Settings Option.

Could It Be That Because I Don't Store The Docks I Use In The OD Dock Folder, It Doesn't Package Them? Any Ideas or Help Would Be Grand.

Ta.
docks
4,591 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WOWfactor.555,

It is my understanding that the program is written to look for the images you want to apply to a saved theme in the ObjectDock folder, so yes, it is most likely because you are not storing your images in the ObjectDock folder.

I believe the most recent update has ObjectDock looking in "sub-folders" if you will inside the "Images" folder - but these folders must still be inside the ObjectDock folder.

I may be wrong, but that is my understanding at this point.

If you are intending on packaging for uploading, remember that users will most likely be placing their images, backgrounds, docklets, etc. in the ObjectDock folder and your uploaded theme may not work if you package with an uncommon file structure.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it's still didn't solve the problem. I have to face the same problem with WOW. Anyway to pack the customize icon together with the dock? What if others using my dock but they don't have requested icons? It'll show the "?" icon
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
midnightwalker1982,

When I first started using ObjectDock, I downloaded a few themes, and most of them came in the form of a ".zip" file which included:

- the theme ".ini" file
- a Background folder (which included the background image, background ".ini" file, and the seperator image)
- an Image folder which included all the required icon images
- a "read-me" file, instructing the user where to place the various parts of the theme.

Personally, this is the way I would do it:

1 - Create a folder in the ObjectDock sub-directory that bears the name of the theme, and place the required images in it.
2 - Create a folder in the "ObjectDock\Backgrounds" folder which includes the background images, background ".ini" file, and seperator image - name it after the theme as well.
3 - Create the theme on my computer, and save it.

Now create a folder with the name of the theme in say My Documents, and inside that, create both an "Images" folder and a "Background" folder.

Copy the image folder from the ObjectDock sub-directory bearing the name of the theme, to the new "My Documents\Theme name\Images" folder.

Copy the background folder from ObjectDock\Backgrounds folder that bears the name of the theme, to the new "My Documents\Theme name\Background" folder.

Copy the theme ".ini" file to the new folder "My Documents\Theme folder".

You should now have a folder in My Documents that bears the name of the theme and includes an "Images" folder with the theme images folder inside that, a "Backgrounds" folder with the theme background folder inside that, and the theme ".ini" file.

Type out a set of instructions in "Notepad" for the user, telling him/her where to place the folders (this should be the exact same location in the ObjectDock sub-directory as on your computer - the drive letter may be different, but that should not matter - just indicate something like "C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock" folder, where "C" is the letter drive).

Place the read-me file in the new "My Documents\Theme folder", include any author permissions if you are using another persons work, then just zip up that folder and upload.

It is a bit of work, but this should allow anyone running the ObjectDock (or ObjectDock Plus, depending on the theme) to install the folders in their correct locations > start ObjectDock > then use Dock Settings to load your theme.

Hint -

- The Theme images folder should go to "C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock" folder.
- The Theme background folder should go to "C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Backgrounds" folder.
- The Theme ".ini" file should go to "C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Themes" folder.

I hope this was not too long winded.