Stardock Personal Computer 2.4 User Manual
DesktopX 2.4 Developer’s Guide
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to reduce the desktop by. Once you have done this then applications (when maximized) will not
intrude into this space so your objects are visible.
intrude into this space so your objects are visible.
Resolutions
There is also a 'Resolutions' button so you can specify the screen resolutions your theme is
optimally designed to work with. DesktopX provides some advanced features to allow you to
define how individual objects position themselves dependant on changes in the screen resolution.
This section is definitely optional, as if you set up the objects properly DesktopX themes should
work with different resolutions. There will be cases however when themes need to work at
specific resolutions. For example, you may have many objects which won't all fit onto a smaller
screen. Where this is the case, then you should check the boxes of all resolutions at which the
theme is designed to work. Whilst this will not stop users of other resolutions using your theme,
it will at least prompt them that the theme wasn't designed for that resolution, and as such may
not look as it was intended to.
There is also a 'Resolutions' button so you can specify the screen resolutions your theme is
optimally designed to work with. DesktopX provides some advanced features to allow you to
define how individual objects position themselves dependant on changes in the screen resolution.
This section is definitely optional, as if you set up the objects properly DesktopX themes should
work with different resolutions. There will be cases however when themes need to work at
specific resolutions. For example, you may have many objects which won't all fit onto a smaller
screen. Where this is the case, then you should check the boxes of all resolutions at which the
theme is designed to work. Whilst this will not stop users of other resolutions using your theme,
it will at least prompt them that the theme wasn't designed for that resolution, and as such may
not look as it was intended to.
Wallpaper and Labels
Via the two other buttons on this tab, you can define additional visual configuration options.
One of the quickest ways of changing the visual user experience is to use a wallpaper just as you
would on a standard desktop. If you click the ‘Wallpaper’ button you can then ‘Browse’ to find
the wallpaper you would like to use. You can use several graphic formats for wallpaper but using
a JPG will keep the theme as small as possible. You can also specify the visual style of the
wallpaper here, just as you can do in Windows.
You can also choose to use a ‘Solid Color’ on the desktop by checking this option and selecting
a color by clicking the ‘Change’ button.
If you are using the ‘center’ wallpaper style you may want to use the ‘Solid color’ option as well,
so you can define the color of the desktop around the wallpaper when the desktop is larger than
the image size.
All your objects can have a text label, so DesktopX allows you to set a default for these at a
theme level so you can ensure that the color and font is consistent with your theme.
If you click the ‘Labels’ button you can define the color and font in which the label appears.
In both cases you can choose to use the system defaults as defined in the Windows Display
Properties. Alternatively you can custom define them. In this case you can choose the default
color of labels and the color when the item is selected.
When selecting a custom font, if you are going to distribute the theme to other users make sure
that they will have the font on their machine as well. Alternatively, subject to copyright issues,
Via the two other buttons on this tab, you can define additional visual configuration options.
One of the quickest ways of changing the visual user experience is to use a wallpaper just as you
would on a standard desktop. If you click the ‘Wallpaper’ button you can then ‘Browse’ to find
the wallpaper you would like to use. You can use several graphic formats for wallpaper but using
a JPG will keep the theme as small as possible. You can also specify the visual style of the
wallpaper here, just as you can do in Windows.
You can also choose to use a ‘Solid Color’ on the desktop by checking this option and selecting
a color by clicking the ‘Change’ button.
If you are using the ‘center’ wallpaper style you may want to use the ‘Solid color’ option as well,
so you can define the color of the desktop around the wallpaper when the desktop is larger than
the image size.
All your objects can have a text label, so DesktopX allows you to set a default for these at a
theme level so you can ensure that the color and font is consistent with your theme.
If you click the ‘Labels’ button you can define the color and font in which the label appears.
In both cases you can choose to use the system defaults as defined in the Windows Display
Properties. Alternatively you can custom define them. In this case you can choose the default
color of labels and the color when the item is selected.
When selecting a custom font, if you are going to distribute the theme to other users make sure
that they will have the font on their machine as well. Alternatively, subject to copyright issues,