Learning DX Step-By-Step - #2

Tutorial #1 - Folder Object

Thursday, February 22, 2007 by RomanDA | Discussion: DesktopX Tutorials

Step-by-Step Tutorials

#2 - Folder Object

A series by RomanDA

Listing of other DX Tutorials: Click here

Today's Lesson: "Folder Object"

In this lesson we will cover how to create a simple object that you can use to open a folder. (We will be using this in the next one to create a Program and a URL Shortcut.

To use this tutorial you will need these 2 PNG files - click HERE to download - (yes, they are lame, but i wanted something simple to use).

For this and all the Step-By-Step DX Tutorials you will need to purchase DesktopX for $14.95 from Stardock.

Lets get started.
STEP 1 - Load DesktopX
Once you have DesktopX installed, look in your Start Menu for "Object Desktop" then for "DesktopX", click it to load the program.

You will see the DesktopX STARTUP Screen (yours wont say PROFESSIONAL unless you purchased PRO) One you see this screen, click on "CREATE" because we want to CREATE a new Widget.

It will load the DesktopX SETTINGS Window:

We just wish to get these screens out of the way for now, we are not going to use them. Click "CANCEL" on the SETTINGS window, and DONE on the STARTUP Screen.

You should have a blank screen now with a new icon in your system tray:

STEP 2 - Create an object
RIGHT CLICK on the icon in your system tray and you will see a popup menu like this one:
You will need to select the "NEW OBJECT" item on this menu.
You will see the OBJECT PROPERTIES window below (as well as the object itself). This window will be referenced over and over in these tutorials. IE: Open Properties / Select States (which would mean to select the States TAB in the Properties window)

You can access this properties window at any time by RIGHT-CLICKING on the object and selecting PROPERTIES.

STEP 3 - Adding Images into the Object
When you added the object, it brought up the PROPERTIES window, now select the "STATES" tab to change to this TAB.
  • In this window, select BROWSE, then select the LIGHTBULB-OFF.png file from the zip file at the top of this article.
  • Click OPEN
  • On the OBJECT PROPERTIES, click APPLY
  • You should see this:

  • Click on ADD... in the PROPERTIES dialog above, you will see this window:
  • Click OK for the mouse over default.
  • We are going to repeat the steps above to select the LIGHTBULB-ON.png:
    • click BROWSE
    • Select the LIGHTBULB-ON.png file.
    • Click OK
    • Then click OK in the PROPERTIES Dialog - this will close the PROPERTIES Dialog Box
  • You really wont see much happen until you move your mouse OVER the light bulb, when you do, it should look like this:
  • You have now created an object with 2 states, mouse OVER and mouse AWAY (or normal).
STEP 4 - Making your Lightbulb DO something.
  • RIGHT-CLICK on the new Object and select PROPERTIES
  • We are going to point this one to a folder on your computer.
  • Follow the Step #'s in the image below
    1. Click CHANGE on the OBJECT TYPE Button
    2. Click on the DROP-DOWN at the top of the COMMAND TYPE Dialog, select SHORTCUT
    3. Select FOLDER SHORTCUT
    4. Select BROWSE
      • Select you MY DOCUMENTS (or whatever folder you want to open) from the dialog box (see below)
      • Click OK to accept the folder you selected
    5. Click OK on the COMMAND TYPE DIALOG box
    6. Click OK on the OBJECT PROPERTIES Dialog box
  • You now have created a Shortcut icon to the Folder you selected.
  • CLICK on the Lightbulb and it should open the folder you selected.
STEP 5 - Changing the CURSOR on the Lightbulb
  • When you move over the Lightbulb you want to show that it does something, and to do that we will change the cursor to a HAND, so that it looks like we can click it.
  • RIGHT-CLICK on the new Object and select PROPERTIES
  • Select the RELATION Tab
  • In the CURSOR Dropdown, select HAND
  • Click on OK (this will close the dialog box)
  • Test this by moving your mouse over the lightbulb, you should see: - Notice the HAND Cursor
CONCLUSION
This is a pretty simple Tutorial, I was going to continue this and make several clones of the lightbulb for a program and a url, but I want to split that into the next Tutorial. I will post that at the same time I post this, so you can continue with Tutorial #3 - Attack of the Clones

Check back as I add new Step-By-Step Tutorials on how to make this a link to a folder, web-site, or just about anything you want!

I hope you have enjoyed this step into DX, and look forward to the next installment.

Enjoy, RomanDA
AKA: David A. Roman
 http://romanda.wincustomize.com
7 Reply 33 Referrals
DeadestEye
Reply #1 Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:34 AM
Very nice tutorials Dave. Thanks for taking the time to enlighten me!

Quentin94
Reply #2 Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:43 PM
really interesting thanks

TW_Signal
Reply #3 Friday, February 23, 2007 10:37 PM
Very helpful and easy to follow. Well done.

Bichur
Reply #4 Friday, February 23, 2007 10:55 PM
You rock.

canmandeco
Reply #5 Monday, March 12, 2007 7:47 PM
What's nice is these only take about five minutes to do.
Off to the next one!

RomanDA
Reply #6 Monday, March 12, 2007 8:24 PM
What's nice is these only take about five minutes to do.
Off to the next one!


ok, 5 mins to DO.. 1-2hrs to MAKE.. LOL

Im glad you are getting something out of them..
there may be more, who knows.. have to see what the cards hold.

Nyctea
Reply #7 Saturday, February 28, 2009 12:34 PM
You're a good teacher.

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