ObjectBar 1.5 released

Published on December 2, 2002 By Frogboy In WinCustomize News

ObjectBar is a program that allows you to extend the Windows interface to have additional menus, bars, and program items.

You can easily build pretty much any type of desktop user interface with it. What's unique about ObjectBar is how practical it is. The interfaces one creates with it really work well.

While ObjectBar can look really cool, it's really designed about making you more productive. A few example features in 1.5:

1) You can replace the Windows right-click desktop menu with one that can have the same options plus others you add.

2) You can access the right desktop menu through a hot key at any time.

3) You can have menus and bars with virtually every imaginable system command possible.

4) You can assign a hot key to any item making nearly anything on your system available in a couple keystrokes.

5) You can have your ObjectBar look automatically inherit its skin from WindowBlinds.

6) You can use DesktopX plugins with ObjectBar (SDPlugins) and hence create bars and menus and the like that monitor system resources, the weather, virtual desktops, and pretty much anything else you'd want.

7) New caching system makes ObjectBar menus pop up faster than the default Windows menus.

8) Version 1.5 has a much simplified user interface to make it much easier to create bars and themes.

Here's an example bar created to show off the hotkeys and menuing features of ObjectBar, it allows you to instantly visit different parts of different websites including deviantART, DeskMod, Neowin, Hardware Geeks, Skinbase, and others:
https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=4&SkinID=204

Other screenshots:
Longhorn: http://skins.wincustomize.com/DavidMandle/ob/Longhorn2_ss.jpg

A simple floating system tray:
http://skins.wincustomize.com/Frogboy/ob/simpletray.jpg

Jaguar:
http://skins.wincustomize.com/BDP/ob/BigDaddyPOBBarpreview.JPG

Simple Bars:
http://skins.wincustomize.com/tallenglish/ob/screenshot.jpg

Example of replacing desktop menu:
http://skins.wincustomize.com/Frogboy/ob/simplepop.jpg

ObjectBar works on Windows 98, ME, 2000, and Windows XP. It is part of Stardock's Object Desktop suite which includes WindowBlinds, DesktopX, IconPackager, WinStyles, and more.

You can download ObjectBar stand alone at http://www.objectbar.net

Comments

YMark

on Dec 02, 2002

While I like Object Bar, I've never seen a program lock up and crash a system like this one. I hope the new release is a lot more stable than the previous. FWIW, I'm using in on Window 98.

Wet Monkey

on Dec 02, 2002

That's great, but it does not seem to be available on my OD subscription and it can't be DL'ed from your web site.

werewolf

on Dec 02, 2002

WetMonkey: Do you have "View All Components" selected in the component manager? If you've got an up-to-date OD subscription, you should have been able to get this quite some time ago.

Action_Jay

on Dec 02, 2002

You might already have 1.5, Monkey. It's been on OD for a while. Awesome program as always. I like having a desktop menu that doesn't take half a minute to pop up.

My big request for new features would be support for multiple monitors. If I have the monitor on the right side set as primary, the left one has 'negative' desktop coordinates (the top left corner is -800, 0). Any bars, menus or windows that try to open there get bumped over to 0,0 by Objectbar. Sometimes it'll work fine for a while then start doing it again. It's really frustrating.

Rugburn

on Dec 03, 2002

I have to say, after downloading the Shareware versions of each OB version as they have been released, that THIS one is the most well-behaved version yet. Good job fellas!
This was the version of OB that I was waiting for --- and OB was the ONLY reason I didn't buy the OD cd yet.

I have ONE question remaining in my mind before I place my order for Object Desktop --- how long do I get the updates before I have to pay for it again? Until verson 4.0 of WB, 2.0 of OB, etc.?

feline

on Dec 03, 2002

Action Jay - If I have the monitor on the right side set as primary, the left one has 'negative' desktop coordinates (the top left corner is -800, 0). Any bars, menus or windows that try to open there get bumped over to 0,0 by Objectbar.

i ran my work machine like that for quite a while, and didn't have a major problem with it.

the only program i used that consistently jumped to positive screen coords was excel.

i don't think i ever saw this happen with menus.

my main problem with the second monitor was that the docked bar (top of the screen) seemed to "forget" to reserve its space, so windows maximised to underneath it

this was a lot rarer with the second monitor having pos coordinates. in this config, i haven't seen it yet since going to OB 1.5

feline

on Dec 03, 2002

Rugburn - I have ONE question remaining in my mind before I place my order for Object Desktop --- how long do I get the updates before I have to pay for it again? Until verson 4.0 of WB, 2.0 of OB, etc.?

you will get updates for 12 months from the order date. you can then renew this at the renewal rate (cheeper than the first year).

if these come out in this time, you will get them

based on the rumors i have heard, you should be safe for WB4.

i would say go for it, well worth the money!!!

paxx

on Dec 03, 2002

My problem with Objectbar is that it refuses to not be "on top".
I had it set up at the top of the screen, and when I open programs, their window in often very high with their title bar hidden under the Objectbar. Even if I uncheck "always on top" in the preferences. And you can't move a window when the title bar is not accessible. Very annoying, and the main reason I don't use OB anymore.

eidylon

on Dec 03, 2002

you can still move the window... select it... then Alt+Space followed by . this gets it into move mode.

BTW, the Recent Programs section still wont work. It works fine, till i log off, then when i log back on, its lost any changes made in the last logon session.

Very good though otherwise. Cheerz!

Rugburn

on Dec 04, 2002

ty feline ---- getting tired of the nag screens

Rugburn

on Dec 04, 2002

That was really the other thing I had wondering about --- because I'd either heard or read somewhere about it only being valid for the main editions (and extensions) -- you know, like 3.1, 3.3 and so on. So ty again

Josh72

on Dec 05, 2002

I made a custom bar that I use as a prog launcher. It's been a regular part of my desktop for a long time. This program is great.

(I only wish I could make transparency work (on XP) -I'm baffled. I always get white instead.)

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