Solved Customizing the Desktop

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beginner64

New Member
Hello, I had an idea to customize the Desktop, but I'm not sure if it's possible or where to start. What I would like to do is set up an object or dock or something similar at the top of the desktop. It's general appearance would be something like this:
ImageTitan | object.jpg

(Except without the icons and have a solid dark color instead of faded. I borrowed this pic to show as an example)
It would be "docked" at the top of the desktop with the length of the object running from one side of the desktop to the other. It's top-to-bottom width would be about the size of a Vista medium icon. Functionally, there would be 2 buttons on it. The first button would activate a hidden "drawer" which would slide out downwards to reveal a space to access/store files. The drawer's fully-opened appearance would be similar to a Window with similar functionality. The second button would be to close the drawer. It's an idea, but I don't know if there's already something similar or if ther's not something similar is it possible to create? Any ideas? And where to start?
 

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Hello Beginner64,

Not sure if this is what you are wanting, but you might see if the free program Rocket Dock may work for you for this.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

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Brink said:
Hello Beginner64,

Not sure if this is what you are wanting, but you might see if the free program Rocket Dock may work for you for this.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
Click to expand...

Hello Shawn. The Rocket Dock looks similar to the idea I had but it doesn't seem to have the functionality. I'm not really looking for an application launcher. I would like to have an object on the desktop to store and access files quickly, if it's possible. Something like a customizable file drawer on the desktop. How would I go about creating something like this from scratch?
 

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My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Ok, First, I try the create a new desktop toolbar idea. However, a couple of questions - Is there a way to customize (change the color) the new toolbar? And is it possible to just create the new toolbar without having to drag a folder to the desktop?
 

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Beginner64,

Sorry, but no you cannot change the color of the desktop toolbar. However, you can use a folder from another location instead of one on the desktop to create the toolbar with. When you drag the folder from another location to the complete edge of the desktop screen and release, it should only create the toolbar and not move the folder to the desktop. You could also hide the folder on the desktop so it is not displayed as well if you wanted to use a folder on the desktop.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
That's too bad about not being able to change the color of newl toolbars. Anyway, I've decided, for at least the moment, to put my original idea on hold. The toolbar idea was good, but didn't have enough customization. So, now I'm going with the Dock idea. One last question about new toolbars though - during my experimenting and testing with the new toolbars that I created, I noticed that when I closed the toolbars, they were removed from the desktop. Does this mean that they were permantly deleted as well? I didn't see a delete option when right-clicking on the new toolbars and I want to make sure that the new toolbars that I no longer need were completely deleted from the desktop.

As far as the current idea, I went with the Dock idea. It's similar to what I originally had planned, but with a few differences. With the Dock installation, HydroPro icons were included. While these icons are interesting, I'm wondering if it's possible to create or customize my owns icons for the Dock? I have an idea about the icons I'd like to have, but I haven't been able to find anything on the net. I'd like to be able to combine the HydroPro concept with my original idea for the interface of the Dock. I just don't know if it's possible. There are programs to make icons but what are the limitations? And more importantly, what program would be needed to make a HydroPro type icon?
 

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The desktop toolbar is linked with the folder that you used to create it with. If you close the toolbar, then it is the same as closing the folder. The folder will still be at it's location with it's contents, but you had just removed the toolbar when you closed it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
If you use Samurize you can create exactly what you want but if its too tricky for you id go with Objectdock as its better than rocketdock.

You can find loads of icons for it at this link: Browsing Dock Icons on deviantART

Objectdock allows the use of .png icons so all you need is a programme that can create png's with a transparent background. I use Adobe Photoshop but theres bound to be free alternatives.
 

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