....................... 

Will it bury it in the backyard if it doesn't work?

Wizard, behave yourself. 

But you do bring up a valid point.  To my knowledge DX 4 wasn't working very well to where folks went back to 3.5.  I wonder if this beta has fixed those problems or is this just interface update?   

OK, now it's working but there are no themes. Where does DX now store themes? All mine are still in program files but they do not show in DX Config. I choose load desktop and get an empty list.

Why can't we just leave all my files where they've always been?          

Nakor, please tell us where the themes/widgets/gadgets are stored.       

Maybe DX buried them in the backyard,,,,

First thing off, DX throws an error and the network meters don't work.  Can this be fixed please? 

Looks like it is Standard only. The Pro download is STILL not fixed.

The link for Pro says it is v3.50.018 but it downloads 4.00.017

I'll try this version at home but will stick with the Pro version at work.

Installed an launches just fine. The theme I was creating with the prior version popped open and ran just fine.

The DestopX Welcome is borked. Windows cannot find (blah blah) welcome.exe - not a biggie at all on that one.

Looks like system restore again. I can't make gadgets or sidebar gadgets.    

Interesting - I wonder if the version I've been getting from Impulse the last month has been a beta of 4 too, because it was actually working fine for me. I'll give this new one a try and see what's happening.

Before I continue (hope I don't get stomped for this):

• Can the experienced DesktopX developers testing the beta version please play nice and constructive?
• Forget griping about the past version 4 or if this version is so much more broken than 3.5.

I for one am excited that this may mean DesktopX is going to get some attention again which I would say we are very lucky to get and I don't really want to have that possibility ruined.

• Could non-experienced developers do the same, or stick with 3.5 version for now which is the last stable one.
  Beta is often called 'Bleeding edge' for a good reason. If you don't have bandages and a first aid kit...
• Accept that this is version 4, saying 'let's skip to version 5' is meaningless and a bit silly.

Report so far:

DesktopX v3.95 (4 beta)
Windows 7 x64 Home Premium fully patched
UAC - Always notify
Standard User-Administrator account

Install and loading themes/objects

• Good - Install package identified it would be 'admin install' by having the little blue/yellow shield on it. Was prompted to allow by UAC when double clicked.
• Good - No install issues or crashes as per other reports - but I *did* have the previous DX4 beta installed before this one.
  I uninstalled it first, then installed this one.

Object behaviours - scripted

Object.SetTimer, Object_OnTimer, Object.Rotation

• Good - Scripting window appears, script runs, object rotates
  Bad - Default font on script window still shows 'funny' character for backslash.

System Integration

• Good - Double clicking themes and objects attempts to initiate loading them via DesktopX properly.
• Bad - file extensions seem registered correctly, but in the Preferences tab for DesktopX the 'Make DesktopX the default program for loading .dxpacks and .desktopx isn't ticked, and won't retain its ticked status.

Folder locations

CurrentTheme:  C:\Users\<userName>\AppData\Local\stardock\DesktopX\CurrentTheme
Builder and Client exe: C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Object Desktop\DesktopX
Regedit says themes should be in this folder: C:\Users\<userName>\AppData\Local\stardock\DesktopX

• Bad - I've put some .desktop and .dxtheme files in that location but they don't show up.

Provided objects

• Found by using 'Import' button on the Desktop tab of settings window.
• Bad - Many don't seem to have preview images
• Good - All seem to import ok and work (including the weather one)
• Bad - Many import without an object name (ie 'unassigned' in the object list)

New things spotted

• Fuzzy!
• Desktop (when icons are not hidden) has a new context menu 'DesktopX' > New Object & Configure
• Object list/details window is now called 'Navigate Objects' in Systray menu.
• ??? Nothing else really - so I'll try and go through each of the standard functionalities one by one and identify anything that looks odd.

Face it, the track record for recent software updates hasn't been the greatest.

Updates are getting few and far between, it would be nice to actually look forward to them instead of having to wonder what will get broken next.

 The comment about skipping version 4 was a joke, even though so far, version 4 has been the joke..

Anyway, you make your comments, I'll make mine.

Fair enough Wizard - I should clarify that I'm pre-empting a bit here.

The posts so far haven't really put coins on the track yet, but I can see the pocket money coming out.

Re: the release comment - I tend to agree    I think it would be cleverer of Stardock to use its more experience DesktopX developers in the community to do some 'private' testing first. Maybe they did? I don't know.

So the update is a no-go for Pro licences, when You want to compile gadgets ? Is that right ?

Yes, Carl. This is not for the Pro. One will be forthcoming, I believe.

Installing this one removed my Pro.

I see the 'export to gadget' option - but it fails at the exe creation point with an error 'dxApp-Custom.bin' not found.
In the past I think the Pro version update follows the Standard update so when 4 beta gets better the Pro might get the update too.

Thanks. :&#39;(

Don't want to lose my Pro............. I'll wait....... B[]

I just installed it.. worked fine (2nd time).

Opened up my last widget, saved the .dexktop then exported it to a gadget (i have pro), and it exported just fine.

Open the exe and run it, seems to be working.. but back to one of the issues i have had since 3.x changed the pref's to "always on top" and "run at startup" (via default dialog), this time, it just vanished. Use to leave "pieces" on the screen.

Reloaded the EXE and the pref's had been saved, and all the "pieces" were there and looked correct.  So maybe just a bug in the saving of the preferences.

Will have to try it on a few more machines. 

LOVE the idea of DX being looked at again, in ANY fashion. 

PLEASE stop all the BS, they are doing US the favor by working on this, its not a money maker, unless everyone here is willing to put up 1k or more for a PRO license? and i doubt that would even cover a minor upgrade.

BTW: this is the most excited i have been about WC/Dx in about 4 years.. might actually need to start playing with some new things.

Love ya man.

You have the Pro version of this build?

Was abou to ask the same and maybe an official can jump in here : CAN PRO USERS UPDATE, TOO WITHOUT LOOSING PRO FUNCTIONALITY ?

All I know, Carl, is that I installed this version and it overwrote my Pro version. So I can't see how David still has pro.

Okay.

I've seen this behaviour when closing a widget/gadget and then reopening it again immediately afterwards (old post). I think the folder 'cache' is still being 'used' by the system when the widget is reopened too quickly.

Changing those settings (on top, autostart) possibly prompts an immediate close/reopen of the gadget with the new settings? This would instigate the same problem.

Well, that was unpleasant.

The download link doesn't show the correct version until the install window, as Phoon said.

I'm on Vista 32 and had DX Pro 3.5 (just plain ol' 3.5, not the other updated versions of 3.9x etc.) installed already, and on the first try, I installed the update on top of it.

Results:

Try #1 (without uninstalling)

Created in - C:\Program Files\Stardock\DesktopX

Welcome screen borked (background doesn't appear.)

DLL Error - DXBuilder won't load (This procedure entry point DG_PngFromResource could not be located in the dynamic link library DirectGUI.dll)

Try #2 (after uninstall of 3.5 and CCleaner)

Created in - C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\DesktopX Pro

DesktopX doesn't seem to be installed on machine

Welcome screen won't run at all (see above)

Themes run (without included wallpapers or scripts)

Widgets and gadgets run

Objects don't run

DXBuilder: All scripts removed, no script editor

Export Gadget option still available

Themes, objects, widgets location -  C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\DesktopX

Try #3 (after uninstall, CCleaner, reinstall of 3.5, and one more attempt to install update)

Created in - C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\DesktopX Pro

More created in - C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Stardock\DesktopX\

Welcome screen borked.

DLL Error DXBuilder won't load

Themes, objects won't load (same DLL error)

Existing widgets comprised of more than one object are borked, scripts don't work.

Gadgets work, obviously

Then I spent the rest of the day restoring my PC. Maybe I'm just unlucky, but this doesn't appear to work on Vista 32. Have any other Vista users tried it? Everyone seems to be on W7.