TC problem with MS Virtual Desktop Manager

Mark Robinson · Post by *Mark Robinson » 2005-03-11, 01:29 UTC

I've noticed a problem when TC is open and I switch screens using the WinXP Virtual Desktop Manager Powertoy http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
where everything below the TC menus slides up under the menu bar. It gets worse everytime I switch MSVDM screens. Maximizing and restoring the window corrects the problem until I start changing screens.

I don't think it's related to the video driver, since I've tried it on 2 different PCs - one with a Nvidia card and the other with an ATI. This has been happening with TC through several versions and TC is the only program that I've seen this with.

Is there something I can do to correct this?

Thanks.

Sir_SiLvA · Post by *Sir_SiLvA » 2005-03-11, 02:03 UTC

This looks for me like a bug of this extremly bad ms software - it cant even save backgrounds for the screens right...

Try using another virtual desktop software...

SanskritFritz · Post by *SanskritFritz » 2005-03-11, 08:26 UTC

2Mark Robinson
Check out ScrollDesk, its a nice alternative.

B@rndH · Post by *B@rndH » 2005-03-11, 10:22 UTC

2Fritz: Thanks for the link. Grand tool; works well with TCmd!

SanskritFritz · Post by *SanskritFritz » 2005-03-11, 11:44 UTC

2B@rndH
YW

I also use it, it is way better than any of those other virtual desktops IMHO.

B@rndH · Post by *B@rndH » 2005-03-11, 12:31 UTC

2Fritz
A nice alternative in the area of virtual desktops (but not only there!) is powerpro (http://powerpro.webeddie.com/). The only thing it doesn't have/do is the large desktop of SDesk. BTW: both proggies cooperate fully and well regarding each other as well as TCmd. Perhaps the best combination since sliced bread and nutella (sorry for the advertisement).
Regarding powerpro I like its stable performace and its ability to blend seamlessly into windows while simultaneously offering the user to adjust its behaviour and appearance to his very likes. Ok ok

enough of my ravings ...

SanskritFritz · Post by *SanskritFritz » 2005-03-11, 12:41 UTC

I know PowerPro, didnt fiddle too much with it tho, I preferred Macro Express instead, until i encountered AutoHotkey, which is the absolute winner for me in this area.
IMHO.

B@rndH · Post by *B@rndH » 2005-03-11, 13:33 UTC

2Fritz:
Certainly each of them has its advantages.
I just prefer Powerpro because it combines so many useful tools all in one program:

* macros and hotkeys
* virtual desktops
* menu- and button-system for launch-systems
* schedulers
* timers
* internet session timer
* hiding/showing/minimizing of all programs on screen
* sticky notes
* clipboard manager
* it offers a script language

Another advantage: it doesn't fiddle with the registry and is therefore suitable for usb-sticks.
Sorry, I didn't mean to be patronizing, I'm just somewhat fond of "my" powerpro.

So, no offence!

SanskritFritz · Post by *SanskritFritz » 2005-03-11, 15:14 UTC

PowerPro is absolutely great, many friends of mine use it, and i am always amazed by the capabilities of it. But to begin with it is a pain, you need an airplane license to use the config dialogs

Sir_SiLvA · Post by *Sir_SiLvA » 2005-03-11, 15:16 UTC

B@rndH wrote:* hiding/showing/minimizing of all programs on screen

You dont need any extra gimmik for that
try Windows+D or Windows+M

B@rndH · Post by *B@rndH » 2005-03-11, 15:23 UTC

Sir_SiLvA wrote:
B@rndH wrote:* hiding/showing/minimizing of all programs on screen
You dont need any extra gvimmik for that
try Windows+D or Windows+M

Should've left that one out. I just cited the feature list and that is obviously the original one from Win9x-times or so such and then not updated but rather just added. Whatever.

These are certainly not the main advantages of PowerPro ...
On the other hand: we're here for TCmd. Perhaps I should've refrained from starting this discussion ...

icfu · Post by *icfu » 2005-03-11, 15:44 UTC

The problem with PowerPro is that it's too much Pro, it just can do too much so it's really easy to lose overview and interest, even if you try hard...

Human brain is simply not suited to remember abstract things like "please start notepad when pressing N and P while cursor is in the top left corner of the screen and it's 7am and it's Thursday. On Friday please start UltraEdit instead". On Saturday please shutdown my computer when I press with middlemouse button on shutdown button in systembar. If notepad is open don't shut down but start Winamp instead.

You know what I mean?

Yep, all this is possible but when you define those actions you start getting mad. That's why I am sticked to TypeAndRun instead.
I enter "np" and NotePad is started, plain and simple.

@SanskritFritz:
SDesk looks nice but it needed only two minutes and one restart of the app to corrupt the sdesk.ini and to make Windows present a RAM read error instead. Seems a little buggy to me.
Deleting the ini solved the prob.

Icfu

SanskritFritz · Post by *SanskritFritz » 2005-03-11, 15:49 UTC

Human brain is simply not suited to remember abstract things like "please start notepad when pressing N and P while cursor is in the top left corner of the screen and it's 7am and it's Thursday. On Friday please start UltraEdit instead". On Saturday please shutdown my computer when I press with middlemouse button on shutdown button in systembar. If notepad is open don't shut down but start Winamp instead.

2icfu
This is hilarious. Can I please use this as my sig?

icfu · Post by *icfu » 2005-03-11, 15:52 UTC

Sure, feel free to do so.

Icfu

Sir_SiLvA · Post by *Sir_SiLvA » 2005-03-11, 15:52 UTC

2icfu: in wich comedianshow d'you work ?

B@rndH wrote:
Sir_SiLvA wrote:
B@rndH wrote:* hiding/showing/minimizing of all programs on screen
You dont need any extra gvimmik for that
try Windows+D or Windows+M
Should've left that one out. I just cited the feature list and that is obviously the original one from Win9x-times or so

Win+M allready did the job starting from Win95a ;-P