DesktopX is a flexible program that opens itself up to developers who can
create plugins. These are additional modules providing packaged functionality
that you as a user can access.
To create an object based on a plugin simply create an object as normal, then in
the 'Additional Abilities' section of the 'General' tab, click the 'Add' button.
This will then pop up a list of available plugins on your system.
All you need to do is select the plugin you want to use, and then click OK.
Each plugin needs to be configured differently but we will go through a few
examples of the different types here.
If you need to remove a plugin, simply select the plugin in 'Additional
Abilities' and click 'Remove'.
Digital Clock (Text State)
When this is used the immediate impression may be that nothing has
happened.
However, if you go to the 'States' tab and check 'Text' on 'Appearance'
then all or a sudden you have a digital clock on your desktop. What's
cool about this implementation is that it uses standard DesktopX text so
you can tweak the text any way you like including shadows, and it is
exposed to manipulation via script such as the ability to change its
color dynamically.
Email Notify
You can configure this plugin by entering your mailbox details and
how often you want to check. The way it works it to create two new
Custom states (you recall we mentioned these earlier?) called 'New mail'
and 'No new mail'. You can define each of these states to be
representative of whether you have mail of not. These could be images or
simply different text.
You may even decide that it makes sense that rather than this object
being a 'Layer' it is a Shortcut to your email program.
Scriptable Email Notify
This plugin offers totally scriptable email
notification functionality. For a complete discussion refer to the
Email notify plugin
section in the scripting guide.
Performance Meters
This delivers dynamic graphics to your desktop that would be
difficult to create otherwise.
You can chart CPU and other performance measures in a range of graphs
and a range of colors, all accessible via the 'Configure' button. Tweak
to your hearts content! Remember that 'Magic pink' provides
transparency. Also remember that 'magic pink' doesn't work in gradients
because most of the pink in the gradient isn't 'pure' and hence 'magic'.
DX Player
This delivers complete interaction with your media player be it ObjectMedia,
Winamp 2.x or CoolPlayer.
You can define what happens when the user interacts with the object, even to the
degree of whether they are holding down any keys.
In some cases images are needed and you can define them here as well such as
gauges for volume etc.
I'm not going into the detail of the plugin here. Check out the player widget
that comes by default with DesktopX to see what can be achieved with this
plugin.
PDF available
