[x64 & x32 fix] DeskIcons - Get/Set Desktop Icon Positions

[joedf]

try changing

Code: Select all

; save positions
!s::coords := DeskIcons()
FileDelete, %ProgramData%\TEMP\desktopicons.txt
FileAppend, %coords%, %ProgramData%\TEMP\desktopicons.txt 
return

to

Code: Select all

; save positions
!s::
coords := DeskIcons()
FileDelete, %ProgramData%\TEMP\desktopicons.txt
FileAppend, %coords%, %ProgramData%\TEMP\desktopicons.txt 
return

Also, make sure you are running the latest version? v1.1.30+

[vanipede]

try changing

Code: Select all

; save positions
!s::coords := DeskIcons()
FileDelete, %ProgramData%\TEMP\desktopicons.txt
FileAppend, %coords%, %ProgramData%\TEMP\desktopicons.txt 
return

to

Code: Select all

; save positions
!s::
coords := DeskIcons()
FileDelete, %ProgramData%\TEMP\desktopicons.txt
FileAppend, %coords%, %ProgramData%\TEMP\desktopicons.txt 
return

Also, make sure you are running the latest version? v1.1.30+

Thank you! I was trying to use AHK2 and do pretty much what you wrote, but it wouldn't work with that bit of code. I installed 1.1.30.01 and it's working great!

[joedf]

Glad to hear things are working!

[Drugwash]

[…] I was trying to use AHK2 […]

Somewhere in this thread there's a version of the script made for AHK v2 by Flipeador; you may wanna try that one too if you want to use v2.

@ JoeDF: Have you ever gotten to check that feature request regarding toolbar icons? I'd be interested in that too, because sometimes I have to kill Explorer due to modem connection getting stuck on disconnecting and at that point any customization to such toolbar icons (and QuickLaunch too, on XP) gets lost.
Logic says such changes are kept in memory and are only applied upon shutdown/reboot, so we'd have to find a way to either read/store/restore memory data or manually/forcibly flush the Explorer cache.
I haven't been able to find any information on that in my previous searches and my current Internet connection (which you know of already) doesn't allow me much room for search. Any information on the issue would be greatly appreciated.

[vanipede]

Somewhere in this thread there's a version of the script made for AHK v2 by Flipeador; you may wanna try that one too if you want to use v2.

That's actually the code I used, but I couldn't get the FileAppend to work correctly.

[Flipeador]

That's actually the code I used, but I couldn't get the FileAppend to work correctly.

Updated: https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3529&p=205365#p205365.

[joedf]

[…] I was trying to use AHK2 […]

Somewhere in this thread there's a version of the script made for AHK v2 by Flipeador; you may wanna try that one too if you want to use v2.

@ JoeDF: Have you ever gotten to check that feature request regarding toolbar icons? I'd be interested in that too, because sometimes I have to kill Explorer due to modem connection getting stuck on disconnecting and at that point any customization to such toolbar icons (and QuickLaunch too, on XP) gets lost.
Logic says such changes are kept in memory and are only applied upon shutdown/reboot, so we'd have to find a way to either read/store/restore memory data or manually/forcibly flush the Explorer cache.
I haven't been able to find any information on that in my previous searches and my current Internet connection (which you know of already) doesn't allow me much room for search. Any information on the issue would be greatly appreciated.

Whoops! Sorry I must forgotten over time. I have been side tracked by too many things :b
I am not super sure how it works. I will do some searching now.

[Drugwash]

Understandable, don't worry. Hopefully you find some lead on this at some point.

[joedf]

I think this is a good place to start.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/shell/taskbar
https://autohotkey.com/board/topic/83159-solved-removing-windows-taskbar-icons/

Are you looking to delete or add things?

[Drugwash]

The links above say "taskbar". It's not the taskbar, it's additional bars (AHK class is 'BaseBar' in XP) that can be stuck to the sides of the screen, can be autohidden and always-on-top. These were available in Win9x and XP (possibly in 2000 too) but couldn't find them in Win7. Search engines suddenly can't find any relevant info on that (and why is that a wonder when it comes to M$…)
It's mainly a folder on the HDD containing links to applications, displayed as a narrow bar with icons. When an icon is clicked, the application is launched. Similar to the QuickLaunch (also available in Win98/ME/2000/XP only) which apparently is an IE control of sorts.

One can add/delete/move icons (that is, links) within the toolbar(s), same as in QuickLaunch. However, such changes are not being saved instantly but only on shutdown/reboot. If something breaks the Explorer or crashes the system, the new icon positions will be lost because they were not saved (to the registry?). We need a way to find where/how those icon positions are kept in memory and force-save them or at least copy/paste that information later on after (re)boot.

taskbar+toolbar.png (257.88 KiB) Viewed 5775 times

[joedf]

Your system "style" seems so non-standard I'm not even sure if that is Windows XP or something else? I dont even know how I can test this... I would have to run a virtual machine...
I think those are folder based no? I would simply name them 1.lnk, 2.lnk, 3.lnk etc.
then go into the shortcut option and set the description to the application name.

[Drugwash]

Haha, it's just a custom theme/style, nothing more, using a patched uxtheme.dll. Yes it's XP, I couldn't use anything higher on a daily basis and it even took me a while to get accustomed to its anal-retentiveness in certain regards after my 98SE machine got put on hold for repairs.
Anyway, those toolbars are nothing out of the ordinary for these "old" Windows versions - just right-click the taskbar and the menu offers some standard toolbars and a New toolbar entry where one can select a folder containing links (or an Internet address).
Apparently the BaseBar class is an IE Toolbar (see here, because here they completely leave out the system-only window classes).

There's been a discussion on the old boards here regarding creation of a BaseBar window but there's been no positive outcome so far. I may try my hand at creating such window too, maybe it could help with testing.
Simply naming the links in an ascending order wouldn't cut it - the bar has drag'n'drop capability within it and to/from Desktop or file managers, automatically creates links when something is dropped. Much like the QuickLaunch, which is also a target of this forced icon position flush we need.

[joedf]

After looking at some old YouTube videos, I now remember this bar. I've never really used it so much... I hope it goes well haha :b

[Drugwash]

I used to have three such toolbars on my 98SE, with the taskbar at the top (it's always at the top on all of my computers). There was a time when my desktop was completely devoid of icons; even 'My computer' - which cannot be removed from it on Win9x - was "hidden" by using a blank icon and a 'blank' character for its name (Chr 160). Those toolbars used to provide links to the most used applications. All of them, including taskbar, had 'autohide' on, so the whole desktop was available for applications. Old habit, coming from a longtime usage of a 12" monitor.

Unfortunately all my attempts to create a BaseBar failed so far. There's probably a reason why that window class - among others - is reserved for system use only. But I do have one running on this system and it'd be nice to find a way to save icon positions manually (together with QuickLaunch's) because lately I'm getting too many BSODs and rearranging icons is a pain (this system is never shut down or rebooted except for accidents).

[joedf]

Maybe you can provide a memory dump, to find out whats causing the BSODs ?

[Drugwash]

I do have a few minidumps, not sure if they're of any use. Didn't Nir Sofer create some utility to read such files or am I mistaken?
Anyway, here you are:

Minidump.7z

(53.51 KiB) Downloaded 299 times

However, in my area there also are frequent power blackouts and although I have a couple UPSes they just can't handle it so even if BSODs are fixed at times I may still get shutdown and those settings get lost.

Thank you for getting so deep involved in trying to help me, it's much appreciated!

[joedf]

Seems to be a firewall driver issue? fwdrv.sys

[Drugwash]

Thank you so much! I'm not even using the darn thing, it's been disabled the whole time, but apparently that's a kernel driver that still gets loaded and running nonetheless. I've disabled that driver now and will uninstall Kerio soon. Strange though why it started crashing just now because I've had it installed (and disabled) for a longer time. Maybe it clashes with some newly installed driver. Oh well, mysteries of the M$ universe…

As for those toolbars, their settings might reside either in a hidden area of the registry, in some encrypted form or in some file on the drive, because a search for one shortcut's name in the registry came up dry. They had to make it complicated.

[iPhilip]

Hi Folks,

Can this script be adapted to get the dimensions of the icons as well, perhaps through LVM_GETSUBITEMRECT? Ultimately, I am trying to find a way to get the name of the icon under the mouse.

Thank you,

iPhilip

Hi Folks,

I developed a solution to the above issue and posted it here.

Cheers!

[joedf]

@Drugwash classic microsoft :b
@iPhilip nice work!