A new panel that emulates the "start" button.
It supports skinning and is very simple.

This plugin requires build 68 and higher.
Not checked on operating systems other than WinXP!

Installation:
- Download the DSPACKAGE file (make sure you save it with this extension).
- Double click the file while DS is running.

Finally! Cool idea for a plugin.
But I get an error message-something about dependencies of the panel.

What error exactly, and when - in the package installation or when DS is opened?

Cannot create IPlugin instance:File or assembly name StartMenu,or one of its dependencies, was not found.
When I load the panel exactly when it installs.

I have the same problem:

Can you check if you have the files StartMenu.dll and dsidebarpia.dll in the %appdata%\Desktop Sidebar\plugins\StartMenu folder?

Me either.
Yes the file startmenu.dll is there.

Both files are there.

Then I have no idea, it's working fine on my computer , I guess it has something to do with the dsidebarpia reference. I'll check it.

Maybe you try to read from the settings file but you don't get any value?

No, I don't do anything with any settings. Try downloading the new file from the first post.

Now it says that it was installed seccessfully but the panel doesn't load and I can't see it in the add panel menu.

Exactly the same. What did you change?

OK, now I have this problem too suddenly. Ugh!!
Could it be something with the SkinButton Demo? Because I removed it when it happened.

Can you try manually regasm-ing the StartMenu.dll file?

I've already forgotten the format of this command.

Doesn't work.I don't think you can run DS without win xp so the message in your first post isn't needed.
Its C:\WINDOWS\MICROS~1.NET\FRAMEW~1\V11~1.432\regasm.exe

Sorry guys, I'm out of solutions.
Oh, and DS is also compatible with Win2K.

Really-I thought that build 68 doesn't support it.Does the panel work for you?

Yes, it works, though I had your problem one time and the fixed it by compiling the project from Visual Studio.

Yes the panel.So I don't know either what it is.

Same problem here. I tried it by installing the normal way first -- that didn't work. Then I did a regasm on the dll. When I tried to install the file again I got one error message after another. The last one said "package installed successfully," but there is no panel in "add panel" and it does not appear in DS.

Maybe it is in the plugin.cs file.Check the create() function.

same like buypole71

Same problem for me, but I now get the error everytime is start DS. It tried deleting the start menu folder, safe mode, manual reg of the dll - No change.
What do I do to get rid of the panel reference and the start up error ?
Thanks, Sounds like a perfect panel if we can just get it to work.

Don't be too excited, it's not so great.
I understand everyone has got this problem. I will try to fix it.

It is a nice idea,however.

@goma:

Do you know now, what exactly you have to fix? Or do you still try to find the problem?

I don't know what is the problem. Maybe kdam/marines can help me here?

Do you mind giving your source code to see if I can compile it?It may point on the problem.

PM me your email and I'll send it to you.
OK, I can now say when it happens to me, maybe it'll help - when I delete the plugin's folder in AppData and install it again - it gives the error. Then I compile it with VS.NET and it gives no error (it gives the error if, when compiling, I set it to not register for COM Interop).

Would you mind giving here a zip file, like in the old times?
I want to regasm it myself, without the dspackage file.
Let's see if it will work.

You can open the DSPACKAGE with any zip program or just change it to zip.

Good point.

Hi!

I got it working now!!!

I downloaded the dspackage as zipfile and extracted it into the desktop sidebar folder.
Then open a command window for that folder and type:
C:\WINDOWS\MICROS~1.NET\FRAMEW~1\V11~1.432\regasm.exe StartMenu.dll

and replace the original dsidebarpia.dll with this one (attachment)


Try it!

I think you can extract the files in another folder, too, but I wanted to describe it this way I did it.

right click -> save target as

Put it in a zip since it tries to open the dll if I click it.

Okay I checked it again.
It does only work on my machine, if you put the plugin files into the root folder of DS.

I can't download the dll you attached.Put into a zip please.

yyy, right click and select save target as.

No, I don't think anymore that it has to do with the sidebarpia.dll
just put the plugin files into the root folder of DS and register it there.

It is that file.
I extracted the files to DS directory and registered it.Then I copied your file and I could see the start menu panel-however I couldn't open other panels.So I recopied one old dsidebarpia.dll to DS directory and I got an error message because of the start menu panel but I could see the other panels.I think that the start menu panel supports only one kind of dsidebarpia.dll.Maybe it should be compiled with the another version of it.

@yyy:
Right, I noticed the same: This dsidebarpia.dll isn't working with all plugins.

With this one you can use the plugins:
Capture Panel
Start menu
(<- by Goma)

and with the original (or so?)
all the other plugins I think.

Because of this I cant use capture panel AND virtual desktop panel

Maybe GoMa should replace his file.

I am using the latest file from the DSSDK.
See you tommorow, I'm going to sleep, enough DS for today.

Good night!

Okay good night.

Damn! I was really psyched about this panel coming out...but, it is late here to and I should hit it as well. There is always tomorrow. Haven't looked at it yet, but thanks to GoMa for putting the effort in...

Until tomorrow,

Coult69

Goma really seem to use the newest version of dsidebarpia.dll. So his plugins are incompatible to others because of the others use older versions of this file.

Example:
Capture Panel
Start Menu Panel
(plugins by goma) use version 1.4.68.65535 of dsidebar panel

sticker panel: 1.0.0.0
virtual desktop panel: 1.0.0.0

I'll try to make my panel use the latest version.

You should use the newest file because some bugs in it were resolved as I understood from kdam.