What's new in Aston

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Aston Shell Desktop manager and Shell replacement AltDesk virtual desktops

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What's new in Aston

Aston 1.9.6

Improved Windows Vista support.

Increased stability and performance.

Improved support for multimonitor system.

Fixed bug with shutdown and recycle options.

Fixed bug with Aston2 Menu start.

Fixed bugs in DiskEx, Recycle bin, Panel and Nettrafic plug-ins.

Fixed bug with plug-ins setting.

Fixed bug with shells switching.

Fixed bug with the installation in Windows Vista.

Fixed bug with the folders displaying in the Main Menu.

Fixed bug with the item paths.

Fixed bug with the new desktop elements coordinates.

Aston 1.9.5

Recyсle bin plug-in is re-written anew.

Icons can now be deleted from the desktop to the recycle bin

New AltDesk control plug-in is added into the distributives.

"Run as..." option is added to the context menus.

Fixed bug: error shell swapping.

Fixed bug: error the themes application.

Fixed bug: trouble with installation in Windows Vista.

Fixed bug: error with the context menu items under Windows Vista.

Fixed bug: error in Search plug-in.

Fixed bug: error in DiskEx plug-in.

Fixed bug: error with the icons displaying in the tray.

Aston 1.9.4

Aston now supports AltDesk "Individual set of icons for each desktop"

When placing an icon of a picture to the desktop, the picture itself is not opened

Shell stability is increased. Now the shell will not crash even in case there is a mistake in some of the plug-ins

Event option is added to the Calendar. It lets you to create a reminder about some occasion for a certain date

Panel plug-in is completely rewritten anew

Fixed bug: previews error in Win2000 - now previews don't cause Aston crash

Fixed bug: error on context menu call for some plug-ins.

Fixed bug: tray hints were sometimes displayed incorrectly (flickering effect on displaying hints)

Lots of fixed bugs in Search, Main Menu, DiskEx and SkinClckEx plug-ins

Aston 1.9.3

Vista support

New Aston RSS reader plug-in is added

Theme Wizard is described in the documentation

*.ani files are supported in .ankz

Themes are now extracted to the same directory where configuration files are located.

Calendar plug-in now has Z-order

Creation and editing of .ank and .ankz files is significantly simplified via "Edit element" dialog

Recycle option is available again in the desktop context menu, optionally enabled

Fixed bug with multimonitor support

Fixed bug in MS Excel task support

Apps, which place their icons to the tray, are now visible in the tray (have "Always show" status by default)

Fixed bug with .atz file creation

Fixed bug with the profile creation

Fixed bugs in AstAmp

Fixed bug in APC files loading

Fixed bug in .ank files saving

Fixed bugs in Panel plug-in

Fixed bug with the tray icons hits display

Version 1.9.2

Multimonitor support (you can place different wallpapers and icons on all monitors)

A-Master's GUI is rewritten to be even more logical and easy to use

Theme Wizard is 90% rewritten anew, featuring new Theme selection and compiling dialogs

New default Themes

Support for compiled Themes in ATZ format

Completely new documentation, created from the scratch

New Theming tutorial, reflecting the most recent changes in Aston skinning

Redesigned plug-in configuration: now supports tabs, has a way more logical config structure

Most default plug-ins are updated

New resource type supported: 3pic (two flanks, a middle part plus glass)

New resource type supported: ANKz: zipped ANK files plus all required images

Tray clock plug-in now has a build-in calendar

New search plug-in, supporting a variety of search engines (the list is updated online)

Tray can be tuned to Explorer XP-like behaviour

More logical overall Tray behavior

Tray can automatically restore on mouse over

Taskbar supports 3PICs, added icon offset

Main menu supports 3PICs, footers, headers, glass effects plus has more options for Theme creators

Start button supports ANK animation

Task previews

Dragging icons with SHIFT pressed displays coordinates

Option for global transparency disabling (troubleshooting)

Fast config edit buttons

Lots of bugfixes (too many for listing here)

Lots of small tweaks (too many for listing here)

Version 1.9.1

New plugin "DisksEx", a successor to the "Disks".

New plugin "Panel", a successor to the "Toppanel".

New plugin "RecycleBinEx".

New default Theme included.

The Aston icon in system tray is now skinnable and removable.

Added word wrap option for the Notebook plugin.

Improved plugins' skin settings.

Plugins folder is now opened by default when adding new plugin in the A-master.

Fonts folder is now opened by default when adding new Font in the Theme Wizard.

Fixed bug when saving an AltDesk skin within Aston Theme.

Recommended resolution is put into comments when saving a Theme.

Fixed bug with reading icons for removable devices in the TopPanel and the VertPanel.

Fixed bug with an error message when removing discs from CD-ROM.

Fixed bug with rebuilding icons in the Theme Wizard.

Fixed bug with mouse sensitivity adjustment in the A-master.

Fixed bug when displaying a Desktop icon whilst dragging.

Fixed bug when displaying folder names with dot symbol.

Fixed bug when saving Themes in the Theme Wizard.

Fixed bug with load default skin in AClock.

Version 1.9

support for PNG and alpha blending (not only in 2K/XP).

support for 32 bit icons with alpha channel.

taskbar border is removed (with disabled Autohide and enabled Lock taskbar option).

taskbar icons in Windows XP now have transparent background.

"native" shadows for text in Windows XP (optional).

fixed bug with reading ANK files.

fixed bug with drag'n'drop to the Quick launch plugin.

better support for multimedia keyboards.

improved autorun for CD/DVD in Windows 2K/XP, new autorun.plg plugin for Windows NT/9X/ME.

autostart is disabled while booting in safe mode.

improved work of context menu in the Main menu plugin.

new options for the notebook.plg: Print & PageSetup commands; user can set an icon for toolbar item.

fixed display/configuration bugs in the vert/top panel plugins.

new analog clock plugin with numerous advanced features like layered display, date display, new antialiased hands, shadows, "ghost mode", etc... (read plugin's documentation for more info).

Theme Wizard:

Themes are now sorted by names.
Current Theme is highlighted.
Fixed bug with adding fonts.
AltDesk skin can be saved within Themes now.

Aston Master:

fixed bug with negative coordinates in the plugin settings.
tooltips for all elements.
new features to save/load settings and skins of any standalone plugin.

Version 1.8.2

Significantly increased stability!!! (More bug fixes than you can shake giant baobab at ;).

New Shell Swapper:

New option: "Install the shell for All Users or for Current User only".

Shell Swapper can be used as the shell.

Aston startup modes (to protect Aston from errors that occur if Explorer or IE extensions are used).

Shell Swapper can restore system colors, cursors, icons etc when switching the shell.

Fixed: slow logoff in XP.

Added new plug-in "VertPanel".

Added new options:

"Autoload from registry" (enables/disables autoload from registry - now you don't have to hold down to prevent autoload).

"Loading an shell objects".

New "Icon offset" option (for toolbars).

New "find files" algorithm (more stable).

Fixed: GPF during "Recycle" if there is an open any plug-in menu.

Fixed: some tray icons are missed at startup.

Fixed errors in "TopPanel" plugin.

Some improvements in "TopPanel" plugin.

Fixed: zero divide error and CPU usage histogram errors in CPU95nt plug-in.

Some improvements for Zoom (now you can setup zoom screen refresh timer; it properly shows transparent apps in Win 2K/XP).

Some improvements for ClipView (it supports new formats - CF_OWNERDISPLAY, CF_HDROP (files); tooltip shows text when CF_TEXT format is available).

New significant features in Notebook (up to 7 sheets with changeable names, icons; password protection for each sheet (AES algorithm); read only mode).

New "Icon" option for Terminator2 plugin.

Fixed: memory leak error in QuickLaunch.

Fixed: memory leak error in DeskPanel; icons positions error.

Fixed: stretched wallpapers error in 256 colors screen mode.

Fixed: 3 GPF at Aston exit.

Fixed: toolbars disappear when fullscreen windows aren't open.

Fixed: sometimes Thwizard doesn't save toolbar caption properly.

Fixed: Thwizard doesn't save control panel icon properly.

Fixed: some A-master errors.

Fixed: user can't launch system folders in Win95 + Win98 (except SE).

Version 1.8.1

Fixed bug: the "Panel caption" option doesn't work.

Fixed bug with Y-position of toolbars.

Fixed bug in the "Element's editing" dialog.

Fixed bug with Theme Wizard with theme creation.

Fixed bug: smetimes a little CPU overloading.

Version 1.8

Added: new advanced ANK format for animated icons!!!

Added anim files support.

A-Master's appearance changed.

Added new plug-in "TopPanel".

Added skins for toolbars' captions.

Added new options "Lock Taskbar".

Added context menu setup.

Added: font type setup for "Tip of the Day".

Added: "Panel on the top" and "Smooth toolbar appearance" settings are can be different for different toolbars

In Win XP/2000, configuration files can be kept in ...\Documents and Settings\%UserName%\Application Data\Aston\ folder to support for local and roaming profiles.

Fixed bugs in SHDOCTOR.

Fixed bugs in "Quick launch" panel.

Fixed bug in "Setup tray icons" dialog.

Fixed bugs with Theme Wizard with theme creation theme.

Fixed bug in Main Menu.

Version 1.7

Added: support for jpg files (directly, without converting to bmp).

Added: the "Setup tray icons" command.

Added: the "Task manager" command to context menu of taskbar (in Win NT/2000/XP).

Now you can drag'n'drop icons to the "Quick launch" panel.

Added: new "Hint format" option for the "Taskbar clock".

Fixed: disappearance of icons when change the screen mode.

Improved algorithm of wallpaper's stretching.

Fixed bug with the "PopupFolder" menu command.

Fixed bugs in "Quick launch" panel.

Fixed bug with non-rectangular shape of toolbars.

Fixed bug with copying of desktop elements.

Fixed: flickers applying the theme.

Added: tooltips in "Toolbar's setup" dialog.

Improved most of plug-ins.

Version 1.6.2

Fixed bug: the "stretch skin" option doesn't work in the "Quick launch" panel.

Creation of shortcuts for the directories is improved.

Fixed bug: during loading, ..\windows\system folder pops up on the screen.

Added: the "Network connections" dialog in Win XP.

Fixed bug: invalid options cause a crash in the "Theme wizard".

Fixed bug with installation of the fonts from a theme in Win XP.

Fixed bug with extracting of an icon from the UPX-executable files.

Version 1.6

Now, the "StayOnTop" option separate for taskbar and toolbars.

New options for the main menu and tasbar.

Transparency for the menu, taskbar, toolbars in Win2k/XP.

Fixed bugs with applications' autoload from the registry, the "RunOnceEx" key is now supported (important for IE setup and Windows Update).

Fixed bug with transparency in notebook.

New context menu for the desktop elements.

Fixed bug with "Computers' find" in Win NT4, Win98.

Fixed bug with "application toolbars" in Win XP.

Assigned font for the "tip of the day".

Fixed bugs with some applications: ZoneAlarm, 602 office, "multimedia keyboard" utility.

Fixed bug in "Popup folder" with long filename.

Added new utility SHDOCTOR, which can easy prevent "shell not found" problem in Win9x/ME.

Fixed bugs with Theme Wizard with theme creation and removal.

256-colors video modes are now supported.

Now, "Recyle bin" icon renews automatically in Win 98, (and NT4, Win 95 with IE 4.0 or later).

Keyboard layout indicator is now supported XP.

Fixed bug: the taskbar covers up the portion of screen in "Half-Life".

Fixed bug with drag'n'drop in main menu setup.

Fixed bug with "Cut" - "Cancel" in setup.

Fixed bug with wallpapers' setup.

Version 1.5

Added new powerful "Theme Wizard" (instead of "Theme Creator" and "Theme Manager").

No 10 elements limitation in the trial version.

New nice interface, Win XP visual style.

Built-in themes are replaced.

Added new MenuEx.plg (instead of LsMenu & Menu97).

Added *.ICL-files support!

Added "Network Connection Status" support (Win 2000, XP). Rasmon.exe was removed.

The "Start" button can be in a three states.

Users can create the own profiles.

Added new "Lock" option for the icons on desktop.

Fixed _nasty_ bug with icon's overlay image!

Added Windows icons customization.

New button "Edit tips.rc".

Added new commands: "Lock Workstation" ("Switch User" in XP), "Show/hide tray icons".

Added new menu commands: Popup Contol Panel, Popup Desktop.

Now Aston's setup will create the default theme, which is used at uninstall.

Fixed bug: logon delay in Win XP.

Fixed bug in PrintMon.

Fixed several bugs in Shell Swapper.

Fixed bug with drag & drop on the desktop.

Fixed bug with icon's offset setup.

Fixed bug with hidden explorers in NT4.

Remaked nearly all the plug-ins, improved their functionality (especially, Quick Launch, Terminator, Mail Checker).

Fixed bug with the "Minimize all" button in the quick launch.

Version 1.4.0

Support for Windows ME/XP added!

"Files find" dialog is able to call with Win ME/2000/XP.

"Computer search" dialog is able to call with Win ME/2000/XP.

"Fonts", "Network Neighborhood" and "Printers" folders are accessible with Win ME/2000/XP.

Some bug with tray icons fixed (Win XP).

Folders can be opened using Win ME/2000/XP command prompt.

Some bug with IE fullscreen fixed.

TaskManager's "Hide when minimized" option is now works with Win 2000/XP.

"Win" key now calls main menu (Win 2000/XP).

CPU monitor supports new AMD processors.

Options to turn off left/right toolbar added.

In Notebook plug-in: Ctrl+A hotkey added ("Select All").

Recycle Bin, CD-DISK icons renews automatically (Win ME/2000/XP).

Version 1.2.6

Added command "Empty recycle bin" to context menu of recycle bin.

Fixed bug with Shell Swapper in Win ME.

Fixed bug with "Dialup Networking" dialog in Win2000.

Fixed bug with Audio CD autorun.

Fixed bug with selecting wallpapers in win2000

Fixed bug with very long tooltips.

Improved setup of toolbars.

Version 1.2.5

Added import explorer icons into Aston.

Added context menu for Start button.

Added context menu for Main Menu items (Win98,2000 only).

Added setting for icons offset in toolbars.

Fixed bug: taskbar over fullscreen apps.

Fixed bug with applications' autoload from registry.

Fixed bug in Main Menu with empty first item.

Changed algorithm of loading *.bmp (RLE4,8) files.

Version 1.2.4

Added network connections monitor for Win2000.

Quick launch panel changed, so it resizes automatically depending to icons' quantity.

Fixed bug in Printmon.

Enhanced hotkey control.

Version 1.2.3

Now, WIN key can be used in any hotkeys setting.

Fixed bug with toolbars appearance.

Fixed bug in "Wallpaper Changer" plug-in.

Changed plug-ins API format, please download new versions of all plug-ins.

Version 1.2.2

Fixed bug with ICQ startup.

Found bug in Corel Draw (cause a crash) and we made patch for it.

Fixed bug with executing any *.html files from the local disks in Win2000.

Added support for Win2000 systray.

Changed user interface of Theme Creator.

CPU monitor supports more than one processor in WinNT/2000.

Added new plug-in - Wallpaper Changer.

Version 1.2.1

Fixed bug with long filenames in plug-ins section.

Version 1.2

Added: skin on Taskbar and Systray.

Added: partial support for *.scf files.

Added: support for "MacVision" pseudo-shell.

Added: double click on taskbar clock show the dialog of adjusting the date and time.

Enhanced functional possibilities.

Enhanced support for DDE.

Vastly raised stability (added: explorer-like exception handler).

shswdos.exe - now works at quick computers.

Changed: algorithm of work with *.ani files (now does not cause error on some video cards).

In themes possible to include *.jpg files as wallpaper.

In themes possible to include the plug-ins' configuration information, system colors and cursors.

Reduced size of program.