Menu cursor changes

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21

I did notice one odd thing about the cursor changing. When I click on the menu and then move the mouse to the far left and come back into the menu from the middle or bottom the cursor stays as a ‘Pointer’.

When I click the menu and then move the mouse to the far right and come back into the menu the cursor changes to the ‘Hand’.

I’m sure the type of cursors that come up are programed into avast. You can see this very well if you use the ‘Shadow first’ skin. With this skin you can see all three cursors show up without clicking on anything…just move the mouse over the skin.

a61

22

I just tried it with the silver panel and it happened to me …

doesnt happen with maclovers or the simple one that came with 4.5

23

I recently started getting this while using Nero 6 (and maximizing window) using optical mouse and XP SP2.

Is Nero a common factor here ? or is it Avast ?

24

I’m using Nero 6.3.1.25. I just tested it and mine is fine. Two types of cursors show. When looking at the very graphical interface the ‘Hand’ cursor is all I get. When using the other interface the ‘Pointer’ cursor is all I get. Seems to be fine.

a61

25

I don’t have Nero installed. But I still have the arrow/hand/movement cursor problem. So Nero isn’t the common denominator here.

I suspect it’s just a glitch with Avast… :-\

26

same thing happens on boyfriends laptop… Avast is not, and never has been, installed on that system. It happens in different programs on that system (using a logitech optical mouse, and Win XP S2)

27

I found out what is the problem.
Actually I wouldn’t call it a glitch or bug.

You all will notice that if you use RejZor-Sharp or Lite-On skins made by me, no problems at all with cursors. On the other hand when you use Laah-Ra again one of skins made by me, that problem with cursor will occure. Same thing is with Martin’s skin Silver Panel and some others… what is in common to those skins ?

I’ll tell ya…

If you use Silver Panel , you all will notice when you open MENU, at certain point your cursor have to fly over AVAST logo… that area in the skin is meant to be dragging area (for moving your skin around your desktop). That mouse state where you see those 4 arrows is called MOVE… so, nothing is wrong… it’s just how Active Skin works… there is not much we can do about it… you will also notice when you browse that MENU, if you hovers with your mouse pointer above some buttons, you’ll also hear that particular sound… same thing…

If it is so annoying to you, you can always change the skin. As I said before, some skins are free of that problem (if we can call it that way) just because MOVE (dragging) area is not even close to open MENU… try RejZor-Sharp skin and you’ll see what I’m talking about…

Problem solved… :wink:

If you have same problems in some other applications, that’s exactly the same issue… those applications uses Active Skin or some other skinnning engine, and that’s it…

Cheers !

28

Which is exactly what I surmised in my reply # 12 of this same thread… :wink:

29

Well, I didn’t see your reply, anyway I am one of those few who exactly knows how skins works from “inside”, not just “outside”… and I gave best possible exlanation why it happens… :wink:

You also stated this:

From my experience, you won't see the move cursor the first time you go into the settings menu, but it will show up after about the 2nd or 3rd time you open up the settings menu.

And I’m telling you that’s not true… I can see that cursor every single time I pass over Alwil logo or any other area which is defined as “Dragging area”. If you hover with your cursor inside your MENU panel area, but somehow avoid hovering over “dragging area”, you won’t see MOVE cursor. So, there is no rule like second or third time… it’s just up to you when will you see it next time…

I’ve noticed that first time I started to make skins for avast! If you take a look at my LAAH-RA skin, you’ll see that happens exactly the same way as it happens with Martin’s Silver Panel skin. Do I have to repeat that LAAH-RA is my first skin ever… so I knew about this issue long time ago… it’s just, no one ever reported that as a bug, so if if it’s not broken, why fix it ? Anyway, I’m affraid, there is no cure for this cursor behaviour when we talk about Active Skin engine… :wink: :wink:

Actually, there is a cure… use RejZor-Sharp or Lite-on or any other skin that doesn’t contain “dragging area” below or close to the MENU panel area… simple…

30

Sasha, I understand/appreciate what you’re saying. However, it’s wierd because there are times when I’ll load up the default silver panel skin and from the very beginning I’ll completely avoid hovering over the dragging areas (i.e. over the Avast logo), but alas when I get to the settings menu I’ll still randomly get the move cursor… So that’s why I say after the 2nd or 3rd time… i.e. by then chances are you’ll experience the move cursor (or the hand or the arrow). But yes, I’m technically wrong by defining an exact number of times–as it’s more like a random occurance for me.

And as a friendly note, I’m not trying to argue with you, Sasha, or anyone else, it’s just that I’m trying to tell you all what my experience with it is. I’m experiencing the same thing as A61–so I know I’m not the only one :slight_smile:

31

Sasha
LCARS doesn’t have that problem either.

32

@ Starfigher - No way, why would anyone think this is arguing ? I just told you what I’m aware of regarding that cursor issue…

Something is wrong inside Active Skin engine (engine that avast! uses to run skins). Sometimes you don’t even have to hower over dragging area, but as soon as MENU panel (white area with options) covers the dragging area (Alwil logo, or any other part of the skin with drag-sensitive area), something strange is happening… I guess we both agree on this one, right ?

Cheers !

I’ll repeat, this is no arguing in any way… we all are trying to find the solution… :slight_smile:

33

Just a question. Can a skin be designed without the move cursor? Most programs are moved by holding down the left click on the top part of a program and then drag it? Why even have a move cursor?

I’m not trying to indicate that avast is bad because of this but when a person sees this they may get the impression that it’s not designed very well…that was my first impression when I saw this a long time ago, but I just put up with it.

a61

34

As I already said few times in this thread… try RejZor-Sharp skin made by me (there is only one draggable area, and that is a top part of the window - just like Windows standard)… also, you may wanna try Lite-On skin… both skins looks very professional, and completely free of this problem.

Yes, it is possible to make just top part of the window as draggable area, but unwritten rule was to make few draggable areas in each avast! skin. It is also possible and desirable btw, to make draggable areas far from MENU panel area… that’s the case with few of skins made by me…

35

I just switched to Sasha’s RejZor-Sharp skin. Very nice. No bugs, works great. 8)

And you can move it not just from the top menu-bar, but also from the blue banner below, where it has Sasha’s name on it… I like that! :wink:

36

And best of all, I found out how to make draggable area and to avoid problem with changing normal cursor state into MOVE state. There are two ways to make draggable area in Skin Builder. It looks like one of those two ways is not the best solution…

I’m in process of changing all those settings in all skins made by me that were affected with this problem…

If Vlk and other guys from Alwil are willing to replace those skins made by me in avast! download section with new ones, I will send them new versions ASAP. I’m sure they will do that if they see your requests… :wink:

Please don’t send me individual requests because it would be so much work to do, and so much data mailed to each person… try to understand me guys, please… it would be much easier and much faster for everyone, if we have latest skin versions in avast! skins download section.

Thanks in advance for your understanding !

Cheers !

37

OK guys, just take a look at the time I posted my previous post and take a look at time of this post… I was really fast changing some settings in 15 + 1 skins (15 made by me and one made by Martin - “Silver Panel”). Sorry, had no enough time to change all skins, but anyway, I’m not sure does Martin really wants me to change anything in his skins… anyway, I just wanted to help.

I changed all of my skins, and now they don’t have “changing cursor issue” any more. I also changed one little setting in Martin’s newest skin “Silver Panel” (btw, his best skin ever), and I just hope Martin won’t be mad at me… again, I just wanted to help, and because I’ve noticed so many avast! users like that skin. I want them to enjoy it all the way, without that annoying “chaning cursor issue”…

Here is the list of all skins that are completely “changing cursor issue” free. You’ll notice that there is no REJZOR-SHARP and BLACK LIQUID skins listed… that’s because those skins already were “changing cursor issue” free.
NOTE: Attachment removed by me, just to save some space. You can see screenshot with complete list (all available skins) in my reply number 42 in this thread. Thanks !

Those skins that you can see in the list, are the skins that I will send to Vlk and they should be uploaded in avast! skins download section ASAP IMHO…

Btw, RejZor’s skin Maclover also has “cursor changing issue”, although it’s very hard to invoke it, but I checked source of his skin as well, and it contains exactly the same error as all those skins that were affected. You all can try it if you start Maclover skin and just hover over the Alwil Software logo… cursor will immediately change into MOVE state, and believe me it shouldn’t do that. It should stay in ARROW state, although it sounds silly… if that area is dragging area, cursor should change it’s state into four arrows, but… again… SkinBuilder is a strange beast, and it does that in some strange ways… so, conclusion is - we shouldn’t see MOVE (4 arrows) cursor state in avast!..

If RejZor wants me, I can change it for him too…

EDIT: Actually, I just changed same thing in RejZor’s skin “MacLover”, so if he wants me I can send it to Vlk with all other skins…

38

Sasha, please ask them to mark the ‘new’ or the ‘updated’ ones… nobody wants to download ‘all’ skins again :stuck_out_tongue:

39

I can not ask them that again… I already asked Vlk once, and he said it would cause some additional problems… sorry, can’t recall what was that all about… maybe, they would listen to you Technical… why don’t you try ?

To be clear, I want those new skin versions to be marked somehow… name should stay exactly the same (I understand that Vlk), but in short explanation of the skins (right hand side of the skin preview picture) should say something about version of the skin…

Once, skins are updated, everyone will be alarmed through the forums… I hope that’s enough. Of course, everyone who was annoyed by that “cursor changing issue”, should be happy to update all those skins on his computer… "all’ skins should be updated, because if we look at it closer, all those skins were affected with same problem…

I’m going to catch some sleep now… see ya tomorrow…

Cheers !

40

S.Z.C.
You are the KING! :o
Thanks for what you did, I tried some of the new skins…real nice. 8)

I wish the default ‘blue panel’ was fixed, that’s the one I like to use. It has a little more height than the new ‘Blue Panel 4’, plus it’s easier to read the text.

a61