I'd like software that allows me to create a desktop menu, one that makes my desktop look like a Web page where the buttons can be used to either open certain folders or execute small macros, for instance, buttons that can be programmed to turn off my sound or change my sound cards, open up ports on the Device Manager or start certain programs and execute certain buttons, that the buttons can have drop-down menus, make calendar due dates banner across the screen, have pages on the desktop just like a Web site does where the picture can be different, in other words, a multilayered desktop, just things like that.

In other words, have the desktop act just like a Web site.

If you go to http://stardock.com you'll find a few different products that allow you to do just that. One of the most useful ones I like is called Object Dock, and it allows you to create a bar of tabs that you can organize into a wonderfully small area yet very very handy and useful at your finger tips. Another that is pretty nice is called Fences which gives you the ability to make small boxes that you can name tabs on the top of and put each of the shortcuts you have in them, move them around where you want them etc.

Small footprints on the system make them pretty handy to use. Might be another one or two at that site also that I haven't tried yet also.

Also I believe the Fences is free, but I don't know if it's just free to Object Desktop users or to anyone, worth finding out though, and the Object Dock was only like 15 bux last time I looked, well worth the price.

Wow, good find, Jo Ann. That was very helpful. That's close to what I was looking for, very close, but I was looking for something more closely related to VSD, you know, with the drag n drop capability, and I don't like having to download so many programs in order to get all the functionality. Maybe you have something like that you've come across before?

I'm also on the hunt for a forms program, something that'll build forms like you can do in Word, but one that creates a text file of the results for database applications. It doesn't necessarily have to be a Web form. It can be, though. The Coffeecup Web forms creator program is very close to what I'm looking for, but that one, I haven't been able to have a successful local test. It'll go through all the motions, but there's no results file. Anyway, you seen something like that?

Thanx for your help.

Desktop Questions: You can drag and drop your shortcuts to both of those programs, not sure if that's what you meant or not. You can drag them from your desktop into the programs, from folders into the programs or you can right click inside the window of Object Dock (not sure on Fences if it's got a right click and enter one there or not) and add the shortcuts. Object Dock even has a Flyout menu system that allows you to build little menus inside it. I find it awesome for displaying my music playlists which I can then scroll through to find the one I want in a flyout menu. Quite slick

Formbuilder Questions: I guess I'm not clear on just what you're asking for on the form builder. I use it myself to create lots of different forms and it works very well, but you are right, it doesn't show them locally, I always have to upload it to see it on my site as the preview pages won't show the forms on them for me either. But I can assure you it works really well. I've never built forms or anything web connected in Word so I'm not sure on exactly what you mean there.

When you save the form in the Web Form Builder, it gives you all the files that you need to upload, allows you to upload them right through the program even which can save time, and it gives you the exact code you need to put in your web page, so I'm not sure what you mean by no results file. Can you clarify a bit what you're asking for please?