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columns_ui:faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Could you implement feature x?

Please check the list of known feature requests before requesting in the forum.

Technical Support Questions

I downloaded Columns UI, but I don't know what to do with a .7z file ?!

The file is an archive created by 7-Zip. Most popular archivers can extract it, including WinRAR.

If you use Total Commander, you can have it treat 7-Zip archives like folders with the 7-Zip Total Commander Plugin.

As with any foobar components you need to place the *.dll files in the components folder of your foobar2000 folder.

I installed the plugin, but my foobar still looks the same.

Please check that you have selected Columns UI as the active user interface module. See the Installation section for more details:

What do I do with an fcs or fcl file?

From the Columns UI page in preferences, goto the Main tab, and select “Import”. Alternatively, you can open them from the command-line. From 0.1.2 beta 4, the format is foobar2000 /columnsui:import:<path>. You can use this to associate fcs files with foobar (foobar2000.exe /columnsui:import:“%1”).

How do I load png files for the toolbar buttons?

You need the current versions of libpng and zlib in your foobar2000 folder.

I changed my buttons to some PNGs. But they disappear next time I start foobar2000??

Make sure you put the libpng13.dll and zlib1.dll files in your foobar2000 directory, not the components directory.

I hid the toolbars, now how do I get them back ?!

You can do this from the main preferences page in several possible ways:

  • The default keyboard shortcut to bring up the preferences is CTRL-P.
  • You can bring up the preferences from the notification icon if you have one.
  • As a last fail-safe resort, the command-line command foobar2000 /config will bring up the preferences.

I installed panel x, but it is not listed as a panel within foobar2000?

Most likely it was created for an older version of Columns UI, or you have an old version of Columns UI. Updating your components will usually suffice.

I changed one of the button images in the toolbars. Now all the others have disappeared??

All images must have the same dimensions. See buttons for more information.

I am running a 64-bit version of Windows, and I have rendering/sizing/scrollbar glitches with panels below a certain splitter depth

Unfortunately, this is caused by an “oversight” in these operating systems. The issue would normally be faced with Columns UI 0.3.6.4 and older, and when you have an application running that registers a certain type of global hook. Such applications have included Logitech SetPoint, multiple display utilities, a utility to block Windows key presses, Microsoft Spy++ and others. You can work around this issue by removing any such applications; normally you can test which one is registering such a hook by ending their processes in task manager.

Technical details

Some discussion

The problem is caused by a combination of factors:

  • Recursive SetWindowPos (i.e. through 'nested' child windows) calls depleting the kernel stack around twice as fast on 64-bit Windows
  • Global WH_CALLWNDPROC/WH_CALLWNDPROCRET hooks causing depletion of the kernel stack during recursive 'SendMessage' calls (the call here seems to be the WM_SIZE generated from WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGED)

The end result is that the maximum splitter depth on 64-bit Windows with a global hook is less than a quarter of what it is on 32-bit Windows without a global hook.

A workaround is included in Columns UI 0.3.6.5 and newer which minimises the impact of the global hook on the maximum splitter depth. However, on 64-bit Windows the maximum splitter depth is still less than half of what it is on 32-bit Windows. Direct any complaints about that at Microsoft.

columns_ui/faqs.txt · Last modified: 2012/10/05 21:36 by 116.15.33.204