yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
It seems with the upgrade to Windows 8.1, all your tiles have been wiped.

There's nothing i could have done to prevent this.

Don't you have any previous Backup?

I think this is a pretty big issue. At this point i suggest to everyone who is reading this post, to Backup your tiles before upgrading to Windows 8.1.

Argony
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] LLJKRevol:
I thought I had a backup, but I have no idea where it could be. And even if it did, there's something in the back of my mind telling me that I had made the backup in the middle of the process anyways, and that I was still going to lose a lot of work...
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] TheRealGreenVirus:
The folder shouldn't be empty. I upgraded to 8.1 too and I had to recreate all my shortcuts since they were not listed in OblyTile but the folder was still full of the icons.

Just go to C:\Program Files\OblyTile and search for .png and you will find all your old icons again.

By the way, thanks for the update and also thanks for making your software able to convert older icons, that saved me a lot of time :laugh:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Pumpk1in:
Am I the only user wich have blurry icons after update ? OLD tile are OK, but If I want to create new icons, they are blurry... :/

Its like a poor quality image is generated by Oblytile... I use BIG PNG as source : 512*512 or 1024*512 No problem before update :)

Thanks for help ;)

Capture : http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/133379cap.png

Tile : http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/241807Steamalt.png
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] TheRealGreenVirus:
My pictures are not blurry at all, I might share a screenshot later.

Anyway, I would like to report a little bug. Sometimes my tiles disappear when I create new tiles. I just wanted to create a tile for Half Life 2 EP1 and then one for HL2 EP2, what happened is that I got a HL2 EP2 Tile but my HL2 EP1 tile was suddenly missing. I just deleted the one and re created it and now I have a tile in my start menu that I can't click on and also can't delete.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
This issue will be fixed with the new version. :good:

Can you tell me how often does it happens? It might be a random problem with the cache.

Argony
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] TheRealGreenVirus:
I think that it was only a random problem. My computer was running the whole day yesterday and I had all kind of Apps running. It seems to be fixed right now. I just restarted my Computer and they disappeared.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Pumpk1in:
when, WHEN, WHEN ?! :D:D:D :angel:

This app made me loving Win8 ;) Without, its not the same ;)
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
I hope to be able to post it during this week :highfive:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] faiz5200:
fix*
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Update v0.9.7

The update v0.9.7 is now available. :highfive:

Infos and download on the main post.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Kruzkal:
Is there a way to change the padding of the tiles?
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] TheRealGreenVirus:
thanks for this fix

"When editing an already existing tile, the old tile files will be deleted right away."

I had that happen to me a few times. It usually worked once I restarted my computer.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Motawa88:
i dont understand how to choose the tile size
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Right Click the tile on the start screen and change the size from there. :good:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Spud387:
Hi guys,

What are you doing to create images in the correct size? When I roughly estimate the dimension ratios edges get cut off or the image is squished to make it fit. What are the ratios or dimensions we should be using for the different tile sizes?

thx guys
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Small Tile: 30x30, 42x42, 54x54.

Tiny Tile: 56x56, 70x70, 98x98, 126x126.

Square Tile: 120x120, 150x150, 210x210, 270x270.

Wide Tile: 248x120, 310x150, 434x210, 558x270.

Large Tile: 248x248, 310x310, 434x434, 558x558.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
I'm not sure what could cause this problem.

Can you please post one of the png files affected by this problem?
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
I have created a tile with the picture you posted by using OblyTile v0.9.1, and i edited the tile with OblyTile 0.9.7, the tile colors and transparency changed correctly.

Maybe is one of the issues with the cache system.

I added it on the list of things to fix. :good:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Motawa88:
will you add "live tiles" in the future? baseically a tile with more pictures in the specific mode (wide,small etc)
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
This is the next goal, but i don't know if i'll be able to add Live Tiles.

I'll keep trying tough :good:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] faiz5200:
Column

hi, anyone know how to change the default number of column in start screen? (default is 2) . I know there a way to change number of row.

Let say on the first row i put wide tile. Is there any way to put another tile on the same row instead of fill the entire column first or make a new page.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] hairyfingers:
URL open for immersive web browser

Hi

Great work. Will we be able to specify a website for the immersive web browser in future, like we can for the non immersive using the parameters box?

thanks
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Hello,

I don't know if there's a way to change the padding and the default number of column. :(

Yes, I'll add this feature in future. :good:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] doktrjones:
When I search from the start screen, these found items won't have a name next to them, only the icon.

please disregard this comment, either I had an old version of oblytile or something else was wrong X). Everything works perfect for me great job!
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] thadroidz:
Just downloaded and tested the windows calculator on my Hp X2 split with windows 8.1 64bit..

works great...
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] RofSpark:
Weird problem with custom tiles for some metro apps

Argony, absolutely love what your app has done for the Windows 8 likeability factor!! Microsoft needs to learn from your work!

I recently upgraded to Surface Pro 2 and noticed that custom tiles for a couple of metro apps are behaving weird - the inbuilt Calculator app, and the Hotels.com app. When I select the tile, the app launches but then immediately I get the Metro start screen. This happens repeatedly. If I run the app through it's normal tile and leave it running, I can then use the custom tile to switch back to it, but just can't start the app if it is already not running.

Any idea what I may be doing wrong?

Thanks for any help you could provide.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
You're not doing anything wrong :highfive:

It is a problem located on the file "OblyTile App Launcher.exe", this is the file that launches the metro/immersive apps.

I'll try to include a fix for the "OblyTile App Launcher.exe" on the next version of OblyTile. :good:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] RofSpark:
Thanks a bunch. Will watch out for the next version.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] :
This is great, I've been going crazy over the terrible tile colours on Windows 8.1! Two things I've noticed:

Would be nice to have an option to clear all current images for a tile, sometimes I update the image I'm using and I have to manually clear the individual fields for each size.

The tab order of elements is incorrect, you can't tab ffrom the second image field to the third.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Seems a good idea :highfive:

Will be fixed on the next version of OblyTile :good:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] naossoan:
Hey guys is there a way I can use images like this and retain the transparency in my icons with Oblytile (or possibly some other tile application)?

http://imgur.com/a/iZheb

I like some of these icons and I would love to use them but I don't want them to have some color like black or white or whatever around them. I want them to be transparent....ie the Start screen background color showing through around the image.

Is this possible to do, or am I stuck with finding nice square icons that I like?

Thanks
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
It is not possible to use a transparent tile color with OblyTile. :(
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Scripts:
Seems like a wonderful app. I'll try it later on.

Sent from ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Fierce
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] shazbot:
Love this program! Thanks a bunch!

One problem though. Oblytile doesn't seem to be able to create system tiles anymore. My Recycle Bin tile disappeared and I cannot put a new one.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
It seems to be happening randomly, I'm still looking for a solution for this problem :(

Try to create the tile again after a reboot, it might work.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Hope this helps
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] jakfish:
Problem w/ Opening Folders

Argony-OT--what a great program!

Running OblyTime 0.9.7, Win8.1 on a Lenovo C440, my only problem is when I set up a tile that launches a folder (I find this problem in all my directories), tick "return to start,"and then click that tile, Metro Start disappears for a second. I see the open folder on the desktop. Then Metro Start returns. I have winkey to desktop to get to the folder and when I close it, I do not return to start.

When I untick "return to start," the directory opens on the desktop.

It seems to be something with "return to start," which is where I want to return.

Any idea what I'm doing wrong? Any argument to use?

Again, many thanks for making such a needed app,

Jake
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] jlmvc:
I haven't had this problem on my desktop using Win 8.1 pro.

[MENTION=691499]agony[/MENTION]-OT Thank you for this nice piece of software. It definitely helps with my OCD.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
The function to return to the start screen is not compatible with folders, it only works with some programs, sorry :(
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] jakfish:
Many thanks for your follow-up. Perhaps in a later version...

I was wondering if it was possible to use OblyTile to set up tiles for Skype and MS Photos (PhotosApp.exe)? I can only find the Skype directory, not skype.exe, and when I choose PhotosApp.exe, the tile won't open it.

Even when I send a desktop shortcut of PhotoApp.exe to desktop, the program won't open, so Photos and Skype may just be a Win8.1 weirdness.

Thanks again,

Jake
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
To create a custom MS Photos tile on Win 8.1 you have to write this on OblyTile:

Program Path:

C:\Program Files\OblyTile\OblyTile App Launcher.exe

Program Arguments:

FileManager_cw5n1h2txyewy!Microsoft.Windows.PhotoManager

Note: The program will launch and disappear almost instantly. It will be fixed in future :good:

To create a custom Skype tile you have to write this on OblyTile:

Program Path:

C:\Program Files\OblyTile\WinAppsDefault.vbs

Program Arguments:

skype:

Hope this helps
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] jakfish:
Thank you for a quick reply. I made my Skype tile with your instructions. That too disappears (though it's launched and can be found w/ alt-tab). So that would be the same issue as with Photos, starting but covered by Metro?

Jake
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Skype does launch normally on my pc.

Try this:

Program Path:

C:\Program Files\OblyTile\OblyTile App Launcher.exe

Program Arguments:

Microsoft.SkypeApp_kzf8qxf38zg5c!App

Hope this helps
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] jakfish:
That works for Skype! What great support :)

Jake

Edit: I wish to make a donation, but the paypal page comes up in Italian. I'd prefer to do it through US paypal. What email address should I use for you?
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] jakfish:
I have key-stroked 3 programs that I often use: Word 2012, Outlook 2012, and HandBase. Since they weren't started by OblyTile, they won't return to Start when closed. Is there any argument I can use to make them return to start after their close? Or can keystroked apps be linked to OblyTile?

Jake
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Omegadrive:
I only have 2 issues so far with this app, first I have over 600 shortcuts on my start menu and in the create tile from shortcut section there is a mess, can this section be done in alphabetical order or at least separate the shortcuts by folders, just like I the normal start menu?

And second was already mentioned, an option to clear all cells of the assigned tile image or at least a check mark to apply main image to all when editing an existing tile.

Many thanks.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
There's no way to link key-stroked shortcuts with OblyTile, but you can have the same result with a small script.

Create the script, you can use notepad to do it.

Set objShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

objShell.Run """WINWORD.exe""" & "", 1, True
objShell.AppActivate "Program Manage"
objShell.SendKeys "^{ESCAPE}"

Save the script as ".vbs"

For example "BackToStart.vbs"

Place the script inside the folder where WINWORD.exe is located

Set the keystroke on the vbs files

Enjoy!

Note: You must replace WINWORD.exe with the name of the executable of outlook and handbase.

In case you do not want to create the scripts, I can create them for you. You just need to tell me what's the name of the programs executable.

Hope this helps

600 shortcuts :eek: Do not forget to make some backup :p

Sadly there's no way yet to catalogize the tiles made with OblyTile.

The option to clear all the cells is in my list of things to include on the next version :good:

Argony
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Omegadrive:
Lol, no worries, have a backup :P

I don't think I expressed the problem properly, is not categorizing the tiles the issue, what I meant was the option that you have on top of the list, the one called "Convert shortcuts to tiles", is not in alphabetical order, so is hard for someone with tons of shortcuts to find anything, I had to right click properties on the actual shortcuts in the start menu to copy the properties from there cause I couldn't find them on the list you provided.

Forgot to mention another small issue but I don't know if it related to you or the StartisBack developer, but when using StartisBack 1.5.2 I can see ALL the tiles created by OblyTile on top of my programs in the start menu, if I use Start8 they are not there, attached picture.

Update...

I contacted the StartisBack developer and this was his response and my answer:

I'm using Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit btw, running OblyTile as Admin so it creates Tiles for all users.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
I'll add a search function for the various tile lists on OblyTile.

At the moment the only quick way to find a tile is to click one of the elements on the list and then press the first letter of the items you want to select. :highfive:

So if you want to find the calculator shortcut on the list, just click a random item on that list and press "C" on the keyboard, OblyTile will automatically select the first item that starts with "C", keep pressing "C" untill you find the calculator.

Try to run OblyTile as administrator then go on "Settings" and select "Current User" then click Save.

In this way all the tiles will be created on:

%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Application Shortcuts\OblyTile

instead of:

%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\

Picture:

Hope this helps
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Omegadrive:
That worked, thanks :highfive:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] jakfish:
EDIT: Never mind, it works! I had coped the script from an emailed post, rather than your Code Section. All is well, this really helps, thank you,

Jake

Hi, Argony-OT,

I set up that script according to your instructions, but for winword.exe, I'm getting a vbs compilation error in line 1, character 46, expected end of statement, code 800A0401.

What am I doing wrong?

Many thanks,

Jake
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Kir3:
Make a option to choose the category (Books, Games, Music....) in 8.1 :)

I have all Games but they are under Tools.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
I'm not sure how to do it :silly: but I'll give it a try ! :highfive:

Thank you for suggesting it.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Ndaoud360:
Obly tile just stopped working on me (windows 8.1). I create a tile but no tile shows up. I tried rebuilding cache to no avail.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Please try >>this<<

Hope this helps
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Al Gore:
Is there a site to get new images from? win8tiles.azurewebsites.net is dead
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Ndaoud360:
I fixed it by setting it to all users instead of just the current user. Its weird because I always had it on current user and never gave me problems.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Check this post #433 :good:

Thank you for the info. I'll check what could be causing this problem. :highfive:

Argony
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Elpatii:
Very great application ! Thanks :)
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] nba1341:
thanks for this
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] webtroter:
Hi,

I just reformat my PC, and I'd like to know where the Tiles are saved. I did a backup of my files, but I can't really find them.

Can you help me?

Webtroter
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Hi,

If you want to manually restore your tiles, you need the folder that contains the .lnk files and the folder that contains the images/scripts.

Lnk folder:

%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Application Shortcuts\OblyTile

Images/Scripts folder:

%programfiles%\OblyTile

If you used the "All users" setting on OblyTile, the Lnk files will be located at:

%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

Note: After you copied both folders you'll need to open OblyTile and press the Rebuid cache button. (second button on top left of OblyTile)

Note #2: If you do not have the lnk folder or either the images/scripts folders there's no way to restore your tiles.

Note #3: If you made a backup with the OblyTile Export function, to restore your tiles you need to click Import on OblyTile and select the folder named "OblyTile exported tiles".

Hope this helps
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] webtroter:
Thanks a lot! I will try this soon when I will be at home!

EDIT :

Too bad, I didn't save those folders :(

I'll start from scratch...
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Update v0.9.8

New update available :highfive:

More infos and download in the main post :good:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] natihorny:
How To video

Here's a how to video for the less tech savvy! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgZz1pgYnI8
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] ooMoo:
Help!!!

im an IT technician at a hospital im trying to use this to setup an "all user ribbion" and am getting an error when the script runs saying "Invalid number of arguments 12 of 15 can anyone help? below is a coppy of one line of the script. if you can see where im going wrong i would be grateful. PS im using the latest version of OblyTile

if exist C:\W8\%username% (goto end)

md C:\W8\%username%

start \\#######\Public_Resource\W8\Ob.exe " " "https://www.nhs.net" "" "\\#######\Public_Resource\W8\live tile images\nhs.net.png" "\\#######\Public_Resource\W8\live tile images\nhs.net wide.png" #2D8AEF #000000 show normal no no no

TIMEOUT /T 6

:end

exit
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Hi! :highfive:

Try this:

if exist C:\W8\%username% (goto end)
md C:\W8\%username%

Start /wait "" \\#######\Public_Resource\W8\Ob.exe "Tile Name" "https://www.nhs.net" "" "\\#######\Public_Resource\W8\live tile images\nhs.net.png" "" "" "\\#######\Public_Resource\W8\live tile images\nhs.net wide.png" "" #2D8AEF #000000 show normal no no no

:end
exit

Hope this helps

Argony
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Abaddon:
just what I've been looking for! thanks man
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] ooMoo:
that worked! thankyou
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] trashbytes:
[MENTION=4859731]Argony-OT[/MENTION]

I have a question. What I'm trying to do is swap all system shortcuts with OblyTiles, because now I have most shortcuts twice: OblyTile and "normal" shortcut. Now the problem is: When I remove the created tile from my start screen the LNK gets deleted. Why is that? It should stay like all other LNKs in Start Menu do.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
I do not suggest you to swap all the system shortcuts with shortcuts created by OblyTile.

OblyTile shotcuts (lnk) does not work the same way as the "normal" shortcuts created by Windows, as soon as you "un-pin" the tile created by OblyTile Windows will automatically remove the shortcut (lnk) of the tile, meaning that the tile won't be kept in the "Apps" menu of the start screen. :(
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] SeCKToR:
Version 0.9.8 doesnt work with me. Where can I download the version 0.9.7?
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
OblyTile v0.9.7 - OneDrive

What's the issue with version 0.9.8? :confused:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] trashbytes:
Alright then, so this is a Windows issue?

Do you know any way (an easy way) to hide the normal shortcuts without deleting them for other users? I have an idea but that would mean to copy them into the user specific folders and delete them in system start menu... not the cleanest way.
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Yes, it's the way how Windows handles it.

As you said, moving the shortcuts from:

"%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"

to

"%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"

would do the trick, but you should do this for all the users in your pc.

I can't come up with any better ideas at this moment :(
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] jakfish:
0.9.8: another great update. OblyTile is the one program that makes Windows 8.1 bearable. If it wasn't for OblyTile, I would run Linux, instead.

Thank you for your hard work and for your fantastic app,

Jake
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] trashbytes:
Thats what I thought.. I'll consider it. Thank you! :o
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] faisalsiddiqui:
How can I create a shortcut to a website that opens up internet explorer in the metro mode & not the desktop mode? Thanks
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Zephyrot:
First of all just wanted to say thanks! what an awesome and useful app you have created.

Second thing: wanted to report a bug, when trying to create a Desktop Shortcut of a Windows 8 App, and the name contains any ilegal character for Windows file names (for example : ) the program just shows a "Error, can not create shortcut". I cant either manually enter any other name, or change the original W8 app name :(

It fails for example to create a a shortcut for Halo: Spartan Assault or Asphalt 8: Airborne
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
This cannot be done with the current version of OblyTile. :(

I'll try to add this feature in future.

Added it to the list of things to fix.

Thank you for your feedback. :highfive:
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] mbushnaq00:
Hi, quick question, anyway launch multiple apps from a single tile?
[Windows 8 Development and Hacking] Argony-OT:
Hi, to launch multiple applications by using a single tile you can make a simple batch file (.bat)

Here's an example batch script:

@echo off
cd /d %~dp0

Start "" "C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe"
Start "" "C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe"
Start "" "C:\Windows\System32\mspaint.exe"

This batch script will launch the Windows Calculator, Notepad and Paint.

Use OblyTile to create a tile that runs this batch file.

Note: You can use the "Hide program" function to hide the Command Prompt window.

Here's an example picture:

View attachment 2630701

Edit the batch script to match your needs.

Hope this helps :good: