We hope you enjoy using it as much as we enjoyed creating it. Please take a few more minutes of your time to read this document. You will find invaluable information on how it works and what you can do with it because it capabilities are far more powerful than it appears from plain view.
If you have questions not answered here you can always get answers at ArtDesk home site or through the ArtDesk forum.
Remember this program is freeware which means you don't have to pay anything to use or download it. You don't have to pay anything to download pictures with it either.
1.0
One mouse click let you can back-up all your links to the pictures to share that database with another computer or with your friends or just for backup.
ArtDesk 2 was written with the user in mind. So it does a better job by taking up less of the screen while expanding it functionality. For example, when idle, the toolbar will attempt to merge with the wallpaper image and later it will almost disappear from view. Another nice and innovative feature is it ability to reposition itself after a while recovering from a position far away the visible desktop. This means you can now move ArtDesk anywhere in your screen, even away from the regular desktop area if it is taking up space you need at that moment for a different task and then ArtDesk will come back to that position after a while.
ArtDesk 2 now includes direct links to some useful Windows applications usually hidden under cluttered menus. You can access notepad and the calculator among others from the tool menu.
Search the web through a convenient search tool. Plus you can also search local files if your system has Google desktop installed.
ArtDesk 2 comes with a huge database of wallpapers links and themes wallpapers hosted at Caracolix site and Google search directly from the bar.
ArtDesk 2 and ArtDesk v1.0 are still FREE to download and to use. Note: ArtDesk 2 is an recommended update for ArtDesk v1.0 users.
Please continue reading through this short document to better appreciate and take advantage of ArtDesk rich features.
1.5
..download user chosen images from the Internet, or randomly from ArtDesk picture base or from local resources and update them on screen at a user specified schedul.
..update the desktop at specified schedules.
..fade itself merging with the desktop.
..reposition itself on the viewable screen if moved away.
..handle uploads to ArtDesk Prints (remote printing service).
..do local searches for any files (google desktop required).
..do Internet searches using google engine (no additional software required).
..make and read packages containing a list of favorite links to images.
..invite friends to use ArtDesk.
Also supplied:
Gallery of websites with free wallpapers.
Direct access to other Caracolix services.
This manual.
2.0
2.1
2.2
Note that each wallpaper picture requires between 1 and 2 MB of space on the hard drive depending on the current screen resolution. Your hard drive free space may get used up very fast if this option is set. It is recommended to leave the default (cleared).
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
ArtDesk will not check nor stop loading the program if another instance is already running.
It is not recommended that Lockix be loaded in this way. Lockix must run previous to ArtDesk and any other application. Lockix is an application to help control access to your computer by means of using digital keys such as digital cameras, music players and memory sticks. Follow this link to learn more about Lockix.
*Lockix is not included with ArtDesk installation package.
2.9
Regardless of the method of selection, ArtDesk will always display a different picture for the selected category until all the available pictures are displayed. After that, it will reset the count and restart from the first one randomly.
The amount of pictures contained on the themes database can increase periodically, since it is expected that authors add new files frequently.
My ArtDesk favorites - New on ArtDesk 2:
Select this option to download and use pictures from the ArtDesk favorites folder. These pictures are not hosted at Caracolix site neither on your computer but are downloaded on demand from a list on your favorites folder. more.
Downloaded pictures are stored in the ArtDesk wallpapers subfolder. From this folder is where Windows grabs the binary data to display the desktop wallpaper picture.
3.0
Enabling this setting will let you to participate in polls and researches. For example it help to gather information on users preferences, so we can build better theme lists. Additionally for web pictures we can build preference scores which will be available to the public showing what pictures are most downloaded and also making the links available to everyone. In the future it may help to organize contests with prizes to users and web site owners.
On version 2 build 005, this setting must be ON and can not be overridden nor cleared. We ask for your collaboration in this matter by letting us gather this information.
3.1
This bar contains a brief description of the image displayed as wallpaper and it has a button to allow the switching of functions.
If the "Run at startup" item was selected, the flat bar will appear each time windows starts. The configuration screen automatically appears the first time the program is run only.
Depending on the configuration set a new wallpaper image may or may not be downloaded at this time.
*An Internet connection is necessary for networking operations.
3.2
ArtDesk Visual States
| Normal state - Translucid | |
 fig. 1 |
|
| Expanded state | |
 fig. 2 |
|
| Move ready state | |
 fig. 3 |
|
| Previous to - going to Translucent state | |
 fig. 4 |
Bar Positioning
ArtDesk flat bar can be placed anywhere on the screen. It can also be partially (*momentarily) hidden past the boundaries of the visible desktop and overlapped by other running applications.
If the toolbar ends up entirely off screen or any part of it is not on the main desktop area it will reposition itself on the main desktop area after a while. This allows you to move it out of the way if you need to do something temporarily in that zone of the screen.
To move ArtDesk flat bar to a different location of the screen:
Glide the mouse over the legend so the bar expands vertically and shows as fig. 2 and then click on the white box fig.3. This makes the black background to appear. Click on any part of the toolbar which does not have a button, text or images and then slowly move the mouse. Any part with blue or black background color is ok.
Move the mouse without releasing the button until you reach the location you want then release it and move the mouse away so ArtDesk begins merging with the background.
Note: Every time ArtDesk is restarted it will stay in the 'Previous to' state as shown in fig 4 until you glide the mouse over it. After you do that, then acknowledging it presence on screen, it will fade merging itself with the image to next state fig.1.
3.3
Some of the ArtDesk wallpapers are offered by their authors as a wall poster or other products which you can purchase from them. ArtDesk can ease this process as well.
Author name, imprint size and price will be presented among other information.
To purchase a poster or other offered product just click on the "Click here to purchase this poster" line.
Note that ArtDesk is free to use and there is no obligation of purchasing posters or anything.
3.4
Complete the fields for destination only if the poster is sent to a third party. Otherwise leave all of them blank.
Select the payment processor of your preference and click the Continue button.
An instance of your default browser will open and you will be taken to a secure site where your payment will be accepted.
Make sure your address is printed correctly at the payment site. Your purchase will be delivered at this address unless a third party address was entered into ArtDesk.
Please allow up to five working days for processing.
You will then receive an ArtDesk thank you email notice when payment was successfully debited and then you will also be contacted by the artwork author or their authorized sales representative with details about your purchase, a shipping tracking number and any other relevant information. You may also be contacted in the event that a clothing size is necessary (i.e.: T-shirt size).
Please do contact Caracolix Media if you are not contacted by the seller at least 5 days after receiving ArtDesk's notice of payment.
Note: Keep your received emails for tracking and follow-up purposes.
3.5
3.6
For images located on the web, navigate to the website where the picture is and select the picture. When the picture you want to use is fully displayed, right click on it and select Add to Favorites. On the screen that pops select the ArtDesk folder and click Ok.
*It may be possible that when you add more than one picture from the same website a warning message in Internet Explorer tells you there is already a link with that name. This is due to the fact that IE adds to the favorite list the site by it unique name. So for each addition you make from the same site you must add an additional character anywhere in the name of the link to make it different of any other. Adding a number at the end of the name may help.
For images already resident in your computer, open windows explorer and navigate to that picture's folder. Select the picture and right click the mouse then select Open with > Internet Explorer (or the Internet application you use to navigate the web). When the picture is fully displayed right click on it and select Add to Favorites. On the screen that pops select the ArtDesk folder and click Ok.
Remember to select My ArtDesk favorites theme on the list of themes on the Setup screen.
There is virtually no limit on the amount of links that can be stored so feel free to add as many links as you like.
You can also share links and links packs with your friends and import new links to your existing list. See sections 4.4 and 4.5 for more on this.
3.7
In order to ArtDesk to function properly you have to make sure this port is enabled at all times. If disabled, you can enable this port by deselecting the check mark Work Off-line found on the File menu on Internet Explorer.
Both, ArtDesk and Internet Explorer will work together and at the same time. The use of ArtDesk does not interfere with any online job.
3.8
There are two ways to make ArtDesk unfold those tools. One is by gliding the mouse over it or by selecting Expand from the menu.
Click on the envelope to send an invitation to download ArtDesk. Enter your contact's email and yours. ArtDesk does the rest.
If you like ArtDesk click on the happy face. Every time you do we receive an appreciation vote. ArtDesk will forward only 1 vote a day from each user.
Click the globe to see a list of categorized websites with many wallpaper categories. Links are added as a courtesy but can be removed at any time or upon request from their owners. New links can also be added upon request.
Click the wrapped gift to find gifts and presents for you, your friends and family.
The white strip is in fact an input box where you can type anything you want to search for on the web. Google search is used for processing. Press Enter or click the Search button when you are ready to search.
ArtDesk search tool can also be used to search files existing in your computer. Google desktop (a tool to search your own computer) must be installed as well (not included with ArtDesk installation). Additionally you can set Google desktop to run in the background hiding it toolbar. In this way only ArtDesk toolbar is visible on the desktop. Google desk icon must still show in the tray (close to the computer's clock) for the tweak to work.
To search for documents in your computer type \\ and then the keywords or string you are looking for. Do not type \\ for web search.
To make ArtDesk go back to short semi-transparent mode if it doesn't go back by itself click on the input box and press the Tab key.
4.0
4.1
If you want to view another picture from the same author and theme rather than letting ArtDesk to choose, select "Same theme and author". This only applies for Caracolix hosted themes.
4.2
The wallpaper remains until you changes it or the next scheduled change.
If the image is loaded from a local resource (your hard drive instead of an Internet web site), that image is not removed, only the link to it.
This command applies to "my artdesk favorites" theme only.
After the command succedes the option will be unavailable on the menu while that picture remains as desktop wallpaper. The Remove from list option will be available again after then next picture change done through ArtDesk or the application is restarted.
4.3
The difference between the automatic and the manual test is that in the last you are informed of the results. Additionally a log is recorded if the engine found unusable links and the links are removed from the favorites and moved to the error folder under ArtDesk main folder.
You can use those links to navigate to the site and link to the picture that the link applies to.
4.4
You can then copy that file to any another computer or share it with friends or store it as a backup.
In this way you can, for example, display the same background pictures in many computers just importing the links from a tinny file.
4.5
The ADFavorites.adpk file must be on the desktop for the command to work.
Do not attempt to open any file other than one packed with ArtDesk 2 or the program may hung and eventually crash. Read section 4.4 for information on how to make such package.
4.6
4.7
Follow the steps on the screen to complete the order which will be delivered to your door.
Note: The use of this service requires acceptance of additional copyright releases for the manipulation and use of the pictures. ArtDesk must be released of any liability for the manipulation and printing of the images in your behalf.
4.8
Original File is larger than quota for upload.
Press Yes to send a link for later retrieval. Press No to Cancel
Selecting Yes will transfer a link to the original picture instead of uploading the file from your computer. The drawback of this approach is that it is possible that the source image can be removed or replaced by a different one before it can be downloaded. Accept this method only if you are certain the selected picture will not be changed.
This applies only to images which ArtDesk grabbed from the web. For all others see Appendix B
4.9
Original file is larger than quota for upload.
Press Yes to to upload the Desktop image instead.
Press NO to send the link for remote retrieval.
Press Cancel to abort.
Selecting Yes will upload a copy of the image you see on the desktop. That image is of a good quality as yo can see but it may not be as good as the original. The other option is to send a link to the original picture and let us download it. The drawback of this approach is that it is possible that the source image can be removed or replaced by a different one before it can be downloaded. Accept this method only if you are certain the selected picture will not be changed.
5.0
5.1
5.2
5.3
6.0
6.1
This option will be available only after a reasonable amount of automatic retries attempts have timed out.
If the option is not available, check your Internet connection and restart ArtDesk if necessary.
6.2
Check to see if the Connect option is available on the Click menu. If it is, select it. If it is not, select Change Picture. If none of these help, restart ArtDesk.
6.3
7.0
Lockix is an application to help you control access to your computer by means of using digital keys such as digital cameras, music players and memory sticks. This releases you from having to remember a password and from the headache it could be after forgetting it. Lockix can lock a single desktop computer, a laptop or the workstations of an entire office with a single key.
More information at Lockix home.
Caracolix Lights Out
Turn your monitor off at any time directly from
the screen. Save energy and the monitor when the
computer is not in use. There is no better screen
saver than having the screen off.
More information and download link here.
The Off Button
If you liked Caracolix Lights Out, you will love
TheOffButton. This is an upscale version of it
predecessor. It's smaller, smarter and cuter.
More details here.
Earthquake Monitor
Receive alerts and localization of recent earthquakes in your area.
Download here.
HitMan
Track your website, downloads or banner hits easily from your desktop. No experience necessary. No programing and no scripts. Unlimited counters and a lot more.
Information and download here.
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