Customising the New Speed Dial

Customising the New Speed Dial

There are ways to solve most of these problems in the new speed dial system to revert to something more like the old speed dial. I have already done all of these.

1. Use opera:blank for blank slots (instead of deleting them)
2. Set Thumbnail Logo Score Banner to 1000
3. Set Thumbnail Icon Min Height to 1000
4. Reload any thumbnail that still shows a logo
5. Set the number of columns to whatever you want] in the Config dialogue more
6. Set zoom to automatic
7. Hide the [+] Button
8. Edit the speed dial title to include the number.
9. Hiding speed dial completely by setting Speed Dial State to 3

Before replying, please consider whether your post is relevant to this thread. Don't hijack it with rants and get it closed like this one. Start a new thread in the wish-list if you want any new features.

If you have questions or suggestions how to customise the new speed dial, then please comment by all means.

The trick with opera:blank is a good way to allow you to organize the thumbnails the way you want. Now I can have rows with empty slots in them.

I do n't really understand what these two Thumbnail configuration settings are for and what they do...

Originally posted by andybkma:

Just would like to know how to make the squares smaller

Just use more columns of slots with automatic zoom, or use the manual zoom

hi, I have a problem with new Speeddial. I created my owm logos, yet after reloading logos they came uot somehow...messed up. they are all obviously read-only, but some are zoomed, very few of them are correct. and some of them have these colour stripes around....(using 6x5 grid)

any ideas?
i tried your way, it did not help

Originally posted by janhalik:

hi, I have a problem with new Speeddial. I created my owm logos, yet after reloading logos they came uot somehow...messed up. they are all obviously read-only, but some are zoomed, very few of them are correct. and some of them have these colour stripes around....(using 6x5 grid)
any ideas?

I found the following somewhere on the forums and it worked for me. I use my own graphics not thumbnails for web sites in a 7x6 grid.

temporary solution for Speed Dial thumbnail style problem:  
1. point at a thumb  
2. right click -> Reload Every -> any value except Never  
3. right click -> Reload (should create a full page thumb)  
4. right click -> Reload Every -> Never  
5. do 1-4 for every thumb in speed dial

It will seem like Opera is overwriting your read-only graphics but they should show up when you restart Opera. If this doesn't work, I will pass along my thumbnail settings.

Played around with the setup.
Now I have all the thumbnails except the Opera forum Sorry bothering you, but I couldn`t follow the beta testing this time, so I`m not quite good with the new settings.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

PS I`m not sure, but it looks like the Opera thumbnail recognizes 2 logos - My Opera and the Inbox - just a guess.

Originally posted by janhalik:

hi, I have a problem with new Speeddial. I created my owm logos, yet after reloading logos they came uot somehow...messed up. they are all obviously read-only, but some are zoomed, very few of them are correct. and some of them have these colour stripes around....(using 6x5 grid)

I have the same problem only mine looks much worse with more lines than in the pic that was posted. Using a 4x3 grid. Tried the different ways posted because I use my own custom images but still get the lines. Was using with 265x192 images but tried with a 237x237 just to see and still had the lines on the side.

Was thinking it had to do with the padding but some of the other thumbnails don't have lines so padding can't be an issue.

Originally posted by badpapa:

Was using with 265x192 images but tried with a 237x237 just to see and still had the lines on the side.

The thumbnail aspect ratio is 16:10 so your images need to be 292 x 192 or 265 x 149 pixels or 320 x 180.

This button is a better solution to the hide speed dial problem than speed dial state = 3.

Hide This button will do two things. Click to hide speed dial; click and hold to hide Opera.

The command for shortcuts, menus, or mouse gestures is "Hide speed dial contents"
I have added the command to my speed dial popup menus (and removed the customise appearance items). You could also add it to the [Speed Dial Thumbnail Popup Menu] section if you want to see it wherever you right-click in speed dial.

[Speed Dial Popup Menu]
Item, "Hide Speed Dial" = Hide speed dial contents
Item, M_SPEEDDIAL_GLOBAL_CONFIGURATION = Show speed dial global config
--------------------1
;Item, M_BROWSER_TOOLS_MENU_APPEARANCE = Customize toolbars, -1

[Speed Dial Popup Menu Plus]
Item, "Hide Speed Dial" = Hide speed dial contents
Item, M_SPEEDDIAL_GLOBAL_CONFIGURATION = Show speed dial global config
Item, M_SPEEDDIAL_ADD_SPEEDDIAL = Configure thumbnail, 0
--------------------1
;Item, M_BROWSER_TOOLS_MENU_APPEARANCE = Customize toolbars, -1

Is there a way to use the lateral space left after removing the 'Configure' button (set Speed Dial State to 2)?

Additionally, is there a way to leave that button hidden but keep the right-click 'configure' option?

I highly recommend manually resizing the speed dial thumbnail image files to the real, smaller size that you use. Even if you use the workaround described by Pensala to get back the old speed dial - or something close to it (thank you for that!). In Windows, these .png images are located in:

"C:\Documents and Settings\{USERNAME}\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\thumbnails"

They don't occupy that much space on the hard drive, but apparently in the new version 11.10 they are around 1000px wide, and when stored in memory, it eats up to 200 mb, so on my computer after the latest update, with a 7x6 speed dial grid, Opera uses around ~300 Mb of RAM, with no pages / tabs open, just the speed dial !

After resizing the image files to 256x160 px, the process now only takes ~70Mb active memory (this is around what 11.01 used).

I quess the reason they are stored in high resolution and they are always loaded up in memory is for the on-the-fly zoom setting to work smoothly.
The developers should have taken this into consideration before releasing, and keep 11.10 in beta for a little longer until this got optimized (or revert back to the original sizing on refresh, which didn't eat up that much memory).

This workaround is usless if you ever refresh the speed dial. The thumbnails will get to 1000px again. So it's a temporary workaround. Hope we'll get more options to customize the speed dial in later versions.


Mod edit: Hijack attempt removed. Please stay on-topic!

I preferred the softer, transparent look in my earlier version of Opera. Any way to get it back?

Originally posted by AtOdds:

I preferred the softer, transparent look in my earlier version of Opera. Any way to get it back?

Use a different skin.

@Pesala

Thank you for this!

This has resulted in a more muted response to SpeedDial2.0 from me.
It is still painful but at least it is now usable.

Thanks again.

I followed the instructions and still can't make the Speed Dial to be like the old one. And I can't make the speed dial be like the one posted by user maciejchwala
http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=959702&t=1302814936&page=1#comment9118062

If I increase the number of columns, the dials instead of spreading evenly on page, they form a single horizontal line. It looks weird.
And also there's no space between them.

Originally posted by sebastian111:

If I increase the number of columns, the dials instead of spreading evenly on page, they form a single horizontal line.

Why do you need all those columns then? Use fewer columns, and they will no longer be a single horizontal line.

Originally posted by sebastian111:

If I increase the number of columns

The number of columns that will fit at minimum zoom level depends on the resolution of your monitor. Mine is 1280x1024 and will fit only 7 columns. At that size I can fit 6 rows, so 42 dials is the absolute maximum for my monitor without using the scroll bar.

It's not like that in my case. They tend to form a single horizontal line. Or a long single line plus a single dial below. It looks asymmetrical and weird.
And also they are glued with no space between. And also the page now takes a second to load (first time I start Opera), while before was instant.

The only thing I managed to do - was to make them show the complete webpages - like before. All except Opera portal. That one is broken (zoomed in) and it doesn't wanna reload or refresh (the picture in that one is old) - the actual address : portal.opera.com looks nothing like the picture show in that dial..

Originally posted by Pesala:

The thumbnail aspect ratio is 16:10 so your images need to be 292 x 192 or 265 x 149 pixels or 320 x 180.

I tried those ratios and they didn't fit well for me, I still had those lines at various zoom levels or it was too big and didn't fit. Through trial and error I did figure out what works for me (and my 4x3 SD) at different zoom levels.

At 100% zoom: a 265 x 165 image fit perfectly
110%: 292 x 180
120%: 320 x 180

Maybe these values will work for someone else (maybe not) but it does seem that you'd have to use different ratios for it look right at different zoom levels. 110% is similar to what I had before so I'm going with that, I don't like how the dials were so big with automatic zoom (130%).

Originally posted by badpapa:

At 100% zoom: a 265 x 165 image fit perfectly

Theoretically, it should be 264 x 165 to fit perfectly. The exact size required seems to depend on the zoom factor required to fit the desired number of columns to your view port.

I did tried manual resizing also to save memory but got some glitch.
I hope next version will be more understandable and customizable about thumbnails.
Thanks to OP about the :blank page hint, I'm no more angry about the new speed dial.

Pesala, thanks for the ideas. I also had the + hidden and tried steps 2 and 3 here, plus "Set Thumbnail Icon Min Height] to 1000" from your entry in the other now closed thread, but don't see a difference in my 28 thumbnail spread in 5 columns. Setting to Auto takes it to 50% either way, and they look very similar, perhaps your way being a touch smaller. For me, the first big difference in the old Speed Dial was being able to specify the number of rows and columns in the .ini file. The layout then adjusted well to the scrren.

Originally posted by Pesala:

Use opera:blank for blank slots (instead of deleting them)

To set an empty title, you can put "11" in the <i>Name</i> field and then press Ctrl+Shift+X (it will set the title to a vertical tabulation).

I want to be able to see the picture 'underneath' the dial icons. To do this I want to be able to manually place the icons where I want them, not where someone else has decided to 'automatically' put them. Also the way icons can be off screen is annoying. I have not seen anything to solve either of these in the posts above - did I miss anything?

Originally posted by Pesala:

Originally posted by badpapa:

At 100% zoom: a 265 x 165 image fit perfectly

Theoretically, it should be 264 x 165 to fit perfectly. The exact size required seems to depend on the zoom factor required to fit the desired number of columns to your view port.

I used 512x320 size for custom Images. This size works perfectly for me (with any zoom. I use 72%)

Originally posted by petermat:

did I miss anything?

Make your own thumbnail images as some of us have done, but there are some options in opera:config you could experiment with. I doubt very much if that will work all logos, just for some.

You should add "Use opera: to get a transparent tile"

Its already there as the first item.

Originally posted by Pesala:

Use opera:blank for blank slots

No just opera: not opera:blank.

Originally posted by evilneko:

"Use opera: to get a transparent tile"

When I enter "opera:" as the address, I get the same as a title - it's not transparent. I'm sorry - of course "tiles", not "titles". I understood it after reading your answer in another thread. (Notice that default skin doesn't use transparency in Speed Dial.)

You can also remove the titles: http://my.opera.com/community/forums/findpost.pl?id=9166612 .

i have 6 column display. my monitor resolution is 1280x1024. What thumbnail dimension should be perfect for me?
I design my own graphics. and i am experiencing color stripes and cropping.

Originally posted by Pesala:

There are ways to solve most of these problems in the new speed dial system to revert to something more like the old speed dial. I have already done all of these.
[*]Edit the speed dial title to include the number.

I have tried to do this, but when I go to Edit, Name, and type in the number and name I desire, it does not display in the new Speed Dial.

I tried closing Opera and re-launching, but no help.

Any ideas?

Originally posted by hundredorzero:

What thumbnail dimension should be perfect for me?

Take a screen shot, and crop one thumbnail to get the dimensions.

Originally posted by bcupp:

Any ideas?

It works for me, so I don't have a clue why it should work for you.

Originally posted by Pesala:

I have added the command to my speed dial popup menus (and removed the customize appearance items). You could also add it to the [Speed Dial Thumbnail Popup Menu] section if you want to see it wherever you right-click in speed dial.

I have added a toggle for the Configure button and the Add New + to the Speed Dial popups"

[Speed Dial Popup Menu]
Item, M_SPEEDDIAL_GLOBAL_CONFIGURATION = Show speed dial global config
--------------------1
;Item, M_BROWSER_TOOLS_MENU_APPEARANCE = Customize toolbars, -1
Item, "Hide Speed Dial" = Hide speed dial contents
Item, "Hide Config and and Add New +"="Set preference, "User Prefs|Speed Dial State=2" | Set preference, "User Prefs|Speed Dial State=1""

[Speed Dial Popup Menu Plus]
Item, M_SPEEDDIAL_GLOBAL_CONFIGURATION = Show speed dial global config
Item, M_SPEEDDIAL_ADD_SPEEDDIAL = Configure thumbnail, 0
--------------------1
;Item, M_BROWSER_TOOLS_MENU_APPEARANCE = Customize toolbars, -1
Item, "Hide Speed Dial" = Hide speed dial contents
Item, "Show Config and Add New +"="Set preference, "User Prefs|Speed Dial State=1" | Set preference, "User Prefs|Speed Dial State=2""

If you would like to delete the text on the "Configure" button, you must edit the language file in the locale/{your language} folder. Search for -527154502 and delete Configure (or the equivalent of your prefered language). I did leave the two quote characters.

I was still unable to get transparent speed dial slots, although I have made transparent images. I tried copying a whole lot of sections from a skin that does support transparent thumbs but it still doesn't work for my skin. Transparency = 1 is set in Options and my thumbnail images are transparent with other skins.

Originally posted by Pesala:

I was still unable to get transparent speed dial slots, although I have made transparent images. I tried copying a whole lot of sections from a skin that does support transparent thumbs but it still doesn't work for my skin. Transparency = 1 is set in Options and my thumbnail images are transparent with other skins.

Check [Speed Dial Thumbnail Image Skin] in the skin.ini. If it has Clone = Thumbnail Image Skin, try commenting that line out. Comment out any color statement.

Originally posted by Pizzapops:

If it has Clone = Thumbnail Image Skin, try commenting that line out.

Thanks. That did it. I updated my Opera Glasses skin to use this method now.

I am still unable to stop my speed dials reloading if I open the panel or change the skin. Dials 4, 8, and 12 refresh, but dial 16 doesn't. All speed dials are using the page defaults so what's the difference with slot 16? Using reload never doesn't solve the problem either.

Originally posted by Pesala:

I am still unable to stop my speed dials reloading if I open the panel or change the skin. Dials 4, 8, and 12 refresh, but dial 16 doesn't. All speed dials are using the page defaults so what's the difference with slot 16? Using reload never doesn't solve the problem either.

What are you trying to accomplish? None refreshing or 4, 8, 12 and 16 refreshing? I have all of mine set for Refresh NEVER and do not have a problem. Are the problem dials Opera sites? Opera may be telling them to refresh, if they are using Page Default. Doesn't Page Default refer to the original web page not the overall Speeddial page.

I have changed skins and had all dials start reloading. If I close Opera and then restart it, none of the dials start reloading with the new skin. All of my thumbnails are logo style set to read-only.

Originally posted by Pizzapops:

What are you trying to accomplish?

I have all of my thumbnails set to read only. I am trying to stop the slots from reloading and being replaced with an auto-generated thumbnail of the site. Yes, those 3 are all Opera sites, but so is the Desktop Team Blog, and that does not refresh.

Originally posted by Pizzapops:

I have changed skins and had all dials start reloading.

Yes. Changing skins, opening the panels, changing the number of speed dial columns, or restoring/maximising the window will all cause the thumbs to reload. I checked speeddial.ini — all slots have the same reload policy = 0 and Reload Only If Expired=0.

I have been trying to squeeze more items on the 11.10 speeddial layout. Currently, I am using a 7x7 grid at 50% and it is possible to get 10x8 on my 1680x1050 monitor. I prefer going without the number, title and close button. This is a downsized clip from my screen:

Click HERE to see the full screen.
The light version can be seen HERE and the skin downloaded HERE. A darker version can be seen HERE and the skin downloaded HERE. Save skins to your profile/skin folder. The skins only affect speeddial with the standard skin. If you have a different skin that you prefer, you will have to modify that skin.

You may have to close your speeddial after selecting one of the skins and then open a new speeddial screen for it to display properly.

Originally posted by Pesala:

Yes. Changing skins, opening the panels, changing the number of speed dial columns, or restoring/maximising the window will all cause the thumbs to reload. I checked speeddial.ini — all slots have the same reload policy = 0 and Reload Only If Expired=0.

I looked at my speeddial.ini and my three opera sites (skins, forums and dev team) all have the following settings:
Reload Policy=3
Reload Interval=2147483646
Reload Only If Expired=1

You may also want to try the reload fix I posted earlier. It fixed several problems that I had.

Originally posted by Pesala:

Yes. Changing skins, opening the panels, changing the number of speed dial columns, or restoring/maximising the window will all cause the thumbs to reload. I checked speeddial.ini — all slots have the same reload policy = 0 and Reload Only If Expired=0.

Can't tell for skins since I use the default (slightly modified by me) one but opening the panels, changing the number of speed dial columns, or restoring/maximising the window do not cause the thumbs to reload.
My settings and thumbnails set to read only:
Reload Policy=0
Reload Interval=2147483646
Reload Only If Expired=0
I have just one Opera site among them (http://my.opera.com/community/forums/group.dml) but it doesn't reload either.
You might check if you have set the proper values for thumbnails in opera:config.

Is there a way that the thumbnails are not resized automatically??

all i want from speeddial is the abilty to use my own thumbnails which show up the way they are....no zooming ...no stretching

I am a designer so i like creating the graphics.....but everytime Opera gets updated the ....the thumbnails get distorted......i have to find new size of thumbnails and create the graphics from scratch

Originally posted by capri435:

Is there way that the thumbnails are not resized automatically

Set manual zoom?

Originally posted by Saskatchewan:

Originally posted by capri435:

Is there way that the thumbnails are not resized automatically

Set manual zoom?

nope they still get stretched....

Originally posted by capri435:

nope they still get stretched....

You will have to change the aspect ratio of your old thumbnails from 4:3 to 16:10.

Originally posted by Pesala:

Take a screen shot, and crop one thumbnail to get the dimensions.

i had already tried that, but it didn't solve the problem.

Originally posted by hundredorzero:

I had already tried that, but it didn't solve the problem.

Did you see the the fix for bad graphics earlier in this thread? Here Do you have zoom set to manual and zoom level set to 100%? Please post your screen shot (actual size) and one of the graphics that you want to use.

Originally posted by Pizzapops:

Did you see the the fix for bad graphics earlier in this thread? Here Do you have zoom set to manual and zoom level set to 100%? Please post your screen shot (actual size) and one of the graphics that you want to use.

i think i read all this thread very carefully. However when i take the snapshot to calculate the thumbnail size. Zoom was set to automatic. Let me try again with zoom manual 100%.

Originally posted by Pizzapops:

Originally posted by hundredorzero:

I had already tried that, but it didn't solve the problem.

Did you see the the fix for bad graphics earlier in this thread? Here Do you have zoom set to manual and zoom level set to 100%? Please post your screen shot (actual size) and one of the graphics that you want to use.

ok this is my thumbnail snapshot with zoom set to manual. and zoom level 100%. My screen resolution is 1280x1024. i calculated its size to be 256x185. ratio 256:185

Originally posted by hundredorzero:

ok this is my thumbnail snapshot with zoom set to manual. and zoom level 100%. My screen resolution is 1280x1024. i calculated its size to be 256x185. ratio 256:185

The graphics should be 16:10 ratio, thus your graphic should be 256:160. The area below the graphic where the title and close button are is not part of the graphic. Use a graphic with a background of a contrasting color (bright green) to see the true deminsions. PNG files of 24bbp seem to work best. My CNN logo is also 256 px wide but in not scrunched down like yours. I looks like you just need to switch dimensions.

note: the original CNN logo I used was an 800px wide JPG and it lost a little bit of quality in resizing. The first was resized with Irfan and the second with Paint Shop Pro X2. Software does make a difference!