To adjust these properties: Right mouse click on Desktop Sidebar and choose Options from the menu. This will open a properties box with ability to configure Desktop Sidebar's overall configuration.

General Tab

General

• Language settings can be selected and applied based on your preference.
• You can choose to have Desktop Sidebar automatically load when you start your computer.

Details Window

• You can select whether you have a details window to appear when holding your mouse over a panel.
• You can adjust the speed of how soon to show and hide the details windows

Alert Window

• Alerts are a small information windows that display information as an event occurs. This option is panel specific.
• You can adjust the length of time that the alert is displayed, how to graphically display the alert, and the speed of the animation.
• The Preview button allows you to preview the settings you have made for your Alert Window.

Appearance Tab

Appearance

• You can select your choice of skin.
• You can set the amount of transparency for entire sidebar.
• You can show the Sidebar Caption at the top of your Desktop Sidebar.
• You can show each panel's icon next to the title of each panel.

Positions

• You can choose which display to have Desktop Sidebar to display onto, especially handy for those who have multiple monitors.
• You can choose whether to dock it on the right or left of the screen or even to have it free float.
• You can choose the layout order when other windows are open. Some prefer to have Desktop Sidebar always on top, while others have it permanently residing on their Windows desktop.

Auto-Hide

• There is a checkbox that will enable/disable the feature of auto-hiding the entire application, similar to how Windows can auto-hide the Start Taskbar.
• You have the ability to customize the duration of how long Desktop Sidebar will remain in view if auto-hide is enabled.
• You have the ability to choose the animation type and speed of how Desktop appears to hide.
• You can control the pixel width of Desktop Sidebar. This will allow you to see a small trace of panels, enough to where you can hold your mouse pointer on it so it will unhide.
• You can enabled/disabled the taskbar icon for Desktop Sidebar here as well.

Internet Tab

Automatic Updates

• You could choose how often/frequency to check for updates.
• You can enable/disable Desktop Sidebar to automatic download and install updates.

Proxy Settings

• For those who are behind a proxy internet server. Check with your network adminstrator.

About

• You could request Desktop Sidebar to check for any updates
• You can view which plugin for panels you have installed. You can also see who developed it as well
• You can check you DS startup log. This is great information when troubleshooting or when the forum assistants need more information.