Known Limitations
While every effort has been made to make Desktop Pizazz as functional and compatible as possible, there are certain issues of which you should be aware.
- Desktop Pizazz and the Active Desktop. Microsoft introduced the "Active Desktop" as a component of Windows 95 and Internet Explorer 4.0. This feature has also been incorporated into Windows 98. The "Active Desktop" is a feature which you can enable, allowing you to view content in windows that are a part of your background display. The content is supplied by companies and services over the internet. Desktop Pizazz does work with "Active Desktop" enabled, however it does not properly handle switching in and out of "Active Desktop". If you wish to use "Active Desktop" at the same time, it is suggested you do not turn it on or off while Desktop Pizazz is running.
- Desktop Pizazz and the taskbar. The Windows task bar has a feature called "Auto Hide", which will hide the task bar when not in use. While Desktop Pizazz works with this feature enabled, it does not currently recognize when this feature is turned on. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not turn on "Auto Hide" while Desktop Pizazz is running. However, turning it off works fine.
- Desktop Pizazz and other desktop shells. Windows is configured by default to use the "Explorer" interface, or shell, to manage the locations of windows and desktop icons. However, additional shells are available from third-party vendors to perform similar functionality. Desktop Pizazz has not been tested under any other shells, and is neither guaranteed nor likely to operate under anything other than "Explorer".
- Color issues with 8-bit graphics. If your desktop only supports 256 colors, many of those colors will be used by the images displayed by a module. If you run a color-intensive program such as a game or a paint program, the colors will be reallocated to that program so that its appearance will be acceptable. In this case, Desktop Pizazz will not be able to use its own colors, and must therefore redraw its own image using whatever current colors are available, as dictated by your active program. This can sometimes produce a poor quality background image on your desktop. Once you close your active program, the original background colors will once again be available, and your desktop image should appear correct again. This behavior is identical to what happens when you have colorful wallpaper on your desktop. If this is problematic for you, it is suggested you switch to a 16-bit or 24-bit display.