Windows 10 and Menu bar

I have just updated to Windows 10. Everything appears to be fine with CorelDraw except that the menu bar  (File/Edit/View etc) has disappeared.

Everything is still there, but the text is the same colour as the background, so it only appears when the cursor is over it and it gets a blue background for the item.

This makes using the program very awkward.

Can anything be done?


  • One thing you can do to make it easier to see menu's
    is to Right click Menu and the select "Customize" .. then select "Menu Bar" ..Then select "Caption to Right of Image"

    This way a image is show where the invisible menu's are and shows menu words when you move mouse over.

    Here is how it will look, showing Corel Photo-PAINT X5  but is same for Corel Draw X5

     

    Funny thing in CorelDRAW X3 menu's show fine in windows 10.

    • Hi Steve_,
      Thanks for that. Not really a cure, but a step in the right direction.

      Bob
      • I just re-read the original issue and realise I had misread it the first time. Maybe you can try changing themes in Windows 10 which is done as follows:

        1. Open Control Panel (either right click the Start button and click on Control Panel, or click the mic icon in Cortana's search box and say "Open Control Panel"
        2. Click on Personalization
        3. Choose a different theme.

        Unlike older versions of Windows - in Windows 10 Themes update instantaneously without a delay and the screen going dark. Try different Themes and see if one works for you. I am using a Windows Default theme which gives a blue task bar.

        • The easiest thing is to use the "classic.theme" file.
          Download the ZIP file from here: http://kizo2703.deviantart.com/art/Windows-classic-theme-for-Windows-8-RTM-8-1-10-325642288
          Then unzip it to your "%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes" folder.
          Then select the theme under "Personalization" from the desktop or Control Panel.
          The horizontal menu in CorelDraw will now be visible and this theme with classic colors is better looking than the High Contrast themes (which also work but are ugly) that come with Windows 10.
          • The file "classic.theme" is a text file and can be edited with a simple text editor (just remember if you use Notepad not to let it name the extension ".txt"). Find the line" "Window=214 206 200" and change the values to be "255 255 255" if you want white backgrounds instead of gray (which this theme has by default.)

            • I did get your suggestion to work but I don't like using the classic scheme. I am wondering why this broken menu is not seen by other people, and also why Corel doesn't just fix the problem. I am not a full time user of the photopaint, using it only once in a while - I do use Draw more often and it doesn't have the problem - so I don't want to make a change to the general Windows settings.

              Mark, thanks for the work around. Now that I have the classic theme downloaded, and I know where to select it, I can turn it on when needed.
              • I've read that X7 (a later version) does support Windows 10, so yes Corel has fixed this problem. The theme file is text, so if may be possible to change other settings in other these (make back-up copies first) and get the menu back but otherwise keep the theme elements you like.
                • Development of X5 and X6 was dropped long before Windows 10 was released.
                  I don't think we should expect Corel to spend resources and create updates for old versions just because Microsoft decides to change the OS, especially since there are workarounds.

                  FWIW, I have personally kept X6 on two machines with Windows 10, and both of them show a black menu bar with white text.
                  • I don't like using the work-a-round either it makes other Windows 10 use pretty crappy looking.

                    As for development of X5 and X6 was dropped long before Windows 10 was released, for those of us less informed mortals, how were we meant to be aware of that? All other software I have installed on my PC works just as it did before I upgraded to Windows 10.

                    I'm sure it would be very easy for Corel to make the necessary update patch for X6 to work with Windows 10 but in my opinion, they just want to force us into paying for a later version - what a way to treat existing customers!

                    In my case, Coreldraw Graphics Suite X6 was supplied as part of an embroidery pattern design package called Wilcom Embroidery Studio ES3. This package cost in excess of £3000 and is an essential tool in our business. Corel X6 is closely integrated into Wilcom Embroidery Studio ES3 - upgrading to a later version of Corel will not work! I could of course pay another £699 to upgrade to Wilcom Embroidery Studio ES4!!! I feel I'm being mugged/robbed.

                    Just my thoughts.
                • I am not sure how Windows 10 handles the various display options. That said, you may want to research Display Properties in Windows 10. If you do find such an option, look for the Appearance tab and then Advanced. In drop down look for Menu and set the color to a contrasting color. The menu bar appearance features , as far as I know have always been system wide in all window OS.

                  • Hi Jack,
                    Thanks for your help. Windows 10 hasn't got an appropriate display option that I can find. The system appears to be nailed down to prevent too much tampering.
                    I'll keep looking.

                    Regards, Bob
                    • Hi Jack!!

                      How are you? I hope you're well. Can you show a screenshot of the screen you are referring to, please? I haven't come across any settings unavailable to Windows 10 that were not in previous versions of Windows. I am just not quite sure which settings you are referring to.

                      All the best,
                      Brian.
                      • A quick work-around for me was to run photo-paint X4 in compatibility mode for WinXP SP3. I haven't tested it fully, but at least it produced old style menus that could be read. Win7 and WinV compatibility modes didn't work either. Good luck.,

                        • That's good to hear, I am glad your menus are visible again. :-)
                      • Hi to all,

                        here is my workaround to this problem:

                        Copy the theme You use 3 times to Your Desktop.
                        It is probably located in located in /Windows/resources/themes/

                        rename the first copy to "Normal theme".
                        whenever You doubleclick this file You will switch back to Your normal theme.

                        rename the 2. file to "Corel 1 Theme"

                        open this file with notepad

                        modyfy the section [VisualStyles] to

                        [VisualStyles]
                        Path=%SystemRoot%\resources\Themes\aero\aero.msstyles
                        ColorStyle=NormalColor
                        Size=NormalSize
                        HighContrast=5
                        AutoColorization=1


                        save changes

                        rename the 3. file to "Corel 2 Theme"

                        open this file with notepad

                        modyfy the section [VisualStyles] to

                        [VisualStyles]
                        Path=%SystemRoot%\resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles
                        ColorStyle=NormalColor
                        Size=NormalSize
                        HighContrast=5
                        AutoColorization=1


                        save changes

                        So now if You want to use Corel x5 just doubleclick "Corel 1 Theme" first.
                        Now You will be already able to see the menu in Corel but not the clock on the taskmenu in windows.

                        This will be solved by doubleclick " Corel 2 Theme".

                        I have no idea why i have to change the themes to times but at least it works. After this I work in Corel.

                        After leaving corel just doubleclick "Normal theme".



                        Overall this is 5 seconds more, the best I can do....

                        Hope this will help You

                        Carsten
                        • The best solution for this is to create a new Command bar!

                          Follow these steps

                          1. Open a Blank File

                          2. Go to Tools>Customization

                          Then find Command Bars (it should be on under Customization)

                          3. Create a New Command Bar by Clicking New..name it anything 

                          This bar will appear on your CD window

                          4. Go to Commands (Below Customization)

                          5. Look for File and drag it into the new command bar..do the same for Edit and so on...(works for all except Bitmaps) 

                          6. Drag this new Command bar to where Menu bar was disable menu bar visibility...

                          7. Save workspace for future use..

                          This is not a permanent fix...but works...

                          Attached is a pic of my new menu bar...

                          hope this works for you...

                          • You can drag the bitmap menu from the original menu to the custom menu. Just hold Alt and drag it to your desired position
                          • I Like this fix ! Actually gives me more room, which is always a good thing especially for my laptop Thanks
                            • Brilliant and so simple. Lets hope I never have to reinstall X4 or I am scuppered.
                              • I believe Corel is running an upgrade special. Y'all should consider it.
                                • Yes they are, but I have no need to upgrade at present AND this is what annoys me more - you can get the full commercial version cheaper on auction sites than Corel sell the upgrade for. I expect better as a user.
                                  • With eBay and other places like it, you run the risk of it not being able to be licensed.

                                    If running an older version of software on a newer OS is problematic, don't upgrade the OS. It's pretty simple. Or, move on to another software package that does work. I think it was you who mentioned InkScape in another thread. Use it when CD X4 or whatever no longer works on Windows--it will happen one day if you keep upgrading the OS.

                                    I have one desktop computer I still have XP Pro on for a single software title I occasionally do work for a client on. The client is not interested in moving the publications to a newer software package and I like his money. So I keep that computer running just for those jobs (a series of manuals). This client is the only client I have that has not moved on at this point.

                                    As for "expecting better" from Corel as regards upgrade pricing? They are a business not some fly-by-night selling what may be rip-off software or un-licensable software on auction sites (I've seen that happen many, many times through the years). They need to make their doggie beans else go out of business.

                                    Good luck to ya.

                                    Mike
                                    • A business or not £220 for an up grade is outrageous - thats half the retail price for a new user. I have been a user since V4 and upgraded down the line, now I question the whole "upgrade" model, Microsoft has just learned that lesson.

                                      The upgrades on the auction sites I have seen are from Corel resellers and offer upgrades from £150 which is still way too much BUT it is cheaper than Corel offers on its website. So if a reseller can offer it cheaper I expect the owner to be able to offer it even cheaper. I do expect every version to work on the new os, in fact i am lucky that my os upgrade had CDX4 already on! If I ever have to re-install then I will have to upgrade I just hope thats not soon. I would rather see Corel recognise there is a problem for users below X6 and offer some sort of incentive to upgrade - better positive comments than all the negative comments when users upgrade to Windows 10 and filnd they cant use it. As Windows 10 is free most will upgrade and then find the issues.

                                      And yes I did mentioned Inkscape, this was to a student who could not afford to upgrade and was asking for advice and help. I suggested he looks at Inkscape as it might fit his requirements. I use Inkscape alongside Corel Draw X4 and this is because CDX4 will not always open files I get sent, error "file is compressed" However Inkscape always seams to open them.
                                      • If those are legitimate upgrades, great. Most manufacturers that also sell direct do not match or undercut their retailers. I see nothing wrong with that.
                                      • To Adishpatil: Wow! Thanks for this clever method to create a new visible menu bar. I did find that when I got a bar established with one item, I could just drag or copy the remaining items from the old menu bar (these items being visible when you put the cursor over them) down to the new command bar. This saves some time and effort. Saved the thing as a new workspace and indicated it as the default. Now when I open CDX5 it works just like it did before under W7. Doing the same for Photopaint and Designer. I do wonder why Corel has not, evidently, published a patch for this problem of disappearing menu bar under W10

                                        • Why are Corel so quiet on this subject?
                                          • I think they do not like all their old clients. & want more $ for new products. but it is not wery normal. Normal - it's when they can help for most X4 X5 X6 users by smaaal patch

                                            • OLDEST soft on Win 10. but it has mo problems with menu.

                                              Dear Corel Produicers. may be you give to as Normal Answers besides changing windows.

                                              Screenshot - programs 25 years old. but their menu works perfectly.

                                              I need to know how i can using Restorator/Reshacker Can change color of menu & text of menu coreldraws X4 X5 X6!!!

                                            • I am trying to follow the instructions for making a new Command bar. I drag a File or Edit or View or any other ones that I have selected from Customization > Command Bars to the new command bar but I only see a small non specific box in the command bar, not the text of "File" like the screen capture you showed.  

                                            • Hi Trophies,
                                              Back in previous versions -- like CDGS X6 and Windows 7 -- most of the sizes, colors, and fonts of dialogs were set in the operating system's Window and Appearance dialog rather than in CDGS. Tony Severenuk has posted that this was changed with version X7.
                                              I don't use X7 (no cpt thumbnails in Windows Explorer) so it could very well be that they have not completed the transfer to settings in CDGS.
                                              Try to experiment with both the settings dialogs in CDGS and in the operating system.
                                              It could very well be that some settings were forgotten and can no longer be changed from either location.
                                              Also, there used to be a dialog in the operating system which allowed one to set compatibility to earlier versions of Windows. Do a Search in Control Panel or in HELP to see if it still exists in Win 10.
                                              Phil