Ashamed to ask, but ...
ALigning Icons in docks
Friday, October 12, 2007 by sophiesboy | Discussion: Docks
I saw this tonight and I finally decided I had to ask the question.
In this very nice screenshot by Chasbo:
https://www.wincustomize.com/zoom.aspx?skinid=21338&libid=13
the icons in the dock at the top of the screen are spaced evenly through the dock, rather than being bunched all on one side.
How does one achieve this effect? I feel as though I have looked at every option possible in OD+, but have never managed to achieve that effect.
What am I missing?
In this very nice screenshot by Chasbo:
https://www.wincustomize.com/zoom.aspx?skinid=21338&libid=13
the icons in the dock at the top of the screen are spaced evenly through the dock, rather than being bunched all on one side.
How does one achieve this effect? I feel as though I have looked at every option possible in OD+, but have never managed to achieve that effect.
What am I missing?
boss0190
Reply #2 Friday, October 12, 2007 9:12 PM
Reply #2 Friday, October 12, 2007 9:12 PM
Yeah, looks like a blank .png in between each one. 
Excalpius
Reply #3 Friday, October 12, 2007 9:45 PM
Reply #3 Friday, October 12, 2007 9:45 PM
Yes, I do the same thing by replacing the separator.png file in any background I use in ObjectDock with a transparent one from another background.
As a feature request, it would make sense to offer a separate opacity slider in addition to the current background opacity slider in the ObjectDock/Appearance panel. I expect we're not the only people thinking of this design wise.
As a feature request, it would make sense to offer a separate opacity slider in addition to the current background opacity slider in the ObjectDock/Appearance panel. I expect we're not the only people thinking of this design wise.
MySecret
Reply #4 Saturday, October 13, 2007 7:38 AM
Reply #4 Saturday, October 13, 2007 7:38 AM
Just wanted to add a note here. I save all of my backgrounds to C:\Documents and Settings\YourNameHere\My Documents\ObjectDock Library\Backgrounds. As a result any separator that I add to any dock are always transparent. To use the separators included with a dock the backgrounds need to be stored in
C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Backgrounds.
To add a separator simply Rightclick on a blank area on your dock, choose ..Add..then select New Separator. By default it appears to the right of the last icon, just use your mouse to move it where you want it.
It's My Secret
C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Backgrounds.
To add a separator simply Rightclick on a blank area on your dock, choose ..Add..then select New Separator. By default it appears to the right of the last icon, just use your mouse to move it where you want it.
It's My Secret
Island Dog
Reply #5 Saturday, October 13, 2007 7:55 AM
Reply #5 Saturday, October 13, 2007 7:55 AM
Also, don't be ashamed to ask anything. The community is here to help.
Lantec
Reply #6 Saturday, October 13, 2007 8:25 AM
I never noticed that.......thanks MySecret
Reply #6 Saturday, October 13, 2007 8:25 AM
Just wanted to add a note here. I save all of my backgrounds to C:\Documents and Settings\YourNameHere\My Documents\ObjectDock Library\Backgrounds. As a result any separator that I add to any dock are always transparent. To use the separators included with a dock the backgrounds need to be stored in
C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Backgrounds.
C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Backgrounds.
I never noticed that.......thanks MySecret
messiah1
Reply #7 Saturday, October 13, 2007 8:57 AM
Reply #7 Saturday, October 13, 2007 8:57 AM
To get that big of a space between, I'd say he's using a blank png icon with no action on click...is what I'd say.
Bichur
Reply #8 Saturday, October 13, 2007 3:05 PM
me thinks so too... or possibly... take a large blank png and center the png for the shortcut within it so you get lots of extra space around the shortcut (blank png for spacer is quicker though)
Reply #8 Saturday, October 13, 2007 3:05 PM
To get that big of a space between, I'd say he's using a blank png icon with no action on click...is what I'd say.
me thinks so too... or possibly... take a large blank png and center the png for the shortcut within it so you get lots of extra space around the shortcut (blank png for spacer is quicker though)
Chasbo
Reply #9 Saturday, October 13, 2007 3:15 PM
Reply #9 Saturday, October 13, 2007 3:15 PM
All ya do is right click on the area where you want to add the separator and do the menu that comes up for add entry. Click on New Separator and like magic it appears. All ya do then is drag the icons to where ya want them. That's how it was done.
eieio
Reply #10 Saturday, October 13, 2007 3:39 PM
Nothing to it
... and it makes for nice spacing.
Reply #10 Saturday, October 13, 2007 3:39 PM
All ya do is right click on the area where you want to add the separator and do the menu that comes up for add entry. Click on New Separator and like magic it appears. All ya do then is drag the icons to where ya want them. That's how it was done.
Nothing to it
... and it makes for nice spacing.
sophiesboy
Reply #11 Saturday, October 13, 2007 8:19 PM
Reply #11 Saturday, October 13, 2007 8:19 PM
Thanks for all the various ingenious solutions.
I have to say that I do find it strange that a program devoted to providing the ability to place icons and shortcuts into a dock format doesn't address the presentation of those icons.
Obviously, given the nature of these boards, the creation of decorous docks is the priority for the community, but I would have thought (given that I have no programming or skinning ability) that the Stardock programmers could include a little sub-routine in the OD+ program that looks at how big the dock is, counts the number of icons in it, and spaces them equally through the dock. To my mind, it would seem to be a small tweak to the program, which I hope gets addressed in the next edition.
But what do I know? Maybe that little bit of code is the proverbial straw that would break the camel's back, rendering OD non-functional for all time.
I have to say that I do find it strange that a program devoted to providing the ability to place icons and shortcuts into a dock format doesn't address the presentation of those icons.
Obviously, given the nature of these boards, the creation of decorous docks is the priority for the community, but I would have thought (given that I have no programming or skinning ability) that the Stardock programmers could include a little sub-routine in the OD+ program that looks at how big the dock is, counts the number of icons in it, and spaces them equally through the dock. To my mind, it would seem to be a small tweak to the program, which I hope gets addressed in the next edition.
But what do I know? Maybe that little bit of code is the proverbial straw that would break the camel's back, rendering OD non-functional for all time.
Bichur
Reply #12 Saturday, October 13, 2007 9:15 PM
Reply #12 Saturday, October 13, 2007 9:15 PM
don't know about the plus version, but the free version always seems to be evenly spaced.
Excalpius
Reply #13 Sunday, October 14, 2007 1:45 AM
Reply #13 Sunday, October 14, 2007 1:45 AM
Another option to cover the exact style of effect in the sample screenshot might be to add what would be called a "kerning" option in publishing, to adjust the default space between ALL icons on a given dock. Some control over tighter as well as spacier options might open up some very nice ideas indeed.
Cavan1
Reply #14 Sunday, October 14, 2007 2:11 AM
Hey Sir B., on zoomers yes always even, but since tabbed docks are sizable, icons start at left and only use space needed for them if dock is sized bigger than number of icons need. My tabbed dock is sized for 15 icons, on one tab I have only 3 shortcuts, so 3 icons on left, rest of dock empty.
Reply #14 Sunday, October 14, 2007 2:11 AM
but the free version always seems to be evenly spaced.
Hey Sir B., on zoomers yes always even, but since tabbed docks are sizable, icons start at left and only use space needed for them if dock is sized bigger than number of icons need. My tabbed dock is sized for 15 icons, on one tab I have only 3 shortcuts, so 3 icons on left, rest of dock empty.
mrs_starkers
Reply #16 Monday, October 22, 2007 2:12 AM
well,well,well, that is a handy thing to know thanks MySecret
Reply #16 Monday, October 22, 2007 2:12 AM
I save all of my backgrounds to C:\Documents and Settings\YourNameHere\My Documents\ObjectDock Library\Backgrounds. As a result any separator that I add to any dock are always transparent. To use the separators included with a dock the backgrounds need to be stored in
C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Backgrounds.
C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Backgrounds.
well,well,well, that is a handy thing to know thanks MySecret
Chasbo
Reply #17 Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:05 PM
Reply #17 Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:05 PM
It's like anything else. Once you are familiar with what you are doing within the task then it isn't a big deal. How I and any number of people who use these wonderful programs get the desired results is by playing with the programs. I get a wee bit tired of people expecting everything to be easy. I think a person learns more and in the long run, has more fun when it isn't so easy.
This comment is meant mainly for sophiesboy mostly reply #11.
This comment is meant mainly for sophiesboy mostly reply #11.
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
Reply #1 Friday, October 12, 2007 8:52 PM