Adjust spacing between objects on dock?

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 by Benjamin Cowgill | Discussion: Docks

Is there a way to tweak the configuration file of a dock background to provide more space between the objects on the dock?  I use thumbnails of running applications on one of my docks, and the thumbnails are so close to each other on the dock that its not attractive.  If I could add 20 pixels between each thumbnail, it would spread them out.  I assume there is some line I could change in the configuration file of one of my backgrounds to add space between the thumbnails, but I can't figure out what it is.  Thanks for any help.

Philly0381
Reply #1 Wednesday, December 8, 2010 2:45 PM

What version of ObjectDock, Tabbed or Zoomer Dock? 

Have you tried adding a separator between them?

Benjamin Cowgill
Reply #2 Wednesday, December 8, 2010 2:50 PM

I'm using Object Dock Plus 2.  I want to add space between thumbnails of running applications on a Zoomer Dock.  I know how to add separators between static objects on a zoomer dock, but I don't think it's possible to add spacers between thumbnails of running applications on a dock that includes running applications automatically as objects.  And besides, I wouldn't want to add as much space as a separator anyway.  i just want to spread out the thumbnails a little through a configuration setting on the zoomer dock that provides space between them.

frankell
Reply #3 Wednesday, December 8, 2010 4:16 PM

Yeh you are right, opening the .ini file you can tweak the background configuration but I suggest to try first different themes as every skinner use different settings and you can find the one fitting your needs

aw the space between the icons\objects depends on the icon size not every skinner set this parameter so if you open the .ini file and you don't find any referee to [Tile] you have to add the following lines:

[Tile]
Image = Docktile.png
ResizeIconByPercent = 95;
OffsetIconByPercentX = 50;
OffsetIconByPercentY = 50;

moreover you need (in the same .ini file folder) a transparent .png named Docktile.png, to have more space just decrease the size to 90\85\...

btw embedded in my last skin "WhiteCristmas Docks" you can find a transparent .png ready to be copied ans used 

reuploaded here https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/objectdock_backgrounds/289/

let me know !

WebGizmos
Reply #4 Wednesday, December 8, 2010 4:33 PM

Basically...the only ways to put actual spacing between images on the dock is either by using a separator or make a transparent image and use that. 

frankell
Reply #5 Thursday, December 9, 2010 2:54 PM

Hi Benjamin Cowgill did you managed it ?   

Benjamin Cowgill
Reply #6 Thursday, December 9, 2010 4:48 PM

Not really, frankell. It seems that the [Tile] settings you provided had the effect of reducing the size of the application icons, but not the thumbnails of the running applications. I want to reduce the size of the thumbnails (or, alternatively, create more space in between them with some other config setting).  I sometimes have 8 or 10 applications or document windows open at once, and I like the thumbnails on my taskbar dock, but the thumbnails practically touch other in a way that makes them look like a continuous horizontal panel of mixed images rather than individual thumbnails.  Any other ideas?  Anyone?

Philly0381
Reply #7 Thursday, December 9, 2010 5:28 PM

I would suggest emailing [email protected] , if there is a way to do what you want they should have the answer.

neophil78
Reply #8 Thursday, December 9, 2010 6:12 PM

if there is a way to do what you want they should have the answer.

... and maybe it could be add in OD+ as a new feature

Benjamin Cowgill
Reply #9 Friday, December 10, 2010 7:59 AM

BTW, folks -- since I've got your ear -- how can I backup my entire Object Dock setup, so that I can restore it in the event of a system crash that screws it up? I've created a number of customized docks around the perimeter of a dual-monitor desktop, and I don't want to re-invent the wheel if the objects, backgrounds, settings, etc. get lost in a crash.  I've been "archiving" Object Dock from time to time in Impulse, but I don't think that's really a backup of my customized docks.  I read somewhere that I should simply backup a particular folder of my OD system directory, which contains all of my settings, but I can't tell which folder that would be.  Thanks!

frankell
Reply #10 Friday, December 10, 2010 12:23 PM

OK I tried 3 different settings and here are the results :

at top my "WhiteChristmas Dock" with the official layout ResizeIconByPercent = 95; 

at middle the layout without the [Tiles] lines added (corresponding to = 100)

at bottom  ResizeIconByPercent = 75;

regarding the "Backup my Docks" check this previous post :  https://forums.wincustomize.com/400571

let me know !

Benjamin Cowgill
Reply #11 Friday, December 10, 2010 7:07 PM

Wow, you obviously DID separate the thumbnails!  I must have done something wrong when I tried your [Tiles] settings before.  I'll try again.  Thanks for being persistent!

PoSmedley
Reply #12 Friday, December 10, 2010 7:41 PM

Basically...the only ways to put actual spacing between images on the dock is either by using a separator or make a transparent image and use that.

And this method, sorry to say, sucks.

I hope SD is working on fixing that. I recently have been checking out Winstep and it was one of the options I noticed that it had, adjusting the space between icons. For folks that don't have an option or the knowledge to skin or use PS, perhaps one of the Dock artists could make a pack of invisible spacers/icons. The 'seperators' take up to much space.

frankell
Reply #13 Saturday, December 11, 2010 7:56 AM

 

perhaps one of the Dock artists could make a pack of invisible spacers/icons. The 'seperators' take up to much space.

 

as the invisible spacers/icons couldn't be resizable they will take the same space of every other normal icon or seperator .

aw good choice PoSmedley, Winstep Nexus is probably the best dock application but when we talk about customization and community Object Dock is certainly the winner !

frankell
Reply #14 Sunday, December 12, 2010 10:24 AM

Hey Benjamin if you are still in troubles, send me the entire folder and I'll send you back the modded theme:  [email protected]

just in case it will not work I'll give you another tip to fix the issue (it seems that OD 2.0 needs the previous 1.9 version to memorize some kind of settings )

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