[motti]

I was just thinking that I probably could vastly increase my productivity if I had the most important icons in the dock and the others which are seldom used somewhere else. I currently have 57 icons down there.. is there a piece of software who can monitor how many times I click on the icons in a month?

--motti

[Big Mac]

An interesting idea, motti. Offhand I don't know of any application that would do that. But I would like to see some dock customizability in Tiger. A standard dock for most, but special options for some. Perhaps multiple docks handling different facets of application management. The dock is a vital tool that cannot be enhanced or replaced by anyone other than Apple, so it would be nice to see some enhancements for power users.

[Dr. Smoke]

Hi, motti.

Originally posted by motti:
I currently have 57 icons down there..

Wow, that's busy. I take a different approach to the Dock.

I only keep my "hot" applications in the Dock, i.e. those I use daily, several of which are also launched as Startup Items. I created a folder of aliases to less-frequently used applications which I keep in the Dock. This folder of aliases also includes an alias to the Applications folder itself in the rare instance where I need to drill-down to a rarely-used application.

I also have what I call -- and recommend in my book -- a First Aid folder. This is another folder of aliases to applications for quick analysis, debugging, repair, etc. Examples of aliases in this folder include Activity Monitor, Cocktail, Console, Disk Utility, Disk Warrior, etc.

[[APi]TheMan]

Install and launch Quicksilver, hit command-space, type the first few letters of the application you want to launch, hit enter. I basically stopped using the dock when I discovered Quicksilver (I switch applications with command-tab).

Quicksilver is beautiful and free. The community rocks too.

[bmedina]

Yes, an alternative launcher (Quicksilver or Launchbar) makes life so much easier. I only have about ten icons in the dock, but all the rest of my apps are available with just a few keystrokes.

[poocat]

man, it's all about launchbar (or quicksilver, or butler, whatever).

Icons become something you do for fun.

poocat.

[spiky_dog]

i am one of the launchbar crowd. the only things permanently in my dock are permanently open (mail, safari, ichat, ical, stickies).

[nforcer]

I use Launchbar for my application launching purposes. The only applications that stay in my Dock are those that I use on a daily or almost daily basis, and are hence, open frequently. 18 apps, including the Finder.

[[APi]TheMan]

Yep, ever since I discovered Quicksilver I've set my dock to hide and I don't even have any applications in there anymore. I switch apps with command-tab so I really don't even need the dock...

I've basically circumvented the Finder when entirely. The only downfall is that, on rare occasion when I see a beachball, I basically can't handle it.

[motti]

Originally posted by [APi]TheMan:
Install and launch Quicksilver, hit command-space, type the first few letters of the application you want to launch, hit enter. I basically stopped using the dock when I discovered Quicksilver (I switch applications with command-tab).

Quicksilver is beautiful and free. The community rocks too.

That won't work for me because the name of the application differs from the name that is shown in the finder (I have the german localization).

I have a folder in the dock with the utilities but this is a rather static thing, i.e. once I install the new VLC release, the alias is dead.

[Madrag]

I don't put any icons into the doc, I took everything out (except for the finder, of course)
I use fruitMenu and so I can see more easylly which apps are open just by looking the doc (vs the arrow nest to the icon which I think it's not sufficient)

[motti]

Originally posted by Madrag:
I don't put any icons into the doc, I took everything out (except for the finder, of course)
I use fruitMenu and so I can see more easylly which apps are open just by looking the doc (vs the arrow nest to the icon which I think it's not sufficient)

That is why I have a black background underneath the transparent dock and white arrows.
I'll have a look at fruitmenu this evening

[Mithras]

Originally posted by motti:
That won't work for me because the name of the application differs from the name that is shown in the finder (I have the german localization).

I have a folder in the dock with the utilities but this is a rather static thing, i.e. once I install the new VLC release, the alias is dead.

This is what I do:
* Keep just a few top applications in the Dock itself.
* Install my 3rd party applications in organized subfolders under /Applications:


* put this "3rdPartyApps" folder in the Dock:


So I'm never too far away from any app, while avoiding needless Dock clutter, and keeping things organized.

[fisherKing]

i use this: openmenu

gives me custom contextual menus wherever i control-click (or just hold the mouse down);
i keep my "secondary" apps & most-used folders there.

check it out, really nice!

[Arkham_c]

I use Quicksilver also. I keep 17 icons in my dock on my G6 (1600x1200, so not crowded), and 9 icons in my dock on my iBook.

command-space -- SQL -- enter -- and SQLGinder is launched
command-space -- addr -- enter -- and Address Book is launched

[MrForgetable]

14 icons including quicksilver, 2 of the 14 are folders (one for MSFT office and the other for the Adobe creative suite).

Quicksilver=The sex.

[[APi]TheMan]

Originally posted by motti:
That won't work for me because the name of the application differs from the name that is shown in the finder (I have the german localization).

Whatcha mean? "VLC" is the same in German as it is in English, no?

[mitchell_pgh]

I keep only my hot apps in the doc. I would also love to see an app that shows which applications I use the most so that I can either keep them in the doc or remove it.

[poocat]

i'm kind of amazed by all this. you don't know what app you use most? i mean, aren't you using it?

[MrForgetable]

Originally posted by poocat:
i'm kind of amazed by all this. you don't know what app you use most? i mean, aren't you using it?

internet explorer??

[Randman]

F10 is also a very good application for this. Easy to use, not intrusive and very easy to customize.

[motti]

Originally posted by [APi]TheMan:
Whatcha mean? "VLC" is the same in German as it is in English, no?

You're right, VLC is VLC, but Calculator is "Rechner" or Preview is "Vorschau". You see?

[xMetal]

Originally posted by motti:
You're right, VLC is VLC, but Calculator is "Rechner" or Preview is "Vorschau". You see?

I'm pretty sure Quicksilver just goes off the name of the actual file, so whatever YOU call it is what you'll work with. If it's "rechner.app" than you'd command-space-rec or whatever.

[MountainMac]

Originally posted by Mithras:
This is what I do:

* put this "3rdPartyApps" folder in the Dock:

This was great the first time...when it was called "Windows 95."

[CatOne]

Originally posted by MountainMac:
This was great the first time...when it was called "Windows 95."

LOL