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codywalton · Oct 31, 2003, 11:48 AM

I had an idea I though I'd share with you all. I love the coolness of the dock, but I love the functionality of FruitMenu. So I thought, wouldn't it be great to be able to combine the two.

Here's my idea. One would be able to specify a space (or spaces) in the dock that would launch a "sub-dock". You could have as many of these "sub-docks" as you like.

Basically you'd click an icon in the dock and a vertical sub-dock would spring out (preferably nicely animated). It wouldn't be the ugly text box that comes out if you put a folder in the dock and right-click it. It would be nice big (size adjustable) icons. Basically it would works just like the main dock, only vertical.

This would be great for folks like me that like to categorize my apps into sections (ie, music, graphics, internet, games, etc)

I allready submitted this idea to unsantiy a while ago. I never got a response, so I assume they're not working on it. If any programmers out there want to take a stab at it, be my guest.

Peter · Oct 31, 2003, 11:59 AM

thats a cool idea

rjenkinson · Oct 31, 2003, 12:01 PM

just use a folder.

-r.

codywalton · Oct 31, 2003, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by rjenkinson:
just use a folder.

You're missing the point. Folders are ugly and non-intuitive since you have to right or control click them. I know I COULD use folders, but I don't like to. I'm looking for a better solution.

andretan · Oct 31, 2003, 12:31 PM

Sounds like LaunchBar, except that his idea is using the Dock itself.

Fellow2000 · Oct 31, 2003, 01:06 PM

There is already an app out for this. I believe that it is called Dock Extender or something like that. I used it for awhile but I am not sure that it is compatible with panther.

deuxvingtsix · Oct 31, 2003, 01:13 PM

I give you an idea...

Use DragThing, with a series of vertical pallets,
aligned on the bottom of the screen,
with the automatic option opening by drawer...

A kind of Matrix to back...

I will post visual tomorrow of my desktop�

codywalton · Oct 31, 2003, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by Fellow2000:
There is already an app out for this. I believe that it is called Dock Extender or something like that. I used it for awhile but I am not sure that it is compatible with panther.

Not really, dock Extender still uses the ugly pop-up text pallettes. I want something that is going to look GOOD.

swiz · Oct 31, 2003, 01:25 PM

To extend this idea how about, if you put say a Photoshop icon in the dock and you mouse over it or click it the vertical sub dock will be a list of the recent docs used in Photoshop. Preferences could be set to whether you want it to be shown on mouseover or click and how many items you want to show.

bbxstudio · Oct 31, 2003, 01:50 PM

I dig this idea

TheIceMan · Oct 31, 2003, 01:58 PM

codywalton: I like it!

chezpaul · Oct 31, 2003, 02:13 PM

The man states his idea with icons (a cool idea) and there are at least three people telling him it's already done in text... God damn.. !!!

FB Eye · Oct 31, 2003, 03:43 PM

I suggest you take a look at FLauncher... Not exactly what you're looking for, but you do get all your icons to pop out, all grouped in categories you specify (browser, desktop publishing, music, etc.) What I like about it is that it can be anywhere you please on the desktop, not in the dock.

FLauncher

Here's the direct download link, because it's not easy to find when you don't read japanese

FLauncher download

I don't know why this app didn't caught on because it's incredibly useful and simple to use...

Ooh, the website is Japanese, but download it and play with it for a while, you'll understand easily how it works.

codywalton · Oct 31, 2003, 06:22 PM

Originally posted by FB Eye:
[B]I suggest you take a look at FLauncher... Not exactly what you're looking for, but you do get all your icons to pop out, all grouped in categories you specify (browser, desktop publishing, music, etc.) What I like about it is that it can be anywhere you please on the desktop, not in the dock.

That's interesting, but not quite what I'm looking for. See I specifically want mine in the dock. My idea is more of a "dock enhancer" rather than a seperate launcher alltogether.

I like Swiz's idea of having the option of app icons show a sub-dock of recently opened documents.

darkcore · Nov 1, 2003, 04:24 AM

hmmm, deja vu. wasn't there a thread on a similar idea several months back? I recall there was someone working on a program like this, but I don't think it ever was released.

hyteckit · Nov 1, 2003, 05:55 AM

Darkcore,

Yup, same idea few months back.

Dock sucks.

Use Dragthing.

keston · Nov 1, 2003, 10:07 AM

Like they said, this "app" already exists... Dragthing.

codywalton · Nov 1, 2003, 11:18 AM

I. don't. like. dragthing.

People have been telling me to use it for years, since OS 8.5. I've tried it severall times (at least once while using Jaguar) and I never liked it. It was too clumsy for me.

Like I said before, I love my dock. I'm not going to stop using the dock. I just wish I could add a bit more functionality to it.

If it all comes down to it, I'll just go back to using FruitMenu again when the Panther version comes out.

NetworkShadow · Nov 1, 2003, 01:28 PM

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14907
Yadal (Yet another Dock application launcher) does the very same thing but as a standard menu.

Dale Sorel · Nov 1, 2003, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by codywalton:
You're missing the point. Folders are ugly and non-intuitive...

Change the icon

codywalton · Nov 1, 2003, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by Dale Sorel:
Change the icon

The icon is the not the problem. The text pallette that shows when you right-click a folder in the dock is the problem!!! That's what's ugly and bother me so much.

codywalton · Nov 1, 2003, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by NetworkShadow:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14907
Yadal (Yet another Dock application launcher) does the very same thing but as a standard menu.

Again, uses a text-menu... ugly. The opposite of my idea.

swiz · Nov 2, 2003, 01:46 AM

Originally posted by codywalton:
I. don't. like. dragthing.

People have been telling me to use it for years, since OS 8.5. I've tried it severall times (at least once while using Jaguar) and I never liked it. It was too clumsy for me.

Like I said before, I love my dock. I'm not going to stop using the dock. I just wish I could add a bit more functionality to it.

If it all comes down to it, I'll just go back to using FruitMenu again when the Panther version comes out.

I agree, I am a registered owner of Dragthing and I have always gone back to the dock after a few weeks. The dock= Simple, effective, attractive; it just needs a little bit more customizability with regard to options.

codywalton · Nov 2, 2003, 09:03 AM

Originally posted by swiz:
I agree, I am a registered owner of Dragthing and I have always gone back to the dock after a few weeks. The dock= Simple, effective, attractive; it just needs a little bit more customizability with regard to options.

Thanks, it's nice to hear I'm not the only one around here like that.

Not that I don't think DragThing is a well made program. It's just that there is no way it could compete with the simplicity of the Dock or the customability and fucntionality of the Apple Menu.

keston · Nov 2, 2003, 10:44 AM

I'm currently using FruitMenu 3.1.1 with APE 1.4 and its working fine btw.

Originally posted by codywalton:
[B]If it all comes down to it, I'll just go back to using FruitMenu again when the Panther version comes out.

NetworkShadow · Nov 2, 2003, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by keston:
I'm currently using FruitMenu 3.1.1 with APE 1.4 and its working fine btw.

Same here.

codywalton · Nov 2, 2003, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by keston:
I'm currently using FruitMenu 3.1.1 with APE 1.4 and its working fine btw.

Cool. thanks for the tip. The unsanity Panther page says it's not compatable yet, so I didn't even try it.

I still think the subdock enhancer would be a cool thing, if anyone wants to work on it.

NetworkShadow · Nov 2, 2003, 01:20 PM

oops I'm not using 3.1.1, I'm using 3.2... You may have to download FruitMenu 3.2b from their weblog: http://www.unsanity.net/beta/fruitmenu-32b1.dmg (download link) Works really well, not sure why it's just a beta.

codywalton · Nov 2, 2003, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by NetworkShadow:
oops I'm not using 3.1.1, I'm using 3.2... You may have to download FruitMenu 3.2b from their weblog: http://www.unsanity.net/beta/fruitmenu-32b1.dmg (download link) Works really well, not sure why it's just a beta.

Hmm... I just installed 3.1.1 and it's workin' just fine.

Oh well.