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Article:
  What's on Your Dock?
Subject:   Dock pinning
Date:   2003-10-01 02:23:40
From:   anonymous2
Jason Kottkes concern about a moving Dock can be addressed. Apple has put into the Dock the functionality to pin the dock at the start or end of the side of the screen.
This functionality isn't available through the GUI - you have to modify the dock preferences with a text editor (TextEdit will do fine).


Open the file com.apple.dock.plist in your Library folder and add the following lines almost at the end of the document:


<key>pinning</key>
<string>start</string>


Just before the last two lines with
</dict>
</plist>.


Now restart your Dock (log out and in again or quit the Dock with Process Viewer).
The Dock will now be placed at the start of the side and new Dock entries will move the dock towards the end, thus resulting in stationary Dock items.


Instead of "start" you can use "end" to pin the Dock at the end of the Side and making the Trash a stationary item.


I hope that helps - i think pinning is the best feature of the Dock and I'm always wondering why Apple has made this unavailable through the GUI.


PS: my Dock is on the right side pinned to the start, magnification is on and there some apps and folders in it. ;-)
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  • Dock pinning
    2003-10-04 23:44:42  anonymous2 [Reply | View]

    I think the dock needs to be split in half. The Application Switcher half of the dock can be pinned to the bottom-left and the File Shelf and Trash can half of the dock can be pinned to the bottom-right. Then each could grow into the middle as new apps launch and files are dragged to the shelf. When they but together, then they start shrinking. Could also have both grow up each side of the screen with a user preference.

    Lastly they should really build-in support for switching between multiple docks. It can be done. I have a script that manages multiple dock files for me (and reloads the dock.) CodeTek also adds multiple dock support with DockExtender. I think it'd be best to add a simple "Other Docks..." Sub Menu to the Dock's menu.

    And a "Background Transparency" slider would be nice in the Dock's Preference Panel.