Mac 101: Three Dock tips

When I add a folder to the Dock I like to give the folder a custom icon to identify it. For example, my downloads folder lives in the Dock with a green down arrow on it.

I Use the dock the way Apple intended it, for everyday apps. To open other apps, I just use Spotlight. Command+Spacebar. Type the name of the app (usualy the first 3 letters suffice) hit return! Try it it works.;-)

There is actually an easier way to add an open app icon to the dock. Simply grab the App's icon, and move it an icon over and drop it. This tells the dock you want the app to be there even when closed.

I found this tip awhile back, and it has solved pretty much my major dock problem.. some apps I want it away.. but most others I want it there.'

If you edit the info.plist file (google it) and add this (I think it has to be alphabetical, I myself just use pref setter, google it again, it does it all by itself) it will hide the dock just for that app you put it on. When you close it or switch to another it pops right up.

LSUIPresentationMode
1

quick tip:

add the application folder into the dock, after the separator bar; then, you can click-hold and get a menu with all the apps

It works obviously with every folder you drag into!

Right clicking any folders added to the Dock will allow you to access their contents. I like to keep system utilities like Terminal or Activity Monitor quickly accessible but don't want to fill the Dock with a thousand occasionally used icons. With the /Applications/Utilities folder in the dock, I can launch any of those apps without having to go through Finder.

Good tips. I love the dock. I'm looking forward to the Stacks in Leopard.

If you hold down the command key (or is it option?) while dragging to resize the Dock, the icon sizes will jump to only power-of-2 sizes, and they don't need that fuzzy interpolation scheme to render them. That is, hold down this key while resizing and your icons will always look "clean".

I keep a few things on the dock and keep the icons pretty small- but I use Overflow for most of my launch needs, probably my most used ap. Hit F1 and a transparent window opens up and I can click and start (or drag a doc to the icon of the ap I want). Easy to store your most used programs if you don't want the big dock at the bottom. $15 (30 day trial). stuntsoftware.com

I love in tinkertool and coctail (and probably other places) you can set a hidden application to be see through on the dock...I like that.