How to create a 'static' dock

Feb 28, '03 09:12:00AM

Contributed by: Anonymous

One thing I find irritating about the dock is that it adds every application you run to it, thus moving the location of the icons. This means that you must look carefully at the dock each time you drag something to the dock to verify that the icon is where it was the last time you looked. To avoid this irritation, follow these steps.

  1. In System Preferences -> Dock, adjust "Dock Size" to the largest possible.
  2. Turn Magnification off.
  3. Now put a permanent icon for every application that you use into the dock.
  4. If the dock icons are still too large, then add a few other applications or documents that you never use to the dock. The more you put in, the smaller the icons will become. If the dock is still too large and you have its "position on screen" at the bottom, try moving it to the right which will shorten the dock and make the icons smaller.
Now the next time you need to "drag and drop" something to the dock, you don't really have to look, just drag it to the "stable" position on the dock. The trash can will also always be in the same location.

[robg adds: If you're really set on a 'fixed' dock position for everything, then you should grab TinkerTool, which will let you 'pin' the dock to a corner of the screen. With the dock pinned, you don't need to add icons to change the size of dock icons, you can just add what you wish and then resize the dock the usual way - the trash will stay stuck in the corner, if that's the position you chose. We've run hints before on pinning the dock and moving the dock, but as far as I can tell, this is the first time we've run one explaining how to make an essentially 'static' dock. Keep in mind that the above hint is one user's opinion on the dock, and I'm certain not everyone will agree with him/her -- the dock seems to inspire debates that can rival political conversations, so please, keep it civil :-).]

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