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Tweaks for the Dock
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Tweaking the interface of my Mac has long become part of activity. It's a lot of fun in the process of it. However, you should always remember to backup your files before starting the tweak, in case you accidentally make your Mac explode because of it (I'm exaggerating here).
Left all the worries behind and have fun with the tweaks!
Basic Shortcut
Though this one here can't be considered a tweak, but I believe it's good to know some of the shortcuts to faster up basic adjustment for your Dock.
- Drag → Resize the Dock
- Opt-Drag → Proportionally Resize the Dock
- Shift-Drag → Move the Dock to Other Screen Edge
Note that when performing the Drag, you should click on the Dock separator and drag it.
Hidden Preferences
Have you heard about Secrets before? Secrets is a preference pane that reveals many of secret preferences. Example for Dock, it allows you to:
- Change the pinning position
- Use the Suck Effect for window minimization
- Enable New List View for Stack
- and many other interesting hidden preferences…
Secrets can be downloaded from http://secrets.blacktree.com/
Terminal Commands
In case you don't want to install additional preference pane (Secrets) for revealing secret preferences, you can still use the command line provided below and execute it with your Terminal for the effect.
New List View
defaults write com.apple.dock use-new-list-stack -bool YES && killall Dock
Stack Highlight
defaults write com.apple.dock mouse-over-hilite-stack -boolean YES killall Dock
2D Dock
defaults write com.apple.dock no-glass -boolean YES killall Dock
Transparent Hidden Icon
defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool YES killall Dock
Add "Recent Applications" Stack
defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-others -array-add '{ "tile-data" = { "list-type" = 1; }; "tile-type" = "recents-tile"; }'
killall Dock
Dock Pinning (Left)
defaults write com.apple.dock pinning -string start killall Dock
Dock Pinning (Right)
defaults write com.apple.dock pinning -string end killall Dock
Restyle Dock Background
In order to get your Dock background changed like what is shown in the screenshot above, you can follow these steps:
- Download the sprites from PlateauDock ↓
-
Open Finder, hit Cmd-Shift-G and enter this address:
/System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/Resources - And then copy in all 5 items inside the unzipped PlateauDock folder
- Restart your Dock with Terminal command killall Dock for the change to take effect
Interestingly, if you delete these 5 files: scurve-l.png, scurve-m.png, scurve-sm.png, scurve-xl.png, and separator.png, you will get an Invisible Dock.
Rename Dock Menu
Feeling bored with default contextual menu naming for your Dock?
If so, you can try to change the naming with these simple steps:
-
Open your Dock, hit Cmd-Shift-G, and then enter this address
/System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/Resources/English.lproj -
Search for the file DockMenus.strings and open it, you will see lines of words, eg:
OPEN_FILENAME = "Open "%@"";
OPEN = "Open";
-
Left hand side is the command to OS, don't change it. Instead, you can change the naming
on the right hand side. Example:
OPEN_FILENAME = "Launch "%@"";
OPEN = "Launch";
- Restart your Dock for the change to take effect (Terminal → killall Dock)
This trick has been mentioned before here.
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32 Comments
Fernando Muñoz
This is just great! A bunch of really useful tricks for us Mac users. teacherfernando@aol.com
Mac User
For the Cmd Shift G thing & changing names, it’s a fail; for mine it said I could not save. I changed permissions and opened it in a few applications.
yamu
what about breaking the signatures apps with the hint to rename the dock menu entries?
NaVi
An other great article!!!
Robin Leung
Could I restly my dock, but I like keeping my dock on the left side. Is this do-able? Thanks.
mac in tosh
Hi, sorry but the restyle does not work for me.
Darren Roberts
I tried to change my dock using Restyle Dock Background.... and my dock stayed the same...?? Did I do something wrong in the process... I followed directions to the T!!?? HELP?!?!?!
JACOBinDK
How do you make your recent app. folder list look like, well, a list that and not a grid?
Wendy
@Darren There are possibilities. Maybe the items inside haven't been changed (due to authorization issue). Try to: 1. Delete the original one first (remember to backup beforehand) 2. Drop the new one inside 3. Restart your Dock Hope it works there. @Jacob Maybe you're referring to "New List View" there. Try to use the command line for New List View as stated above, that should work just fine in Snow Leopard only.
Zach Castagnola
Once you restyle your dock background how do you change it back? PLease help!
Alexandre Pereira
Or you can just download this app and install a new dock easly.
Bruno Casarini
how about Dock Library? http://www.dativestudios.com/docklibrary/
JACOBinDK
@Wendy Thank you! that explains the problem, no SL for me yet;)
scott boettcher
You don't need to do anything in Terminal to get the highlight in a grid view folder. Simply set your folder to Folder in Display As and Grid in View Content as. Now, click and HOLD while moving the mouse over to the Gird/items. This way you can use highlight when you want, no need for on OR off and Terminal work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E932k3qva4 Scott
thaitanic
another nice trick. thank you. :)
Tina
I have tried the terminal command to use the new list style but it doesn't seem to work. I'm not sure what I am doing wrong. I use several applications that may cause this terminal command to not work....SuperDocker, Secrets, Candybar but I'm not sure if this is the case. What do you think?
phil yates
i am trying to find a way to remove the floating "tooltips" when you hover over the dock programs.. any clue as to how i can get rid of these? thanks
presley
I'm curious to hear if anyone uses DragThing anymore. I've been using it since OS 9, and I still think it's a great alternative to the standard dock. Anyone?
tony
is there any way to return it to the default settings after editing?
Deo
I want different looks of my dock that's why I always looking for some update about it.
Greg
@tony, nice question bro, i thought about this also...
Joyce
do linux and mac have the same dock?
Garam
@joyce - i think they have the same look but different dock
skolar
this one is a nice topic @Alexandre Pereira - great aps,,, thanks
Albs
Hi, very nice article, but i'd like to know where i can get the icons from the top picture of the article,
dave
how do you re center your dock
KennTriX
this is really a great article.
jonnyhamblin
how do you revert to the default dock?
david Cravioto
this might be a dumb Question but how do you make it so when you right black
James Shiner
@tony and @greg - You can download the original dock here: http://leoparddocks.com/Get_Your_Original_Dock_Back.php Also, if you download the LeopardDocks App it has a single click option to change your dock back (or to any custom dock you want) @wendy thanks for including LeopardDocks in the article!
Ken Cook
Just if any one is wondering how to re-centre the dock after, just type or copy/paste in the terminal defaults write com.apple.dock pinning -string centre killall Dock
Delizade
hi, I want to ask that how can differantiate active and passive items in doc? I mean for example you have 20 items in your docs. They are seen as Black and white or transparent. But when you run a program, it is shown with true colors or as not transparent. My problem is, I can not see exactly which softwares are running. I need to seperate them as visual. How is it be possbile?
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