APPLE OS X 4.5 : How to make an"alias" pointing to a specified doc or app on Dock
Hello Experts:
Well, I'm climbing up that steep learning curve with my new iMac, after spending decades using Windows !
But I continue to come back here to EE for answers, because I am finding Apple's "Help" files really very shallow and lacking in detail.
Hopefully you EE experts don't mind filling-in where Apple Help leaves me in the lurch.
QUESTION : As you already know, MAC OS X comes with a tray-like application/document launchpad called the "dock." The OS comes with numerous pre-set "aliases" (uh...I think that means "shortcut in Windows language) ready to roll on the dock. But I want to add some new aliases to the dock, and remove some others. I've roamed all thru Apple Help and just can not find out how to add/remove aliases onthe dock. When I try to "drag and drop" a target onto the dock - it doesn't happen. There must be _some_ way to customize the items that I want/do not want to appear on my dock.
Has anybody else found Apple Help files to be lacking in detail, or is it just me?
Suggestions?
jbm4 Vancouver, Canada
Well, I'm climbing up that steep learning curve with my new iMac, after spending decades using Windows !
But I continue to come back here to EE for answers, because I am finding Apple's "Help" files really very shallow and lacking in detail.
Hopefully you EE experts don't mind filling-in where Apple Help leaves me in the lurch.
QUESTION : As you already know, MAC OS X comes with a tray-like application/document launchpad called the "dock." The OS comes with numerous pre-set "aliases" (uh...I think that means "shortcut in Windows language) ready to roll on the dock. But I want to add some new aliases to the dock, and remove some others. I've roamed all thru Apple Help and just can not find out how to add/remove aliases onthe dock. When I try to "drag and drop" a target onto the dock - it doesn't happen. There must be _some_ way to customize the items that I want/do not want to appear on my dock.
Has anybody else found Apple Help files to be lacking in detail, or is it just me?
Suggestions?
jbm4 Vancouver, Canada
strung
Dock 101: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2474?viewlocale=en_US
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ASKER
Hello ti-sysadmin : Everything you wrote makes perfect sense, and is in total agreement with the article "Dock 101" (link provided by strung. [Hello again, my friend!]) However, _none_ of it works on my machine.
I, too, am administrator, so that's not an issue here.
A.) In regards to _removing_ an alias from the dock : When I left-cllick a dock alias - the object - be it an app or doc _opens up_ - of course! I am unable to left-click and _not open"_ or just drag the alias to desktop. I can't left-click and _"NOT"_ activate the object. I have tried _not clicking_ the alias, but just _left-dragging_ it off the dock. Nothin' doing! The alias stays right where it is, like a groundhog in its hole!
My mouse is set to "right-click as secondary-button" ( as suggested by you), and if I right-ckick a dock alias I am offered only these 3 options : 1. Open at login 2. Show in finder, and 3. Open. There is no menu offering me the option to remove the object from dock.
B.) In regards to _adding_ an alias to dock : "Ditto." Same as above. A left-click _always_ only _opens_ the object, not giving me the chance to drag it anywhere. Same goes for "not-clicking, just dragging". That dog don't hunt, again!
strung, thanx-a-lot for the link to "Dock 101." but, I still say Apple's Help files are really "un-helpful," since the article does not offer me any solutionto this stubborn problem.
What the heck???
jbm4
I, too, am administrator, so that's not an issue here.
A.) In regards to _removing_ an alias from the dock : When I left-cllick a dock alias - the object - be it an app or doc _opens up_ - of course! I am unable to left-click and _not open"_ or just drag the alias to desktop. I can't left-click and _"NOT"_ activate the object. I have tried _not clicking_ the alias, but just _left-dragging_ it off the dock. Nothin' doing! The alias stays right where it is, like a groundhog in its hole!
My mouse is set to "right-click as secondary-button" ( as suggested by you), and if I right-ckick a dock alias I am offered only these 3 options : 1. Open at login 2. Show in finder, and 3. Open. There is no menu offering me the option to remove the object from dock.
B.) In regards to _adding_ an alias to dock : "Ditto." Same as above. A left-click _always_ only _opens_ the object, not giving me the chance to drag it anywhere. Same goes for "not-clicking, just dragging". That dog don't hunt, again!
strung, thanx-a-lot for the link to "Dock 101." but, I still say Apple's Help files are really "un-helpful," since the article does not offer me any solutionto this stubborn problem.
What the heck???
jbm4
Try dragging the alias to the trash, not to the desktop.
If that doesn't work, read this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1545753&tstart=-16
The solution that seemed to work was using the freeware utility Pacifist to re-install the dock from the system CD.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1545753&tstart=-16
The solution that seemed to work was using the freeware utility Pacifist to re-install the dock from the system CD.
SOLUTION
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Try moving the "com.apple.Dock.plist" file out of the Users/username/Library/Pre
ASKER
Hello again strung, & lti-sysadmin :
Have awarded you each 1/2 of total points because : you both would have hit the fully correct solution at the beginning of this string _if_ I had thought to provide you with this additional info (which I only just remembered last nite) : I have a nifty third-party software program installed called "SuperDocker." This program gives user deeper control over behaviour of the dock, _INLUDING ABILITY TO LOCK/UN-LOCK ITEMS ON DOCK!_!! When I remembered that this program was running on my machine, i immediately un-locked the dock and added/removed aliases till the cows came home!!
I guess the lesson learned by me is, "Always think twice, three times to check if I am submitting complete information before posting a Question."
Tx again for all your help!
jbm4 Vancouver, Canada
Today, I see that you both also hit on the possibility of some third party program interfering in normal dock operation, (though not the exact same program I have) - So you were both BRILLIANT!
Have awarded you each 1/2 of total points because : you both would have hit the fully correct solution at the beginning of this string _if_ I had thought to provide you with this additional info (which I only just remembered last nite) : I have a nifty third-party software program installed called "SuperDocker." This program gives user deeper control over behaviour of the dock, _INLUDING ABILITY TO LOCK/UN-LOCK ITEMS ON DOCK!_!! When I remembered that this program was running on my machine, i immediately un-locked the dock and added/removed aliases till the cows came home!!
I guess the lesson learned by me is, "Always think twice, three times to check if I am submitting complete information before posting a Question."
Tx again for all your help!
jbm4 Vancouver, Canada
Today, I see that you both also hit on the possibility of some third party program interfering in normal dock operation, (though not the exact same program I have) - So you were both BRILLIANT!