Two columns of applications on vertical taskbar with Start 10

from Stardock Forums

By chance I discovered that I could get two columns of application icons on a Windows 7 style vertical taskbar with Start 10 v1.98.

So the taskbar is on the left hand side of screen and instead of a single column of applications there are two columns of applications. This would be really useful when the number of applications open exceeds the height of the monitor and you get a vertical scroll bar.

How do I get two columns back?

If I left click and hold on the taskbar and drag to the right nothing happens until the mouse pointer gets to about the middle of the screen and then the vertical taskbar switches to two columns before jumping to the top or bottom of the screen.

Somehow before I managed to drag the mouse somewhere on the screen where the two columns remained and the taskbar was still at the left side of the screen.

 

 

start menu products
1,436 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need to know your current Windows 10 full version number with OS Build number.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

From what I know for the taskbar buttons that is not possible. But possible for Windows 10 Toolbar icons. Refer to this thread: https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/107167-multiple-columns-vertical-taskbar-2.html.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

It is possible. I had it but can't quite work out how to recreate it. I took a video and some screenshots so apologies for the quality but it shows it is possible.

 

Left picture is normal vertical task bar. Picture to right, after left clicking on empty space on taskbar, as if you were going to move the task bar to a new location, then moving the mouse up the screen next to the taskbar. The first thing that happens in a vertical scroll bar appears, which covers the entire taskbar from top to bottom. Next picture to the right the taskbar jumps to two columns. The last picture shows the taskbar at the top as that was where the mouse was.  

I can't get the taskbar to stop at the stage where there are two columns, but I had it before when I was not paying attention to what I was doing and it remained as two columns, so it is possible. Just need to figure out how.

It remains with two columns for about 0.3 seconds before jumping to the top taskbar (or other taskbar location).

It seems like by moving the mouse this way the trigger for going to two columns is the same as making the taskbar move to a new location so it changes to two columns but then moves location. By keeping the left mouse button down and moving the mouse pointer to where the taskbar changes to two columns and then changes location I can move the mouse pointer back a pixel or so until the taskbar jumps back to vertical as one column and then move the mouse slightly to get two columns but I can't get it to stay as two columns when vertical.

But I had two columns before so I know there is some way to get there.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

I tried, but I can not reproduce your finding. Maybe if you could reproduce it, please post a video on how to do it.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Here is a video showing two columns in a vertical task bar.  https://app.box.com/s/uyrkej6s4hhebv8ug4weygkz7p5zgjis 

Left click and hold on the task bar as if you were going to drag to another side of the screen, top in video. Move the mouse up the screen as if you were going to move the taskbar to the top of the screen keeping the left mouse button held down.

You should see the taskbar change to two columns and then jump to the top of the screen. Once the task bar jumps to the top you can identify how far up the screen the mouse was and then next time do that bit slower just before that point.

The first time this happened whatever I did caused the taskbar stayed in the two column mode, but since then I have not been able to work out how to get it to stay in the two column mode.

If this is not caused by Start10 could there must be some other software doing this? When I search google I can't find any details of what could do this, just requests for this functionality.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

I can not reproduce on my system. There might be some other software that is on your system that make it possible but only temporarily. But, I don't know any software that capable of doing it. As for Start10, I don't think there will be any new development on it, since Stardock has moved on to Start11v2 and it still support Windows 10.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant