Tabbed Docks and Desktop Icons

I was wondering if there was a way to stop Desktop Icons from going under the tabbed dock. I have a tabbed dock that takes the whole width of the top of the screen but when I save something to my desktop it goes under the dock. I have the dock set up as a drawer and it works great but it's hard to get the items that get placed under the tab portion. I have the entire paid Object Desktop package and ObjectDock Plus.
7,188 views 15 replies
Reply #1 Top
I may be wrong, and if I am someone will surely say so, but I think the desire to put new icons in the top left available space is deeply programmed into Windows. I mean, I know of no way to change it.

Maybe you could put something more permanent there, just as a placeholder. Then when new icons are placed they will probably be below that slot filler.
Reply #2 Top

If you right-click the desktop > Arrange Icons By... > deselect Auto Arrange - you will be able to place icons where you want on the desktop.

Windows will still load a new icon to the upper left corner, but you can move it where you want it.

Note - having "Align to Grid" selected under the same Arrange Icon By..., will maintain the spacing between icons, and make it harder to move them by accident.

Icons are at the desktop level, so there is no way to place them above the dock.

Reply #3 Top
Not wanting to place them above the dock, but wanting to make the space unavailable for placement of any icons.
Reply #4 Top

Just turn of Auto Arrange, and manually place them.

The only thing you will need to do after that, is move any newly created desktop icons (whether by yourself, or by an newly installed program).

Reply #5 Top
I think the problem is (for me at least) that if you have a large objectdock in the top left corner, and have it set to no-click thru, and you have the object position locked, it becomes tedious un-locking the position, then moving the objectdock out, remove the icon, and then reapplying everything.

Its a pity there is no funcionality to tell windows "this space is occupied" as with normal icons that would be in that position.

It's a problem for me too.. it would be nice if the objects (not tabbed) would allow user positioning, rather than the strict Top, Bottom, Right, Left etc.
Reply #6 Top
I've a question. How to make my Tabshows System Tray icons??
I remember last time I installed ObjectDock Plus, the Tabbed Dock able to show System Tray items in the Tabbed "Tray". Now I can't make it even I try its settings and I added another "System Tray" Tab, it's empty.
Does any latest update from WindowsXP affect that? Cause my WindowsXP is up to date. Afraid that might some updates protected the System Tray icons.
Reply #7 Top
Currently, the only fix for the "icon being covered problem", is to do what Corky_O said. To prevent icons from being manifested at the top left, you could create a "dummy" file. Since the icon will be covered up anyway, it won't matter.

I personally never use "auto arrange", but do prefer to keep "align to grid" selected.

Having the dimensions of the client area be modified so that maximized windows (and icons) will recognize the object dock might possibly be implemented in the future.

-Mike
[Stardock Support]
Reply #8 Top
Having the dimensions of the client area be modified so that maximized windows (and icons) will recognize the object dock might possibly be implemented in the future.


Doesn't WindowFX have a function to do just that?
Reply #9 Top
Points go to MountainDragon for this one.

(This assumes you own WindowFX)

Under WindowFX Properties, go to the Maximize to specific size option. Here you can accomplish everything you were asking for:

Under "Limit the size of Maximized windows", the width will be the same as your current resolution's width, but the height = your resolution's height - the ObjectDock's height.

Also set the "Y coord" of "position maximized windows at the coordinates below" to your ObjectDock's height.

-Mike
[Stardock Support]
Reply #10 Top
This also assumes that if you're not already using WinFX, you'll want to run it just to set the workspace, and that you don't have dual monitors, with different resolutions. Using WinFX to set the workspace with dual monitors, with different resolutions causes a different set of problems..........
Reply #11 Top
Well I tried this and it did not work. I checked the box "Limit the size of maximized windows" and entered 1024 in width and 738 in height, I have a 1024x768 Monitor. I also checked the "Position maximized windows at the coordinated below" X coord - "0" Y coord - "40" and I still get the space at the bottom of the screen not the top where I want it. It also did not move my desktop icons either like I was originally asking. I am getting SOOOOOOO Frustrated with all of this stuff. I spend more time trying to customize my computer than actually being productive with it. AHHHHHHHHH. I have this problem and problems with WindowBlinds, and IconPackager, the list goes on and on. But your suggestion just didn't work, at least for me and my icons laying under my dock as was the original request of this post.
Reply #12 Top
Here's an idea if you want to continue to use Auto-Arrange and Align to Grid. Create a new folder on your desktop, an empty folder and just keep it there underneath the dock, as the icons will probably hide it. That way when you download new programs or whatever to your desktop that space will already be occupied.
Reply #13 Top
Thanks for the suggestion but I am already doing that, but just more concerned that WinFX is not working as it should be. I have also tried to configure Desktop X to put the icons below a certain point but then it also moves the dock down to that point so it all gets defeated in what I am trying to do, so i was hoping that the WinFX suggestion would work, but unfortunately it didn't. I hope that milksama reads my reply and helps me to get WinFX to work correctly.
Reply #14 Top
well, until you get a solution...if you're tired of having to move the dock...hide the icons, then use an object or widget just to open the desktop folder.
Reply #15 Top
Thanks for the suggestion, and that is what I am doing, but if this stuff isn't going to work right I will gladly remove it from my computer if I can have a refund, and if I can't get a refund, then I am going to keep the mods on here real busy. I just want the stuff to work right and it doesn't on my computer, so I wasted a whole lot of money for nothing. I am tired of this $hit.