Tabbed Dock needs to be more responsive

from Stardock Forums

I've used sTabLauncher for years, but bought Object Dock hoping it would be at least as good because I love the sidebar launcher.  Wrong.  The Tabbed Dock is SLOW!.  It also does not change state on mouse-over.  These are criticle ommisions.  sTabLauncher changes tabs when you hover your mouse over each one.  You don't know how convenient this is until you don't have it.  Also, the Tabbed Dock has no settings for how quickly it reacts, hides or shows.  All of which the free sTabLauncher does beautifully, along with infinate customeizeability (which Tabbed Dock is sorely missing).

 

Considering this is a paid app, I'd expect much, much more out of it.  It's seems further development on Object Dock, in general, has been abandoned.

 

I'm not just griping, because I love the regular dock (I've also bought Start8 and love it).  SO, is there any chance the Tabbed Dock will see any of these conveniences added soon?

objectdock
5,517 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top


Also, the Tabbed Dock has no settings for how quickly it reacts, hides or shows.
End of quote

That's under 'accessibility"...;)

Additionally via Settings/Performance Options...;)

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Ah, thanks!  Sorry for coming off a little harsh, my bad.  I did find where to speed it up and also how to have the tab you've first moused over to grab focus, so that's great.  The only tweak that would make it 100% is to have tabs grab focus when you hover your mouse over them to check for programs (rather than having to click on each tab to see it's contents).

I did also notice that if you activate (show) the tabbed dock, click on a tab or blank spot, but don't select anything, it won't automatically hide itself on mouse-out.  Sometimes I'll click through the tabs looking for something and don't launch for whatever reason and the dock will stay showing until I click somewhere else on the screen.  I think it should automatically hide on mouse-out regardless...

 

Thanks again!

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting krunk3, reply 2

I did also notice that if you activate (show) the tabbed dock, click on a tab or blank spot, but don't select anything, it won't automatically hide itself on mouse-out. Sometimes I'll click through the tabs looking for something and don't launch for whatever reason and the dock will stay showing until I click somewhere else on the screen. I think it should automatically hide on mouse-out regardless...
End of krunk3's quote

It's designed to respond to what's called z-order focus in the same way that windows itself functions...ie. to a mouse click indicating a change of focus, not mouse 'proximity'.

Compare it with what happens to the tabs in your IE browser.  They change appearance only with mouse over ....but once clicked remain in 'focus' until you click another tab [or elsewhere in the GUI].

To conform with expected function the dock/s will also respond to mouse over... but once 'locked' by mouse click they remain in focus also....until you click elsewhere.

GUI interactive design needs to conform if it's not to actually add to operational confusion.... just as with graphic design for GUI components....that NEED to be 'light-sourced' from the upper left ....as that too is the Windows 'standard' to which Skinners need to conform...)