Forcing windows to stay above ObjectDock

On my desktop I have the taskbar two levels high with the quick launch bar on the top level, I would like to replace the quick launch bar with OD, but when I open a window and maximize the window expands all the way to the taskbar and OD is now in front hiding anything beneathe it. I tried moving OD to the top of the screen, but I like the icons slight larger so now they cover the menu items. The best so far is Top and Auto Hide, but I would really like to do is keep it always on top and just make sure no windows go behind it.

Any way to do this?

objectdock

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Open Dock Settings > Select the position Tab > Under Z-Ordering select always on bottom. This will allow windows to cover it. Now if you want to bring it up over the window, use the Delay for auto-hide option. This should be under the same tab.

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One handy way to block off an edge from maximized windows is with DesktopX. On the Desktop tab of the DesktopX Builder Settings panel, click Workarea. Enable the option then set a number of pixels to reserve on each edge. You may have to experiment with dock icon sizes and taskbar height and such to find best number to put here. I hear WindowFX can do this too, and some older windowblinds can be edited to do it automatically. Windows that are not maximized will be able to go over the reserved area, though--which is actually useful too.

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Kilo,

Thanks for the answer. I tried it that way, but that wasn't the look I was going for. The main reason is I didn't really want to hide the OD at all, I just didn't want it getting in the way.

Rapid,

This works the best, it's almost exactly what I was looking for. I say almost because as I was messing with it I found something that might work even better, but I'm not sure if it's possible so here it is:

Anyone,

If I have my taskbar at two levels high with the quick launch bar on top, but NO icons on it (basically it's there as a space holder) can I have OD sit on top of the taskbar?

This way it will look almost identical to a regular taskbar, but the quick launch icons would look like they zoom. That'd be great, cause then I can make OD the same size as quick launch icons, I can still see them during usage and they would blend right in.

Another way is if that isn't possible to somehow get OD to expand the entire width of the screen without filling it full of icons that would force it to widen.

Anyways thanks guys, while I liked the cool effect of OD I always uninstalled it cause it seemed more of a novelty than something that had great work flow now I get the best of both worlds.

-Comic

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Here's what I've found that works (I have the freeware version of ObjectDock).

Move the Windows taskbar to the top and set it two rows tall. Set it to always be on top of other windows. This is the standard setting, I believe.

Then set ObjectDock to hide the taskbar. At this point, maximizing windows won't hide ObjectDock.

Personally, I've managed to replace the taskbar with OD freeware using the docklets for the Start Menu, battery meter, digital clock, and system tray, plus sysstats and the mail meter for Lookout! -- oops, I mean "Outlook."

I prefer that windows expand to hide it, as I'm using it on a laptop with limited real estate. If I need it, I can bring it forward with a mouse slide. Plus it's up on top where all the program menus are so I don't have to keep moving the mouse long distances to access programs and folders.

Of course, I'm only two steps away from buying the plus version. . . .

There you go.

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