mtstromberg

Join Date 12/2009

Chrome shortcut's not handled correctly

Windows 7 Pro x64

I have several Chrome "application shortcuts" that I attached to the free version of objectdock 2. One for Google Voice, one for a spreadsheet on their cloud, once for Gmail, and one for the Chrome browser.

If any one of them is running all of the chrome related docklets show as active. When the app is minimized to the dock, the icon for it and any other chrome shortcuts that may have already been minimized will change to a different chrome shortcut icon than what it actually is.

The background thumbnail is still correct, but the icons and the active application indicators are not. Strange that I don't see anyone else reporting this yet.

I'd like to go back to using this (I own 1.9 but stopped using it) as I like some of the new functionality, but until something as basic as this gets addressed it's not much use to me. I'm hoping this is something you can patch up soon.

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I'm having a similar problem. I have Nirvana set up as a Chrome App, and would like for ObjectDock to recognize it as a separate program than Chrome - so that when I'm using the Nirvana chrome app, Objectdock does not show a running indicator under Chrome, and (more importantly to me), my Taskbar-Replacement dock uses a Nirvana Icon, rather than the Chrome icon.

So far I've made an extra copy of the Chrome program folder, and renamed the program as Chrome2.exe, and have tried to set up that in Objectdock as a program unique from Chrome. Hasn't quite worked yet.

Probably something to look at for future versions - although I have no idea how plausible this is from a development aspect.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

Object Dock looks at the executable for whether it's show active or not. Since they are all chrome.exe at the OS level (which OD uses) . . that's what is provided.

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That only explains why it's wrong, and we already knew that. We're talking about it being fixed. But if this is coming from support, that's all the answer I need about the future.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

Quoting mtstromberg,

reply 3

That only explains why it's wrong, and we already knew that. We're talking about it being fixed.

There is nothing to "fix" as there is nothing "broken". Not behaving as one would like is not the same thing at all.

Having said that, I'll let the dev know.

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kind of stinks, as there are no SSB for windows really, prism is dead, all we have is chrome app shortcuts

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Not showing the correct icon for Google Chrome application windows is indeed annoying. Each window shows on the windows taskbar the corresponding icon. Object
Dock however shows the icon of the EXE process. It would be more consistent if OD taskbar showed the same icons as the WIN taskbar.

Will OD taskbar behaviour be changed to the standard Win taskbar or will it remain a feature by design?

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Neil Banfield

Join Date 04/2001

+1105

The problem there is those icons are only 32x32 pixels typically (and sometimes 16x16) which means they would look terrible sized up on the dock. Rather like that disk icon on your dock.

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Quoting Neil Banfield,

reply 7

The problem there is those icons are only 32x32 pixels typically (and sometimes 16x16) which means they would look terrible sized up on the dock. Rather like that disk icon on your dock.

this is only true for website favicons.

apps from the Chrome Web Store come with 128x128 sized icons in PNG format though. they also often come with a 16x16 sized PNG. 32x32 is not typical for them at all, an extra 48x48 is more common.

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the corresponding large icons for each of the chrome application windows look fine on my desktop. i therefore assume that indeed the large icon is available. nevertheless the question is not about esthetics but about visual identification. in the win taskbar i can immediately click the correct icon. in the OD taskbar, i need to hover above the icon and read the caption of each chrome icon to ensure i select the correct application. OD should make my life easier not harder

Showing the correct icon in a taskbar tool is of vital importance in a visual oriented OS. I'm making the switch to touch interface input for Win8 and large descriptive icons are essential to getting things done. I know OD is a great tool and can become even better.

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As long as Browsers (IE,Chrome/etc.,) supports tabs browsing,OD always perceived each tab is an individual application,hence............

What you are asking for is quite a feature that normally shouldn't care less if they just hovered above the icon and read the caption to open the webpage they intended to go (which you always did).

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in Gaspershooters-land all traffic signs look the same,hence............

safe driving there is quite a feature that normally shouldn't care less if they just look on the back of the traffic sign and read the description to know what they mean (which you always did).

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Whatever,as you always did,PM the mods if you have any problem.

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Here's a way to get around the issue:

From the google chrome app menu, right click on an app and choose create shortcut then choose to the desktop. Then create a unique bat file containing the command in the shortcut. OD should see the bat file as the source rather than the executable chrom.exe within and properly annotate the running app.

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Quoting Gaspershooters,

reply 10

As long as Browsers (IE,Chrome/etc.,) supports tabs browsing,OD always perceived each tab is an individual application,hence............

What you are asking for is quite a feature that normally shouldn't care less if they just hovered above the icon and read the caption to open the webpage they intended to go (which you always did).

This feature is an important element in a visual interface - icons are made to allow a human to quicky identify the correct context - if the icons all look the same (as they do for Chrome apps) the meaning is lost - then it is better to just put the text description instead of an anonymous icon.

The screenshot below clearly shows the advantage of showing the actual shortcut icon (Windows Taskbar) instead of the running process icon (ObjectDock Taskbar)

The windows taskbar is the winner in handling chrome apps - this is an opportunity for Object Desktop to shine more - not a negative comment

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I am fully understand what point are you trying to say,as I said,its a feature or an improvement,you need the developer to recognize and implement that.

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As I'm new to the ObjectDock ecosystem - is there a wishlist or member where I can request this feature?

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