How to make dock icons stop bouncing?

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Level 1

15 points

How to make dock icons stop bouncing?

How do I disable an icon bouncing in the dock? Specifically I want to make Apimac Timer not bounce in the dock when the timer goes off, but I'm not sure if the controls have to be part of that application or if I can do it through the system. Ideally I'd like to turn it off for that app but not turn off all bouncing icons, however, it wouldn't hurt to know how to do that too. Thanks!

macbook - white, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Mar 10, 2009 11:45 AM

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Answer 1

Terabithia Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 12, 2009 2:09 AM in response to Klaus1

You've never seen it bounce as an alert, or you've never see a way to stop it?

Several programs have the icons bounce as an alert, for example, iChat has the icon bounce when you get a new message. Apimac Timer has the icon bounce when the timer goes off. Etc. Is there a way to turn that off for a particular app or system wide, or is it just up to the individual app to choose whether or not to include that option in their preferences?

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Answer 2

Terabithia Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 12, 2009 2:49 AM in response to Klaus1

I don't think its an error, its a normal function of a program for the icon to bounce when it has something to tell you. For example, when there is an error message in Finder the Finder icon will bounce, when Firefox has a dialog box that wants you to hit ok, that icon will bounce, etc. When Apimac Timer has a timer go off, its an alert, and it makes sense for the icon to bounce. I don't think its a glitch. But it does seem that some programs have a setting for it and some don't, so that's why I was wondering if there's an overall setting for that as an alert option.

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Answer 3

Terabithia Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 12, 2009 12:34 AM in response to Klaus1

Thanks, but the question was how to make it stop bouncing as an alert when things happen in the program, not when the program is starting up.

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Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,032 points

Mar 12, 2009 6:48 PM in response to westongallagher

After I posted, I was perusing the new Mac Life magazine and that is tip #38 of the 50 tips all geeks need to know.

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Answer 5

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,032 points

Mar 12, 2009 4:54 AM in response to Terabithia

The application itself would have this setting in its preferences if it was possible.
You might try looking at OnyX, TinkerTool to see if they have a way to disable it. I looked a Secrets, but didn't find anything.

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Answer 6

Mar 12, 2009 5:43 AM in response to Terabithia

Terabithia,

I don't know how to stop just one application from bouncing but you can eliminate all applications from bouncing(notifications) by downloading the secrets Preference Pane found here http://secrets.blacktree.com/. Once installed click on (Dock) in the left and it will show you all the options for the dock, the one you are looking for is (Bouncing Applications) uncheck it and you will no longer see Bouncing notifications.

Hope this helps with your issue.

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Answer 7

Mar 12, 2009 5:18 PM in response to Barney-15E

Barney,

I thought so too, so I tested it. I ran Software Update after I unchecked it. And as we all know SU bounces when there are no updates available. I also didn't dismiss SU Before I Rechecked it and SU started to Bounce again. So there you go it stops all notifications.

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Answer 8

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Mar 12, 2009 2:43 AM in response to Terabithia

OK, yes, but I would consider that en error (except for iChat, Mail etc).

I would remove the icon from the Dock and drag the application back to the Dock to create a new one. That normally corrects it.

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