I've been using MacBook for 5 years, but I still miss the simple windows Taskbar functionality that allowed me to quickly switch between different folders with greatest ease. I've seen the solution in MacOS, but it's not as easy as it was in windows. Is there any way that the dock can be replaced by a taskbar similar to that of windows. Please don't give me that "get out of windows mindset" as I've been using MacOS for 5 years now.
MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.12
Mission Control can do what you need, just maybe not the way you want
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204100
Look for the
key on your keyboard. That should make every window on your screen visible all that once. If you hover your cursor over each of the windows you will be told what it is, in the case of folders, it will have the folder name.
For example:
You can also click on "Mission Control" on the Dock and get this effect.
You can also setup up "Hot Corners" to get this effect.
Every open window on your screen will be made visible.
The Dock is Apple's Taskbar. That's the translucent toolbar.
When on the side, the top includes both shortcuts to applications and open applications.
The bottom includes folders, minimized windows, the trash can (similar to the Windows recycle bin), hard drive and SD and network volumes, and documents all in shortcut format.
When the Dock is along the bottom of the screen, the right side is used for the same as the bottom on the sidescreen, and the left side is used for the same the top on the side of the screen.
Mission control allows you to hold spaces that hold applications in their own space. That's managed through the System Preferences.
Unlike Windows, there is no "folder" that manages all the icons of the Dock. There are other file management systems that can do this on the Mac, but Mac OS X has never been designed this way.
There are also third party Dock management system preference panels you can download that allow you to edit what shows on the Dock as well from applications stored in other locations.
What functionality of Windows Taskbar are you missing?
Because the Dock doesn't work that way.
Why don't you arrange your open folders so you can see them all.
In Finder> Preferences> General do you have Open new windows in tabs instead of new windows checked,
if so uncheck it.
I also think a slightly better file system alternative, while not taskbar based at least is not index based. Devon Technologies EasyFind.
When Spotlight gets in the way, I turn to EasyFind in locating files and folders.
It is freeware.
Click on the Yellow traffic light button for what you do not want on the screen?
I do understand it is not what you want, and I'm not sure there is an Apple provided solution.
However, it is possible there is a 3rd party app to give you what you want.
I've done some google searching
https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=itaskbar&e=com
https://brawersoftware.com/products/ubar
You might try searching for: "macos windows task bar", or similar search strings. Including macos at the beginning tends to avoid all the Windows specific hits.
The uBar app appears to be the answer, but I'm not comfortable installing third party apps. I'd rather stick to minimising each window one by one instead. The problem stems from the fact that you can see your folders/applications in the dock ONLY after they've been minimised, whereas it would be easier to see them on the dock as soon as they've been opened. That way we can use it to toggle between maximisation and minimisation. I hope Apple sees it that way or someone develops a code.
When I open different folders these folders are not seen individually in the dock, so I have to click on finder then search for the required folder on the desktop, more often than not, that particular folder is hidden behind other open folders. The problem is that I see them on the dock only after they've been minimised individually. Why can't they be visible on the dock as soon as they're open?
This is something I already knew, thanks anyway. But after it goes to this mode, you can choose only one window or return to the original state. What do I do if I want only 2 or 3 particular windows out of 7 on my desktop and the rest minimised?
I hope Apple sees it that way
Apple is unlikely to copy the Windows task bar, and the number of people requesting that kind of features is mostly likely small. Then again, my crystal ball is being repaired, so what do I know 🔮
or someone develops a code.
Someone did develop code, but you do not want to install 3rd party software 😀
vijay207 wrote:
What do I do if I want only 2 or 3 particular windows out of 7 on my desktop and the rest minimised?
Closest to that is called “spaces.” In place of switching apps, switch to a different space, with the collection of apps used there.
Apple is unlikely to copy the Windows task bar, and the number of people requesting that kind of features is mostly likely small. Then again, my crystal ball is being repaired, so what do I know 🔮
Well that's just too bad since it would make things easier, and unless you're willing to be receptive to new ideas and willing to change, you might be found lacking in the future. Just because it's a Windows feature, doesn't mean you need to be rigid in outlook. I've seen many Windows like being features being copied by Apple. That being said, I do find many features of macOS superior to Windows OS, which is why I'm prefer using it.
Someone did develop code, but you do not want to install 3rd party software 😀
I just want a tweak, which would probably be a few lines of code, so that the application/folder is shown in the dock as soon as it has been opened, not the whole hog. 😊
Apple has incorporated features that originated in other operating systems (many from Windows). But they also go their own way. In this case the Dock came along after the task bar, but it was never a task bar clone. And For the most part the Dock has the same features it had when it was originally added to macOS. If they have not mess with it for all these years, I strongly suspect it is not getting the Windows Task Bar feature you want anytime soon.
Again, I do not know what Apple plans for the future. Your welcome to give Apple feedback, if you have not done so already.
macOS Feedback:
<https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html>
I just want a tweak, which would probably be a few lines of code, so that the application/folder is shown in the dock as soon as it has been opened, not the whole hog. 😊
I write software for a living (high end commercial Unix systems). It is Never a few lines of code. And unless Apple is writing the code, you would have to install a 3rd party software product to get them, no matter how few or many lines of code it takes.
uBar has a 14 day demo before they want their money. You can always try before you buy. But if you prefer a pure macOS environment, then you will have to hope Apple sees the light this Fall with the next major macOS release, or the year after, or in 2022, or maybe 2023, etc... Otherwise, find ways to cope with the Dock and Mission Control as it is currently implemented.
Taskbar functionality in macOS
