Dashboard apps

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Howard Brazee - 03 May 2008 20:20 GMT

Some of the applets available for the Dashboard are nice utilities
that I want visible as I work on other applications. One, for
instance is an analog clock, and another is an iTunes control and
display.

Having to open dashboard to see this clock or the name of the song
make these worthless - I can already see the digital clock, and it's
just as easy to maximize iTunes.

Can I do anything to make the applet always visible?

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Jolly Roger - 03 May 2008 20:34 GMT

> Some of the applets available for the Dashboard are nice utilities
> that I want visible as I work on other applications. One, for
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Can I do anything to make the applet always visible?

1. Run a utility such as TinkerTool.
2. Enable Dashboard developer mode.
3. Activate Dashboard.
4. Click and hold any widget - but don't let go yet.
5. Deactivate Dashboard with the keyboard (default is F12). The widget
will follow your mouse out of Dashboard.
6. Place the widget anywhere you want on the desktop.

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nospam - 03 May 2008 20:41 GMT

> > Some of the applets available for the Dashboard are nice utilities
> > that I want visible as I work on other applications. One, for
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> will follow your mouse out of Dashboard.
> 6. Place the widget anywhere you want on the desktop.

or turn it into a standalone application:
<http://www.amnestywidgets.com/Singles.html>

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Howard Brazee - 03 May 2008 21:04 GMT

>> 1. Run a utility such as TinkerTool.
>> 2. Enable Dashboard developer mode.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>or turn it into a standalone application:
><http://www.amnestywidgets.com/Singles.html>

It's not obvious to me what the resulting difference is here.

Also, I Googled "Dashboard Developer mode" and found
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050422172929402, which
basically had the instructions above without TinkerTool. Ahh, I see,
TinkerTool is a utility that allows me to avoid knowing how to use
Terminal to Enable Dashboard developer mode.

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Tim Lance - 05 May 2008 11:48 GMT

>>> 1. Run a utility such as TinkerTool.
>>> 2. Enable Dashboard developer mode.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> It's not obvious to me what the resulting difference is here.

From the amnesty site:

The "dev mode" is simply a trick to move Dashboard's widgets onto the
desktop, where they remain floating over all your windows. You still have to
go to the Dashboard to open and close new widgets.

Widget applications that have been created by Amnesty Singles are completely
standard and don't interact with Dashboard at all. Ths means widget
applications appear in your Dock and live on your desktop just like Apple
Mail or TextEdit. You can Quit or Hide them just like regular apps. Best of
all, widget applications built by Amnesty Singles include a Widget menu where
you can set the window level to floating, standard or desktop.

> Also, I Googled "Dashboard Developer mode" and found
> http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050422172929402, which
> basically had the instructions above without TinkerTool. Ahh, I see,
> TinkerTool is a utility that allows me to avoid knowing how to use
> Terminal to Enable Dashboard developer mode.

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Tim
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Howard Brazee - 05 May 2008 12:49 GMT

>The "dev mode" is simply a trick to move Dashboard's widgets onto the
>desktop, where they remain floating over all your windows. You still have to
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>all, widget applications built by Amnesty Singles include a Widget menu where
>you can set the window level to floating, standard or desktop.

Sounds like "dev mode" is superior for applets such as a clock or an
iTunes controller. I suppose there are some applets that would be
better converted as well, but I don't have any.

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Philo D - 03 May 2008 21:06 GMT

[...]

> 6. Place the widget anywhere you want on the desktop.

The OP didn't say which version of OS X he is using.
Is this feature only 10.5 ?

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Dave Balderstone - 03 May 2008 21:36 GMT

> The OP didn't say which version of OS X he is using.
> Is this feature only 10.5 ?

No.

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Tim Lance - 05 May 2008 11:48 GMT

>> Some of the applets available for the Dashboard are nice utilities
>> that I want visible as I work on other applications. One, for
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> will follow your mouse out of Dashboard.
> 6. Place the widget anywhere you want on the desktop.

He he. So now what do I do? How does one get the widget to go back to
Dashboard? (I used the enable developer mode).

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Tim
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Jolly Roger - 05 May 2008 21:24 GMT

> >> Some of the applets available for the Dashboard are nice utilities
> >> that I want visible as I work on other applications. One, for
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> He he. So now what do I do? How does one get the widget to go back to
> Dashboard? (I used the enable developer mode).

Just drag it back into Dashboard using the same trick. That is: start
dragging, invoke Dashboard, release.

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Tim Lance - 05 May 2008 21:37 GMT

>>>> Some of the applets available for the Dashboard are nice utilities
>>>> that I want visible as I work on other applications. One, for
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Just drag it back into Dashboard using the same trick. That is: start
> dragging, invoke Dashboard, release.

D'oh!

Now where the hell is that head banging site?

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Tim
lance_1012@hotmail.com

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Heath Raftery - 05 May 2008 04:29 GMT

> Some of the applets available for the Dashboard are nice utilities
> that I want visible as I work on other applications. One, for
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> make these worthless - I can already see the digital clock, and it's
> just as easy to maximize iTunes.

Some good other responses, but my vote goes to finding the equivalent
application that is not a widget. Both the examples you mention will
be well serviced by some application or other, if you wish to have
a browse through VersionTracker.

The advantage is that you get an app that is designed for the
purpose you intend to employ.

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Mac Forum / General / General / May 2008

Dashboard apps