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Decombining options don't work as expected with the "Combine when taskbar is full" configuration

Anonymous 11 years ago updated by Michael (Ramen Software) 3 years ago 7

Platform is Win7 x64

First is the bug(as in unexpected/illogical behaviour). Its related to the "decombine on mouse hover" function. Explanation is gonna be a bit invoved.

Lets say have 2 groups that are just one shy of combining.

1. Mousein on GROUP1 and mouseOut. This will combine G1.

2. Mousein and mouseOut on G2. This will decombine G1.

If you repeat 2, it will combine G2.


That behaviour, is both annoying and not part of the feature(making it a bug).


One other thing also if possible - suspend changes to the taskbar(i.e. combining, decombining based on active/hover) when right-clicking, until the menu closes. Its confusing - if it changes on menuOpen and the windows shift, you can't be sure on which one exactly you clicked.


I could probably be coerced to make a video if you think it will help.

Answer

Answer

I was talking about Windows' taskbar properties, i.e. right click -> Properties.

From the buggy behavior, I guess it is "Combine when taskbar is full".


The thing is combining options weren't designed to work with this option.

With "Combine when taskbar is full" Windows decides when to combine/decombine groups, according to the available free space. It doesn't expect other apps to play with the combining.


So either switch to "Never combine", or disable the decombining options.

Under review

I couldn't reproduce the first bug (I'm not sure I fully understood it).

As for the right-clicking - that's how it works for me, it doesn't combine back when a right click menu is shown.


A video might make things clearer.

Here's a short video.

Note: Not a single click occurs during the entire video.

http://95.42.32.75/z/MouseHover.mp4 (thats my personal pc, so if it's inacessible, I probably just have it turned off, it's on something like 20/7 though).


http://95.42.32.75/z/RightClick.mp4

Here's one for the other problem too. On that one, see how when I right click it switches the active groups, and the inactive gets combined, this shifting all buttons. And then I can no longer be sure on which window I right-clicked.


It looks quite buggy in general.
What is your configuration in Taskbar Properties under "Taskbar buttons"?
"Combine when taskbar is full", right?
Answer

I was talking about Windows' taskbar properties, i.e. right click -> Properties.

From the buggy behavior, I guess it is "Combine when taskbar is full".


The thing is combining options weren't designed to work with this option.

With "Combine when taskbar is full" Windows decides when to combine/decombine groups, according to the available free space. It doesn't expect other apps to play with the combining.


So either switch to "Never combine", or disable the decombining options.

You are correct of course.

However the idea here was to have adaptive behaviour. If I switch to "Never combine" it results in empty space on the taskbar.

I know we're talking about single extra clicks here, but usability should be king.

If this does not result in any changes to the 7TT, I'd honestly prefer to leave it at "Combine when taskbar is full" and simply get used to the behaviour now.

+1
I'm not sure it's possible to make these options get along with the "Combine when taskbar is full" configuration.
I might look at it in the future.