- General
-
Ideas
More control over combined items
I hate combining items, but there are situations that might be a good solution if it was more comfortably.
Generally if an application opens few windows, but only one (main) window is I use and the rest just need to be there for application to work. I can minimize the rest, but they're normally displayed on taskbar and distracting me from my main window, so combining is useful here.
In this situation I would like that the combined item behave practically like the normal item, switch to main (recently used) window and minimize it.
But with left click not always work like should. Instead to switch to main window it displays thumbnails (even if inactive) or restore the minimized other windows that I don't want to use.
I tried to use the mouse shortcut to switch to, but it only shows thumbnails on combined items. Also minimize all windows from group works bad, cuz it's not activating other window like normal minimize does. Also normal minimize and scrolling mouse to switch to/minimize items don't work on combined items. There's also no tooltip for that item.
That all makes me to hate combining even more, but like I said in certain situations it might be necessary.
Could you do something that I could use it comfortably please?
Answer
if an application opens few windows, but only one (main) window is I use and the rest just need to be there for application to work. I can minimize the rest
You might want to try using virtual desktops for this scenario. They are built in since Windows 10, but since you're using Windows 8 you can try Virtuoz (a minimalistic virtual desktop utility developed by me) or any other virtual desktops tool.
But with left click not always work like should. Instead to switch to main window it displays thumbnails (even if inactive) or restore the minimized other windows that I don't want to use.
You can try the "Left click on combined item" -> "Cycle through windows" option. This will open the last active window when you left click. You can also use Ctrl+left click.
Also minimize all windows from group works bad, cuz it's not activating other window like normal minimize does.
Why would you want it to activate the minimized windows?
"You might want to try using virtual desktops for this scenario."
I don't know what is a virtual desktop and how it would help me.
"You can try the "Left click on combined item" -> "Cycle through windows" option."
But it cycle throw all windows in sequence. I don't want to switch to other windows at all, only the main one from that group.
"You can also use Ctrl+left click."
It only shows thumbnails like the 'switch to' option I've set for 4th button.
"Why would you want it to activate the minimized windows?"
Not activate minimized widows. I meant other window (different application and group). Like when you have two different windows e.g. File Explorer and Browser. Both are maximized. When you minimize one window the other that still remains gets the focus (being activated, tile bar gets blue color instead of gray etc.). Sorry for not being specific.
I don't know what is a virtual desktop and how it would help me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_desktop
But it cycle throw all windows in sequence. I don't want to switch to other windows at all, only the main one from that group.
Yes, it's not exactly what you're asking for, but if you click once you'll get the window you want.
Not activate minimized widows. I meant other window (different application and group).
That works properly for me. I opened a Chrome window and three combined explorer windows. Then I minimized the explorer group, and Chrome got focus. Just like it happens if I right click on the explorer group and choose to minimize all three windows.
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_desktop"
Ok, thanks, I'll read it and try to figure it out. If I still won't know how to use it I'll send you private message.
"Yes, it's not exactly what you're asking for, but if you click once you'll get the window you want."
And all unnecessary windows will be restored instead of being still minimized. For that I can use thumbnail preview.
I need that the main window and only that one will be restored and the rest ones just stay minimized the whole time which is not the case. The unused windows for some reason are forcing themselves to be restored instead of the recent one. I think it might be a bug. The same as the thumbnail preview shows when the item was inactive and should only restore recent window might be a bug.
And why "Switch to" command for combined items works as thumbnail preview instead of switch to recent window?
"That works properly for me."
Strange, but it doesn't for me. The same when used it from context menu. Maybe that are win8 bugs or something?
And all unnecessary windows will be restored instead of being still minimized.
If you click once, only the last active window is restored. (Maybe you're using "Restore all group items"?)
The unused windows for some reason are forcing themselves to be restored instead of the recent one.
Perhaps your specific app works that way. You can try it with another app such as notepad and see that it restores one window at a time.
And why "Switch to" command for combined items works as thumbnail preview instead of switch to recent window?
That's how it's implemented. It's true for all options - "Switch to", "Minimize", and "Close". I can consider adding a new value to taskbaritem - "Cycle through windows".
If you click once, only the last active window is restored. (Maybe you're using "Restore all group items"?)
I mean if I cycle through windows I'll end up with all windows restored, cuz it's restores ech window one by one.
Perhaps your specific app works that way. You can try it with another app such as notepad and see that it restores one window at a time.
No, works rather the same. Of course one window at a time, but sometimes the wrong one.
I can consider adding a new value to taskbaritem - "Cycle through windows".
Well, maybe for someone it will be useful. I would rather like a value that would restore only recent opened window from the combined group. Or maybe change behavior for the "switch to" command to work that way on combined items instead of simply showing thumbnails, cuz it's already another command for that after all.
I mean if I cycle through windows I'll end up with all windows restored, cuz it's restores ech window one by one.Yes, that's why I said it's not exactly what you're asking for. But if you click once it will probably bring up the correct window.
Yes, that's why I said it's not exactly what you're asking for.
It's rather entirely the opposite what I'm asking for.
But if you click once it will probably bring up the correct window.
Not always, that's the problem.
Customer support service by UserEcho
You might want to try using virtual desktops for this scenario. They are built in since Windows 10, but since you're using Windows 8 you can try Virtuoz (a minimalistic virtual desktop utility developed by me) or any other virtual desktops tool.
You can try the "Left click on combined item" -> "Cycle through windows" option. This will open the last active window when you left click. You can also use Ctrl+left click.
Why would you want it to activate the minimized windows?