- Fetch Softworks
- Microsoft
- VMware
- Mark/Space, Inc.
- Readers Like You!
- Bare Bones Software
- Web Crossing
- MacSpeech
- Circus Ponies
- CS Odessa
We're at Macworld Expo 2009 in San Francisco with the latest news about the show. Check back often this week for updates!
- Jobs Clears the Air on Health Issue
- Welcome to Macintosh Movie to Screen at Macworld Expo
- MacHEADS Movie to Premiere at Macworld Expo
- No Jobs Keynote at Apple's Last Macworld Expo
- TidBITS Events at Macworld SF 2009
- A Mother's Letter to Apple about Macworld Expo
Spin Through Toolbar View Options
Although many people never change their toolbars from the default settings, all standard toolbars on the Mac offer six states: icon only, text only, and icon and text, with all three coming in normal and small size. You can change them by choosing View > Customize Toolbar.
But there's a shortcut that makes it easier to check out each variant. Simply Command-click the toolbar lozenge at the upper right of a window, and the toolbar switches to the next view. Click it enough times, and you cycle back to the start.
Written by Kirk McElhearn
Recent TidBITS Talk Discussions
- Secure Certificate Hack Doesn't Imperil Users (9 messages)
- Remote Turns Apple TV into Music Source (5 messages)
- iPhone 3G car accessories (24 messages)
- Is there any difference in MobileMe products? (3 messages)
Other articles in the series Tools We Use
- Tools We Use: Backdrop (01 May 06)
- Tools We Use: DropCopy (30 Jan 06)
- Tools We Use: PinPoint and Mouseposé (07 Feb 05)
- Tools We Use: Random Noises With SonicMood (10 Jan 05)
- Tools We Use: LaunchBar (17 Mar 03)
- Tools We Use: SpamSieve (17 Feb 03)
- Tools We Use: URL Manager Pro (24 Jun 02)
- Tools We Use: DiskSurveyor (10 Sep 01)
- Tools We Use: TypeTamer Returns (13 Nov 00)
- Tools We Use: VSE Link Tester (03 Jul 00)
- Tools We Use: iDo Script Scheduler (17 Apr 00)
- Tools We Use: Menuette (06 Sep 99)
- Tools We Use: Synchronize (24 May 99)
- Tools We Use: Default Folder (05 Apr 99)
- Tools We Use: MacTicker (15 Mar 99)
- Tools We Use: GURU (30 Nov 98)
Published in TidBITS 466. Subscribe today to receive TidBITS in email every Monday.
- Norton Utilities for Macintosh Updated to 4.0.3
- Extensis Rescuing Suitcase
- PowerBook Patch Prevents Power Pops
- Virtual PC 2.1.2 Adds USB Support
- Aladdin Ships Faster StuffIt Expander 5.1
- Connectix Wins First Round of Sony Lawsuit
- KeyQuencer 2.5.5 Offers Mac OS 8.5 Compatibility
- eMediaweekly Folds After Five Months
- Elementary, My Dear Sherlock
| Tools We Use: Desktop Resetter
In TidBITS-457, we introduced a sporadic feature called Tools We Use, each instance of which focuses on a single, clever program that makes our Macs easier to use. Although the Internet is awash with freeware and shareware utilities, Tools We Use focuses on programs actually used by members of the TidBITS staff. The first installment covered the freeware GURU (Guide To RAM Upgrades) written by Craig Marciniak and Steve Jackman; now, it's time to take a look at Nick D'Amato's Desktop Resetter 1.2.1.
<http://db.tidbits.com/article/05191>
Desktop Resetter -- If you organize numerous icons on your desktop and frequently lose that organization (switching monitor resolutions can do it), you can use Desktop Resetter to restore your icons to their favored positions. I've found Desktop Resetter handy because I have two large monitors and I tend to keep icons pertaining to current projects on my desktop. The problem arises when I start up from a different disk that doesn't know about my monitor settings. Much of the time, after I return to my primary startup disk, all my desktop icons are haphazardly splashed against the right edge of the right-hand monitor, requiring five minutes of fiddling to get everything back where I want. [I encounter a similar problem using my PowerBook 5300cs on multiple external monitors. -Jeff]
Enter Desktop Resetter. All you do is make sure your icons are placed properly, then run Desktop Resetter and tell it to remember your icon settings. Then you forget about it until the next time you find your icons strewn randomly about your desktop. Before you go to the work of moving everything back into place, run Desktop Resetter again and tell it to reset icons to their remembered positions. Obviously, icons that have appeared since you told Desktop Resetter to remember positions won't move, but everything else magically jumps back into place. Since booting with other disks often happens in periods of high stress (like recovering files or testing dangerous software), it's especially nice not to also suffer the irritation of a messy desktop.
I have no particular complaints with Desktop Resetter, since it does what it promises with a minimum of fuss. Although having Desktop Resetter remember icon positions frequently is possible, thanks to its Quick Remember hotkey (a Quick Reset hotkey is also available), that's more than I need, so I've not messed with it. It's worth reading the Read Me file for additional tips and hints.
Desktop Resetter is $10 shareware, runs on any Mac with System 7.5 or later, and is a 121K download. If you've ever been annoyed at having to reorganize desktop icons after switching resolutions or changing monitors, check out Desktop Resetter.
<http://members.home.net/goddfadda/resetter.html>
READERS LIKE YOU! Support TidBITS with a contribution today!<http://www.tidbits.com/about/support/contributors.html>
Special thanks this week to Michael Destefano Jr., Bob Dahl,
Jason Kerr, and Michael Blaguszewski for their generous support!