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View Full Version : How to get PathFinder's desktop to be the "true" d


Anonymous
Feb 01, 2004, 04:18 PM
There is a way to make it so that when you do Exposé's "Show Desktop" function, the Path Finder desktop will be revealed. It should be noted that this method requires some hackery that involves injecting code into the Dock. Bad things could happen. You have been warned.

The first thing you need to do is download Desktop Manager (http://wsmanager.sourceforge.net/). This is a free, open-source virtual desktop manager for OS X. The author has also expressed a willingness to help other developers out on such issues over at Mac OS X Hints (http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20040122100102446#comments) (this links to the original hint that I got this idea from and its comments).

The second thing you need to do is quit the Finder and show Path Finder's desktop.

Finally, run Desktop Manager. Now, when you do the Exposé "Show Desktop," you'll see Path Finder's desktop. It gets better from here. If you don't want virtual desktops enabled, simply quit Desktop Manager. The effect will still remain even if it's not running. However, if you quit Path Finder and relaunch it, the effect will go away, and you'll have to launch Desktop Manager again.

Note that Path Finder's desktop will be hidden if you use Exposé to show all windows or all application windows, but the important thing is that it will be exposed if you show the desktop with Exposé. Again, this involves using an application to inject code into the Dock, much the way Application Enhancer haxies work. If you're paranoid about this kind of behavior from your applications, you shouldn't use this hint.

Anonymous
Feb 03, 2004, 01:18 AM
Hmm, this would make a good plugin feature I think. Something that isn't built-in (for the paranoid), but is available for the rest of us who would rather the Finder just die a horrible death already.

Anonymous
Jan 10, 2005, 07:18 AM
http://virtuedesktops.sf.net

Virtue (inspired by Desktop Manager) does that too. And, it is under really active development.

They are talking about a little glitch with Pathfinder over in their support forum now. It has something to do with the difference between how PF and Finder render the desktop.

neilio
Jan 10, 2005, 10:31 AM
I should note that the original hint is no longer necessary - the 3.2 release fixed the Expose issue with the PF desktop.

hob3besm
Jun 24, 2008, 09:10 AM
According to this thread, I can use the keystroke to show the PF desktop instead of the finder desktop (which has been quit). However, I can't seem to figure out how to make it work. When I choose the key, I get a desktop window with no icons, even though I have disks showing up on my PF desktop.

rodrigo74
Jun 25, 2008, 05:12 AM
Looks like this is still an issue:

http://www.cocoatech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4046