is it possible to ungroup only specific programs ???

[tunggad]

hi folks,

i know, one can choose one of these options for the taskbar buttons:

- always combine
- combine only when full
- never combine

i currently have ALWAYS COMBINE, its ok so. But i want for some specific programms NOT BE combined/grouped. ist possible ?

Thx u very much, folks!

 

[airdrummingfool]

I don't think this is possible at the moment, but I hope I am wrong because I am looking for it too.

My guess is that someone will write an app to control this one day.

 

[logicearth]

No it is not possible at this time.

 

[Tjoe]

Here we go! Found this from an article in PCWorld (Feb 2010). "7 Taskbar Tweaker" : 7 Taskbar Tweaker - RaMMicHaeL's home page

It does other things too, but the only one I'm using is the ability to split the program icons on the taskbar. I work in many different projects that use the same programs (browser, editor, file manager) but in separate instances. I like to separate these instances on my taskbar (vertical on the right) so that they are grouped by projects: Project #1 has 2 browsers, an editor, 2 file managers. Project #2 has 3 browsers, an editor, 2 file managers, etc. In W2k and XP, I used a utility called TaskArrange to let me move them.

When you download it, you'll need a RAR unarchiver, then copy the exe to a new folder in Program Files and launch it. In the options you are given a setting to have it launch (hidden) on bootup so you don't have to copy to a startup folder too.

This program didn't seem to work at first but then I figured it out. Since the default taskbar organization is based on the Application ID, it won't ungroup items that you had open before starting this program (they are all linked to the original ID). Close your programs and then open them again. Each new one that you open gets its own ID now and can be moved around the bar anyway you like.

Only down side is that when you hover your mouse over the taskbar item, you only see one thumbnail instead of thumbnails for all items by that program - which makes sense since they are all different IDs now. I'm willing to live with that as long as I can move my icons around as I see fit again.

7 Taskbar Tweaker : 7 Taskbar Tweaker - RaMMicHaeL's home page

 

[airdrummingfool]

I have been using 7TT for a few months, and while I have not tried out that specific function, it seems to me that it is the same as selecting "never combine" in taskbar properties. Unfortunately it still does not let us select specific programs to group and not group.

great program though!

 

[Tjoe]

I have been using 7TT for a few months, and while I have not tried out that specific function, it seems to me that it is the same as selecting "never combine" in taskbar properties. Unfortunately it still does not let us select specific programs to group and not group.

great program though!

no, far beyond the XP annoyance of combining. This is being able to separate the icons and arrange them the way I need.

 

[airdrummingfool]

no, far beyond the XP annoyance of combining. This is being able to separate the icons and arrange them the way I need.

So just to be clear, 7TT's "Don't Group" option is different than Windows 7's "Never Combine" option in taskbar properties? "Never Combine" still allows you to re-arrange icons...

 

[Tjoe]

So just to be clear, 7TT's "Don't Group" option is different than Windows 7's "Never Combine" option in taskbar properties? "Never Combine" still allows you to re-arrange icons...

yep! It's sweet - just like the way I used XP with another utility called TaskArrange.
My taskbar is vertical (on the right) and has the following items running in this order:
Outlook
FireFox
IE
FireFox
FireFox (a popup)
FireFox (a popup)
FireFox
EditPad Pro
Explorer (to a local drive)
Explorer (to a FTP server)
Explorer (to a local drive)
Explorer (to a FTP server)
UltraVNC
UltraVNC
FireFox
NetOp
NetOp
Explorer
EditPad Pro
PaintShop Pro
FireFox

I can now move each one of these around anyway that I like (something XP couldn't do without the TaskArrange utility).
Remember, 7TT can only do it to new windows that you open.


Now, to answer the specific question of this thread...
I've not tried this yet, but given that this feature didn't work for me the first time I tried it because I tried to make it move programs that were already open... I'm wondering if you could launch some programs first, let Windows 7 huddle them together, then launch 7TT. Any new programs would get their own ID and be movable separately. Worth a try.

 

[Tjoe]

Followup - YES! You can!

I have 7TT set to launch on startup. I launched several copies of each of my programs and rearranged to my liking. Then click on the 7TT icon (in the tray), put the Grouping back to (default grouping). The previous programs still have unique IDs so they are still able to be moved around as desired. But, now, if you launch a new copy of a program that is already on the taskbar, it will "huddle" with the first one. Now when you mouse over that group, the preview shows those together while leaving your other copies alone. You can then turn Grouping off in 7TT again and get individual program IDs for new copies. This is awesome!

You can tell when icons are "huddled" together and when they are separate. There are a few pixels separating the individual programs. Huddled programs have no space between them.