[Pidgin] #689: Option to hide winpidgin from Taskbar

[Pidgin]

#689: Option to hide winpidgin from Taskbar
------------------------------+---------------------------------------------
  Reporter:  arudil           |       Owner:  datallah
      Type:  enhancement      |      Status:  closed  
  Priority:  minor            |   Milestone:          
 Component:  winpidgin (gtk)  |     Version:  2.0     
Resolution:  worksforme       |    Keywords:          
   Pending:  0                |  
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Comment (by Mathieu Bonnet):

 Replying to [comment:4 datallah]:
 > I guess I don't see the point in worrying about taskbar space for the
 visible buddy list when having the BuddyList open using is already using
 significant screen space.
 [[BR]]

 Having as few taskbar entries as possible, is important, when you use the
 taskbar regularly.

 For users who are used to systray icons, the taskbar entry is just
 redundant, and generally not used at all.

 Moreover, the buddy list is often put at a specific location, on the
 desktop (like on the top-right corner of the screen), so it can easily be
 found and watched, so there is seldom any need to use the sytray icon or
 the taskbar entry.

 (And having the buddy list open, does not mean we will use less other
 windows -notably when using high screen resolutions.)

 [[BR]]
 Replying to [comment:4 datallah]:
 > The last time I looked (a couple years ago), it was violating the MS
 guidelines not to show the taskbar entry for this type of window [...]
 [[BR]]

 As long as this is a non-default option, there should really not be any
 problem with this (users who activate this option should know how to find
 the icon in the sytray -although there sure are corner cases, like pretty
 much anything).

 (Of course, if this option is integrated into Pidgin, the systray icon
 must always be shown).

 [[BR]]
 Replying to [comment:2 skuck71]:
 > I would really like to be able to leave the buddylist open AND not have
 it show up in the taskbar
 [[BR]]

 If you are a KDE user, the window manager can do this (in KDE 3.5.7, at
 least, but I guess the option is available since at least KDE 3.5.0, and
 is probably even older).

 [[BR]]
 Here are the instructions (feel free to copy/adjust them, for the Pidgin
 FAQ, if there is any need):

 1. Be sure that the system tray icon of Pidgin is always shown, so you
 will be able to open the buddy list, if it is minimized (menu "Tools",
 then "Preferences"; "Interface" tab; "Show system tray icon" to
 "Always").[[BR]][[BR]]
 2. Click on the Pidgin icon, in the "Buddy List" window
 titlebar.[[BR]][[BR]]
 3. In the window menu, click on "Advanced", and then on "Special Window
 Settings...".[[BR]][[BR]]
 4. In the "Window-Specific Settings" window, click on the "Preferences"
 tab.[[BR]][[BR]]
 5. In the tab, check "Skip taskbar", and then select "Force" in the
 dropdown list, and check the box on the right of the dropdown
 list.[[BR]][[BR]]
 6. Finally, click on the "Ok" button, and the taskbar entry for the Pidgin
 buddy list should disappear.[[BR]]

 [[BR]]
 If you ever deactivate the Pidgin systray icon, and forget to reinitialize
 the KDE window settings, you can access the settings from the KDE control
 center, in the "Desktop", then "Window-Specific Settings" options (there
 will be a "Window settings for pidgin" entry, which you will be able to
 modify or delete, which will make the Pidgin desktop entry disappear
 -well, it does not seem to be ablied immediately, so I guess you still
 will have to ``kill pidgin``).

 [[BR]]
 There might be similar options for the Gnome window manager, and maybe
 others.

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/689#comment:5>
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