Er...what am I missing here?

[Mandork]

DesktopCoral sounds like it could be useful for me sometimes, but I don't understand how to put things into the dock area.  Dragging shortcuts from the desktop doesn't work, and there don't seem to be any instructions.

What am I missing?

[TucknDar]

DesktopCoral is an unusual program designed to "reserve" some portion of your desktop which is shielded from maximized applications..

Essentially, it acts like an invisible resizeable docking bar, which can be docked to any side of your desktop. This invisible dock acts as a barrier to maximized applications and essentially shields this area of your desktop from other applications.

Within this shielded area you might put certain application windows that you want to be always visible, or you might put one of the many desktop tools like a calendar or system information component.

-Description of DesktopCoral

In short, it's not a dock per se, it is just able to "block" a part of your desktop area from maximised applications, which is similar to what your average docking app does.

If you want a dock in the "toolbar sense", i.e. for shortcuts, I suggest LaunchBarCommander, also by mouser.

[Mandork]

Within this shielded area you might put certain application windows that you want to be always visible

That's the bit that sounds useful, but the configuration screen talks about adding shortcuts.  How do I put said programs into the blocked area? 

I think I'm being a bit of a dunce here....

[ak_]

I didn't try the program but from what i've read, i suppose you have to put the shortcuts on the desktop, under the blocked area. This way you can access them anytime because windows never go over this area and then keep these shortcuts visible.

[Mandork]

Yes, that's what I thought.  But if you try to drag any shortcuts there, they are moved, because this part of the desktop is protected...

[mouser]

It turns out that windows does not let you put icon shortcuts in this area.  As was mentioned before, if you want to do this, use LaunchBar Commander, which will in fact let you create multiple docks with shortcuts and buttons, and resize them exactly the size you want.

What Desktop Coral is still good for is for programs like Samurize which draws stuff on your desktop background, since Desktop Coral can force areas to remain free from applications.

[Mandork]

I was thinking that desktop coral would allow me to do things like put trillian windows (or word, or a folder of files that I'm working with) in their own protected spot on the desktop so that they are protected, yes?  Or am I misunderstanding the point of it?

If I try to move a window into the area that is "marked off", so to speak, as the desktop coral dock, they just move over to the edge of it and I end up with a lovely view of that part of my desktop, but I can't put anything there (window or shortcut or whatever). 

Am I just being dense, or what?