Stacks Docklet

Stacks Docklet is a handy extension that allows you to view the items from a folder in a Leopard OS style. The extension works with the RocketDock application and can be added on the dock in order to enhance its navigation capabilities.

In order to use the add-in you need to unzip the archive and copy the files to the Docklets folder from the RocketDock installation folder. You can add the docklet to the RocketDock interface from the context menu. To select the folder and the thumbnail you need to customize the icon settings.

The docklet can be configured to display the content of any folder from your computer. When you click its icon the included files and folders pop up on your desktop and you can easily click one in order to open it. The files can be sorted by name, creation date or by file type.

The number of files contained by the folder determines the display style. If there are too many files to be displayed as a fan, the files are organized in a grid. The size of the grid is automatically adjusted by the docklet in order to fit all the items. If you prefer to use a certain display style you can specify this in the Options window that also allows you to change the font and the text size.

This tool is useful for the users that need to access a certain folder frequently in order to view the files or to edit them. Its inability to manage or to rename the files makes it a poor replacement for the Windows Explorer but it still looks better.

The response time depends on the computer configuration since the docklet animation occupies a lot of CPU time. In our tests, the dock seemed to briefly freeze when using a folder with more than three hundred files with the automatic grid view. Also, the grid expanded beyond the monitor so not all the files were visible.

Overall, the Stacks Docklet is an alternative for the users that prefer the RocketDock navigation instead of the classical Windows Explorer.