[Jaques]

Call me slow, but I wasn't even aware that I could place a folder in the dock (in Tiger) and view its content in a hierarchical manner. Stacks seems cool but I've always used overflow and default folder X with hot keys so I can access my most frequented folders. Is there a way in Leopard or Tiger to set hotkeys for folders? As I mentioned I set these hotkeys with Default folder X at present.

[JaxbNimbel]

I use lots of folder and subfolders in my Tiger Dock, most of which are inaccessible via Stacks. As such, I've been forced to switch back to Tiger until this is fixed. I'm not saying that Stacks needs to completely go. For some people with few needs, Stacks might work fine. But for power users who store lots of files in subfolders and need hierarchical dock menus, Leopard is a complete no-go. I just refuse to reorganize all of my files just for Leopard at the whim of Apple.
So, I've switched back to Tiger for the time being. Sorry for being bitter, but upgrading to an OS that costs $129 and finding all your files inaccessible easily or in the same manner with one click is very disappointing and not worth the time and trouble. If Stacks is not fixed, look for my copy of Leopard cheaply on Ebay soon.
Thanks.

[Dan Frakes]

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You can no longer open a folder youve placed in the Dock by simply clicking on it; there isnt even a way to do so by clicking while holding down a modifier key.

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Ah ... but there is a key combination that will open the stack's folder directly. Use Command-click on the stack icon .... and the folder opens. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif At least it works for me.

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This "works" only if you view your folders in column view. Command-click is actually "Reveal Folder In Finder"; it just so happens that when you reveal a folder in column view, it also displays its contents.

[esteban]

I agree... so this is now on digg: http://digg.com/apple/OpinionHowLeopard[u]Stacksstacks_up
What about using a "parental controled view" of the finder instead of current stack UI?

[RichardHallas]

I agree very strongly with all of this article. I loved the previous hierarchical menus and used them all the time. Now that this behaviour is gone, I feel like one of my hands has been tied behind my back. As I see it, Apple could remedy the situation with the following simple changes:
1. Offer the previous hierarchical view as a third choice along with the stack/grid options.
2. Allow the user to display the stack with its Stack Icon or its Finder Icon. I.e. Stack Icon would give the current behaviour, whereas Finder Icon would display whatever icon appears in the Finder (be it a standard folder or a custom icon).
3. Add something in System Preferences to determine the default display behaviour for all newly-added stacks.
Regarding keyboard shortcuts relating to stacks:
1. Command-click is actually logical in its behaviour, and wholly consistent with other icons in the Dock. If you Command-click any application icon in the Dock, the application is revealed, highlighted, in the Finder. With stacks, exactly the same thing happens with the stacked folder.
2. Shift-click couldn't be used for popping up a hierarchical menu (or whatever) because it's already used to invoke 'slow animation'. (I.e. hold down Shift when you click to expand or collapse a stack and the animation happens slowly and smoothly, just like Shift-iconising a window etc.). Option-click would, I think, be the only available modifier key for producing some form of new behaviour.
Anyway, once again, a very good article: it explains exactly why stacks actually represent a massive step backwards in functionality and design for Leopard. They're easily and by far the worst new feature of the new OS.

[MacBrogdon]

Has anyone done any digging into the Dock to see if the hierarchical list is buried inside were a simple Shell script can turn it back on?

[Schneb]

That pretty much Stacks it up. Since its introduction, I have pretty much hated the Dock and all of its ramifications. As a result, it has been nothing more to me than an app-launcher, something that Quicksilver is even replacing. So Stacks is just more of the same poor moves by Apple. This really does not surprise me. iMovie 08 gave me a hint that someone is out of control at Cupertino.

[Hurley42]

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I'm not used to seeing this kind of "life sucks and they're all out to get us" viewpoint in a MacWorld forum, as Mac users are normally better educated and more intelligent than the rank and file.

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Sorry did not mean to sound so negative, but after recently completing my MBA, businesses are not out to simply please consumers, but mainly to please stockholders. The main focus of graduate business programs is to teach "professionals" to increase profits. Putting out a "new" OS every 12-18 months does increase profits. Even intelligent educated people can see the downside to profit seeking.
By the way, I personally love stacks. I was only arguing against the idea that a new feature like this would make everyone happy, even though the suggested improvements seem so obvious - and I am sure Apple thought about them. Apple needs to have ideas and improvements in mind already for the next OS to remain profitable. One way to do that is to hold back some ideas and spread them out over various iterations of future OS's.

[MacBrogdon]

Also, a KIND word to Apple Feedback about adding back the hierarchical list when you ctrl-click or click-and-hold, and the option to change the Stack icon might speed things up.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/
OS X Feedback is near the bottom.

[Dan Frakes]

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2. Shift-click couldn't be used for popping up a hierarchical menu (or whatever) because it's already used to invoke 'slow animation'. (I.e. hold down Shift when you click to expand or collapse a stack and the animation happens slowly and smoothly, just like Shift-iconising a window etc.). Option-click would, I think, be the only available modifier key for producing some form of new behaviour.

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Unfortunately, option-click already has a purpose in the Dock: option-clicking on an application hides all other applications. It wouldn't make sense for option-clicking on a folder/stack to do something completely different.
As for shift-click, I think most Mac users would give up the useless eye candy of slow-motion effects wherever they might occur if it meant gaining actual functionality /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Solvs]

I'm sure Apple will be fixing this is a future (free) update.
You all are sending your opinions and suggestions to Apple right?

[Hurley42]

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I highly doubt Apple wanted this feature to be perfect out of the gate.

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I suppose they deliberately crippled Time Machine and Spaces, too?
Businesses do lots of things to attract customers, but putting out crap is generally not very successful in the long run.

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I totally agree. Hopefully Apple wises up. I love my Macs, but I have noticed more bugs recently in their product offerings, including the iPhone and Apple TV (which I both own). I am becoming more hesitant to buy products immediately from Apple due to these glitches. I am starting to act like a Windows consumer, but towards Apple products - wait one year then buy. I am no longer a blind zealot towards Apple.

[owenink]

Dan,
Excellent article! You've managed to be fair and accurate, and as a result, are not suffering too many of the fanboy flames that articles critical of Apple sometimes ignite.
The thing that kills me about Stacks (and the transparent menu bar), is that clearly Apple had been told by developers early on that there were problems with the implementation, and these concerns were ignored. Apple used to be known as the company that really cared about the user experience, but there are various things about Leopard that I consider downgrades, and that's troubling.
BTW, one more thing I don't get about Stacks is why the Show in Finder option is at the top of the fan, instead of the bottom where it would be much easier to access. Oddly, Apple puts it at the bottom right of the grid view where it's convenient, so why be inconsistent and put it at the farthest possible point away from the Stack icon when in the fan view?

[schoonerman]

For me (and I don't know how many others) the Downloads folder stack is near-perfect as is. Why near?
With the number of things in my dock and the degree of magnification I use
1. Even if I click on the far right of the Downloads stack, the lowest clickable object in the displayed fan forces a non-vertical move to reach it...I have to move somewhat right (or click the name, and near as I can tell, on a glyph not the name's background).
2. The top object in the fan (Show in Finder is nearly off screen (and right now it's behind the Yojimbo tab thing, but that's not Apple's problem)).
I've adjusted to item 1. I've adjusted to item 2 by not using the Show in Finder object that tops the fan, but instead the Show in Finder command in the dock menu for Downloads. That's a much shorter mouse trip anyhow.
For the Documents Stack Apple so kindly provided...on this machine it is nearly useless (names elided), and I just removed it. I'll see whether it stays removed. On my laptop, it still looks useful--I don't have many icons as direct children of Documents on that machine, as I use it less. On either machine, using it will require a habit change (I always have a Finder window open in Column view, and Places/Documents is easy to reach).