Mac OS X query - right mouse click on dock icons?

[archerships]

I'm using Mac OS X 10.4.2 (Tiger) on a 667 MhZ Powerbook with 1 GB of ram. In the past, I used to be able to right-click on the dock icon of a running application, and a menu would appear listing all of the open instances of that application. Now, however, nothing happens when I right click. Right-clicking works in other contexts, so I know it isn't a physical problem with the mouse. There's nothing in the dock preferences that controls right-click behavior that I could see. Power-cycling the computer doesn't have an effect. Any ideas regarding what I might do to fix it? Thanks!

Comments

[mauitian.livejournal.com]

Can you ctrl-click (left click while holding ctrl) on a running app in the dock and get that menu?

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Thank! No, that doesn't work either. Although, if I ctrl-left-click within an open app window, it behaves as if I right clicked. It just doesn't work in the dock.

[hippierage.livejournal.com]

rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Dock.plist
killall Dock

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That plist didn't exist, but I went ahead and killed the Dock. After it restarted, the problem remained.

[hippierage.livejournal.com]

sorry, capitilization error.
com.apple.dock.plist

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I deleted it, and restarted dock, but the problem remains.

[mauitian.livejournal.com]

Well, that confirms the problem is just with your dock and not a hardware problem.

So... you got me!
hippierage made a good suggestion -- try finding and mucking around with the dock plist file, which holds all the preferences for the dock. And make sure you're up to date. Other than that... that's one of the stranger problems I've heard.

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I tried deleting and recreating the dock plist, but that didn't seem to help. All of the software updates that "Software Update" is aware of have been installed. Next stop: Apple store.

[semiotic-pirate.livejournal.com]

are you talking about the regular menu... that's just a "hold-down" click. It shows me open instances (like the assorted windows I have open for safari when I hold-down click the icon in the dock)

[crasch.livejournal.com]

It shows me open instances (like the assorted windows I have open for safari when I hold-down click the icon in the dock)

Yes, that's what I'm trying to do. However, it isn't working for me for some reason, regardless of whether I "click-and-hold" or I right-click.

[semiotic-pirate.livejournal.com]

Well, it doesn't cost anything to go into a Mac store and ask the gurus/experts whatever they call thier "help desk" people... You could call your nearest Mac store too. I'm hoping you don't have to reload the system.

I just got Tiger myself and I had bugs until I was able to get all the updates via landline/ethernet. It runs even better if you can do a clean install instead of an update - though you'd have to back up and re-install all your other stuff. (Not that big of an issue, as that is what I did recently when I had the new hard drive installed.)

Good luck! PS: can you see my latest post about Flamig Farm?

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I may do as you suggest.

I did a clean install of Tiger, and I believe I've installed all of the updates. (Software update says that there is no new software to be installed.)

Yes, I saw your post re: Flamig Farm. Unfortunately, I'm in Raleigh, NC, so it's a bit of a drive. But it looks like fun!