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After finding out how to launch a shell script as an application I've put together an app to switch between two desktops to double the number of apps/icons that you have access to at the touch of a button. It's available off of my blog at:
http://digestingreality.blogspot.com...plication.html
If you're interested check it out!
-KennX
This seems great! To bad I don't have an iPhone to test it on.. ;)
Could you make a moive or something where I can see it in action?
I put this up last night but forgot to mention it. Thanks for reminding me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLqG1-XR1ug&v3
-KennX
Hey KennX can you put an example of what the syntax should be in those Displayorder.plist files. I always get confused :)
I don't want to put a specific file up because I'm afraid someone will think that they have to use that one and it will mess up their desktop. Since those .plist files are dependent upon what theme and apps you've installed they vary greatly...
However, I will give some more details and generic examples below.
The DisplayOrder.plist file is divided into 3 main sections (or keys): buttonBar, iconList, and special. Inside of each of these keys/sections an array is set up (which is basically just a list) that is read in. This is designated by the tag <array> and ends with the </array> tag.
buttonBar is where the icons that appear on the bottom row, sometimes thought of as the dock (in Mac parlance) reside. My suggestion is to leave this the same in both the DisplayOrder.plist and the Screen2.plist files as it will give you some apps that you always have ready access to. On mine I have the Phone, iPod, Browser, Email and SMS.
iconList is the 'meat' of these .plist files. This is where all of the other apps are referenced to appear on your desktop. Anything with:
<dict>
<key>displayIdentifier</key>
<string>com.whatever.programname</string>
</dict>
Is a reference to a specific application. For example, the Stocks program is referenced as follows:
<dict>
<key>displayIdentifier</key>
<string>com.apple.stocks</string>
</dict>
Each app that is put into the iconList array in the above format WILL appear on the desktop. The order of the array seems to fill in from right to left and top to bottom giving you room for 4 icons/apps per row and 4 rows total far as I can tell.
special is a the key area for hiding apps. Any entries that are put into the array area of this key will NOT appear on the desktop. This is what we use for the Screen2.plist file. Make a copy of the original DisplayOrder.plist and move all of the apps (the parts listed above from <dict> to </dict> out of the iconList array and into the special array. Voila! They vanish. So when the iSwap app makes the Screen2.plist file your new DisplayOrder.plist anything you've moved into the special array will be gone... making more room for you to put new entries into the Screen2.plist iconList array.
Hopefully, this helps clear things up a bit. If not, let me know and I'll try to put together a short video of how to edit them in the next couple days.
Cheers!
-KennX
Hey.. looks pretty cool, but it seems a bit inconvenient to have to log back in every time you want to switch desktops. I suspect ultimately either Springboard itself will have to be replaced, or an app used to display another listing.
However, I'm curious as to whether Springboard must be fully exited for this trick to work, or if another signal couldn't be used to cause Springboard to simply reload its contents (maybe 'kill -2/-3/-6'?).
Also, as a safety precaution you might want to consider not using 'mv', but instead use a soft link ('ln -s'). Each time, you can then simply delete that link, and make a new one when you want to switch. If you wanted to get fancier, you could also keep a master plist, and then copy part of its contents to the one Springboard will use.
bram,
Thanks! Great suggestions. I'll keep working on it and see if I can come out with a better and safer version soon. Thanks again for all your help!
-KennX
I've got my Screen2.plist set up correctly, but when I press the iSwap app it goes to the Default.png and 15 seconds later goes to my same desktop.
Have you changed the Screen2.plist to put the the hidden apps into the <special> key area instead of in the iconList area? Do you, for some reason, have a Screen1.plist and a Screen2.plist in the Springboard.app folder along with your DisplayOrder.plist? Maybe your Screen2.plist has gotten the wrong permissions? Are they the same as your DisplayOrder.plist? Let me know so we can figure out what's going on. I want to put any kind of errors (and their resolution) into a FAQ.
Yes, my Screen2.plist is set up correctly.
I think I may be missing some binary?