How do you add spacers to the taskbar to divide your pins?

I did find one way to do this.. it's an trick made for windows 7. A program called SpacerZ. It's actually just a folder with a few fake exe files and their shortcuts that have what looks like transparent icons. You just drop one of these shortcuts into the taskbar and Whamo, instant spacer.

Info on this here Windows 7 Customizing: How to put spaces in your Taskbar

and here. Use Transparent Shortcuts to Separate and Organize Your Windows 7 Taskbar Icons

Problem is because it's a shortcut to a fake exe if you accidentally click on it, it will tell you the exe file cannot be opened with windows and asks if you would like to remove it.. this is annoying.

Is there a better way to make spaces in the taskbar?

Really.. This is something Microsoft Should have added to Windows Years ago. All the popular desktop managers with taskbars that other systems use such as those for Linux ( Gnome, KDE, XFCE ect) has had a feature that does this for years. Just another way Linux has been way out in front of Windows and Microsoft far behind.

Have you tried pinning your taskbar on left edge of screen.
"Start" Screen Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

"All Apps" Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

It does a nice job of spacing.

Plus, if you use toolbars, they stack nice like a file cabinet.

You don't understand. Yes there is a "space" between the pins But not enough space that I can have groups of pins together and separate from the other groups of pins. That's the idea behind having a spacer. Otherwise, all your pins are still one long group.

BTW when it comes to pins, there are many apps that wont pin to the taskbar like the downloads folder or the Program and Features exe.. I had to use a tool called Pinto8 to make this happen.

Btw, I don't use the Metro screen and it's cheesy apps. I have the metro screen and it's app including its silly windows features all permanently disabled. My Windows 8 looks, feel and operates exactly like Windows 7.

This is what my windows 8 taskbar looks like, complete with spacer to divide the groups. I'm using the Windows 7 start menu and Windows Explorer, thats been integrated into win 8 using a windows 7 dvd. Note the large space separating the first group from the second group.

Could you drop real shortcuts in those folders? Like the folder on left & right side. If you click it by mistake and it opens, click a shortcut instead of "it will tell you the exe file cannot be opened with windows and asks if you would like to remove it.."

BTW- You did not mention WHY you wanted the spaces in your original post. Silly me, a guy who has a sight problem of images blending together, thought that you were putting a space between every icon.

I didn't find anything regarding this yet. the GUI is made without any option to spacing there.

Increase the DPI and then all items are larger, spaces too... but this is not what you need.

pcRat said:

Could you drop real shortcuts in those folders? Like the folder on left & right side. If you click it by mistake and it opens, click a shortcut instead of "it will tell you the exe file cannot be opened with windows and asks if you would like to remove it.."

BTW- You did not mention WHY you wanted the spaces in your original post. Silly me, a guy who has a sight problem of images blending together, thought that you were putting a space between every icon.

Click to expand...

I think i see what your saying.. give me a margin of error by putting the same app or folder shortcut on either side of the transparent icon - So I'd really have two of the same shortcuts next to each other if I understand you correctly to make it easier not to make mistakes. This might work but if i have 5 groups of pins that all need spaces between them, I'd have to add a lot more shortcuts. Those extra shortcuts will take up a lot of space on the taksbar.

I think there has to be a better way somehow. Perhaps a way to tell windows not to try to open the blank.exe shortcut (That's the spacer) at all with a registry hack ??

I know you've probably seen this already but just in case Three Useful Tricks for Organizing Your Messy Windows Taskbar

I'll keep my eyes open in my surfing and keep you in mind if I do see something.
I know how it is when you want to do something. On XP I managed to get my desktop set up to look like a 40 drawer wood grained file cabinet. It's was good but not worth repeating.
One for each ABCs, 0-9, Pictures, Videos, Music & Office.

I had not seen that page. Thanks. The Bins app may be useful.

Your wood grained file cabinet sounds interesting, I'd have liked to see that. I use Stardock Fences but I'd like to have something different and more futuristic.. an entirely different way of managing files and folders. I haven't found that yet though there are apps like Rainmeter that allow you much customization. I may look deeper into that.

Yeah it was different. A friend set up the spacing for me and I made the icons.
I was told me get some kind of drawer flying out animated effect. That didn't happen!
It was a good introduction to shortcuts and how they work. Because I had to have 40 folders and 'My Documents' folder.
Ability to use a live desktop is one thing I miss in XP. And ability to use Unfreeze.

Well, let us know if you find something.