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docklib

This is a Python module intended to assist IT administrators with manipulation of the macOS Dock.

Originally created as a Gist by @gregneagle, this fork has been modified to include support for some additional Dock features.

Installation

Place the docklib.py file in your Python path so its contents can be imported into scripts you create. Or, include the file in the same directory as your script.

The packages available in the Releases section will place the docklib.py file into /Library/Python/2.7/site-packages.

Examples

Add Microsoft Word to the right side of the Dock

from docklib import Dock

dock = Dock()
item = dock.makeDockAppEntry("/Applications/Microsoft Word.app")
dock.items["persistent-apps"].append(item)
dock.save()

Add Microsoft Word to the left side of the Dock

from docklib import Dock

dock = Dock()
item = dock.makeDockAppEntry("/Applications/Microsoft Word.app")
dock.items["persistent-apps"] = [item] + dock.items["persistent-apps"]
dock.save()

Replace Mail.app with Outlook in the Dock

from docklib import Dock

dock = Dock()
dock.replaceDockEntry("/Applications/Microsoft Outlook.app", "Mail")
dock.save()

Remove Calendar from the Dock

from docklib import Dock

dock = Dock()
dock.removeDockEntry("Calendar")
dock.save()

Display the current orientation of the Dock

from docklib import Dock

dock = Dock()
print dock.orientation

Make the Dock display on the left, and enable autohide

from docklib import Dock

dock = Dock()
dock.orientation = "left"
dock.autohide = True
dock.save()

Add the Documents folder to the right side of the Dock

Displays as a stack to the right of the Dock divider, sorted by modification date, that expands into a fan when clicked. This example checks for the existence of the Documents item and only adds it if it's not already present.

import os
from docklib import Dock

dock = Dock()
if dock.findExistingLabel("Documents", section="persistent-others") == -1:
    item = dock.makeDockOtherEntry(
        os.path.expanduser("~/Documents"), arrangement=3, displayas=1, showas=1
    )
    dock.items["persistent-others"] = [item] + dock.items["persistent-others"]
    dock.save()

Add a URL to the right side of the Dock

Displays as a globe to the right of the Dock divider, that launches a URL in the default browser when clicked. This example checks for the existence of the Documents item and only adds it if it's not already present.

import os
from docklib import Dock

dock = Dock()
if dock.findExistingLabel("GitHub", section="persistent-others") == -1:
    item = dock.makeDockOtherURLEntry("https://www.github.com/", label="GitHub")
    dock.items["persistent-others"] = [item] + dock.items["persistent-others"]
    dock.save()

Specify a custom Dock for the local IT technician account

import os
from docklib import Dock

tech_dock = [
    "/Applications/Google Chrome.app",
    "/Applications/App Store.app",
    "/Applications/Managed Software Center.app",
    "/Applications/System Preferences.app",
    "/Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor.app",
    "/Applications/Utilities/Console.app",
    "/Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app",
    "/Applications/Utilities/Migration Assistant.app",
    "/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app",
]
dock = Dock()
dock.items["persistent-apps"] = []
for item in tech_dock:
    if os.path.exists(item):
        item = dock.makeDockAppEntry(item)
        dock.items["persistent-apps"].append(item)
dock.save()