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Posted By: plantsower Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/21/21 07:13 PM
There are certain icons I want on my menu bar. When I look at the menu bar on STP, some are missing that I have on my regular Safari menu bar. So, I went to System Prefs - Sound, and the minute I did that, those icons showed up on my menu bar without having to choose them like the blue tooth icon and the sound icon. There was no way to choose them actually, and when I closed the system prefs, those icons disappeared.

I need to know how to put them on my menu bar. Thanks.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/21/21 10:29 PM
I'm not running STP, so this is a guess... Try System Prefs > Sound > Show volume in menu bar (checkbox) and its equivalent in System Prefs/Utilities/Bluetooth (if any).
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/21/21 10:43 PM
I tried that. The "show volume in menu bar" option is checked but it doesn't show in the menu bar. There is a bluetooth option (checked to show) which shows the icon in the menu bar when the system prefs are open but disappears once it is closed, same as the sound option. I rebooted but it made no difference.

Originally Posted by artie505
I'm not running STP, so this is a guess... Try System Prefs > Sound > Show volume in menu bar (checkbox) and its equivalent in System Prefs/Utilities/Bluetooth (if any).
Posted By: jchuzi Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/21/21 11:17 PM
Like Artie, I'm not running STP. Can you go to to the View menu in Safari and select Customize toolbar? Maybe your desired option is there. I apologize if I'm confusing the menu bar that is always at the top of the screen with the list of menus in Safari.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/21/21 11:23 PM
Yes, the menu bar should have the bluetooth icon, but it doesn't even though it's checked to show. For some reason, the sound icon is now showing. I hope it stays there. Those icons are not included in the toolbar.


Originally Posted by jchuzi
Like Artie, I'm not running STP. Can you go to to the View menu in Safari and select Customize toolbar? Maybe your desired option is there. I apologize if I'm confusing the menu bar that is always at the top of the screen with the list of menus in Safari.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 12:25 AM
The menu bar belongs to the system and with the exception of the Apple menu at the far left end, the space on the bar is allocated between the current foreground application starting from the left and the various system icons starting from the right. If there are too many icons, some will be dropped off and since the foreground Apple's menu has priority, those will come from the system icons toward the right end. It may be your volume icon has simply been squeezed out by one too many icons. Try this to get it back…
  1. On the menu bar click on Safari Technology Preview > Preferences > Advanced
  2. At the bottom of that window "Show Develop menu in menu bar" is checked by default —uncheck it

This will free up room in the menu bar for more system icons and hopefully will restore the sound icon.

ALTERNATELY: either reducing the system font size or choosing a more compact system font can do the same thing. Whatever it takes to free up space on the menu bar.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 01:10 AM
Good thought about too many icons. I work with so few that it never occurred to me.

I'm amazed by how many some others work with...including many that I suspect they don't need, and I wonder how many users realize how many icons Apple places by default, but not out of necessity, that can be removed?

Originally Posted by joemikeb
ALTERNATELY: either reducing the system font size or choosing a more compact system font can do the same thing.
I may have know how to do both a long time ago, but I need a refresher course, please.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 01:20 AM
OMG, unchecking the develop option did it! But I like being able to use the develop menu and want it handy.

Here is where I am confused. On Safari I have two more icons on the right than I do on STP and have no problem getting the sound and B/T icons to stay on the menu. I also have the develop menu on the menu bar.

By reducing the system font size do you mean where it says: Never use font smaller than ....? Because it's only a 9 on STP and a 10 on Safari. I'd rather change the size of the system fonts than give up the develop menu. Is there another way to do this? Change the font size? I read that I should do this: Select View from the Menu Bar, then select Show View Options. In the View Options window, select the drop-down menu for Text size and choose a font size up to 16pt. But when I select View there is no "show view options" there.


Originally Posted by joemikeb
The menu bar belongs to the system and with the exception of the Apple menu at the far left end, the space on the bar is allocated between the current foreground application starting from the left and the various system icons starting from the right. If there are too many icons, some will be dropped off and since the foreground Apple's menu has priority, those will come from the system icons toward the right end. It may be your volume icon has simply been squeezed out by one too many icons. Try this to get it back…
  1. On the menu bar click on Safari Technology Preview > Preferences > Advanced
  2. At the bottom of that window "Show Develop menu in menu bar" is checked by default —uncheck it

This will free up room in the menu bar for more system icons and hopefully will restore the sound icon.

ALTERNATELY: either reducing the system font size or choosing a more compact system font can do the same thing. Whatever it takes to free up space on the menu bar.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 02:16 AM
Why don't you post screenshots of your complete menu bar in both Safari and STP? They'll quantify things better than your descriptions.

More: By the way, Apple has dramatically increased the space between the icons on the right side of your menu bar in Big Sur, so some planning may be in order. You may need an app such as Bartender.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 03:23 AM
Since the original OS X Public beta I have used the freeware Marcel Bresink’s freeware Tinkertool to custom tailer the various typefaces and pitch used for the various system fonts. Try it you will like it. Be aware that too big a pitch or you glitzy a typeface can make the screen hard to read, but Tinkertool can always set everything back to default.

Don’t confuse the system fonts used in menus, etc on your Mac with the fonts used. In websites The are different animals and one Is controlled by your system the other by code downloaded with the web content, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript but with some scaling limits set in your browser. You were trying to control the system fonts with your browser and that will not work Tinkertool can control the system fonts.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 04:25 AM
[quote=joemikeb]Since the original OS X Public beta I have used the freeware Marcel Bresink’s freeware Tinkertool to custom tailer the various typefaces and pitch used for the various system fonts. Try it you will like it. Be aware that too big a pitch or you glitzy a typeface can make the screen hard to read, but Tinkertool can always set everything back to default. OK, I will d/l it. I'm surprised I couldn't control the fonts from the Mac itself.

Can you explain why I had to delete the develop menu in STP when old Safari accommodates the develop menu plus 2 extra icons on the right side? I really don't see a difference in the fonts between the two browsers.

Thanks, JoeMike
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 04:31 AM
Before and after screenshots of both your Safari and STP menu bars may answer that question, Rita.

You've got us working blind!
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 04:38 AM
Well, since I removed the develop option the menu now will accommodate my bluetooth and sound icons. Unfortunately, I can't get the blue tooth to work with my earphones on STP but it works fine on Firefox so I will just use them there when I need them.

I downloaded Tinkertool per JoeMike's advice but unfortunately I can't figure out how to use it and I just don't want to think about it anymore. frown



Originally Posted by artie505
Why don't you post screenshots of your complete menu bar in both Safari and STP? They'll quantify things better than your descriptions.

More: By the way, Apple has dramatically increased the space between the icons on the right side of your menu bar in Big Sur, so some planning may be in order. You may need an app such as Bartender.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 04:40 AM
Sorry! Maybe tomorrow if I'm up to it. I'm disgusted right now and don't want to deal with it.

Originally Posted by artie505
Before and after screenshots of both your Safari and STP menu bars may answer that question, Rita.

You've got us working blind!
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 02:38 PM
Originally Posted by plantsower
Can you explain why I had to delete the develop menu in STP when old Safari accommodates the develop menu plus 2 extra icons on the right side? I really don't see a difference in the fonts between the two browsers.
I have no idea what the specific reason is for STP to use more space on the menu bar than Safari, and it would take several semester hours to exhaust the possibilities. What I do know is STP is using more space. and that can be dealt with. I just downloaded a TinkerTool update and it's ability to manipulate fonts has been dramatically reduced, it used to allow specifying both typeface and pitch for Applications, Fixed-Pitch, System, Massages, labels, help tags, Window title bars, Utility window title bars. You can still specify the pitch for all of those but only the Application and Fix-pitch typefaces. Font pitch (height of a character above the line) gives some control but switching to a compact or condensed typeface would probably be more effective.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 04:36 PM
Font pitch (height of a character above the line) gives some control but switching to a compact or condensed typeface would probably be more effective. [/quote]

Just how do I do that with Tinkertool? Thanks. If it's a simple step by step process, I will try it. If not, I will deal with it by just bringing back the develop menu when I need it. Thanks, JoeMike for all your help.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 05:01 PM
STP before removal of develop in menu

STP after develop removal

Regular Safari menu bar with a few more icons


Originally Posted by artie505
Before and after screenshots of both your Safari and STP menu bars may answer that question, Rita.

You've got us working blind!
Posted By: Ira L Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 05:47 PM
Originally Posted by plantsower
STP before removal of develop in menu

STP after develop removal

Regular Safari menu bar with a few more icons


Originally Posted by artie505
Before and after screenshots of both your Safari and STP menu bars may answer that question, Rita.

You've got us working blind!

Clearly (hah!) the words "Safari Technology Preview" (compared to just "Safari") and "Develop" took up enough inch space on the menu bar that it squeezed out the icons you wanted. Interesting occurrence. wink
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 05:48 PM
Right. If that's it, they should have abbreviated it or used a smaller font.


Originally Posted by Ira L
Originally Posted by plantsower
STP before removal of develop in menu

STP after develop removal

Regular Safari menu bar with a few more icons


Originally Posted by artie505
Before and after screenshots of both your Safari and STP menu bars may answer that question, Rita.

You've got us working blind!

Clearly (hah!) the words "Safari Technology Preview" (compared to just "Safari") and "Develop" took up enough inch space on the menu bar that it squeezed out the icons you wanted. Interesting occurrence. wink
Posted By: Ira L Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 05:52 PM
If you really want it all now, try Bartender. Among other things, it gives you a menu bar icon that, when clicked on, gives you other menu bar icons of your choice. Although I have not used it, it seems a great way to show more menu icons when there is no space for them.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 06:32 PM
Originally Posted by Ira L
Clearly (hah!) the words "Safari Technology Preview" (compared to just "Safari") and "Develop" took up enough inch space on the menu bar that it squeezed out the icons you wanted. Interesting occurrence. wink

🤦🏻‍♂️ Obviously I was so busy looking at the trees I didn't notice I was in the forest. Color my face red blush

Originally Posted by plantsower
Right. If that's it, they should have abbreviated it or used a smaller font.
The font on the menu bar is beyond the control of the application. It is set by macOS and any change will effect every app that uses the menu bar.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 06:33 PM
Yes, but it requires Big Sur. I looked it up yesterday.

Originally Posted by Ira L
If you really want it all now, try Bartender. Among other things, it gives you a menu bar icon that, when clicked on, gives you other menu bar icons of your choice. Although I have not used it, it seems a great way to show more menu icons when there is no space for them.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 06:34 PM
Right, so I will just wing it regarding the Develop menu. smile


Originally Posted by joemikeb
Originally Posted by Ira L
Clearly (hah!) the words "Safari Technology Preview" (compared to just "Safari") and "Develop" took up enough inch space on the menu bar that it squeezed out the icons you wanted. Interesting occurrence. wink

🤦🏻‍♂️ Obviously I was so busy looking at the trees I didn't notice I was in the forest. Color my face red blush

Originally Posted by plantsower
Right. If that's it, they should have abbreviated it or used a smaller font.
The font on the menu bar is beyond the control of the application. It is set by macOS and any change will effect every app that uses the menu bar.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 06:37 PM
Just what I've been expecting (in one way or another).

First off, not that it matters, but I've got no idea how you managed to get "Debug" in your Safari menu bar, or how you got rid of "Notifications."

And here's how I believe you can get "Debug" back where you want it in STP:

Make your Date & Time icon considerably smaller by editing the info it displays in System Prefs > Date & Time or with a 3rd party app. (Do you really need to show the month and AM/PM?)

Make your battery icon considerably smaller by editing the info it displays (control-click on the icon) or with a third party app. (Couldn't you live without battery %, i.e. by eye?)

By way of comparison, here's what my icons look like. (Date & Time is Itsycal [Donationware]: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/49674/itsycal, and Battery is SlimBatteryMonitor [Donationware]: https://www.orange-carb.org/SBM.)

And as you think this through, remember that Apple has increased the space between icons by a considerable amount (too much, in my opinion) in Big Sur, so you'll need to deal with this stuff later, if not now.

Bottom line, though, is that Apple should have realized that "Safari Technology Preview" takes up waaay too much menu bar space and offered an alternative option. (Also, the amount of space that Apple's battery icon takes up has been an ongoing evoker of complaints for - more or less - ever.)

Oops! Crossed with Ira.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 06:52 PM
Originally Posted by plantsower
Just how do I do that with Tinkertool? Thanks. If it's a simple step by step process, I will try it. If not, I will deal with it by just bringing back the develop menu when I need it. Thanks, JoeMike for all your help.[/color]
  1. Quit STP
  2. Download and install TinkerTool 7 which is the correct version for Catalina.
  3. Launch TinkerTool 7 and on the Tool bar select Fonts
  4. Select the Font category you want to change then click on "Change"
  5. From the list of Typefaces displayed choose one you think would be appropriate then specify a point size (you will see examples on the screen) I suggest something like SF Compact Display or Helvetica Neue if you have them on your system but if not any compact sans serif font should do.
  6. When you have adjusted all the fonts, quit TinkerTool 7
  7. Launch STP and see how the changes worked out.
  8. Repeat until you get something you are satisfied with. (This is the kind of project that can go on for a long time until you get something you like and can live with for the next few years.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 09:42 PM
Originally Posted by artie505
Just what I've been expecting (in one way or another).

First off, not that it matters, but I've got no idea how you managed to get "Debug" in your Safari menu bar, (Me neither) or how you got rid of "Notifications." It just never showed up. It's not on any of my browser menus..

And here's how I believe you can get "Debug" back where you want it in STP:

Make your Date & Time icon considerably smaller by editing the info it displays in System Prefs > Date & Time or with a 3rd party app. (Do you really need to show the month and AM/PM?) I really don't need the Date displayed as I can see it on the calendar icon but I can't see how to change it. When I looked at Date & Time I couldn't see a choice to take out the date or the PM.

Make your battery icon considerably smaller by editing the info it displays (control-click on the icon) or with a third party app. (Couldn't you live without battery %, i.e. by eye?) I'm just used to the battery icon being there and I use it to change the schedule from time to time. I also didn't see a way to make it smaller by clicking on the icon. I don't really want to use a third party.

By way of comparison, here's what my icons look like. (Date & Time is Itsycal [Donationware]: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/49674/itsycal, and Battery is SlimBatteryMonitor [Donationware]: https://www.orange-carb.org/SBM.)

And as you think this through, remember that Apple has increased the space between icons by a considerable amount (too much, in my opinion) in Big Sur, so you'll need to deal with this stuff later, if not now.

Bottom line, though, is that Apple should have realized that "Safari Technology Preview" takes up waaay too much menu bar space and offered an alternative option. (Also, the amount of space that Apple's battery icon takes up has been an ongoing evoker of complaints for - more or less - ever.)

Oops! Crossed with Ira.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/22/21 09:55 PM
Originally Posted by joemikeb
Originally Posted by plantsower
Just how do I do that with Tinkertool? Thanks. If it's a simple step by step process, I will try it. If not, I will deal with it by just bringing back the develop menu when I need it. Thanks, JoeMike for all your help.[/color]
  1. Quit STP
  2. Download and install TinkerTool 7 which is the correct version for Catalina.
  3. Launch TinkerTool 7 and on the Tool bar select Fonts
  4. Select the Font category you want to change then click on "Change"
  5. From the list of Typefaces displayed choose one you think would be appropriate then specify a point size (you will see examples on the screen) I suggest something like SF Compact Display or Helvetica Neue if you have them on your system but if not any compact sans serif font should do.
  6. When you have adjusted all the fonts, quit TinkerTool 7
  7. Launch STP and see how the changes worked out.
  8. Repeat until you get something you are satisfied with. (This is the kind of project that can go on for a long time until you get something you like and can live with for the next few years.
I did what you said and made every font much smaller, but it made no difference in the menu bar. I still can't add "Develop" without losing my B/T icon. I even removed a third party icon in the menu bar to make more room but it didn't help. UPDATE: I was able to remove two 3rd party icons from the menu bar and it made room for Develop!!! I will now go into Tinker Tool and increase my font sizes and they are too small!
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/23/21 02:24 AM
Originally Posted by plantsower
I really don't need the Date displayed as I can see it on the calendar icon but I can't see how to change it. When I looked at Date & Time I couldn't see a choice to take out the date or the PM.
In System Prefs > Date & Time > Clock I see this, which shows the settings you want.

Originally Posted by plantsower
I'm just used to the battery icon being there and I use it to change the schedule from time to time. I also didn't see a way to make it smaller by clicking on the icon.
If you click on the icon you'll see this dropdown. You can either get rid of the icon entirely or uncheck "Show Percentage" if the info isn't important to you.

Getting rid of date, AM/PM may enable you to restore the two icons you've removed. If you get rid of battery percentage too, you'll definitely be able to do it.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/23/21 01:47 PM
Originally Posted by artie505
Just what I've been expecting (in one way or another).

First off, not that it matters, but I've got no idea how you managed to get "Debug" in your Safari menu bar, (Me neither) or how you got rid of "Notifications." It just never showed up. It's not on any of my browser menus.
System Preferences > Notifications > Allow Notifications OFF
In earlier versions of MacOS it was a lot easier to turn Safari's debug and Develop menus off and on and it can still be done in MacPilot, but where most MacPilot actions show the command line used to change the setting it now reads
Originally Posted by MacPilot
This is a special command and the details of how to execute it are not public. Please, instead, use the graphical user interface in MacPilot.

In STP it appears the Debug and Develop menus have merged into the Develop menu.

Originally Posted by plantsower
UPDATE: I was able to remove two 3rd party icons from the menu bar and it made room for Develop!!! I will now go into Tinker Tool and increase my font sizes and they are too small!
Your will get better results from changing the typeface than the point size.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/23/21 04:44 PM
I looked at the clock option yesterday but only noticed the clock on the menu bar which I didn't care for, and neglected to see the drop down box. frown . Thanks. I just took care of all that. For some reason my B/T icon decided not to show up again today. After I did the clock thing, it showed back up. It seems to be touchy. Those icons I took out of the menu yesterday were also in my dock so they didn't need to be there as far as I was concerned. I didn't put them there anyway. I'm fine with the battery percentage. I like it there. It's a reminder when I forget to plug in my Mac after I've moved it to another room for awhile.


Originally Posted by artie505
Originally Posted by plantsower
I really don't need the Date displayed as I can see it on the calendar icon but I can't see how to change it. When I looked at Date & Time I couldn't see a choice to take out the date or the PM.
In System Prefs > Date & Time > Clock I see this, which shows the settings you want.

Originally Posted by plantsower
I'm just used to the battery icon being there and I use it to change the schedule from time to time. I also didn't see a way to make it smaller by clicking on the icon.
If you click on the icon you'll see this dropdown. You can either get rid of the icon entirely or uncheck "Show Percentage" if the info isn't important to you.

Getting rid of date, AM/PM may enable you to restore the two icons you've removed. If you get rid of battery percentage too, you'll definitely be able to do it.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/23/21 04:55 PM
System Preferences > Notifications > Allow Notifications OFF

Are you talking about all notifications like mail, messages, etc., or the notifications on the right of our name on the menu bar that says "Today" and "Notifications? I would just as soon that was gone.

Originally Posted by plantsower
UPDATE: I was able to remove two 3rd party icons from the menu bar and it made room for Develop!!! I will now go into Tinker Tool and increase my font sizes and they are too small!
Your will get better results from changing the typeface than the point size. [/quote]

I didn't realize that. I did use the type face you mentioned though the compressed one didn't show. If I need to, I will remember to just change the type. I had no idea that would make a difference if I wasn't bothering with the point size either.
Posted By: Ira L Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/23/21 05:17 PM
Originally Posted by plantsower
Yes, but it requires Big Sur. I looked it up yesterday.

Originally Posted by Ira L
If you really want it all now, try Bartender. Among other things, it gives you a menu bar icon that, when clicked on, gives you other menu bar icons of your choice. Although I have not used it, it seems a great way to show more menu icons when there is no space for them.

Ahh, but they make Bartender 3 available for other Mac OS's. Go to the same link as above.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/23/21 06:19 PM
Notification OFF stops all apps from sending notifications period. But there are some notifications, like weather or safety emergency notifications that will over-ride that setting. Perhaps a abetter alternative is individually tailoring which apps can send what kinds of notifications in the same System Preferences > Notifications pane. The drop down when you click on the clock at the right end of the menu bar is called the Notification Center and what Notifications are placed there are among the individual application notification options available, but it cannot be disabled entirely. In Big Sur there are Widgets added to the Notification Center, as you find in iOS/iPadOS 14 and later.

If you don't have Apple's SF (San Francisco) fonts they are free downloads from here and other locations on the web. Apple created them specifically for system fonts on the watch, iPhone, iPad. as well as the Mac and the "Compact" variants are particularly good for reducing the with of words in menus without reducing readability and comprehension, which is crucial on the watch, but work well on the Mac as well. As to the font pitch I find 16 point to be about right and if I go below 12 point eyestrain kicks in pretty quickly unless I wear computer tinted reading glasses..
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/23/21 06:37 PM
Thank you, Ira.

Originally Posted by Ira L
Originally Posted by plantsower
Yes, but it requires Big Sur. I looked it up yesterday.

Originally Posted by Ira L
If you really want it all now, try Bartender. Among other things, it gives you a menu bar icon that, when clicked on, gives you other menu bar icons of your choice. Although I have not used it, it seems a great way to show more menu icons when there is no space for them.

Ahh, but they make Bartender 3 available for other Mac OS's. Go to the same link as above.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/23/21 06:38 PM
Thanks, JoeMike.


Originally Posted by joemikeb
Notification OFF stops all apps from sending notifications period. But there are some notifications, like weather or safety emergency notifications that will over-ride that setting. Perhaps a abetter alternative is individually tailoring which apps can send what kinds of notifications in the same System Preferences > Notifications pane. The drop down when you click on the clock at the right end of the menu bar is called the Notification Center and what Notifications are placed there are among the individual application notification options available, but it cannot be disabled entirely. In Big Sur there are Widgets added to the Notification Center, as you find in iOS/iPadOS 14 and later.

If you don't have Apple's SF (San Francisco) fonts they are free downloads from here and other locations on the web. Apple created them specifically for system fonts on the watch, iPhone, iPad. as well as the Mac and the "Compact" variants are particularly good for reducing the with of words in menus without reducing readability and comprehension, which is crucial on the watch, but work well on the Mac as well. As to the font pitch I find 16 point to be about right and if I go below 12 point eyestrain kicks in pretty quickly unless I wear computer tinted reading glasses..
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/23/21 10:02 PM
Ira, thanks for the Bartender suggestion. It appears to be very useful. 👍
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/24/21 09:07 AM
Originally Posted by joemikeb
Originally Posted by artie505
Just what I've been expecting (in one way or another).

First off, not that it matters, but I've got no idea how you managed to get "Debug" in your Safari menu bar, (Me neither) or how you got rid of "Notifications." It just never showed up. It's not on any of my browser menus.
System Preferences > Notifications > Allow Notifications OFF
I think you misunderstood my question: I'm wondering why Rita hasn't got a Notifications icon in her menu bar.

I've done a bunch of searching and never found a way to rid my menu bar of that icon; the best I could do is a command that makes the image of the icon disappear, but doesn't reclaim the real estate...just leaves an empty space.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/24/21 09:16 AM
Originally Posted by plantsower
Those icons I took out of the menu yesterday were also in my dock so they didn't need to be there as far as I was concerned. I didn't put them there anyway.
Any number of Apple and 3rd party apps arbitrarily place optional icons in our menu bars, presumably to let us know they exist.

It makes more sense than leaving us to discover their existence, and they can always be deleted by command-dragging them from the bar or unchecking a box in the app's prefs.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/24/21 05:59 PM
Yeah, that's what I eventually did. I've never felt the need to remove a menu item but now I do and I did that. Worked great. I do have the notification icon on my menu bar if you are talking about the one with three lines across I just didn't show it because it's right after my name which you have warned me about showing.

It makes more sense than leaving us to discover their existence, and they can always be deleted by command-dragging them from the bar or unchecking a box in the app's prefs. [/quote]
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/24/21 06:30 PM
Originally Posted by plantsower
I do have the notification icon on my menu bar if you are talking about the one with three lines across I just didn't show it because it's right after my name which you have warned me about showing.

OK, that explains your mysterious missing icon. I don't have my name in my menu bar so it never occurred to me as a possibility. (By the way, why are you using Fast User Switching? Your name takes up a lot of menu bar real estate, and as far as I know, you're the only user of your MBP. Do you switch between accounts?)

I've never understood why Apple has insisted on wasting so much menu bar real estate on the battery icon. I hope the increased amount of space given to each icon in Big Sur has induced them to change it.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/24/21 06:46 PM
I don't know what Fast User Switching is. I didn't know I had a choice not to put my name there. It's just there. Do I command+drag to trash? I will await your reply.



Originally Posted by artie505
Originally Posted by plantsower
I do have the notification icon on my menu bar if you are talking about the one with three lines across I just didn't show it because it's right after my name which you have warned me about showing.

OK, that explains your mysterious missing icon. I don't have my name in my menu bar so it never occurred to me as a possibility. (By the way, why are you using Fast User Switching? Your name takes up a lot of menu bar real estate, and as far as I know, you're the only user of your MBP. Do you switch between accounts?)

I've never understood why Apple has insisted on wasting so much menu bar real estate on the battery icon. I hope the increased amount of space given to each icon in Big Sur has induced them to change it.
Posted By: jchuzi Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/24/21 06:49 PM
Fast User Switching
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/24/21 07:00 PM
Oh, I see. Thanks. I never switch users as I am the only one that uses this Mac. I can see where it would be handy, though.

Originally Posted by jchuzi
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/25/21 12:20 AM
Originally Posted by plantsower
I don't know what Fast User Switching is. I didn't know I had a choice not to put my name there. It's just there. Do I command+drag to trash? I will await your reply.

Well, there was the root of your problem all along, calendar and battery notwithstanding. You can either command-drag your name from your menu bar - just off the bar 'til you see an "X" indicator, and then release...no need to trash it - or uncheck the box in System Prefs. (As I mentioned earlier, Apple and 3rd party apps often place icons that you don't need in your menu bar, so any time a new or curious one turns up it pays to investigate its nature.)

In the end, though, this was a good learning experience for you, so the long journey was well worth the effort. smile

If you didn't notice, and if it makes a difference to you, Jon's link points to a page that defaults to Big Sur instructions; you can change it to Catalina in the top left corner. (I've noticed any number of Apple pages doing that recenly, so it's always best to check before following instructions which may be totally inapplicable.)

And for future reference, if there's info in a screenshot (or other image) that you don't want to show, you can open the image in Preview and drag your cursor around it to surround it with blue dots, and then hit delete to white it out, like so and so.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/25/21 05:08 AM
Well, there was the root of your problem all along, calendar and battery notwithstanding. You can either command-drag your name from your menu bar - just off the bar 'til you see an "X" indicator, and then release...no need to trash it - or uncheck the box in System Prefs. OK, I got my name off. I don't understand where in system prefs I could have unchecked anything to take my name off that way, though.

In the end, though, this was a good learning experience for you, so the long journey was well worth the effort. smile

If you didn't notice, and if it makes a difference to you, Jon's link points to a page that defaults to Big Sur instructions; you can change it to Catalina in the top left corner. (I've noticed any number of Apple pages doing that recenly, so it's always best to check before following instructions which may be totally inapplicable.) OK.

And for future reference, if there's info in a screenshot (or other image) that you don't want to show, you can open the image in Preview and drag your cursor around it to surround it with blue dots, and then hit delete to white it out, like so and so. [/quote] Good to know. Thanks.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/25/21 08:25 AM
Originally Posted by plantsower
Well, there was the root of your problem all along, calendar and battery notwithstanding. You can either command-drag your name from your menu bar - just off the bar 'til you see an "X" indicator, and then release...no need to trash it - or uncheck the box in System Prefs. OK, I got my name off. I don't understand where in system prefs I could have unchecked anything to take my name off that way, though.
In System Prefs > Users & Groups > Login Options. (Link)
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/25/21 04:55 PM
Artie: I have used that in the past to control my login items, but I've never seen my name there. Maybe you were just referring to items other than my name? That's not how it read in the sentence, so maybe I misunderstood.


Originally Posted by artie505
Originally Posted by plantsower
Well, there was the root of your problem all along, calendar and battery notwithstanding. You can either command-drag your name from your menu bar - just off the bar 'til you see an "X" indicator, and then release...no need to trash it - or uncheck the box in System Prefs. OK, I got my name off. I don't understand where in system prefs I could have unchecked anything to take my name off that way, though.
In System Prefs > Users & Groups > Login Options. (Link)
Posted By: artie505 Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/25/21 05:14 PM
You've got to click on "Login OPTIONS," NOT "Login Items."

"Fast User Switching" is what puts your name in your menu bar, as per "Full Name."
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/25/21 05:48 PM
Originally Posted by artie505
You've got to click on "Login OPTIONS," NOT "Login Items." Oh. Thx.



"Fast User Switching" is what puts your name in your menu bar, as per "Full Name."
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/26/21 06:41 PM
Hi JoeMike: Can I call you Joe? LOL! Anyway, I put my fonts and points on my computer back to default via Tinker Tool. But some of them are still really tiny. I don't know how to get them back to normal. This is a screen shot of my Bean.com word processor where I save a document. When I go to label my document and decide where I want it on my Mac, you can see that the word "desktop" is teensy tiny. I want it back to normal. I don't think anything else is still tiny as far as I've noticed. Any ideas? Bean Word Processor It's actually tinier than it looks on the screen shot.



Originally Posted by plantsower
Originally Posted by joemikeb
Originally Posted by plantsower
Just how do I do that with Tinkertool? Thanks. If it's a simple step by step process, I will try it. If not, I will deal with it by just bringing back the develop menu when I need it. Thanks, JoeMike for all your help.[/color]
  1. Quit STP
  2. Download and install TinkerTool 7 which is the correct version for Catalina.
  3. Launch TinkerTool 7 and on the Tool bar select Fonts
  4. Select the Font category you want to change then click on "Change"
  5. From the list of Typefaces displayed choose one you think would be appropriate then specify a point size (you will see examples on the screen) I suggest something like SF Compact Display or Helvetica Neue if you have them on your system but if not any compact sans serif font should do.
  6. When you have adjusted all the fonts, quit TinkerTool 7
  7. Launch STP and see how the changes worked out.
  8. Repeat until you get something you are satisfied with. (This is the kind of project that can go on for a long time until you get something you like and can live with for the next few years.
I did what you said and made every font much smaller, but it made no difference in the menu bar. I still can't add "Develop" without losing my B/T icon. I even removed a third party icon in the menu bar to make more room but it didn't help. UPDATE: I was able to remove two 3rd party icons from the menu bar and it made room for Develop!!! I will now go into Tinker Tool and increase my font sizes and they are too small!
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/26/21 08:53 PM
Originally Posted by plantsower
Hi JoeMike: Can I call you Joe? LOL! Anyway, I put my fonts and points on my computer back to default via Tinker Tool. But some of them are still really tiny. I don't know how to get them back to normal. This is a screen shot of my Bean.com word processor where I save a document. When I go to label my document and decide where I want it on my Mac, you can see that the word "desktop" is teensy tiny. I want it back to normal. I don't think anything else is still tiny as far as I've noticed. Any ideas? Bean Word Processor It's actually tinier than it looks on the screen shot.
You certainly may call me Joe as I am known in official documents, or Mike as I was called in my salad days, or JoeMike as I was called as a youth to distinguish me from my father (especially when my mother was "irritated" with me which seemed often 🙄).

Now to returning your fonts to normal pitch. When you change the either the typeface or pitch of the various system fonts. Those changes do not appear in applications until you quit and restart the application or it may be necessary to reboot the system in stubborn cases. (NOTE: while Apple applications do use the specified system fonts for menus, etc. some third party applications may march to their own drummer. I am not familiar with Bean but it appears to be well behaved so I would expect either a restart of Bean or a reboot would fix the situation, but you may need to peruse Bean's preferences.
Posted By: plantsower Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 06/26/21 09:50 PM
Thanks Joe.

Quitting Bean and Restarting it worked! I always forget that can fix things



Originally Posted by joemikeb
Originally Posted by plantsower
Hi JoeMike: Can I call you Joe? LOL! Anyway, I put my fonts and points on my computer back to default via Tinker Tool. But some of them are still really tiny. I don't know how to get them back to normal. This is a screen shot of my Bean.com word processor where I save a document. When I go to label my document and decide where I want it on my Mac, you can see that the word "desktop" is teensy tiny. I want it back to normal. I don't think anything else is still tiny as far as I've noticed. Any ideas? Bean Word Processor It's actually tinier than it looks on the screen shot.
You certainly may call me Joe as I am known in official documents, or Mike as I was called in my salad days, or JoeMike as I was called as a youth to distinguish me from my father (especially when my mother was "irritated" with me which seemed often 🙄).

Now to returning your fonts to normal pitch. When you change the either the typeface or pitch of the various system fonts. Those changes do not appear in applications until you quit and restart the application or it may be necessary to reboot the system in stubborn cases. (NOTE: while Apple applications do use the specified system fonts for menus, etc. some third party applications may march to their own drummer. I am not familiar with Bean but it appears to be well behaved so I would expect either a restart of Bean or a reboot would fix the situation, but you may need to peruse Bean's preferences.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Menu bar on Safari Technology Preview - 07/16/21 06:25 PM
Originally Posted by Ira L
If you really want it all now, try Bartender. Among other things, it gives you a menu bar icon that, when clicked on, gives you other menu bar icons of your choice. Although I have not used it, it seems a great way to show more menu icons when there is no space for them.
I just registered Bartender after completing the trial. Not a showstopper, but very useful in organizing the menu bar and reducing visual clutter on the screen. Thanks for introducing me to it. 👍
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