i just installed the latest ksmooth dock and got it setup the way i like. 1 dock for browsers / email, and 1 dock for a dolphin shortcut and various folders i want quick access to. when i first setup the folders dock when i'd click a folder on it the folder would open in a new dolphin window, which is the behavior i wanted. after all the updates for the beta kubuntu backports that behavior changed. i normally keep one dolphin window open with 3 tabs, and when i click on any one of the folders on the dock it opens in a new dolphin window, but i noticed shortly after all the backport updates when i click any of the folders on the tab they open in a new tab on my main opened tabbed dolphin window. i'm hoping the updates just changed some minor setting i can change back, but honestly haven't seen any such setting in the dolphin settings. thoughts please, thanks.

running kubuntu 19.10 64 bit

Open dolphin and go to Settings>Configure Dolphin>Startup and untick the "Open new folders in tabs" box. They changed the default behavior in recent releases and what I gave you will change it back.

thanks a member on the kununtu forums got me sorted, but again thanks for replying.