A feature that needs to be added

from WinCustomize Forums

Hopefully this is already in the works, but just in case I thought I'd post it here.  Fences desperately needs to be able to automaticly move icons out from underneath itself.  It can get to be quite a hassle moving around the icons so that the fences won't end up on top of them when choosing a new layout preset.  (Unless you have all your desktop icons in fences.)  Also, if you have a fence in the upper left corner of the screen you have to move it out of the way to get to the icons underneath when you download/save a file to the desktop. (edit: Whoops, my bad.  Fences apparently moves the icons out from under itself when saving a file to the desktop after all.  It still doesn't do that when re-aranging the fences, though, so that needs to be taken care of.)

Which brings up another feature idea, a "default" fence where all new desktop items are placed.  Like a "Set as default for new icons" kind of option.

3,669 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

here's an idea to solve ONE of your problems: I never download to the desktop, things get too messy. Instead I created a folder, C:\ Downloads, and I download everything to that, you can then create a shortcut to your Downloads folder and put it in one of your fences.

Have Fun!!  B[]

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yes, I understand that there are alternative ways around this problem, but I still prefer the ease of being able to download a file to the desktop so that I have direct access to it without having to open any folders.  (I clean up every now and then so my desktop doesn't get too messy.  And then there's Fence's quick-hide feature...) (edit: See first post.)

At the very least it's still needed so that you don't have to move your icons out of the way before being able to move a fence there.  (Not everyone is going to want to put all their desktop icons in fences.)

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

adoptedchild - if you have auto-arrange on, it does move everything out of the way. not sure what to do in the case of grid-mode or free-floating though... i'm not sure i know where to put those icons if you happen to slam down a fence on top of them? i guess a argument could be made too that someone might move a fence on top of some icons only briefly, while shuffling things around... moving those icons out of the way would result in the rest of your desktop getting borked.

any ideas on how to handle that?

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

any ideas on how to handle that?
End of quote
I'd start with the Balvenie Doublwood and then maybe an Oban

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

here's an idea to solve ONE of your problems: I never download to the desktop, things get too messy. Instead I created a folder, C:\ Downloads, and I download everything to that, you can then create a shortcut to your Downloads folder and put it in one of your fences.
End of quote

This is something I have done for years, and since having fences installed have done just as boxxi mentioned and have a folder within fences for downloads.

The nice part about that too is, you always know where to find something you dl'd  even if it's a year ago.

 

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting JMB1984, reply 3
adoptedchild - if you have auto-arrange on, it does move everything out of the way. not sure what to do in the case of grid-mode or free-floating though... i'm not sure i know where to put those icons if you happen to slam down a fence on top of them? i guess a argument could be made too that someone might move a fence on top of some icons only briefly, while shuffling things around... moving those icons out of the way would result in the rest of your desktop getting borked.

any ideas on how to handle that?
End of JMB1984's quote

I turned auto arrange on and yes, the icons are automaticly moved out of the way when it's active.  I'm not sure just yet if I like having auto arrange turned on, though, so I guess I'll have to get back to you on that.

To test the auto arrange, I took a bunch of files from one of my folders and placed them on my desktop and moved one of my fences around over them.  It got a bit glitchy for a minute when a few of the icons wouldn't auto arrange, but after moving the "stuck" icons it worked just fine.  I haven't been able to reproduce the glitch, so I'm not sure if it was just a fluke of Windows or what, but if I figure out how it happens I'll let you know.

Anyway, it looks like the problem of icons not being moved out of the way when re-arranging fences has been shot down for the most part.  So I guess the importance of having Fences automaticly move icons out from underneath itself when changing the layout would depend on how many people use (or know how to use) Windows' auto arrange feature.

I still think it should at least be able to do it when choosing a new layout from the presets.  That way people can cancel if they don't like the way the icons outside of the fences have been moved.  Maybe there's a way Fences can turn on auto arrange temporarily when choosing a layout preset?

I imagine it would look something like this:

--------------------------
user selects a layout preset and clicks "apply"
Fences checks to see if auto arrange is turned on

if auto arrange is not turned on then
turn auto arrange on

otherwise
do nothing to auto arrange setting

preview selected layout preset

if user cancels layout change then
restore auto arrange to original setting
restore icons and fences to original positions

if user accepts layout change then
apply layout and restore original auto arrange setting
--------------------------

Sound good?

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

yeah a good idea. but a bit of technical challenge...once i auto-arrange icons, putting them back. could definitely look in to it though thanks