Desktop Portal Folder shows icons in fences as well as on the desktop

from Stardock Forums

I have a folder portal on my desktop that contains all of the files in my desktop folder.  When new files are added to the desktop (or the desktop folder) the icons show up the desktop as well as in the desktop folder portal.  I cannot hide the icons on the desktop and only display them in the portal.  I want to have the files displayed in the fences portal and not on the desktop.  What seems strange is that some files are in the portal only but some are displayed in both places.

Here is a screen capture showing file icons in both places.  

Thank you for any suggestions and help.

Best,
Alan

7,554 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues. That is not strange at all. When you create a portal fence it will shows everything inside that linked folder. In your case the desktop folder. So everything that are inside the desktop folder will appear in your desktop portal fence. While normal fences are use to organize how your icons or folder which actually inside "Desktop Folder" be display on your desktop. Please do not confuse between fences and folders. When you send your desktops files or icons into a fences on your desktop. It just happen on your desktop. But in the actual "desktop folder" those icons or files is not move else where. It still right there inside the desktop folder. While some of the icons still outside the fences you can see it still outside and not hidden when you roll up those fences.

That is why you can see some files or icon in your desktop while others is hidden inside the rolled up fences. But it would not be hidden in your portal fences to the desktop. 

I was wondering why do you need to create a portal fence to the desktop while you already have excess to it on your desktop?

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

While I understand the distinction between a fence and a portal I still don't understand the behavior I am seeing.  Based on your reply I should be able to open a windows explorer and navigate to the folder referenced in the fences portal and I should be able to copy files to that location and they should show up in the portal but not on the desktop.  You can see from the screen capture that there are many files in the portal but 7 of them are in the portal as well as on the desktop.  Why aren't all the other files on the desktop?

As to the purpose, I have been using the desktop portal as a way to "park" files that I need to figure out what to do with them (delete, move to another folder, etc.).  And, when they are in the portal it keeps my desktop clean.  I set the opacity of the portal to 0 and enable the roll-up feature.  So, the portal only appears if I hover my mouse over the title bar position.  When I do that, the portal unfolds.

I found a solution by creating a fences group that contains all the files on my desktop.  This removes them from the desktop but displays them in the portal when I move files to the fence.

Does that make sense?

Best,
Alan

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting alanneustadtl, reply 2

Based on your reply I should be able to open a windows explorer and navigate to the folder referenced in the fences portal and I should be able to copy files to that location and they should show up in the portal but not on the desktop.  You can see from the screen capture that there are many files in the portal but 7 of them are in the portal as well as on the desktop.  Why aren't all the other files on the desktop?
End of alanneustadtl's quote

No, since that Portal Fences is looking at the desktop folder. It will always shows what ever physically inside that "desktop folder". But, on your Monitor "desktop", Fences will arrange that icons into what ever fence you set up, but it won't physically change the Desktop folder.

Quoting alanneustadtl, reply 2

As to the purpose, I have been using the desktop portal as a way to "park" files that I need to figure out what to do with them (delete, move to another folder, etc.).  And, when they are in the portal it keeps my desktop clean.  I set the opacity of the portal to 0 and enable the roll-up feature.  So, the portal only appears if I hover my mouse over the title bar position.  When I do that, the portal unfolds.
End of alanneustadtl's quote

You should be able to do that automatically by setting up a temporary Fence and setup rule to send all new items send to desktop into that temporary Fence. You can than to move to other fence or delete it. Without needing to physically change the actual desktop folder.

The point to have Fence is to arrange/organize how your desktop files and folder appear on the monitor desktop.

 

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting basj, reply 3


You should be able to do that automatically by setting up a temporary Fence and setup rule to send all new items send to desktop into that temporary Fence. You can than to move to other fence or delete it. Without needing to physically change the actual desktop folder.

The point to have Fence is to arrange/organize how your desktop files and folder appear on the monitor desktop.

End of basj's quote

 

This makes sense and seems easy to do. Thank you for the suggestion.

Best,
Alan

 

 
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Glad to help.. let us know if you still our assistance.

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant