livsong

Join Date 01/2014

Stardock Fences 3.0.9.11 Windows 10 icon positions and Command Line

Multi-monitor setups scatter icons

Hi. I've been using Stardock ObjectDesktop since OS/2 (that was so cool!), then ModernMix, Start, and Fences on Windows for a long time. Fences is all I really use now, but we're not getting along. I recently went to an oft changing multi-monitor setup where I usually boot to 3 external monitors, often open my laptop for a fourth, and multiple time a day disconnect my laptop t go to meetings. My layout is retained on occasion, but most of the time scatters all around (usually on the Primary Display, but sometimes drops one icon elsewhere) when the monitor config changes (while powered up & logged in). I'm in the habit of opening "Configure Fences", going to the "Layout features and snapshots, then clicking on the most recent (or 2nd or 3rd most recent) snapshots to find a correct layout to restore. I also have a saved snapshot" for each of my 4 possibly monitor configurations. I've tried all of the "Layout auto-adjustments", but none retain my layout 100% of the time. Sometimes it does and I'm thrilled when I boot in the morning and everything is where it should be! I've changed from about 10 roll-up fences on my display borders and a bunch of desktop icons to 1 roll-up fence and 19 regular icons, but It still scrambles - the icons in particular.

I have two features that I hope exist or can be added at some point. 1) Allow more than the "most recent 3 days" of auto snapshots because they often seem to be taken right after I change my monitor count when it's a mess! Nothing like having three days of unusable snapshots. This is why I have saved 1, 2, 3, and 4 monitor out-of-rotation Snapshots on my own. 2) If there was a command-line option to restore a saved snapshot I could just put a shortcut on my desktop and launch it when I make a change and am subjected to the shuffle. I would just make a short batch file asking to press 1, 2, 3, or 4 for the number of monitors and, viola, restored! Much more efficient than navigating the app. No, the app isn't complicated, but doing this a few time a day gets old.

I've attached two images. The top has the icons and roll-up fence as they should be and the bottom is after I undocked, then re-docked. The roll-up in fine, but icons moved. Their destination doesn't appear consistent.

Thank you for listening!

Scott

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campbellgillman

Hello,
I have forward your request to the Stardock Support Team for their review and recommendations. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We really do appreciate your feedback, Thanks

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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Hi.
I have the same issues with a 3/4 monitor setup
, and would also like to be able to restore a snapshot
from some command-line functionality.

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I would really like to see a way to programatically set fence positions. As it stands now, when I turn off my monitors, the fences migrate to the wrong display and show up in the wrong place when i power them all back up. I have to manually drag them back to the right place and manually resize them. This is a real pain.

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Since the ability to Restore a Snapshot by command-line hasn't been added, I figured I'd bring this up again. I still have to go into the Fences GUI to Restore a saved Snapshot at least a couple of time a week, and sometimes, a couple of times a day. The latter occurs when I'm in the office and undocking from my 3 monitors for meetings and then reconnecting to the dock and monitors when I return. With a command-line to Restore ("Save" and "Re-take snapshot" from the GUI would make sense too) I can put a shortcut on my Desktop that I can simply run and apply the correct Snapshot. To go further, I would detect my connection status by network and have this run automatically.

In summary, please consider adding command-line Snapshot Management.

Thank you!

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I fully agree.
The 'relatively' simple inclusion of command-line access to Fences,
would enable users to create work-arounds for a multitude of existing issues/bugs,
that would otherwise be considerably more complex for stardock to fix.
Please could someone from stardock kindly reconsider this

...thank you.

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This is valuable feedback that I will be sure to share with the team! Thank you.

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I am guessing that 'sharing it with the team' got us nowhere

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Storing only 3 days of layouts is absurd.
The easiest resolution so I can move on to work, instead of mucking around with why my layout changed,
is to go back to the last best layout and restore it and delete the others.

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Quoting tropical3333,

reply 8

You can save and name your own layouts. They won't be deleted.

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thank you for taking the time to reply.
So apparently the statement that the "last three days" will be kept only applies to automated layout saves?
I will try out a period of time to see what happens.
Still, the three-day limit is still not realistic.
Things happen on my PCs while I am gone, caused by Windows software and, as mentioned in several posts, surprises in Fences and icon placements by unknown spirits. If gone for more than three days the only saved layouts may not be the layout I want to restore.
I can't understand the reluctance to allow the user of the software to set the number of days layouts are saved. I provide the space; the software should just keep using it.
However, thanks again for a thoughtful reply.

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Quoting tropical3333,

reply 10

So apparently the statement that the "last three days" will be kept only applies to automated layout saves?

Correct. As you can see in the screenshot, Daily Snapshots are called just that + the date. You can add yours and name them whatever of your choice and they will not be deleted.

I personally think your first argument actually is quite valid. An option to make more snapshots or timed ones, like on a wekly basis or a choice to keep daily snapshots for more days is something I for one would find useful. As you said, a lot can change in three days, especially if the computer has several users.

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