Groupy - 1.46 (Release) Issue Report Thread

Groupy 1.46 is an accumulation of changes:

Changelog for 1.46

• Resolve the issue where auto grouping didn't group correctly. Whilst this happened with 'Combine if possible' mode, it may well have happened for some in both modes as it was very timing-sensitive
  User Report: https://forums.stardock.com/502031/get;3791587 
  

Changelog for 1.45

• Fixed working directory on saved groups
• Fixed issue with white title bars when color applied to title bars in Win10 causing white menus and non obvious active tabs in combine mode
• Fixed issue with UWP apps sometimes not joining a group
• Groups locked status is now saved in Groupy files
• Renamed tabs are now saved in the Groupy file
  https://forums.stardock.com/502000
• Rename tab / save group now takes escape = cancel and enter = save to make using with keyboard easier
• Default to selecting all text when renaming a tab to make life easier
• When re-saving a previously saved (and executed) Groupy file, the name is now offered by default to save time
• Fixed issue with auto-grouping an application when the same application had been launched for a specific group within the past 2 minutes as well.
• Fixed potential issue with rules for a window no longer being applied after a set time period

With the release of version 1.47, we are closing this thread.

Thanks to everyone for providing feedback.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Please install "Git for Windows" and test tabs in general against that app. This program fails to properly close tabs since v1.44. It was working in v1.43 - although a glitch was causing the focus to be lost once a tab is closed.

Specifically the issue is with the mintty.exe console application that is part of Git for Windows.

Also after having set automatic grouping for mintty.exe only.. when I disable it I cannot seem to get mintty.exe to group with other apps. It now only groups with itself, but I have to also re-enable the automatic grouping it seems like. I know this was not initially the case. In general I think if you just install the app and play with it you will find numerous problems with how Groupy is handling it and probably other apps that might be similar.

Another item to address - test grouping any set of apps across virtual desktops. Relocating an app from an already grouped set of programs can cause odd behaviors. If it is not possible to relocate all apps to the virtual desktop when one app from the group is moved then perhaps break the one app out of the group so those weird behaviors do not occur.

The weird behavior being that the user is left with a blank (black) square where the missing app(s) ought to be.

rbreaves,

Could you post links to shared videos of each issue you are seeing along with exact:

• Windows version
• Windows build number
• Software version number where applicable

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Already sent a video gif to you guys via email, but here is what I attached a week or so ago. I get wanting to direct all requests through your public forums, but I really don't think you should be ignoring emails - meet people where they are. I am a dev and I don't care where support requests come from - I prefer github tickets and they get the most attention but I make note and create tickets regardless of where the issues are highlighted, email, reddit, hackernews, etc. I really don't care too much, feedback is feedback.

For the most part you guys are just going to need to install the app and play with it in my opinion, otherwise you will be flying blind.

Git for Windows is the latest 2.29.2, but I doubt that matters. The SDK version is impacted in the same manner.

Open forums (and the like) are - without exception - the best medium for issues such as yours.  Every relevant eye can see it, comment on it, and its beginning, middle, and end (solution) are preserved for all time.

That said, we don't 'ignore' anything. All emails are answered. 

Thank you for the additional information; we will look at it.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Ok... I think I have been able to reproduce what you are seeing.

Repro:

• Open two Git bash windows
• Group them
• Close one
• The remaining (now lone) windows vanishes but is still running
• Taskbar hover shows it running (peek preview)
• No way to get it to return

https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/2020-12-04_10-35-43.mp4

Please tell me know if that is accurate.

Interestingly, if you enable 'Always show...' (you have to enable it when at least two are grouped), it does not do it...

Again, thanks for the feedback.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Hi - I'd like to report an issue I am experiencing.
I am seeing a gap created between the app and the Groupy headers.

Notice there's a gray slit between the app and Groupy headers.

This throws off the UI coordinates. What is rendered on screen is not where the buttons are actually placed. For example If I try to hit the Home button it's actually placed a bit higher than what I see.

I am not sure how to replicate just randomly happens. The width of the gap is also random too. the above is a better example. Sometime it's super wider and makes the app useless since the coordinates are so off.

Windows 10 Pro　20H2
OS Build  19042.662
Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.551.0

Microsoft SQ1 @ 3.0 GHz   3.00 GHz 15.9 GB 

Is there a particular app it always happens with, however?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

It's happened with the following apps but very random. I'll try and record the issue when it happens next time.

Discord, Edge, Teams, Slack

Also I noticed another issue with Explorer not groping tabs together even though I have the settings set to group explorer.exe together. Other apps have worked just fine.

It's unlikely all, rather one, that is causing any issue. Is there any test that you have performed where it only happens when X app above is included?

I assume you mean this option:

That was specifically addressed with 1.46. Are you certain you are on that version (About tab)?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

I got a trial of groupy recently. Here's the strange issues I've run across:

1) Sometimes the text size is wrong in a titlebar

This last one is an example of the dialogue when opening a ppt from a network location from windows explorer.

2)In windows explorer the tabs hide (or cover?) the quick access buttons. (I had placed one up there I use a lot to toggle whether I am working online/offline from a shared network location).

Example without tabs:

Example with tabs:

3) This was a weird one this morning that repeated itself multiple times in a row with the same window: I maximized (or I dragged the window to the top to maximize it). Then the tab bar slowly increased in size until filling half the screen. It happens with powerpoint. I haven't seen it do this with other apps yet.

• Windows version / build
• 

I think it happens when I try to resize the app but I haven't been able to constantly replicate the issue but it does happen once or twice a day.

Also with regards to the explorer issue, I'm on the latest version 1.46

Here's a video capture of explorer.exe not grouping
https://dbox.box.com/s/tzg7zsofkq23emk190zu2eh76eq0av5i

This is it working:
https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/2020-12-08_12-30-55.mp4

As a test, and if you are comfortable working in your registry:

• Go to: \HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Stardock\Groupy
• Rename it to: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Stardock\Groupy.OLD
• Reboot
• Open two Windows Explorer Windows
  • Group them
  • Select to 'automatically group all explorer windows'
    
  • Do not make any other settings changes
• Close and reopen two Windows Explorer windows

Let us know.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Quoting marshall62270, reply 13

I got a trial of groupy recently. Here's the strange issues I've run across:

1) Sometimes the text size is wrong in a titlebar





This last one is an example of the dialogue when opening a ppt from a network location from windows explorer.

2)In windows explorer the tabs hide (or cover?) the quick access buttons. (I had placed one up there I use a lot to toggle whether I am working online/offline from a shared network location).

Example without tabs:



Example with tabs:



3) This was a weird one this morning that repeated itself multiple times in a row with the same window: I maximized (or I dragged the window to the top to maximize it). Then the tab bar slowly increased in size until filling half the screen. It happens with powerpoint. I haven't seen it do this with other apps yet.

Reduced 24%

Original 3415 x 993

 

• Windows version / build

 

• 

 

End of marshall62270's quote

Groupy doesn't touch the titlebar text or draw the titlebar so any issues there will be something else causing the problem.  Do you perhaps have multiple monitors with mixed dpi setups?  This is a known issue with Windows where it will sometimes make the font really tiny with or without Groupy.  Massive text would be unusual even for Windows 10 though but I could imagine it if a dpi switch were to happen.

It is by design that the tabs will cover those controls.  Very few people use them and the alternative would be forcing the tabs on top mode on explorer windows which would be a net negative for those who don't use them.  There is a solution though which is to set Groupy into tabs on top mode which will put the tabs above the titlebar and so allow access to those extra buttons.  An alternative is to set explorer to put those under the ribbon instead.

On your third issue, are you able to let us know what version of Groupy it says in the about box please?

"Groupy doesn't touch the titlebar text or draw the titlebar so any issues there will be something else causing the problem.  Do you perhaps have multiple monitors with mixed dpi setups? "

"This is a known issue with Windows where it will sometimes make the font really tiny with or without Groupy.  Massive text would be unusual even for Windows 10 though but I could imagine it if a dpi switch were to happen."

I do have multiple monitors with a mixed dpi setup. I don't remember this problem happening before installing Groupy, but coincidences do happen.

"It is by design that the tabs will cover those controls.  Very few people use them and the alternative would be forcing the tabs on top mode on explorer windows which would be a net negative for those who don't use them.  There is a solution though which is to set Groupy into tabs on top mode which will put the tabs above the titlebar and so allow access to those extra buttons.  An alternative is to set explorer to put those under the ribbon instead."

Thanks! Those are both good options.

"On your third issue, are you able to let us know what version of Groupy it says in the about box please?"

1.46

There are times I'll have an assortment of apps running. Around 2 browsers grouped with 3-5 tabs each. A couple of work apps like outlook and teams. At home I could have a game running and at work I noticed an issue when using G2A.

Some performance/response issues when going back and forth. An example could be playing a borderless windows game and try to click on some grouped windows explorers windows and the tabs won't switch. Takes a solid few seconds before it responds, sometimes won't respond. At work, with G2A, keyboard stopped responding and sort of just repeated the last command (I was running ctrl + shift + esc) and it kept popping up task managers. Had to kill groupy both instances to regain normal controls.

Home PC

Win 10 Pro, 2004,  19041.685
Not sure how to recreate it, seems intermittent.
Groupy v 1.46

Work PC

Win 10 Ent, 20H2 (not sure of exact build - off at the moment).
Not sure how to recreate it, seems intermittent.
Groupy v 1.46

Tried your steps also tried deleting the whole register but it still doesn't recognize explorer.exe.

It correctly groups other apps (word, excel, powerpoint etc) just doesn't work with explorer.

Is it because I'm using ARM Windows?

That is most probably. From what I know, Stardock product is not design to run on ARM CPU.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Groupy is not designed for ARM windows which would explain the issues you are having.  An ARM native version of Groupy would be required to fully support grouping anything thats an ARM native app like explorer.

first question, is there, are can there be, a hot key to pull up the rename tab dialog box? 

second question, I would like to have windows explorer, roboform, everything (void tools) and Skype to all load up in group. won't do it. thoughts? you want me to do a video for you? 

third, I have about 10 different chrome personas. all with different extensions and names... not working. thoughts? 

Having a lot of problems with 1.46 in Windows 10. This is a fresh install, i7-7700, 32GB RAM, SSD. Multiple displays with the problem present across all displays. Resolution 3880x1440 to 4K, nVidia 980Ti, drivers are current. Here we go...

Basically, Groupy is causing several problems including flashing, windows jumping to random locations and across screens, font distortion, and frozen repainting. The problem is frequent and will last 5-15 seconds per event. CPU utilization is low and appears unrelated. Other windows are responsive without issue while this is happening. Turning Groupy off from within its control panel immediately stops the issue. Re-enabling Groupy brings the problem back. This has been observed with different combinations of applications running.

Other than that, love the app.

Windows version 1909 (OS Build 18363.1256)

When I have two separate groups on opposite sides of my screen (most often File Explorer and Microsoft Word) if one window goes non-responsive (as often happens when I save an MS Word file to my external hard drive [while it is waiting for the hard drive to spin up]), the "Not Responding" window and its corresponding group will temporarily superimpose itself over the other group until the window becomes responsive again. After that, the two groups separate, but the group that moved remains in the new location and has to be manually moved back to its original position. This only started happening with the most recent update of Groupy.

Update: It only seems to happen when my MS Word file is large enough.  Here are some screenshots to illustrate my issue:

#1: Two Groups, side-by-side

#2: "Not Responding" window jumps above the other group

#3: The second group restores, but remains moved

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

Can you post a link to a video (GoogleDrive, YouTube, OneDrive, etc) of what you are seeing?

Also, are you using any multiple monitor software like DisplayFusion, UltraMon, NVidia Surround? If so, and you disable them, does it still happen?

Thanks for the effort, patience, and help figuring it out.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager