Order of Operations

"By Default" overrides all other rules

from Stardock Forums

I recently put a Steam Proxy (LanProxy) service on my network and have been uninstalling and reinstalling games like mad to test and reset network speeds, and build up the file cache on the new server.  That action is not relevant to Fences, but, uncovered an issue I've noticed with Fences.

Once Steam generates the shortcut to be put on my desktop, that shortcut goes immediately into the "New Stuff" group (Config screen shown below) that is set in the "By Default" setting, and not in the directory specified in the "Target-Based Rules".  If I go and move that shortcut to any other fence, Fences moves that icon back into the Steam Games fence.  I cannot move it anywhere else, which is EXACTLY what I want.

I don't think I can really turn off the Default action though, as I still want anything new that isn't Steam related to be put in that New Stuff fence.

Given that there's the option to set a priority of what actions should happen, I think that "Default" should be part of that order.

If I go into the Fences Config, and click the "Apply Rules Now" button, the icon moves.

 

fences
9,927 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
I have forward your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top


Fences moves that icon back into the Steam Games fence.  I cannot move it anywhere else, which is EXACTLY what I want.

I don't think I can really turn off the Default action though, as I still want anything new that isn't Steam related to be put in that New Stuff fence.
End of quote

The issue here is that you have 'keep rules applied at all times'.  If you had it off, your move attempt would work.

That said, we get what you are saying, a serial order of ops is being considered.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Wouldn't turning that "keep rules applied at all times" kill the fact that I would then be able to move the Steam icons between windows?

I'm in the office today, and don't have the luxury of doing that particular test.  It'll be one of the first things I do tonight when I get home, that is, testing to see if turning that option on or off affects the behavior.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Pontiac76, reply 3

Wouldn't turning that "keep rules applied at all times" kill the fact that I would then be able to move the Steam icons between windows?
End of Pontiac76's quote

Not sure I understand here... Turning it off would make it so you could do it, not break it.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

The objective I have for Fences is that when new or old Steam shortcuts are put on the desktop, those shortcuts end up in the Steam Games fence.  Period.  End of story.

As a user action, if I move a Steam shortcut somewhere else, with the rule of "Keep rules applied at all times" turned on, that would mean that Fences is going to put that Steam shortcut right back into Steam Games.  I will not be allowed to have a Steam shortcut anywhere else on my desktop OTHER than in Steam Games.  At this point, the shortcut is not "new", so the Default action is not happening.  This is the EXPECTED and DESIRED behavior.

If I turn OFF the "Keep rules applied at all times", this means that I will be able to move those shortcuts wherever I want.  This is the EXPECTED behavior according to the rules, but, this is not the DESIRED behavior I want to have happen.

What I'm observing is a conflict in the rules.

Since the Steam Installer is putting a new shortcut on the desktop, AND it contains a Steam:// target, Fences is doing one or both actions, but the end result is that Default is "reverting" the action that the Target rule is doing.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Pontiac76, reply 5

If I turn OFF the "Keep rules applied at all times", this means that I will be able to move those shortcuts wherever I want.  This is the EXPECTED behavior according to the rules, but, this is not the DESIRED behavior I want to have happen.
End of Pontiac76's quote

So you want to keep a 'save me from myself' outcome, is that what I am reading here?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

That is not what I'm saying at all.

What I'm saying is that Default actions should never be performed if there is an existing rule that has ANYTHING to do with the file being analyzed for actions to be taken against it. 

If there is a rule that says that if the subject file contains Steam:// as its target if its a shortcut, then that specific rule COMPLETELY overrides whatever Default has to say.  If that file is not recognized as a Steam shortcut, then that shortcut or file needs to end up in New Files WHEN and only when its something NEW presented to Fences based on the Default rule.  Given that there are no other rules that affect a file that Fences is already aware of, I'm free to move that file from New Stuff to any other fence I want.  If I move a Steam shortcut and it's not new to Fences, the rules I currently have applied ensures that shortcut is to stay WITHIN that Steam Stuff fence.

Lets stick with the assumption that I'm leaving the "Always apply the rules" as being enabled, and lets change things a slight bit as well with a different example.  Lets say there are only two rules.  Forget my Steam rule, forget the Default rule for now.

- All files older than 30 days belong in the Old Stuff fence.
- All PDFs belong in the PDF Stuff fence

Given this, ALL files that end up on my desktop view are subject to some kind of action.  If a file is +30 days old, something is going to happen.  If a filetype is a PDF, something is going to happen.

Given these two rules, the PDF is going to end up in one of three places.
- Directly on my desktop
- In the Old Stuff fence
- In the PDF Stuff fence.

If the file is not a PDF, and the file is less than 31 days old, then it'll end up on my desktop.
If the file is a PDF and is less than 31 days, then it'll end up in the PDF Stuff fence
If the file is not a PDF, and is greater than 30 days old, it'll end up in the Old Stuff fence
If the file is a PDF and is older than 30 days then... ... CONFLICT

This is where the order of operations come in, and this is where I think the confusion in understanding between us is coming from.  I know that this kind of situation can come up if you have things setup incorrectly.  I get it.  Fully understood.  That's not what my original post is about.  It's about Default actions being applied when rules are already defined to handle that file.  If I'm having a bad day and make a conflicting rule that is not Default, that's on me, and that's where I have to look at the order of the rules that they're being applied.