Fences 4 Alpha Issue Report Thread

With the release of Fences 4 Beta 1, we are closing this thread.

Thanks to all that provided feedback for the Alpha.

***Known Issues***

• Taking snapshots is not working, restoring current ones is working:
  https://forums.stardock.com/507683/get;3822817

 Fences 4 Alpha Snapshot:

Installed Alpha 4 over version 3.1.33 and had current version of Deskscape11 v.10.93 running.

In the last version of Fences 3.1.33, the snapshot would be black if Deskscape11 was running. 

WITH or WITHOUT Deskscape 11  Fences Alpha 4 will not display a screenshot (it is not clear if it takes one...but it does not display it).. 

Now, with Fences 4 Alpha, there is simply no indication a snapshot was even taken - tried this on a win 11 x 64 machine that never had any version of Deskscape installed, also.  Same result.

3 issue so far.

1. The fences window isn't optimized for dark mode windows (writing isn't white. you barely read the text)

2. The fences turn the same color as the background (sometimes on rearrangement)

3. The fences (on mouseover) rise up just a tiny bit. Not much but enough to annoy me  ...

I don't know if this rise is dependent on links within the fence or how to reproduce as it seems random atm to some fences created.

I also wouldn't mind being able to round of those corners a little bit more, have a visual grid to align fences to and have the ability to have fences open from left to right and vice versa with the naming of the fence going from top to bottom

To 1:

To 2:

To 3:

Hi

Machine details:-

Link to windows version details :-  https://1drv.ms/u/s!Amdj5OfvgveBlPAdcSXjhsanxabncQ

Windows 11 Pro Version 21H2 (OS Build 22000.25B)

Three monitor setup which is changed to single monitor to use VR headset.

I have used Fences in the past but removed it a couple of months ago whilst trying to find out what was upsetting my VR headset and also because I was not sure how well it would play with Windows 11.

During install from Object Desktop my anti virus software (Acronis) complained about a program with the name irsetup.exe

Link to error message:-      https://1drv.ms/u/s!Amdj5OfvgveBlPAce2XOwaKY9Rysbg

the threat references are:

MDS                68ac216f38a5f7c823712c216ca4b060

SHA1              f6ad96e91103c40eb33fd3f1324d99093e5d014e

SHA256          748d48d246526e2a79edcde87255ffa5387e3bcc94f6ca5e59589e07e683cd80

Link to Virus details:-        https://1drv.ms/u/s!Amdj5OfvgveBlPAb7RxlwC4gnTD-Eg

The program was automatically quarantined but the install carried on OK with no further action from me.

Problem, Whilst using three monitor mode I moved a fence past the right hand monitor to create a new page. That worked as expected until I tried to move it back to the original page. It will not go back...

I was able to reproduce wheat you were (not) seeing.  I have bugged it internally and will add it to the known issues.

Internal ref: FEN-109

Thank you very much for the report.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

This is a false positive and likely due to the exe being brand new - something the AV just has not seen.

While I can only test with 2 monitors, I was able to see it working:

https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/2021-10-21_09-37-06sdrohan.mp4

Remember, as shown in my video, you have to go all the way to the other side - on the last monitor in that direction - to have it flip back.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Watched your video and tried again, this time it worked. It feels as though you have to throw it at the monitor edge but it works just fine.

Thanks

Geoff Walker

Is there any list what's new in this build?

Fences 4 alpha - Can't drag-n-drop

Fences that were made with Fences3 remain populated.  However can't add any shortcuts to them.  The files are dropped back on the desktop _behind_ the fence.

{Looks like I can't upload a video to show this in action.  Can email upon request}

I cant seem to reproduce, nor have we had any other reports, what you are detailing:

https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/2021-10-22_10-19-52sdrohan.mp4

Try a purge \ reinstall to see if that helps:

https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#reinstalling

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

double clicking will not hide fences, using Alpha 4 Fences and Windows 11.

Thank you 

Darrell Troutman

xxxx@gmail.com (please, do not post your email in public forum)

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. But, I can't recreate your issue on my system. Please make sure Quick Hide is enable. Refer to screenshot below.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

1. Uninstalled 4
2. Reinstalled 3
3. Works as expected
4. Unistalled 3
5. Reinstalled 4
6. Does not accept a dropped file (falls behind fence)
   1. But you can even see the fence header darken like it knows it should receive the files.
7. Uninstalled 4
8. Reinstalled 3
9. Again, works fine

FYI: 3 monitor setup - latest win10 (claim is backwards compatible)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xLASVSqStbVCkvTW3PypmCZg1j6zTgHB?usp=sharing

cc: @sdrohan

I have been running a virtual machine in order to test updates before I use them.  If I only own one license, is there a way I can test Fences 4 in a VM without uninstalling my license from my main OS?  Since this alpha is tied to Object Desktop, I doubt I will be able to install a trial version in order to accomplish this.  Thank you.

(edit: it looks like the licensing and activation system MAY allow me to do this, unless I run into some unforseen issues)

Not that this should matter but are your Fences locked while using Fences 4?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

I'd have to re-install to check that.  Before I do...
They aren't locked in 3, so don't know how/why they would have been locked in 4.

While I had 4 installed previously, I was able to move them around, resize them and drag OUT of the fence.  That doesn't sound locked to me.

What I find interesting is if you watch my video closely you can see the fence color change on hover-over.  It sees that happening.  It *wants* to accept the drop, then doesn't.

Any chance this is a bad math calculation for the drop co-ordinate?  It wouldn't be the first time I've seen code that assumes the magnification of the primary monitor is the same for all monitors, etc.  Or that having multiple video cards confused display-related software.

Really stupid question. Am I supposed to have both the Alpha *and* regular fences installed at the same time or one at a time?

Hello,

Only one at a time please.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Thanks. Just so it's clear, one of the install processes automatically installed both. I'm afraid I can't remember the sequence that caused that, but I uninstalled regular release Fences and installed 4 Alpha.

I also encountered this issue with the installation from ObjectDesktop. It only removed the Fences entry in Add/Remove Programs, but Fences 3 is still installed.

Fences 4 installed in C:\

Fences 3 installed in D:\ (Not removed by ObjectDesktop)

Why can I no longer install Fences 4 in another location? This is also the same behavior in the new version of Deskscapes.

I have the same problem - cannot drag an icon (shortcut) off the desktop into a fence.  it snaps back to the location on the desktop.

Possible minor issue - most of the "Enabled" toggles grey out the other options when disabled, that doesn't happen in the Desktop Pages tab, disabling keeps the other options seemingly active.

Possible but unlikely minor issue - my version 4 Alpha has a version number starting with a 3.  Probably intentional, but weird.