Fences 5 Alpha 1: Better monitor management

from Stardock Forums

We have always been working to improve the reliability of Fences placement on the Desktop.  What has made this challenging over the years are all the variables that are involved:

  • Quantity of monitors

  • Connection types 

  • DPI \ Scale \ Resolution

  • Waking from sleep \ hibernate states

  • The evolution of Windows itself and how it manages items on the desktop

That said, we have a Fences 5 Alpha build in the early stages that we believe addresses most scenarios and we are looking for users who are willing to test this version of our updated engine.

The build

https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/Fences5_5.5.0.2-j46-Setup.exe

NOTE: As stated, this is an early Fences 5 build that you will need to have a license for or an active Object Desktop subscription.  The alternative is to activate a trial if you did not have a license.

Also, while internal tests have been promising, no one should install this on a PC if they are not willing to do considerable work to resolve unforeseen issues. 

Post-install \ reboot (<-important)

Backups -> Store my layout on a per-monitor-configuration basis

image-20240319-161545.png

Reporting an issue

Please include the following for anything found:

  • Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)

  • Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen

  • Screenshots and videos are very helpful.  Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post.  Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.

  • If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions.  If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.

We are very much looking forward to your feedback on this.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

fences
15,343 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Known issues

While we appreciate all feedback, please remember that we offer no official support for beta \ preview \ developer channel versions of Windows. If you report issues while in any of those early release channels, you should not expect them to be addressed unless it still exists in a retail version of Windows.

  • tbd
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

***Reserved***

TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Good day. My problem I am having is that at (apparently) random times, my icons will change positions within my Fences. Restoring a backup immediately fixes the layout, but eventually they re-arrange themselves without my say-so.

I am running the 5.05.02 Alpha version to see if it fixed the problem, but it did not.

My Windows 11 build is 22621.3296.

My Windows Feature Experience Pack is 1000.22687.1000.0.

I have a link to a Google Drive folder with the following images. 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17QNwGL0ZHTILnxIZ30QD1sVbvEIdCPqd?usp=sharing 

1. How my desktop looks during normal work times. (This is my desktop's default state.)

2. How my right Fence looks when fully expanded (I never do this, but I did it just to show you what icons move around.)

3. How my left Fence looks when fully expanded (I never do this, but I did it just to show you what icons move around.)

4. How my unrolled top Fence looks when hovered over. (I do this a lot.)

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Happy to note that no new issues were found in this build. Unfortunately, I only have one monitor so I am not able to test multi monitor use. I will gladly keep testing the alpha's as they are released.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting TeacherGalante, reply 3

Good day. My problem I am having is that at (apparently) random times, my icons will change positions within my Fences. Restoring a backup immediately fixes the layout, but eventually they re-arrange themselves without my say-so.
End of TeacherGalante's quote

'Within my Fence' is a bit out of the scope of this Alpha test.  The goal here is to see that icons on the Desktop (outside of a Fences), and the Fences themselves, behave in an expected \ desirable manner when monitors, connection types (HDMI, DVI, etc), resolutions, and scaling change.

As for your issue, try setting all Fences sorts to 'Name' and 'maintain sorting'

If that does not resolve your issue, create a new thread and we will work on it there.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdrohan, reply 5

'Within my Fence' is a bit out of the scope of this Alpha test. The goal here is to see that icons on the Desktop (outside of a Fences), and the Fences themselves, behave in an expected \ desirable manner when monitors, connection types (HDMI, DVI, etc), resolutions, and scaling change.

As for your issue, try setting all Fences sorts to 'Name' and 'maintain sorting'
End of sdrohan's quote

I am not seeing any of those new sorting rules in alpha one. I don't believe we have "maintain sorting" yet but it does look promising

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting PhoenixRising1, reply 6

I am not seeing any of those new sorting rules in alpha one. I don't believe we have "maintain sorting" yet but it does look promising
End of PhoenixRising1's quote

What...?  They are not 'new' and have been present in many versions of Fences...

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdrohan, reply 7


Quoting PhoenixRising1,
reply 6

I am not seeing any of those new sorting rules in alpha one. I don't believe we have "maintain sorting" yet but it does look promising



What...?  They are not 'new' and have been present in many versions of Fences...

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

End of sdrohan's quote

 

PhoenixRising1 might mean he cannot see the "Maintain Sorting" option. (I don't see anything like that, either.)

If you just mean we should click on "Sort by >" and select a method by which to sort, then I can see that option (and I have been since I purchased Fences 4 years ago).

My issue, though, is that "None" still allows random resorting at random times. I am going to try removing icons from each Fence, then adding them one at a time (in my preferred order), and then sort by "Date added to Fence" and see if that works to stop the randomised resorting.

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting TeacherGalante, reply 8


Quoting sdrohan,
reply 7

Quoting PhoenixRising1,

reply 6

I am not seeing any of those new sorting rules in alpha one. I don't believe we have "maintain sorting" yet but it does look promising

What...?  They are not 'new' and have been present in many versions of Fences...

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

PhoenixRising1 might mean he cannot see the "Maintain Sorting" option. (I don't see anything like that, either.)

If you just mean we should click on "Sort by >" and select a method by which to sort, then I can see that option (and I have been since I purchased Fences 4 years ago).



My issue, though, is that "None" still allows random resorting at random times. I am going to try removing icons from each Fence, then adding them one at a time (in my preferred order), and then sort by "Date added to Fence" and see if that works to stop the randomised resorting.

End of TeacherGalante's quote

You wont see it for 'Folder Portals' (what you have pictured there) but will for regular Fences...

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdrohan, reply 9

You wont see it for 'Folder Portals' (what you have pictured there) but will for regular Fences...
End of sdrohan's quote

edit - you are correct. I do use folder portals more then regular fences with Fences 5.