Fences 5 + Wallpaper Engine Compatibility

from Stardock Forums

I just updated to Fences 5 since I had a fresh install of windows 24h2 and it sounded like it was more compatible with the release. In addition I liked the new chameleon feature that was released and hoped that it would allow me to run WPE with translucent features. Sadly it still isn't compatible and the only way to make them play nice is to disable any time of blurring/chameleon entirely. 

Are there any plans to fix this issue? I was responded to in another thread that this is working as intended, but I highly doubt that's the case to leave a signature new feature unusable. (one of the main reasons I paid to upgrade.) I saw in another thread to use stardock's WPE competitor but I don't think that's a very good solution either. 

Love fences and used it as a paying customer for years, would love to see it play nice with WPE. 

Thanks! 

fences
4,986 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I don't have WPE to verify these. However, I have forwarded 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.

Also, we need more information from you.

  1. Windows 10 or 11? Need its full version and OS Build number. Please use Windows own Winver.exe.
  2. Fences 5 full version number.
  3. WPE version number.
  4. Does the issue appear on any WPE animated wallpapers?

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Thank you!

Here's the previous thread: https://forums.stardock.com/528324/page/1/#3961512

Windows 11 24H2 (OS Build 26100.3194)
Fences 5.88

WPE: 2.6.21

Issue appears on any animated wallpaper. It works fine if i turn off blur & chameleon, but if I have either of those on the fences will show the default wallpaper and not the WPE selection. 

The screenshots below show fences w/ blur, w/ blur & chameleon, w/ chameleon, without blur or chameleon

fences w/ blurfences w/ blur & chameleonfences w/ chameleonfences w/o chameleon

 

 

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Thank you, I have forwarded it, please wait for Support or Dev to respond to this one.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top


Are there any plans to fix this issue? I was responded to in another thread that this is working as intended, but I highly doubt that's the case to leave a signature new feature unusable.
End of quote

I can see why you would think this is 'broken' and needs a 'fix' but when two 3rd party products that occupy the same space (to a degree) its just a compatibility issue, not something that is natively not working on the product itself. 

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for the reply! I don't know why you put broken and fix in quotes though. No where in the marketing for the product does it say it isn't compatible with WPE. Since it doesn't then most consumers are going to assume that it is and as such the product technically either needs to be fixed or there needs to be a proper disclaimer.

Additionally in another thread a Stardock employee recommended deskscapes (a stardock product) that doesn't have the issue. That's fine, but the product description should clearly state that full functionality with animated desktops can only be achieved using deskscapes and that WPE is not fully compatible. 

In another thread you also recommend upgrading to Fences 5 from 4 to resolve issues. I did this exact thing and unfortunately nothing was resolved. I don't mind paying 30 dollars for the upgrade which I'm sure has other benefits (such as a rewritten code base) but there should be a clear disclaimer that Chameleon and other cosmetic adjustments aren't fully compatible with WPE so consumers can make an educated decision on what they want to purchase. This included peek which will flash the regular desktop wallpaper when you peek, again if it's not compatible that's totally fine but there's now way for consumers (or in my case 10+ year customers) to know that. 

Thanks! 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting xenogear74, reply 5

Thanks for the reply! I don't know why you put broken and fix in quotes though. No where in the marketing for the product does it say it isn't compatible with WPE. Since it doesn't then most consumers are going to assume that it is and as such the product technically either needs to be fixed or there needs to be a proper disclaimer.
End of xenogear74's quote

While WPE is a fine product, I think you are giving it a little more prestige than it actually has.  If something of ours did not work with an Adobe or MS product, I get where you are coming from - but WPE is not in that tier.  That said, we have in the past made changes where we could for lesser 3rd party products. 

Quoting xenogear74, reply 5

In another thread you also recommend upgrading to Fences 5 from 4 to resolve issues. I did this exact thing and unfortunately nothing was resolved. I don't mind paying 30 dollars for the upgrade which I'm sure has other benefits (such as a rewritten code base) but there should be a clear disclaimer that Chameleon and other cosmetic adjustments aren't fully compatible with WPE so consumers can make an educated decision on what they want to purchase. This included peek which will flash the regular desktop wallpaper when you peek, again if it's not compatible that's totally fine but there's now way for consumers (or in my case 10+ year customers) to know that. 
End of xenogear74's quote

There is a 30 day trial for most all our apps that clients can use to see if it fits into their installed product base.  

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

I get that! But since numerous fences owners actively use WPE I don't think your qualifying their software makes any sense because most people who use fences are going to use WPE or other 'geeky' prouducts. I get it (I work in the industry as well) you mainly make sure the big boys are compatible and go from there. 

All I'm saying is that you might want to revise your marketing to include the language you just gave me. "We try to support all major platforms, but smaller platforms such as WPE may not have full compatibility with all features" and have that clear on your product page. That way you're letting consumers make an educated decision.

Again, I love the product (I've been using it for over a decade) and there's nothing like it so obviously I'm not going anywhere. It just might be a good idea to be more clear because while WPE might not be huge, it's pretty much the standard with animated wallpapers for most of us geeks. 

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting xenogear74, reply 7

All I'm saying is that you might want to revise your marketing to include the language you just gave me. "We try to support all major platforms, but smaller platforms such as WPE may not have full compatibility with all features" and have that clear on your product page. That way you're letting consumers make an educated decision.

Again, I love the product (I've been using it for over a decade) and there's nothing like it so obviously I'm not going anywhere. It just might be a good idea to be more clear because while WPE might not be huge, it's pretty much the standard with animated wallpapers for most of us geeks. 
End of xenogear74's quote

Thank you for the feedback on this, xenogear74, I will pass it along.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager