Help finding a feature/Feature request: Sort by latest usage

from Stardock Forums

Hello, I've been enjoying Fences for quite a while now. I bought it a while ago, and my version is 2.01. Even though Fences has been a lifesaver for desktop clutter, and I've finally started actually using desktop icons because of Fences, I feel it lacks a feature that'd be really useful - at least for me. Although it could be that I haven't yet found the right option, though.

I'd like to be able to sort icons in a fence by their latest usage/starting date. For instance, if I start a game from a fence icon that's somewhere in the middle of the fence, the icon would jump to be the first one. And then the next game I start, would then be the first one, and the earlier game would be second now. And so on and so forth.

Is there already this functionality somehow hidden somewhere and I have just missed it? If so, how can I enable this kind of behaviour?
If not, would it be possible to include this behaviour in a future release?

Thanks in advance!

 - ZM

fences
4,026 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top


Hello, I've been enjoying Fences for quite a while now. I bought it a while ago, and my version is 2.01. Even though Fences has been a lifesaver for desktop clutter, and I've finally started actually using desktop icons because of Fences, I feel it lacks a feature that'd be really useful - at least for me. Although it could be that I haven't yet found the right option, though.

I'd like to be able to sort icons in a fence by their latest usage/starting date. For instance, if I start a game from a fence icon that's somewhere in the middle of the fence, the icon would jump to be the first one. And then the next game I start, would then be the first one, and the earlier game would be second now. And so on and so forth.

Is there already this functionality somehow hidden somewhere and I have just missed it? If so, how can I enable this kind of behaviour?
If not, would it be possible to include this behaviour in a future release?

Thanks in advance!

 - ZM

End of quote

Right-click on a fence.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for that suggestion.

Unfortunately, that doesn't really do what I'm looking for: It now orders so that the most "popular" icon is the first one. What I'm after is along the lines of "Most Recently Used".

I created an official ticket about this, and the response was that "This is currently not possible.". The support guy promised to propagate the information to the producers. Hopefully it will get implemented! (I mean, I hope I'm not the only that feels this would be a good feature - it might get done if there are others that need/want it as well)

 - ZM

Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If you modify the file when you use it and use the Date modified date you would be golden.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

True. I passingly thought about that, but really didn't give it any more thought than that. What file needs to be touched for it to affect the sort by date? The shortcut file or the executable the shortcut points to? (I'd hazard a guess and say it takes the date info from the shortcut-file itself)

Now all I need would be some tool/plugin/explorer-hack that automatically touches the shortcut when it has been run. :/ Happen to know any? (Quick googling produced only interactive tools, and not automated)

Thanks for coming up with workaround suggestions!

 - ZM

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Oh, and by the way, I can't seem to get my earlier custom arrangement for the icons back, after trying sorting with number of times opened.

 -ZM