Manually position icons inside a fence

from Stardock Forums

Hello,

I have just discovered Fences, and it looks like it has great potential.  I have begun a trial and so far so good.  But I have noticed one thing, and I am hoping there is a way to deal with it.

Is there a way for me to configure Fences so that it will let me manually place icons inside each fence, the way I want them to be arranged, without it automatically moving each icon into the next available grid slot? 

I have looked through several topics here in the forum, and nothing seems to address this already.

For instance, I may want a fence to look like this:

X1 X2 X3 X4

X5 X6 [  ] X7

... where the [  ] should just be a blank space.   I like them lined up on a grid - but in some cases, I find it very pleasing and logical to have a space where an icon might otherwise go. 

But right now, any time I try to place the X7 icon into the fence, the results look like this:

X1 X2 X3 X4

X5 X6 X7

I have tried selecting None for the Sort Fence By option, but that does not help.  I also note that while in None, I am not able to untick the Maintain Sorting option.  However, I did try switching to Sort Fence By Name, then unticked the Maintain Sorting option, then went back and selected the Sort Fence By None choice again.  But, even that did not help.  X7 always wants to move itself right next to X6.

Currently, I am trialing this on Windows 7 SP1 (v6.1 Build 7601).  However, I will soon be moving over to my new system running Windows 10 Build 1909 (18363.778).

The Fences version I am running for the trial is v3.0.9.11 - the latest available.

I appreciate whatever insight you may be able to provide.

Cheers,

Drummer87

 

fences
25,928 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

 At this time you can't manually arrange them in that order . 

I will forward your request though.

 

AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I echo the request of drummer87. I just downloaded the trial version of Fences, and I am trying to do the same thing drummer87 describes. I want to manually place icons within a fence, without the icons automatically positioning themselves. This functionality is a high priority for me. I won't be purchasing Fences without this feature. I do hope it can be implemented soon.

DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I was wondering where the "count flag" is for each icon, as I have an often-used, but occasionally updated program that gets bumped to the bottom when it should be near the top (on sort by Number of Times Opened).  I only need to "hack" the count for this one shortcut, but I don't know where Stardock/Fences keeps it's tally.

Manually moving things would be an EXCELLENT feature, but I'm not holding my breath.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

You could always create a blank shortcut with a empty icon image. and use it as a spacer until they can implement it correctly

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

I also would like to record my vote to be able to manually place an icon inside the fence, where I like, and have it not move the icons all around.  

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

@all,

See Fences V4 wishlist, and you will find the devs saying that, this is a VERY requested change, but the way Fences works right now is impossible:

Quoting Jafo, reply 4

Invariably I have been explaining that is [currently] outside the purview of what Fences actually does.
End of Jafo's quote

We might see this change in the next major (V4) release, if not then I hope then sort it out by V5 at least, as they themselves said:

Quoting Jafo, reply 4

If there was some way to control both of those you'd allay probably 90% of 'complaints'...
End of Jafo's quote

EDIT: From what I know, on major releases (from V2 to V3 for example) you must renew your license, but honestly, unless they fixed this, I see no reason for me to do so.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting jhm783, reply 5

I also would like to record my vote to be able to manually place an icon inside the fence, where I like, and have it not move the icons all around.  
End of jhm783's quote

Basically making this possible - this is the request as I understand it:  

To be completely honest, and with an open mind for any reasoning, I am still mystified at this repeated request as people generally use Fences to rid themselves of errant icons - not ask for how they can reproduce it.  How does this Fence look \ behave any different than a traditional desktop?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdRohan, reply 7

I am still mystified at this repeated request as people generally use Fences to rid themselves of errant icons - not ask for how they can reproduce it.  How does this Fence look \ behave any different than a traditional desktop?
End of sdRohan's quote

While I can't speak for everyone here, personally I want Fences not because it does things automatically (in fact I disabled those features) but to organize my desktop to separate fences, for example:

So in my case, the 3 main reasons I want finer control on icon positions are:

  • Perhaps I want to arrange my icons to be bottom to up, or right to left, especially when the fence is at the edge of the screen, for example:

 

  • Reordering icons is really... ugh annoying? Here is a short recording of what I mean...

  • If icons aren't ordered then it means that their positions is remembered, or in other words locked. It is really annoying for me when an app gets updated, and it's icon reappears outside the fence, and now the order of the icons is all messed up!

 

EDIT: In your example the icons are off the grid. While again I can't speak for others, I would definitely not want that!

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Guiorgy, reply 8

It is really annoying for me when an app gets updated, and it's icon reappears outside the fence, and now the order of the icons is all messed up!
End of Guiorgy's quote

Generally, when that happens, the icon is actually new \ recreated - thus - Fences does not fence it.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Guiorgy, reply 8

Perhaps I want to arrange my icons to be bottom to up, or right to left, especially when the fence is at the edge of the screen, for example:
 
End of Guiorgy's quote

That I can see \ relate to.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdRohan, reply 9

Generally, when that happens, the icon is actually new \ recreated - thus - Fences does not fence it.
End of sdRohan's quote

I get that, and my point is that if icons aren't rearranged automatically, I can just pop it back in there very easily.

And did you watch the short video?

EDIT: And also I just realized, but the SketchUp Viewer app icon still has the icon arrow in the corner...

EDIT2: Looks like Microsoft Store app shortcuts don't get that arrow removed. Is this a knows issue?

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Guiorgy, reply 11

EDIT: And also I just realized, but the SketchUp Viewer app icon still has the icon arrow in the corner...

EDIT2: Looks like Microsoft Store app shortcuts don't get that arrow removed. Is this a knows issue?
End of Guiorgy's quote

Check:

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

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Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

@Sean Drohan, thanks! Looks like I accidentally unchecked the document shortcut when I was looking through the settings ^_^'    :P