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Window Properties

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What Are Window Rules and How Will They Help Me?

Window rules allow you to control how your windows are displayed. You can choose which desk to start certain windows in, you can force certain windows to start iconic (as a Taskbar icon) or in a particular position. You can also use window rules to make a window present in all virtual desktops (sticky).

How Are Window Rules Applied ?

Window rules are applied to windows when enable Virtual Desktop first detects the window. From then on that window will not be affected (except for the sticky rule). You can configure the number of applications of a rule to matching windows, which allows you to configure separate rules for the same type of window. For example, you could configure your first Explorer window to appear in desk 1 with your second Explorer window appearing in desk 2, leaving all other Explorer windows unaffected, or you could configure all Explorer windows to be started in desk 3. Window rules can be re-applied at any time by selecting Re-Apply Rules from the context menu or by configuring a Re-Apply Rules hotkey (see Hiding and Displaying the Mini-window for details on the Context Menu; see Hotkey Properties for details on configuring a hotkey).

Adding a Window Rule

To add a window rule you must first open the window you wish to configure. Under the Windows tab in the properties dialog select the window from the window list and click Add. If you want to create rules for all the windows that appear in the list, click Add All.  If the window does not appear in the window list you can use the Refresh button to re-find all available windows.

You can also double click a window to add it to the list of window rules.

Editing a Window Rule

Once a window has been added to the rule list you must edit the rule to configure the window. Clicking on the Edit button or double clicking on the rule you want to edit will open the Window Rule dialog box.

Window Title Matching

The title of the window is used to determine when the rule is applied to a window. The * wildcard can be used to allow matching of windows that change their window title.

TIP: The window title is not the only property used to match a window.  The type of window is also compared, so don’t be confused if you create a window rule, change its title to something else and wonder why the rule doesn’t match. Always add the window you wish to create a rule for using the window list and then modify its title only to accommodate changing window titles.

Starting a Window in a Particular Virtual Desk

If you wish a window to start in a specific desk, select the desk from the dropdown list and make sure the Set checkbox is checked. This will start the window in the requested desk, but will not modify its start position within that desk.  When you add a new rule, the window will be set by default to start in the virtual desk it is in when the rule was created.

Starting a Window With a Specific Size

The default size of a window will be the size of the window when you added it to the rule list.  If you wish to set a window to a specific size, enter the size using the edit controls and click the Set checkbox.

Starting a Window in a Specific Position

The default position of a window will be the position of the window when you added it to the rule list.  If you wish to start a window in a specific position, enter the position using the edit controls and click the Set checkbox

Forcing a Window to Start Iconic

Checking the Start Iconic checkbox will force a window to start as a Taskbar icon.

Making a Window Visible in All Virtual Desks (Sticky)

Sticky windows are useful for things such as clocks or desktop toolbars that you want available in all virtual desks. Check the Sticky checkbox and the matching window will be made sticky.

Hiding a Window in the Mini-Window

Checking the Hide in mini-window checkbox will prevent the window from being displayed in the mini-window.

Applying Rules Only a Set Number of Times

If you want to apply a rule only a set number of times, enter the number in the edit control and check the corresponding radio button. This allows you to create different rules for the same window. For example if you want your first Explorer window to start in desk 1, set up the rules and enter 1 as the number of times to apply this rule. You can then add a second rule to make your next Explorer window start in desk 2.  If you want to change the order in which the rules apply, you can move rules by selecting them and clicking the Up or Down buttons.

If you want a rule to be applied to every window that matches, select the To every matching window radio button.

Windows That Don’t Work Well With enable Virtual Desktop

If you find that a particular window does not seem to interact well with enable Virtual Desktop click the This window does not work well with enable Virtual Desktop option. enable Virtual Desktop will try its best to be compatible with this window. You will not be able to move this window using the mini-window, but it should still only appear in the virtual desk in which it belongs.

Deleting a Window Rule

To delete a window rule, select the rule from the rule list and click on the Delete button.

Resetting All Window Rules

To delete all of your window rules, click on the Reset button.

 

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