What's new in Fences 5.0.4.1
Dec 7, 2023
- Fixes folder portals for people with "Open Explorer Windows in a Separate Process" Windows option set + "allow navigation" enable
- Fixes "inter-Fence distance" setting being cut off on Win11 @ DPI 100%
- Prepped for localization
- Improved "Load Snapshot" functionality to allow snapshots to be resilient to monitor IDs changes between when the snapshot was saved vs loaded.
New in Fences 5.0.4.1 Release Preview (Dec 6, 2023)
- Fixes folder portals for people with "Open Explorer Windows in a Separate Process" Windows option set + "allow navigation" enable
- Fixes "inter-Fence distance" setting being cut off on Win11 @ DPI 100%
- Prepped for localization
- Improved "Load Snapshot" functionality to allow snapshots to be resilient to monitor IDs changes between when the snapshot was saved vs loaded.
New in Fences 5.00 Release Preview (Nov 17, 2023)
- Fences 5 is a major update to its popular Windows desktop organization software with over 20 million downloads. Fences solves the problem of a “messy desktop” by automatically organizing Windows desktop icons into shaded areas, creating a clutter-free and productive workspace.
- Fences 5 introduces Chameleon – a Windows desktop icon enhancement that blends your desktop icons into your wallpaper. Icons maintain their functionality but fade into the background to remain easily accessible without being a distraction.
- Also new in Fences 5, it is now easier than ever to access your Fence groups by bringing them to the top with a single click. Building on the patented Peek™ functionality introduced in Fences 4, Fences 5 enables the ability to access your Fence groups from the taskbar by adding an icon to the taskbar to instantly access your desktop groups.
- Fences is used by thousands of businesses, from Education to Government to Healthcare. To help these businesses deploy organized dashboards of desktop icons, Fences 5 for Business adds all-new tooling that makes it easier than ever to manage these deployments. With the new ability to easily import/export layouts for distribution, tooling to load configurations from a network drive during logon, and more, Fences sets the standard for enterprise desktop icon management.
- "Fences 5 is designed to deliver a modern desktop experience," said Brad Sams, General Manager of Stardock Software. "Fences is the best way to organize your desktop and with Chameleon and Peek, we have built a modern workflow that provides you instant access to your content while reducing the distractions of the desktop.”
- Along with its new features, Fences 5 delivers many other enhancements to the core Fences desktop engine that results in improved performance and enhanced capabilities.
New in Fences 4.10.0.6 (Mar 9, 2023)
- Version updated to 4.10.06 (File version 4.1.0.6)
- Fix for folder portal deleted files not going away
- Fixed "WinKey+[key]" Fences hotkey could get stuck, after logging out from an admin app using WinKey+L and logging back in immediately. (Did not occur if not in admin app or if waited more than 60 seconds before logging back in)
- Meaningful improvements to config-app startup time. (Down from avg 5-7 sec to 1.5-3)
- Logging of app startup time to C# debug log
New in Fences 4.7.2.0 (Aug 22, 2022)
- Fixed an issue where Winkey + D would render Fences folder portal blank
- https://forums.stardock.com/512519/page/3/#3859971
- Updated some of the core translations for missing strings
- Fixed a crash that could happen on Windows Server 2016
- Fixed an issue in the Fences UI where it could render dark in light mode under certain conditions
- Added Korean language
- Added Chinese-Traditional language
- Added Portuguese-Brazil language
- Fixed issue where some text/checkbox controls would get squished to 1px-wide when returning from minimized state
- Added ability to navigate within folder portals even if "Open folders in separate Explorer process" setting is enabled
- Improved link contrast in dark mode when gray highlight color is selected
- Fixed minor graphical glitch in Win10 Dark Mode
- Fixed issue where hotkeys could get stuck (Fences stuck on top until next hotkey press)
- Updated German translations
- Fixed Folder Portal crash when details-view is used alongside multiple levels of sorting.
- Fixed issue where double-clicking fence docked to the bottom of the screen would result in errant behavior.
- Fixed issue where View/Sort menu items in the new Windows 11 desktop menu would not show as properly checked/unchecked in certain circumstances / on recent builds of Windows.
- Fixed issue where multiple icons pasted to desktop at once could overlap one another.
- Added detection of low inter-icon spacing settings, to reduce text overlap within fences in these situations. (HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktopWindowMetrics IconVerticalSpacing settings smaller than -1012 i.e. 135px, vs default of -1125 i.e. 150px)
- Fixed truncated "days left in your free trial" text with acrylic text drawing (Win11).
- Fixed folder icon centering with large fonts.
- Adjusted rename edit box text positioning.
- Updated rules so that link-target rules always apply first.
- Improved corner-rounding radius on hotkey "show fences" mode to better match desktop.
- Improved hotkey "show fences" performance and reliability.
- Improved reliability of Folder Portals to stay pinned to desktop i.e. to not appear over top of other apps.
- Removed option to keep fences on top "even after switching windows" during hotkey "show fences" usage, as featured caused compatibility issues with other programs.
- Resolved issue where "Lock Fences" menu item did not appear when fence titles were hidden
New in Fences 4.0.0.3 (Dec 9, 2021)
- Fences 4.0 is a culmination of prior versions.
New in Fences 4 Beta 2 (Nov 23, 2021)
- Hotkeys are no longer set to ignore injected input. (Multiplicity support). Added regkey option to disable
- Fixed text cutoff bug in snapshot rename dialog
- Fixed hotkey issue where Winkey was not registering (GetAsyncKeyState issue)
- Fixed taskbar zorder getting messed up on use of magic hotkey
- Fixed black desktop on first use of magic hotkey
- New setting to force-enable crash report dialog for all explorer crashes
- Improved smoothness of scrollbar expand animation on Win11 (Thread-sent WM_TIMER msgs getting QoS'd)
- Improved "first WinKey+D/Space can cause black flicker"
- Fixed WinKey+Space, fence corners would be rounded even if rounded edges are off
- Fixed issue with "Show Label on Mouseover"+WinKey+Space, titles would not respond upon mouseover
- Added registry option to minimize other windows on exiting Show Desktop by activating another window
- Fixed "key stuck" for hotkey feature
- Fixed "Labels: Never" causing Fences to break
- Fixed backgrounds would fail to paint when opacity 100% while moving
- Fixed crash on restore snapshot / perform auto-layout
- Fixed label change-font dialog opens blank on first use
- Fixed new-WinKey+D would cause the desktop to cover secondary-monitor taskbars
New in Fences 4 Beta 1 (Nov 12, 2021)
- Fences 4, designed to work with Windows 10 and 11, introduces Peek, a new feature that will streamline your workflow while keeping your desktop organized.
- Fences Peek lets users instantly view their fences by pressing Windows key + space to make accessing your content much faster. For example, while working in a program like Adobe’s Premiere or Photoshop, users can bring up a folder portal filled with their source footage and images to the surface of their desktop by pressing the assigned hotkey. This eliminates the need to minimize the application and go searching for the required asset in File Explorer.
- With the enhanced Desktop Display feature, users can configure Windows key + D to be either toggle or press-and-hold. This refinement makes the hotkey easier to use and allows users more control over how they manage and access their desktop content.
- Along with new features, Fences 4 has been optimized so that it loads before the desktop when a PC is booted up, making Fences 4 not only more functional but also more performant.
New in Fences 3.1.0.5 (Jul 22, 2021)
- Improved startup times
- Disabled icon move animation (currently disabled with new installs only)
- Resolved issue with folder portal 'flicker'
- Resolved incorrect sorting (name, date, etc) of icons outside of Fences on the desktop
- Https://forums.stardock.com/489644/page/1/#3718280
- Https://forums.stardock.com/493308/get;3753480
- Fixed an issue with roll-up Fences where icon artifacts were left behind
- Https://forums.stardock.com/503237/icons-persistence
- Https://forums.stardock.com/490931/page/1/#3726170
- Much work was done to get icons to correctly go to proper monitors on multi-monitor systems
- Fixed issues with single width Fences (Fences with one icon horizontally)
- Https://forums.wincustomize.com/489934/page/1/#3730904
- Addressed issues with MS Office icons not remaining in Fences after edit and temp file creation. Example:
- Https://forums.stardock.com/503237/icons-persistence
- Fixed an issue where restored snapshots were not also restoring color settings
- Fixed issue where selecting icons on desktop could select hidden icons in a roll-up Fence
- Https://forums.stardock.com/503136
- New feature: Target based Rules
New in Fences 3.0.9.11 (Jun 14, 2018)
- FEATURE: Added language override selection
- FIX: Fix to help maintain consistent sort order in a fence
New in Fences 3.08 (Feb 2, 2018)
- FEATURE: Added Dutch localization
- FEATURE: Added French localization
- FEATURE: Added German localization
- FEATURE: Added Polish localization
- FEATURE: Added Russian localization
- UPDATE: Performance optimization for desktops with large icon counts
New in Fences 3.07 (Jan 25, 2018)
- FEATURE: Added Dutch localization
- FEATURE: Added French localization
- FEATURE: Added German localization
- FEATURE: Added Polish localization
- FEATURE: Added Russian localization
- UPDATE: Performance optimization for desktops with large icon counts
New in Fences 3.05 (Jul 28, 2017)
- FEATURE: Added simplified Chinese Localization
- UPDATE: Heuristic improvements (icons go where they should go and shouldn't fall out of fences)
- UPDATE: Improved start process (users were having to right-click on desktop to show Fences)
- UPDATE: Fixed Folder Portal spacing for Windows 10 Insider Redstone-3 Fast Track, spacing logic tweak for RS2
- UPDATE: Improved bug reporting
- FIX: Fixed issue where drag/drop into a roll-up fence failed
- FIX: Fixed issue where hidden icons would save excessively during mousedown events
- FIX: Fences could crash while performing activities such as switching monitors, resizing desktop area, initial startup
New in Fences 3.03 (Mar 27, 2017)
- Updates /startup robustness & reliability
- R-clicking anywhere on Titlebar opens the menu
- Resolves issue where icons covered by other fences on general-desktop (not in fence) could still be clicked
- Disables "escape" button from triggering autohide
- Fixes bug where rollup/rolldown timer can get stuck, breaking rollup for a specific fence until reboot
- Resolves issue where if Fence has too many icons, its column count reduces by 1
New in Fences 3.01 (Mar 27, 2017)
New in Fences 3.00 (May 19, 2016)
- New: Windows 10 supportNew: Roll-up fences
- New: Blur the wallpaper behind fences (Win10 only)
- New: High DPI support
- New: Portal navigation
- Fixed: 100% opaque fences
New in Fences 2.13 (Jun 26, 2014)
- Updated to SAS trial/activation binaries. Existing activated installs will have their license keys upgraded automatically as part of the install.
New in Fences 2.12 (Dec 6, 2013)
- Added allowing users to choose between rounded and 90 degree angle corner edges in the Fences config (defaulted by OS)
- Added prompt for email at trial activation
- Re-enabled touch features. This includes using two fingers to switch between desktop pages (enabled by default) and the ability to "flick" icons into fences (disabled by default). Both are options in the settings, on the "Desktop Pages" and "Layout and snapping" tabs respectively.
- Fixed Fences not showing on desktop/exist offscreen, out of res bounds
- Fixed Fence shifting icons into hidden third column
- Fixed show my desktop issue reactivated with information
- Fixed issue with Folder portals and visibility
- Fixed issue with name based rules and right click
- Fixed issue with bottomed aligned secondary monitors causes off-set Portal Fences
- Fixed a crash issue that has been haunting support where a target folder location had been changed
- Fixed issue with config UI blanking out
- Fixed issue with Fences not showing on desktop when they existed offscreen, out of the screen resolution
- Fixed issue with new files defaulting to the second monitor
- Fixed issue with the show desktop button in Windows when an active modal window was displaying in Fences
- Fixed issue with being unable to drag desktop pages when the taskbar was on the left or right
- Fixed issue with excluding icons from quickhide (like .website)
- Fixed issue when folder portal opacity was set to 0%
- Fixed where rules weren't sticking if assigned through right-click/...
- Removed Fences as a Control Panel item (kept causing problems)
New in Fences 2.11 (Sep 19, 2013)
- Added support for the Windows 8.1 Preview
- Fixed a bug where some users with DeskScapes could not drag items on the desktop
New in Fences 2.10 (Apr 4, 2013)
- New: Persistent fences (and their icons) across pages
- New: Network drive connection detection. Fences will attempt to recreate mapped folder locations on a reboot.
- New: Page indicator. Skinnable via editing graphics in Images folder.
- New: Added ability to reset appearance of All Fences
- Fixed: Recycle bin jumps out of Fence
- Fixed: Right click actions make files jump into the same fence
- Fixed: Unable to move portal fence if title is off
- Fixed: “Sort by” appears twice for folder fences with labels hidden
- Fixed: icons would fall out of fence when ran if partially hidden
- Fixed: You can no longer page onto blank screens (unless dragging an icon or a fence).
- Fixed: When dragging a fence to a new page, you no longer endlessly scroll to new pages if you stay on the edge.
- New option visible in FolderView pane when Aero is disabled: "Display incompatibility warning when Aero is disabled".
- Can also toggle via registry - "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\Fences\Tips\NeverWarnAboutAero" = 0x00000001 (DWORD 32bit)
New in Fences 2.01 (Apr 4, 2013)
- Added new Pages feature: if on empty desktop, double clicking desktop will return you to a desktop that has icons.
- Added paste shortcuts for offline trial window
- Added fallback handling for purchase button. If SDDLC fails to reach server (return code 4), Fences now
- opens webpage instead. http://redirects.stardock.com/fences/2.0/purchase Failures sent to Fences debug log.
- Fixes for some trials not starting correctly.
- Fixes for registration dialog not always displaying.
- Improvements to installation checks for previous 1.x Pro version.