With the Fences 5.53 release, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.
Object Desktop members can get the release from within Object Desktop Manager
Individual purchases (as well as Object Desktop Members) can also be obtained from your account page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products
For guest check-out purchase (no account), from this link: http://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval
Please include the following for anything found:
Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)
Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen
Screenshots and videos are very helpful. Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post. Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.
If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions. If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.
Thank you for your interest and any time you put into making Fences 5 a better product.
UI: 5.53
Fences.exe: 5.5.3.2
Stardock and Steam
NEW “store layouts on a per-multimon-config basis” system is enabled by default for new installs. Old installs will keep their existing setting.
Fixed issue with hotkeys not loading for RDP sessions in certain scenarios.
Fix rare startup crash
Add compatibility with popular desktop right-click menu enhancer.
UI: 5.51
Fences.exe: 5.5.1.1
Fix Chameleon options link covered by ‘trial’ banner
Fixed issue where icons could be hidden on startup if "Vanish" setting is disabled but "Hide icons when desktop is inactive" is enabled
NEW Multi-monitor enhancements
Updated scaling improvements for beta multi-monitor configuration enhancements
Additional improvements to multi-monitor detection and selection
New ability for icon/group layouts to adapt intelligently to changing multi-monitor conditions
Fixes issue on certain systems where renamed files could fall out of a Fence
Fixes issue on certain systems where Fence backgrounds could appear black after a change in resolution
Fixed "when 7zip app is installed, folder portals now correctly open the zip file instead of navigating in"
Fixed missing "Configure Fences" option within Fence titlebar menus on Windows 10
Fixed misspelling of "Tilde" in hotkey settings
Fix instances where Fences 5 would ask for activation when it was already activated
Latest localization strings
Known issues
While we appreciate all feedback, please remember that we offer no official support for beta \ preview \ developer channel versions of Windows. If you report issues while in any of those early release channels, you should not expect them to be addressed unless it still exists in a retail version of Windows.
***Reserved***
Multi-monitor enhancements
We have always been working to improve the reliability of Fences placement on the Desktop. What has made this challenging over the years are all the variables that are involved:
Quantity of monitors
Connection types
DPI \ Scale \ Resolution
Waking from sleep \ hibernate states
The evolution of Windows itself and how it manages items on the desktop
That said, with Fences 5.53, we believe it addresses most monitor scenarios with a new monitor option:
'Store my layouts on a per-monitor-configuration basis'
Note: This option will be enabled by default for new installs ONLY. Anyone installing 5.53 over a prior version of Fences 5 will need to enable it manually. The decision to not enable it for existing install was not to disrupt anything a current client is doing to manage monitors in Fences manually (creating \ restoring snapshots for example).
Reporting issues
For any issues with the new layout engine, we have set up a dedicated thread to review them. Please see
https://forums.stardock.com/528229/fences-55-new-layout-engine-thread
V5.53 ISSUE: In this version, when changing screen resolutions the Fences no longer scale to the new size. Very frustrating when relying on changing resolution such as for streaming etc. Worked on previous versions.
Knowing that installs over the prior version will keep the settings you had, I'll assume you have manually set
For how you are \ were using Fences, if you set it back to:
...and perhaps restore a snapshot, does it work as you like then?
Sean DrohanStardock Product Lifecycle Manager
V5.53 issue - no longer working correctly with external monitor
My setup
Main problem
Previously, Fences switched the layout automatically and correctly when the screen mode changed. Since updating to 5.53 it no longer switches automatically, instead it seems to be auto-scaling which gives unusable results in my situation.
When switching to Duplicate mode, I can work around the problem by using Restore Snapshot (having taken a snapshot in that mode), though that's obviously less convenient than automatic switching.
However, Restore snapshot doesn't work correctly in Second screen only mode (i.e. having taken a snapshot in that mode too). Several fence groups are restored at slightly incorrect positions and with slightly smaller sizes than when the snapshot was taken, so some icons aren't visible. Fixing these manually every time I switch screen mode is a real pain. Strangely, the same happens if I take a snapshot (with everything fixed) and immediately restore it, or even if I just click on Reset saved settings for other screen resolutions.
Related issues I've noticed
What I've tried
Numerous combinations of various measures including:
Nothing seems to fix or even affect the problems reported above.
I rely heavily on Fences and working around these problems is a big nuisance. Can you please provide access to a copy of the previous version, which worked perfectly, until the issue is resolved?
I've got the scaling option set as default. When I bring back in a snapshot it then works if I make the resolution smaller, but doesn't scale back up again when the resolution returns to the larger size.
Continuous bug reports. Explorer keeps restarting. Post made in Fences Forum section.
I have answered your other thread.
https://forums.stardock.com/528092/bug-report---bug-splat-every-reboot
Windows 11 -- Desktop Icon spacing no longer adjusts to icon size, making it is extremely small or even negative with very big icons. It reverts back when uninstalling Fences.
Please see:
https://forums.stardock.com/528046/page/1/#3931746:~:text=com/support/productkeyretrieval-,Reporting%20an%20issue,-Please%20include%20the
Your link is a mess...
No time for this...
Hello!
I have used and enjoyed fences for many years. However, a few years ago I started having problems with the placement of fences and icons either constantly changing or every time Fences updated.I spent oceans of time getting it to work. Which, however, never really worked out.I suspected that Fences worked poorly with ex. Start and other Stardock products.In the end I decided to delete all Stardock products to have only Fences.It seemed to succeed.BUT after the latest update, drop downs, icons, etc moved around again on my three monitors.Now I'm getting tired of having to move it all around for the hundredth time.I have the latest version of windows 11 and three monitors.It is deeply frustrating, partly to constantly have to move everything around, partly to not dare to use the other Stardock apps.I can see that many other users have the same problems.????SINCERELY
OleS
post@kurtstours.dk
Hello,Sorry to hear you are having issues. Fences 5.53 come with improve Multi-monitor, Please try Fences 5.53 and do see if the issue you're having is still there.
Thank you.Basj,Stardock Community Assistant.
Related: Upgrade from Fences 5.04 to Fences 5.53 on a single monitor system messes up icon spacing in portals: lower icons obscure text of icons above. This happens on Windows 10 [22H2 (OS Build 19045.4412)] - It works properly on windows 11.
Hello,Sorry to hear you are having issues. I can not reproduce your issue on my system. Refer screenshot below. Need to know your monitor resolution and scale (100%,150%,200%)?
Does this still happen if you have the new engine set
If you did not have it set, then set it and nothing happens, please try to reboot to be certain if it is still rendering poorly or not.
@basj: Display Resolution is 1920 x 1080 Scaling is 125%
@sdrohan: I set the Layout to "per-monitor-configuration basis" as indicated in your post.
[I have an additional option not shown in your post): "store on a per-screen-resolution basis (legacy)"]
Unfortunately, the icons are still overlapping the text of the icons above them.
I then re-booted in the hope that might fix things but it did not: the icons are still messed up.
I ended up reverting to Fences 5.04. (this reverted back to "per-screen-resolution basis")
What are you guys doing here answering questions on a Sunday? Don't you guys get weekends off?
Your scaling @125% is not crazy but I would like to know if lowering it has an effect (I suspect it will but I am not sure I would call that a solution if you don't want it scaled that low). The same goes for alternate resolutions as that does seem pretty low.
One other thing, if you Click + Ctrl + MouseWheel in \ out do the icons arrange as you would hope? Example:https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/NVIDIA_Overlay_2024-05-26_21-52-21.mp4
That will inflate \ shrink icons on the desktop. Again, not likely a solution but I would like to know.
What are these 'weekends' you speak of...? 😉
With any major release, we like to keep an eye on things no matter what...
@sdrohan: ● Re-installed Fences 5.53 re-booted and switched to "per-monitor-configuration basis"
● Switched scaling to 100% - same overlap - just smaller
● Used the Ctrl + MouseWheel method and this did work, however: You have to do this for each portal individually and then also adjust the sizes for those portals. All in all, this is a pain in the aft.
"Weekends" are a concept that is not well known within the IT industry: Apparently, in some places, people occasionally get time off for good behaviour.
That explains it then; my behavior is notoriously poor
Indeed a pain but when done, does it have it in a state that is useful \ 'like it was'? Or, no, while this works to have the names not bleed over into other icons, they have to be really small and are less identifiable when zoomed out?
@sdrohan: After a lot of fiddling around, I managed to get things into a state where it's "workable" again and I no longer look like Kirk in your profile picture. I should be able to work with this until Windows 10 "dies" in 2025. As I pointed out before, I do NOT have this problem on my Windows 11 machines.
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