Virtual Desktop Software

[ibmuser]

Thinking of using a virtual desktop program to better organize the rather limited space I usually work with on my X31. Any suggestions?

[monty cantsin]

Thinking of using a virtual desktop program to better organize the rather limited space I usually work with on my X31. Any suggestions?

Not really a full-fledged virtual desktop software, but free: The Virtual Desktop Manager PowerToy from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/down ... rtoys.mspx

http://download.microsoft.com/download/ ... ySetup.exe
(550 KB)

It has some problems with a few special applications, though, which miraculously appear on all virtual desktops. But all in all, it works quite well and might suffice your needs.

[ibmuser]

Thanks! Seems it only gives four desktops, but that's enough for me.

[aabram]

http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/

been using it for some 3+ years. small, stable, configurable. can assign certain windows to certain desks, sticky windows, gather option, either mouse or keyboard switching, user defined icons and some useful modules (win32wm provides alt+drag, snap to edges etc).

[jsteele]

Thanks for the reference. I installed it and an 'fiddling' with it to get used to it. I downloaded some of the modules as well --- one that give a clickable icon per desktop, one that places the shows the desktop name on screen when it switches, one that loads apps when the desktop starts and one that changes the desktop wallpaper.

The wallpaper changer appears not to work under XP (but in fairness it doesn't claim to.) The others seem to work fine. I like this one better both than the Microsoft one and the ATI Hydravsion version. With the Hydravision version the taskbar buttons were not always confined to the appropriate desktop, some programs placed the taskbar button and the Hydravsion manager replicated it on all the desktops. The VirtuaWin desktop manager appears to manage just about everything properly. The only thing it doesn't seem to be able to deal with are opening a program from a desktop icon --- in this case it appears that its allocated to desktop one no matter where you try to open it.

But all in all a nice addition. I have been looking for a tool to allow me to keep program development and test tools in a desktop separate from email, web browsing etc., and this one seems to do it quite nicely.

Thanks again.

[ibmuser]

I opted out of the Microsoft package in Powertoys for Virtual Desktop Toolbox. Much more customizable:

http://www.r2d2-software.com/VDT/Tutori ... /index.htm

[monty cantsin]

Ibmuser, does VDT also support different background icons on all virtual desktops, like CoolDesk?

http://www.shelltoys.com/virtual_desktop/index.html

Aabram, thanks for the link to Virtuawin, didn't know of it before. It's really a very powerful utility, I like it very much.

The wallpaper changer appears not to work under XP (but in fairness it doesn't claim to.)

It does work, but you have to use BMP instead of JPG files, so I suggest you simply convert them by hand. This is caused by a limitation in Windows. Whenever you choose a JPG file in the Windows dialogue for changing wallpapers, it creates a temporary BMP conversion and utilizes that instead of the original file you chose. And when you select another JPG image, this conversion file is overwritten again. So this wallpaper changer only sees one file and does not realize that the contents have changed.

[Elhabash]

Now a dumb question: How do you guys use the different desktops? One for work, one for leisure, and so on?
I am interested how different people organize the different desktops...

[jsteele]

Elhabash

I like to use mine to keep development tools active and separate from my day to day things like email, web browsers, etc. I find it helps to avoid clutter.

I got along without it for a long time so it isn't vital, but I find it convenient.

[ibmuser]

monty cantsin

I've only played around with the notification area:

http://www.r2d2-software.com/VDT/Tutori ... age5-6.htm

Have not had much time to fully explore the program (in the process of moving).

[aabram]

The VirtuaWin desktop manager appears to manage just about everything properly. The only thing it doesn't seem to be able to deal with are opening a program from a desktop icon --- in this case it appears that its allocated to desktop one no matter where you try to open it.

That's a strange one. I've never had such problems. I use 3 desktops constantly and I always get window on active desktop no matter wheter starting from icon, startmenu or quicklaunch. Try playing with options in misc-> desktop state handling, perhaps it mistakenly assigns them to first desktop.

[aabram]

One for work, one for leisure, and so on?
I am interested how different people organize the different desktops...

I keep 3 desktops: first is for e-mail, browsing and general work (coding, writing). Second is for references, documents and such. Third is for graphic work, exclusively for Photoshop.