It's all about having options
Because the Windows Layout Manager is actually a more functional and complex tool than it might appear at first glance it goes without saying that there are plenty of things that can, and possibly will need to be, configured. From the Layout Editor you can reach the configuration dialog by using the Options -> Configuration menu item. You can also restore these configuration properties to their factory defaults through the Options -> Use Defaults menu item.
Layout Restoration Dialog
| • | Show the restore dialog after applying layout and restore after <n> seconds |
When you apply a layout, either as a layout or through the hotkey assigned to an individual window definition, it is possible that the actions taken are not the actions you intended. If this option is enabled it will pop up a dialog offering you the choice of undoing the actions or keeping the result. The dialog will automatically time out and undo the actions within the number of seconds specified.
Advanced users might be comfortable with this option turned off but I personally recommend keeping it on.
Automatic Capture Excluded Process Names
The automatic capture feature in the layout editor can exclude detection of windows that belong to the process names entered here. Depending on what applications you run on your system it is possible that applications have hidden windows that you don't want to have included during an automatic capture. You can enter the list of process names to exclude and separate them with comma's. By default the explorer and rundll32 processes are added here (because you really don't want to reposition your desktop window itself, right).
Automatic Capture Options
When automatically capturing windows there are a few properties that are set and enabled based on the following options. You get to decide which are always included when performing a capture.
| • | Include process name: The process name of the captured window definition will be enabled if this option is enabled. |
| • | Include process file name: The process file name of the captured window definition will be enabled if this option is enabled. |
| • | Include class name: The class name of the captured window definition will be enabled if this option is enabled. |
| • | Only main windows: If this option is enabled the automatic capture function will only include windows that are main windows. |
Default Windows Detection Options
In order for the Windows Layout Manager to match window definitions to the windows on your desktop (or available on your system at the point in time when you apply a definition) it needs to quickly run through the windows and check for matches. Because many applications will have invisible windows (which you don't want to mess with) it makes no sense to go through all the windows all the time.
The options you configure here are applied as the default options for all layouts that you create and define. Unless you override these defaults for a specific layout definition. Be careful what you change here. It is recommended to stick with the factory default settings here (enable all except only main windows and invisible windows).
| • | Include only main windows: This will set the default detection to only recognize windows that are main windows. |
| • | Include minimized windows: This will set the default detection to recognize windows that are minimized. |
| • | Include maximized windows: This will set the default detection to recognize windows that are maximized. |
| • | Include invisible windows: This will set the default detection to recognize windows that are invisible. |
| • | Include windows without title: This will set the default detection to recognize windows that have an empty title. |
Confirmation Options
You are probably familiar with those "are you sure you want to do this (Y/N)" dialogs that pop up when you want to get something done. While these are usually there to prevent you from doing something you didn't intend to do they can be really annoying to advanced users. The following configuration options allow you to turn on these annoyances for the following dialogs:
Confirm when quitting the application
Obviously, asks if you are sure that you want to quit the application. I can't imagine anyone would want to quit the application so by default it will ask you if you are absolutely sure you want to do that. The Windows Layout Manager minimizes to the tray so it won't even take up any space in your taskbar so why quit it? It is only because I'm a nice guy that I am offering the option to turn this off. If I wasn't I'd just implement a dialog that would ask you five times if you're sure before quitting... only to open the application again to ask you for the sixth time.
Confirm removal of layouts / windows
It is easy to delete a layout or window definition. Sometimes it is too easy to do it so you will be prompted whether that was your intended action or not. If you're like me, someone who always knows what they are doing, always and without any error ever, you are going to turn these two off, I'm sure.
Confirm addition of actionless windows.
A window definition is considered actionless if it has properties that define how it should be matched but have no options configured for the actions that should then be taken. It is legal (until the courts overturn the decision) to create such a definition (in case you want to define the actions at a later time) but it could easily be a mistake. You will be prompted if this is intended unless this option is turned off.
Miscellaneous Options
Comparing strings is case sensitive
When layouts are applied and window definitions are matched against the windows on the desktop the system will often compare the window title, window process name, etc. depending on the properties you have defined. By default all strings that are compared are done so in a case insensitive manner. Turning this option on means that UPPER and lower case is taken into account.
Use control coloring assistance
Enabling this allows the window editor to color the controls if any properties are being defined that are considered out of bounds. While the Windows Layout Manager allows you to use properties that could possibly move a window way beyond the screen space (and then you can't get to it!) the control coloring will provide some minimal assistance in letting you know that some combinations or properties are potentially out of bounds.
Check for newer versions on startup
Does as it implies. Will check for newer versions on startup.
Tray Hotkey
Enable or disable the hotkey that hides and shows the layout manager. You get to pick the combination but if you want my advice, and why wouldn't you, once you have configured all the layouts you need there is very little need to use this function. It's just as easy to double click the tray icon to bring up the layout manager again. By default this hotkey is disabled.
Popup Hotkey
The active window context pop-up key is a very nice feature (I should know, I created it because I wanted it) but can only be accessed if a hotkey is defined. Personally I prefer to use Win-Control-Alt-W for this. But you can decide something else if you want. By default this hotkey is disabled but it is recommended to enable it and set it to a key you are comfortable with, otherwise you are missing out on a really neat feature.
Hotkeys
Sometimes you might want to disable the hotkey support for layouts and/or individual windows. If you happen to find yourself in a situation where you want to do that instead of quitting the Windows Layout Manager, you can do so with these two options.