Layout Editor

Editing a layout definition

The layout editor, as the name implies, allows you to edit a layout definition and manage the window definitions it manages. What it does should be very straightforward but nonetheless I am going to make an attempt at describing the functions, especially since some are not going to be obvious as to what they may do. As a fellow software architect once told me, "never assume someone knows what an OK button does". Then again, that colleague writes software used by banks and financial institutions so his user base is a different one and it is clear to everyone now that, indeed, many financial managers and investors did not know what an OK button does.

Naming

A layout needs a name. If you do not give it a name you will be nagged to do so if you want to accept the layout definition. The description, however, is entirely optional. The description only serves an informational purpose and while you may not need it, it's there in case you do. I often use descriptions because I have many layouts that are similar and yet different in slightly minor ways and the description really helps me from applying the wrong layout at the wrong time. The layout name is also what appears in the tray icon context menu for the Windows Layout Manager and in the active window context popup menu.

Hotkey Assignment

You can assign a hotkey to a layout. When you do this it allows you to apply a layout directly by hitting the hotkey combination while the Windows Layout Manager is running on your system. The hotkey needs to be unique to each layout (unlike hotkeys for individual window definitions) and you will be warned (and prevented from accepting) a hotkey that is already in use by another layout.

Collective Offset

This is an interesting one that I think wouldn't be obvious without an explanation as to the purpose of this X/Y offset. The X/Y offset specified is applied to all windows within the layout that are using a positioning action. Having said that I'm sure you still might be wondering what the purpose for that is.

Imagine you've got two monitors with 1920x1200 resolution in a side by side setup. If you don't have to imagine it because that is exactly the setup you're working with, even better! Now imagine you have several windows in a layout that are defined to be position on the right screen but that you also want to have a layout that contains the same window definitions in the same positions but on the left screen. There are several ways you can do this with the Windows Layout Manager and one involves editing all the window definitions. Instead, the collective offset can be used to get the same result, just use a -1920 (negative 1920) value for X.

Still not seeing it? Imagine a window definition that instructs your Firefox window to be located at 1920,0 and sized to 1100x1200. If you copy a layout that contains that window definition and set the collective X offset to -1920 and apply the layout, the Firefox window will appear on the left screen at 0,0.

Layout Options

Do not allow this layout to be applied

This effectively disables the layout from being applied. There are good reasons to disable a layout. In combination with the individual popup selection option it allows you to create layout definitions that contain only windows that show up in the active window context popup menu. Another good reason is if you want to create a layout definition that acts as a repository of window definitions that you can then copy from that layout to another, active, layout. Disabling the layout prevents you from accidentally applying it and also ensures that the layout is not available from the tray icon context menu.

Always restore minimized windows

Unless a window definition has the restore action selected, a minimized window will not be restored to its normal position. In certain situations you might want a layout to always enforce that minimized windows are restored. This option allows you to instruct a layout to apply that to all the window definitions regardless of their actions.

Enable individual popup selection

This is one of the slightly hidden features of the Windows Layout Manager but also a very powerful one if used correctly. This option is often enabled in conjunction with disabling the layout from being applied directly. For more information read the chapter on the active window context popup menu.

Window 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.

It is possible that the application default window detection options are not desirable for a very specific layout that may need to use a modified filter. If that is the case you can select Override application defaults and select the filtering options you wish to apply for the layout. 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).

Windows

The windows definition list contains all the window definitions managed by the layout. The way they are displayed is a textual representation of the definition and actions and should become obvious to you as you become familiar with the Windows Layout Manager. The textual format was derived from how a much earlier version worked (a version that did not have a user interface).

When a layout is applied each window definition is processed in the order in which they appear in the list. The up and down buttons allow you to modify the order of the window definitions in the list. This is often useful if any windows use the bring to foreground and send to background actions.

Add

Adds a window definition to the layout and brings up the window editor.

Edit

Edits the selected window definition. You can also do this by double clicking the window definition.

Copy

Copies the selected window definition within the layout.

Copy To

Copies the selected window definition to another layout.

Remove

Removes (deletes) the selected window definition.

Capture

Captures the current windows, based on the applied filter, and turns them into pre-fab window definitions for further editing and fine tuning. This function saves a lot of time and effort when creating new, full, layout definitions based on the current layout of windows on your desktop.

Test

Allows you to test the results of applying the layout.