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Desktop Frames + Documentation

repository·main·Indexed 20 days ago

https://github.com/limbo666/desktopframesplus

An open-source desktop icon management software for Windows 10 and 11. It allows users to organize shortcuts, files, and notes into customizable virtual 'Frames', including Data Frames, Portal Frames for mirroring folders, and Note Frames. Features include workspace profiles, a Smart Desktop Engine for automated sorting, SpotSearch, and various launch animations and visibility options like Peek Behind and Rollup.

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What's inside Desktop Frames +

  1. Overview of Desktop Frames + features

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    Desktop Frames + is an open-source desktop icon management tool that allows you to organize shortcuts and files using virtual 'Frames'. Key capabilities include:

    • Frame Types:
      • Data Frames: For custom shortcuts.
      • Portal Frames: Mirrors folder contents with internal navigation and filters.
      • Note Frames: For quick text notes.
    • Organization: Use a Tabs Engine to group shortcuts within a single frame, and Workspace Profiles (e.g., Work, Gaming) to switch layouts via hotkeys or automation.
    • Automation: A Smart Desktop Engine can automatically sort incoming files into specific frames based on user rules.
    • Search & Visibility: Use SpotSearch (hotkey-invoked) to find shortcuts, and dynamic visibility options like Peek Behind, Rollup, or Auto-hide.
    • Customization: Supports custom themes, Chameleon Mode (matches wallpaper colors), and various Launch Animations (Zoom, Bounce, Fadeout, etc.).
    • Portability: Uses relative paths, making it easy to move setups between computers via Export & Import.

  2. Configure Frame behavior: Auto-roll and Auto-hide

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    You can automate the visibility of your Frames to keep your desktop clean:

    • Auto-hide Frames: All Frames can be set to automatically hide after a user-selectable period of inactivity.
    • Auto roll Frames: Individual Frames can be configured to 'auto roll' (hide/collapse) after a predefined period of time. This option is available via the right-click menu on the specific Frame.

  3. How Frames and Frame Types work

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    Frames are containers on your desktop used to group related items. There are three distinct types of Frames:

    • Frames (Data Frames): Standard containers for shortcuts (files, folders, web links).
    • Portal Frames: Special frames that mirror the contents of a specific folder.
    • Note Frames: Frames used to display text.

    Creating and Renaming Frames

    • Create: Click the heart (❤️) menu and select New frame, New Portal frame, or New Note frame.
    • Rename: Use CTRL + Click on the frame title. Type the new name and click outside the edit area to save.

  4. Manage and automate Profiles

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    Profiles allow you to switch between different icon collections (e.g., Work, Home, Presentation).

    Switching Profiles

    • Tray Menu: Select the profile name directly.
    • Hotkeys:
      • CTRL + ALT [0-9] (Switch to profile 0 through 9).
      • CTRL + ALT + . (Switch to next profile).
      • CTRL + ALT + , (Switch to previous profile).

    Profile Automation

    Automate profile switching based on active programs. You can define rules to switch to a profile:

    • Permanently.
    • Only while the specific program is active.

    Automation can be toggled via the tray menu or the options window.

  5. Use Portal Frames and filesystem features

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    Portal Frames act as mirrors for specific filesystem locations. Key features include:

    • Targeting: Portal Frames are named after their target folder upon creation.
    • File Operations: You can use the right-click menu on items within a Portal Frame to Rename files or use the Recycle Bin when deleting files/folders.
    • Path Access: Right-clicking items in a Portal Frame allows you to copy the target file path, the shortcut destination path, or open the target folder directly.
    • Filtering: You can filter hidden files on Portal Frames.
    • Stability: The program includes error handling for corrupted .json files and improved filesystem watchers to ensure Portal Frames update correctly when files are renamed or removed.

  6. Use Smart Desktop for automatic file organization (v2.6.5.225+)

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    Smart Desktop is an advanced background file manager that moves files to specific folders based on file extensions or filenames.

    Key Features:

    • Rules: Define movement logic in the "Smart Desktop Rules" window.
    • Priority: Arrange rule order in the "Smart Desktop Rules" window to set execution priority.
    • Notifications: Successful runs can trigger a notification in the lower right corner of the screen.
    • Control: Enable or disable "Smart Desktop Auto-Organize" via the tray icon menu or the options window.

  8. Manage Profiles and Automation

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    Desktop Frames + supports multiple profiles to organize different desktop setups.

    • Profile Manager: Create and manage different desktop configurations.
    • Profile Automation: Automatically switch between profiles based on the activation of specific programs.
    • Profile Switching Hotkeys: Use the following keyboard shortcuts to switch profiles:
      • CTRL+ALT+[Profile Number]
      • CTRL+ALT+<
      • CTRL+ALT+>

    Configuration Files:

    • ProfileOptions.json: Automatically created to manage profile-specific information.
    • Options.json: Moved under the specific profile folder.
    • MasterOptions.json: (Optional) Create this file in the program root to apply a Global Configuration across all profiles.

  9. Manage Portal Frame sorting and navigation

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    Portal Frames allow for file/folder browsing with several interactive features:

    • Sorting: Cycle through sorting methods (Name, Date modified, Type, Size) by performing a CTRL + Click on any area of the portal frame.
    • Navigation: Use CTRL + Click to navigate into subfolders.
    • Re-arranging: Use CTRL + Drag to re-arrange the order of items on the frame.
    • Spacers: You can add position blank spacers by using the CTRL + right click menu on any frame area.

  11. Install Desktop Frames +

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    Desktop Frames + is a fully portable application compatible with Windows 10 and 11. To install it:

    1. Download the latest release package from the GitHub releases page.
    2. Extract all files from the ZIP package into a folder.
    3. Run Desktop Frames.exe.

    Note: Ensure you extract the files to a user-writable location. The application will automatically create all necessary configuration files and folders upon its first run.

    # Manual steps:
# 1. Download release
# 2. Extract to a folder
# 3. Run Desktop Frames.exe

  12. Manage items within Frames

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    Adding Items

    • Drag and Drop: Drag existing desktop shortcuts, folders, files, or web links directly into a frame. The application automatically generates a shortcut for the target.
    • Supported Types: .lnk files, .url files, folders, documents, and network targets.

    Moving and Copying Items

    • Move Dialog: Right-click an item $\rightarrow$ Move to... $\rightarrow$ select destination from the hierarchical list.
    • Copy/Paste: Right-click an item $\rightarrow$ Copy Item. Right-click a different frame $\rightarrow$ Paste Item.
    • Reorder Icons: Hold CTRL and drag the icon to its new position within the frame.

    Editing Shortcuts

    Right-click an icon and select Edit... to modify:

    • Name
    • Target path
    • Arguments
    • Icon (supports .ico, .exe, and .dll files)