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Working With Window Location Rules

May 21, 2015

Note: Starting with DisplayFusion 8.0, Window Location has been replaced by the more powerful feature, Triggers. You can find out more about Triggers here: https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/working-with-triggers/?ID=43b31609-4ec6-4478-99f8-a1f11e9793f7

Window Location is a powerful feature that allows you to set the default location of an application's first window only, or the first window as well as subsequent child windows. You can have the application automatically move to a specific monitor and have it centred, maximized, or minimized. If you want to get even fancier, you can have the Window Location rule run any function from the list of functions on the Settings > Functions tab. You can even create a custom function to set the exact location and size in pixels, or you can create a scripted function to do almost anything you like with the window.

Creating a basic Window Location rule

  1. Open the DisplayFusion Settings > Window Location tab.
  2. Make sure the "Enable Window Location" option is enabled.
  3. Click Add.
  4. Click "Select Application." If your application is currently running, it will be listed in the Select Application window. If it's not running, click Browse and locate the program's .exe on the drive.
  5. In the "Move Window" drop-down, choose whether you want the application to start on the current monitor (the monitor that the mouse cursor is on), or move to a specific monitor. If you choose "Move to Selected Monitor," click the monitor in the box below the "Move Window" drop-down.
  6. In the "Window Size" drop-down, choose whether you want the application to be Maximized, Minimized, Centred, or Spanned after it's moved.
  7. In the "Window Location Mode" drop-down, choose whether this rule should apply only to the first window of the application, or all windows. "All windows" includes dialogs and message boxes in addition to regular child windows.
  8. Click OK, then OK again.
A Basic Rule
A Basic Rule

Making a Window Location rule apply to more than one application

If you want a Window Location rule to apply to multiple applications, you can use an asterisk as a wild card, or you can specify multiple programs separated by a pipe. Here are some examples:

  • If you had a bunch of programs in the same folder, and wanted them to all be moved by the same Window Location rule, you would put the following into the "Application" text box: C:\AllMyPrograms\*
  • If you have a couple of programs both named "notepad.exe" but in different locations on the drive, you would enter: *notepad.exe
  • If you want the Window Location rule to affect both Calculator and Notepad, you would enter: *calc.exe|*notepad.exe
A Wildcard Rule
A Wildcard Rule

Creating a Window Location rule to run a Function

  1. Open the DisplayFusion Settings > Window Location tab.
  2. Make sure the "Enable Window Location" option is enabled.
  3. Click Add.
  4. Click "Select Application." If your application is currently running, it will be listed in the Select Application window. If it's not running, click Browse and locate the program's .exe on the drive.
  5. In the "Move Window" drop-down, choose "Keep on Same Monitor."
  6. In the "Window Size" drop-down, choose "Run Selected Function on Window."
  7. In the "Function" drop-down, choose the Function that you'd like to have DisplayFusion run on the application when it opens.
  8. In the "Window Location Mode" drop-down, choose whether this rule should apply only to the first window of the application, or all windows. "All windows" includes dialogs and message boxes in addition to regular child windows.
  9. Click OK, then OK again.
A Rule that Runs a Function
A Rule that Runs a Function

Creating a Window Location rule to move all new windows to the current monitor

  1. Open the DisplayFusion Settings > Window Location tab.
  2. Make sure the "Enable Window Location" option is enabled.
  3. Click Add.
  4. Click "Select Application." If your application is currently running, it will be listed in the Select Application window. If it's not running, click Browse and locate the program's .exe on the drive.
  5. In the "Move Window" drop-down, choose "Move to Current Monitor."
  6. In the "Window Size" drop-down, choose one of the sizing options.
  7. In the "Window Location Mode" drop-down, choose "All Windows."
  8. Click OK, then OK again.
A Rule to Move All Windows to the Current Monitor
A Rule to Move All Windows to the Current Monitor

Creating a Window Location rule to run on only a specific window for the application

  1. Open the DisplayFusion Settings > Functions tab.
  2. Click the "Download Scripted" button.
  3. Download the "Move Only a Specific Window of an Application" script.
  4. Edit the script to look for the window title of the window you want it to apply to, and also change the X and Y values for the location. You can also modify the code in the "if" statement to do other things with the window if you like.
  5. Open the DisplayFusion Settings > Window Location tab.
  6. Make sure the "Enable Window Location" option is enabled.
  7. Click Add.
  8. Click "Select Application." If your application is currently running, it will be listed in the Select Application window. If it's not running, click Browse and locate the program's .exe on the drive.
  9. In the "Move Window" drop-down, choose "Keep on Same Monitor."
  10. In the "Window Size" drop-down, choose "Run Selected Function on Window."
  11. In the "Function" drop-down, choose the "Move Only a Specific Window of an Application" Function.
  12. In the "Window Location Mode" drop-down, choose "All windows."
  13. Click OK, then OK again.

Configuring the Google Images Wallpaper Source

May 13, 2015
  • After logging in with your Google Account, click the "Create Project" link on the top-right of the page.
    Create Project
  • You'll be taken to the "Create Project" page. Give the project a name, then click the Create button.
    Name Project
  • The newly-created project will populate the screen. If not, use the "Select a project" dropdown to choose your new project.
  • In the left pane, navigate to APIs & Services > Library.
    APIs and Services - Library
  • Use the search box to search for "Custom Search API" and then select it.
    Custom Search API
  • Click the "Enable" button.
    Custom Search API - Enable
  • Click the menu on the top left and navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials.
    APIs and Services - Credentials
  • Click the "Create Credentials" link and choose "API Key."
    Create API Key
  • Click the copy button on the "API key created" window.
    Copy Key
  • Right-click the DisplayFusion tray icon and click "Desktop Wallpaper." You can also access this via the Options tab in Settings.
    Desktop Wallpaper Menu
  • Click the "Change" button in the "Wallpaper Source" area.
    Change Wallpaper Source
  • Click the "Google Image Search" source option.
    Google Image Search
  • Click "Get Settings."
    Get Settings
  • Paste the Google Project API Key into the "API Key" text field.
    GIS Settings
  • Specify the Search Text to pull in specific images.
  • Click the "Use These Settings" button.

Splitting a Spanned Remote Desktop (RDP) Session

April 13, 2015
In Windows 7, if you want to do a true multi-monitor remote desktop session, both the local and remote machine need to be running Windows 7 Enterprise or Ultimate. If you're using a different version, you can still span the remote desktop session across all of your monitors, but it will be treated as one large display. Using DisplayFusion, you can split that spanned session into smaller virtual monitors.
The steps below assume that you have two monitors of equal screen resolution on your local machine (the machine you're connecting from). If you have more than two monitors of equal screen resolution, just make sure to setup the splits in step 5 appropriately (i.e. 3x1 for 3 monitors).
  1. Install DisplayFusion on the remote machine.
  2. Open Start > Run (or press Win + R) and enter
    mstsc.exe /span
    . Note: The monitors connected to your local machine must all be the same resolution for this command to work.
    Run mstsc
  3. Enter the remote computer name and click "Connect."
  4. Open the DisplayFusion "Monitor Configuration" window, and click the "Splits and Padding" button.
  5. On the remote machine (in your RDP session), click the "Preset Splits" button and choose "2x1."
  6. Preset Splits
  7. Click OK to close the Splits and Padding window, and OK again to close the Monitor Configuration window.
You should now have two virtual monitors inside your spanned remote desktop session.
Split Screen

Randomly Load a Wallpaper Profile

March 13, 2015
When you've created multiple wallpaper profiles, you can associate them with monitor profiles, but you can also apply them randomly. Follow the directions here to have your wallpaper profiles randomly selected.
You will need two or more Wallpaper Profiles for this function to work.
  • Right-click the DisplayFusion tray icon and click "Desktop Wallpaper." You can also access this via the Options tab in Settings.
    Desktop Wallpaper Menu
  • Click the Wallpaper Profile dropdown.
    Wallpaper Profiles
  • If you have two or more Wallpaper Profiles, continue to the directions below. Otherwise, create additional profiles before continuing.
  • Right-click the DisplayFusion icon and click "Settings."
    Tray Menu - Settings
  • Select the Functions tab and click the "Scripted Function" dropdown. Then click "Download Scripted Function."
    Download Scripted Function
  • Double-click the "Randomly Load a Wallpaper Profile" function.
    Downloading the Function
  • The Scripted Function window will open. Click "OK" to complete the download and add it to your Function list.
    Scripted Function Window
  • From the Settings window, click "OK."
  • Download the Scheduled Task XML
  • On your computer, open the Windows Task Scheduler.
    Open Task Scheduler
  • Click "Task Scheduler Library" in the left pane, then "Import Task..." in the right pane.
    Import Task
  • Select the Scheduled Task XML file you downloaded previously, and click "Open."
  • The Create Task dialog window will open. Here you can customize various Triggers, Actions, etc. for the new task.
    Configure Task
  • Once complete, click "OK" to save the Scheduled Task.
To schedule a time or event to apply a specific Wallpaper Profile, see this guide: Scheduling Wallpaper Changes

Preventing Game Windows From Minimizing

February 13, 2015
DisplayFusion contains a built-in Function called "Prevent Window Deactivation," which keeps windows maximized when switching to other windows or screens. This Function can be run for a game window either manually via a key combination or automatically via a Trigger rule. The steps below will show you how to do both.
Note: Though applicable for most games, behaviour may vary. This guide will not work for online games that use anti-cheat software like Easy Anti-Cheat or Battleye.
  • Right-click the DisplayFusion icon and click "Settings."
    Tray Menu - Settings
  • Click the "Functions" tab and select the "Prevent Window Deactivation (keeps game windows focused)" Function. Double-click the Function or select it and click the "Edit" button.
    Prevent Function Edit
  • Configure a key combination for the Function and click "OK."
    Key Combination
  • From the "Functions" tab, click "OK" to apply and save your changes.
    Save
Pressing the configured key combination will run the Function with a "whoosh" sound notification. (Use Alt+Tab to exit the game the game.) If the Function fails to run, see the next section (Prevent Window Deactivation via Triggers).
Global hotkeys may be disabled while running select full-screen games. This will negate use of the key combination, but you can still run the Function with a Trigger rule. The steps below are for an example Trigger rule which will run the Prevent Window Deactivation function after a 60 second delay.
  • Right-click the DisplayFusion icon and click "Settings."
    Tray Menu - Settings
  • Ensure the "Enable Triggers" checkbox is enabled.
    Enable Triggers
  • Click "Add."
    Add Trigger
  • Enable the "Process Filename" checkbox. From the pop-up selection window, double-click your application or select it and click "OK." For games or folders not listed, use the "Browse" button.
  • In our example, we're using a wildcard (*) for all games in the "common" folder of the Steam application, (i.e.
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\*
    ).
    Process Filename
    Browse
  • Beneath the Actions pane, click the "Add" dropdown and select "Wait."
  • Action
    Wait
  • Type the number of milliseconds for the Wait Action (e.g. 6000) and click "OK."
    Wait Time
  • Click "Add" again and select "Run Function."
  • Add
    Run Function
  • Select "Prevent Window Deactivation (keeps game windows focused)" and click "OK."
    Action Select
  • Click "OK."
    OK
  • From the "Triggers" tab, click "OK" to apply and save your changes.
    OK
  • For more widespread application of this Function, use wildcards When specifying the "Process Filename" in the Trigger rule. For example: If your games are all stored in D:\Games, enter
    D:\Games\*
    in the Process Filename text box to run the Trigger on all games in that directory.
  • Some games lock the mouse cursor to the window. Configure and run the "Lock/Unlock Mouse Cursor to Current Window" or "Lock/Unlock Mouse Cursor to Current Monitor" Functions as a solution.
  • This Function won't immediately work for select games. Switch the game to windowed mode (Alt+Enter) and back to full screen (Alt+Enter again), or Alt+Tab twice to back out and return to the game window.

My Videos Wallpaper Source FAQ

January 13, 2015
The DisplayFusion My Videos wallpaper source will let you use your video files or animated images as your desktop wallpaper.
To use the My Videos wallpaper source, you will need to have Windows 8 or later installed on your computer, a working version of DirectX 9, and the correct video codecs to view your media files.
Windows Animation settings might be interfering with video playback. Make sure animations are enabled in Windows by doing the following:
  • Click on the Start button.
  • Search for "Control Panel" and click on it.
  • Click on "Ease of Access Center" (You may need to click "Ease of Access" first when in Category view).
  • Under "Explore all settings," click "Make the computer easier to see."
  • Disable the "Turn off all unnecessary animations (when possible)" option.
  • Click "Apply," then "OK."
Codecs are programs that are installed on your computer that help encode and decode video files. Windows comes with basic ones that let you view common file formats, such as DivX encoded files (usually .avi), or Windows Media Video files (.wmv).
To view other file formats, you may need to install a codec pack to help DisplayFusion make sense of your media. There are many packs to chose from, but if you are new to the concept of codecs, we recommend this light weight package.
Check that you've installed the correct codec versions for your system (i.e. 64-bit version of codecs for 64-bit Windows).
To learn more about codecs, please view this site.
All versions of Windows 7 and later have a working copy of DirectX that will be compatible with the My Videos wallpaper source, but sometimes different software installations can change files or even corrupt them.
To check your DirectX installation, run the dxdialog to see the status of your installation. To run the dialog, open the Run window by pressing Win + R and type '
dxdiag
' in the text field.
  • Click "OK." This will run the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
    Run dxdialog
  • Click on each tab or use the "Next Page" button to view each page's details and notes which may reveal problems.
    Diagnostic Tool
If you have any DirectX problems, we recommend downloading this distributable pack to fix your installation.
Videos in My Videos Wallpaper Source are muted by default. To unmute them, do the following:
  • Right-click the DisplayFusion tray icon and click "Desktop Wallpaper." You can also access this via the Options tab in Settings.
    Desktop Wallpaper Menu
  • Click on "Wallpaper Settings."
    Wallpaper Settings
  • Click "Mute all audio for the video wallpaper source (Windows 7 and higher)"
    Unmute
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