mr_vico mr_vico

Feature request: Command-line / CLI support for saving & restoring Fences layouts

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Feature request: Command-line / CLI support for saving & restoring Fences layouts

from Stardock Forums

Hello Stardock team,

I’m a long-time Windows power user and Fences user, and I’d like to ask whether it would be possible to add command-line (CLI) support for Fences, specifically for saving and restoring desktop layouts.

I’m using a multi-monitor setup, and occasionally Windows temporarily disconnects a secondary display (for example due to DisplayPort handshake or power-state changes). When this happens, Windows moves all desktop icons to the primary monitor. Fences already solves this perfectly by restoring the layout — but currently this can only be triggered manually via the UI.

What would be extremely useful is a simple, documented CLI interface, for example:

  • fences.exe /saveLayout

  • fences.exe /restoreLayout

  • or any equivalent supported mechanism (CLI, COM, or PowerShell-friendly API)

This would allow advanced users to:

  • Automatically restore layouts after display reconnect events

  • Integrate Fences into scripts or scheduled tasks

  • Eliminate the need for UI automation or workarounds

I understand that Fences is primarily a GUI-driven product, but even a very minimal CLI surface for layout management would add a lot of value for power users, especially in multi-monitor environments.

Thanks for a great product, and for considering this request.

 

Best regards,
mr_vico

 
fences
45,745 views 57 replies
Reply #52 from Stardock Forums Top

Woooooo!!!! Huge! Yup confirmed in that log that refreshing the handle resolved issue in full.

Thank you again, and, other silent Fences users thank you for your patience as well 🙏🙏

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Reply #53 from Stardock Forums Top

 

 

It is true that one can work around it perhaps. But the only (only!) cause is Fences mismatching the data. It is specifically programmed to handle this. Please submit a report and we can get this resolved - thank you!

Reply #54 from Stardock Forums Top

Just found this thread because I'm having problems with icons changing position when I use my KVM switch. I'm using Fences 6.46 but I can't see the "Store my layout on a per-monitor-configuration basis" option. Should that option still be present on the Layout tab?

Reply #55 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi cnw_uk, good news, if you're not seeing it, it should be on as it is now on by default.

If you continue seeing the problem with the new version available v6.52, let us know and we'd like to gather more debug data from you to try to help us see the problem, but hopefully this resolves it. Thanks for the help in return

Reply #56 from Stardock Forums Top

It was still the same with 6.52 but I think I've fixed it by changing which ports I'm using on the video card. Previously it was:

1. DisplayPort -> HDMI adaptor -> KVM
2. HDMI -> KVM

Now it's:

1. DisplayPort -> HDMI adaptor -> KVM
2. DisplayPort -> HDMI adaptor -> KVM

The monitors are different resolutions (1920x1200 landscape and 1080x1920 portrait) so my setup might be a bit unusual.

Reply #57 from Stardock Forums Top

Definitely not an unusual setup! We have users with 7+ monitors.

v6.52 has significant improvements in this area, so, disappointing it's not resolved. Would be glad to take a closer look if this continues to happen with your new setup.