Icon columns issue in Fences 4

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need to know more on your system.

1. You on Windows 7,8,10 or 11? Also need to know its full version number. Use Winver.exe
2. Installed Fences version number.
3. Monitor resolution and scaling (100%,125%,150% etc)
4. Desktop icons size set

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

21H2

Latest Fences 4 (no updates when I check)

100% DPI

Icon size, no Idea, whatever the default is I guess.

Full version numbers please. Something like below. Example: Win11 V22H2 (OS Build 22621.674)

Please check, for Win10 right click on desktop-> view and you will see something like my screenshot above: The dot will show you where your icons size is at.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Great, thanks for that information. I tested your issue on my Windows 10 system and I cannot reproduce your issue on my system. Please try purge and reinstall steps as mention here : [Link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account page. Reboot after the purge. Reinstall and reboot again after the installation. Retest and report back here.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

I am having the same issue all of a sudden.  Uninstall / reinstall is not an option.

uninstall/reinstall did not help.  I did discover, though, that large icon size does not have the issue, but as the icon sizes decreases (ctrl+scroll wheel) eventually the icons go into the hidden second column.

If you try the "classic icons" size setting does it help with the issue?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

No, classic icons the hidden second column still exists.  I have to go somewhere between medium and large, which is way way too big for actual use.

Any update on this case?  What should I try next?

Have you tried the purge and reinstall steps as I mentioned in reply#5? Do know that, uninstall and reinstall is not the same as purge and reinstall.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

That did not help.  The issue persists.

Please try cleanboot: https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#cleanboot

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

When you use ctrl and the wheel to change the size, are the size settings in Fences also changing with it or is it keeping its own settings?

It's almost sounding like using the wheel to resize is messing with how Fences would present the icons/columns 

Paul Scroggins
Associate Technical Support Analyst

The Fences icon sizes do change with the CTRL resize.  However, the issue is present whether I use the CTRL method or simply select a predefined size, such as "classic icons."  It only goes away when using large icons, as stated above.

Clean boot did not make a difference.

I obviously can't see the source code, but I suspect there is something unique about my system, perhaps the graphics card or something, where the column calculation is less than minimum snap size.  So when I set it to a one column width, let's say that's 50 pixels.  But the column calculation says a column is actually 48 pixels, so it incorrectly creates two columns.

If I could freely size the column below what it thinks is only a single column wide, I could work around the issue, but it does not let me.

Question: if you create a single column fence and set your icons to smaller than Classic, do the icons align as if in a two column fence?

I just tried a different computer and while classic icons line up okay, when I go smaller, they realign to two columns, with one hidden just like on this system.  While it's slightly different scenario, because nobody really uses smaller icons, it may be a way to demonstrate the issue to devs.

also is there a way to override the minimum width of a fence?  If I could go smaller width, it might fix it.

It's been a full year and this bug still exists, no response from support.  No response via email or forums.  Does Stardock even support their products?  I was considering buying Start11 but I think I'm going to instead never buy from Stardock again.  They don't ever fix bugs.

If you check the history for Start11 you will find we do indeed fix things as well as add new features (Start 11 v2 preview out today)

I know this issue was being discussed recently if that helps.

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. As mentioned on your other post the Fences 4 Dev is currently look at this issue. Appreciate your patience and all your feedback in this issue.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Thank you I hope it gets fixed.

I saw there was an update for Fences v4 and I got excited and thought this issue might finally be fixed after nearly two years after it was reported.  But nope.  It is not.  Issue is still present.  It seems the latest v4 version exists only to nag us to upgrade to Fences v5 for $30 (!!!!!).  I've learned my lesson, though.  Stardock will never fix bugs, just make new versions and try to extract more money out of you.  If you reach out to their support, they tell you to post in the forums, so other users can help you and they don't have to spend any time actually supporting their product.  But if it's a bug, other users can't help you.  Stardock has to fix the bug.  And they won't.  So what have I actually learned?  I've learned to never buy Stardock again.

Taking from the other thread @ https://forums.stardock.com/523449/page/1/#3988169

I'm going to attach a video.  This issue has existed since Fences 3.  I'm using Fences 5.  I won't upgrade to Fences 6 unless this is fixed.

I am on Windows 11 Pro 25H2, 100% scaling, monitor is 3440x1440.  I have confirmed this also happens on my laptop which has a 1920x1080 HD display, also 100% scaling.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dLTOgmPQZs8[/video]

I have replied on this same issue on your other post here: https://forums.stardock.com/523449/get;3988188 

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

While this shouldn't be an issue and we're not able to reproduce, for functional's sake, I'll mention the spacing on this desktop is non-standard. The icons seem to be jammed up against one another. I recommend using About -> Troubleshooting -> Fix icon spacing to reset to Windows defaults.

After doing this, I'm guessing this will no longer occur. If it does, please use the following to send us a more detailed report, which might have details to help reproduce:

About -> Troubleshooting -> Enable advanced logging
[Reboot, reproduce issue]
About -> Troubleshooting -> Create error package

I want my non-standard icon spacing and Fences should support it.  I like my icons close together.