Fences 5

[Sneakyone]

Guide to Fences 5

Fences 5, developed by Stardock, is a desktop organization tool that helps you organize and declutter your desktop by creating customizable areas called "fences" to group icons and files. This guide will walk you through the installation, configuration, and key features of Fences 5.

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1. Installation Process

Follow these steps to install Fences 5 on your device:

1. Download the installer: Visit the official Fences website and download the installer for Fences 5.
   
2. Run the installer: After downloading, double-click the installer file to start the installation process.
   
3. Choose installation options: Follow the on-screen instructions to agree to the license agreement and select the installation folder. You can choose between the free trial or purchase the full version.
   
4. Complete installation: Once the installation is complete, Fences will launch automatically.
   

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2. First-Time Setup and Customization

Once Fences 5 is installed, follow these steps to set it up for optimal use:

1. Create your first fence: Right-click on your desktop and select ‘Create a Fence’. Drag a box around the area where you want to create a new fence and release the mouse button.
   
2. Name your fence: After creating the fence, give it a name by clicking on the title bar and typing in the name (e.g., "Work Files" or "Shortcuts").
   
3. Organize icons: Drag and drop desktop icons into your newly created fence. You can move files and shortcuts between fences as needed.
   
4. Change fence appearance: Right-click on a fence and select ‘Configure Fences’. In the settings, you can customize the background color, transparency, and title bar of each fence.
   
5. Enable "Roll-Up" fences: In the settings, enable ‘Roll-Up Fences’ to collapse fences into their title bar by double-clicking on them. This helps to declutter your desktop when not in use.
   

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3. Key Features and How to Use Them

Fences 5 offers various features to help you organize your desktop effectively. Here’s how to use some of its key features:

• Auto-Organize Desktop Icons: Fences can automatically organize your desktop icons into fences based on file type or other criteria. Go to ‘Configure Fences’ > ‘Sorting & Organizing’ to set up rules for sorting files into specific fences.
  
• Folder Portals: Fences allows you to create a "portal" to any folder on your desktop, displaying its contents within a fence. To create a folder portal, right-click on a fence, select ‘Create Folder Portal’, and choose the folder you want to display.
  
• Quick-hide desktop icons: Double-clicking an empty area on the desktop will hide all icons and fences, creating a clutter-free desktop. Double-click again to restore your icons.
  
• Snapshot and Restore Layout: Fences 5 allows you to save your desktop layout by creating a snapshot. To take a snapshot, go to ‘Configure Fences’ > ‘Snapshot & Restore’ and click ‘Take Snapshot’. If your desktop gets cluttered or disorganized, you can restore your layout by selecting a saved snapshot.
  
• Desktop Pages: Fences lets you create multiple desktop pages for different sets of icons and fences. To switch between pages, drag a fence to the edge of the screen or use the arrow keys to move between them.
  
• Context Menu Integration: Right-click on any file or icon and select ‘Move to Fence’ to quickly move the item to a specific fence, making organization faster and easier.
  

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4. Customizing Fences Settings

Fences 5 offers a variety of customization options to fit your needs. Here’s how to personalize the settings:

1. Adjust transparency and colors: To customize the look of your fences, go to ‘Configure Fences’ > ‘Appearance’. Here, you can adjust the transparency, background color, and title bar color of your fences.
   
2. Change fence sizes: Drag the borders of a fence to resize it. You can also set specific sizes for fences in the ‘Configure Fences’ > ‘Layout & Sizing’ section.
   
3. Set auto-arrange rules: Under ‘Sorting & Organizing’, you can create auto-arrange rules for your desktop icons, sorting files by file type, date created, or other parameters automatically into specific fences.
   
4. Configure roll-up behavior: To adjust the roll-up behavior of fences, go to ‘Configure Fences’ > ‘Roll-Up Settings’. You can control how fences collapse and expand, including setting automatic roll-up times.
   

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5. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are some common issues you may encounter with Fences 5 and how to resolve them:

• Fences not appearing after installation: If fences aren’t showing up on your desktop after installation, right-click your desktop and select ‘Show Fences’ to toggle them on.
  
• Desktop icons not auto-organizing: If icons aren’t sorting correctly, make sure you have configured auto-arrange rules under ‘Configure Fences’ > ‘Sorting & Organizing’. Ensure the correct rules are applied.
  
• Fences disappearing after reboot: If fences disappear after restarting your computer, check if ‘Enable Fences on startup’ is enabled in ‘Configure Fences’ > ‘General’. Also, ensure that your desktop icons aren’t hidden.
  
• Issues with Folder Portals: If a folder portal isn’t displaying correctly, try recreating the portal by right-clicking on a fence and selecting ‘Create Folder Portal’, then reselecting the folder.
  

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6. Uninstalling Fences 5

If you need to uninstall Fences 5, follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel or Settings app on your computer.
   
2. Go to Programs > Uninstall a Program.
   
3. Find Fences 5 in the list of installed programs and click Uninstall.
   
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove Fences 5 from your system.
   
5. Restart your computer if prompted.
   

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7. Conclusion

Fences 5 is an excellent tool for organizing your desktop and keeping your workspace clutter-free. With customizable fences, folder portals, and auto-arranging capabilities, it helps you stay productive and organized. For more help, visit the Stardock Fences Support Forum.