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VictorZakharov
Request: "Always on Top" windows
It would be convenient to be able to add softwares to a list of windows that the user always want to see them "Always on Top". All softwares on this list would automatically get pinned by PinWin after the user opens these softwares/windows.
As shown on my mock-up below, there could be a button to browse .exe files and another button to remove these softwares/windows from this list.
On this tab, the big SELECT WINDOW button would be used to directly add a window to make it AOT the next time that window is launched.
Mock-up image:
Are you saying favorites? Windows that auto-pin on startup? Your mock is slightly confusing because pinned actually means always on top.
Are you saying favorites? Windows that auto-pin on startup?
Yes.
Let's say PinWin is launched at Windows startup (with a shortcut pasted in C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ folder), PinWin is running in the background, visible in the taskbar SysTray.
Then, the user launches Firefox. If the user added Firefox into this "Favorites" list before, then PinWin detects that Firefox is launched and automatically pins it.
Your mock is slightly confusing because pinned actually means always on top.
Sorry about this confusion about terms.
For me, "Pinned Windows" is to pin windows manually, with the target icon. And "Always on Top" (Favorites), is a list that is used to remember which softwares to automatically pin when they are launched. I hope this is doable. 🙏
Ok, I get it now. Don't think it will be a priority feature though. I feel like there will be a lot of edge cases and ongoing maintenance to ensure application starts are captured correctly. Also some apps can have multiple windows, and the outcome might not be deterministic. As an alternative to global system hook, putting a timer to enumerate all windows a few times per second will be a toll on system resources, depending on the number of windows, which can easily be in 200-300 range.
Then logically, how many windows do you expect to have pinned? If it's 2-3 we are talking about only few seconds saved per day, for a considerable coding effort. If you plan to pin dozens of windows, I'd be curious to see what the use case for this is. Originally, PinWin was intended as a productivity tool on single monitors. So realistically I don't see more than 3 pinned windows at a time. In my workflows I only use a single pin 99.9% of the time.
Please note that currently PinWin does not consume CPU if there are no pinned windows, or if they are minimized. I prefer to keep resource utilization to the minimum, to enable use on low cost hardware such as netbooks.
I'll keep your request open.
Actually, you brought very valid points (on both the CPU consumption and about the number of apps that a user might want pinned (automatically or not)).
The idea about "Favourites" just came into my mind, as I was brainstorming about what would be convenient for the user. I admit I haven't thought about the performance issues that such a feature would bring (I confess I am not a developer), but I wouldn't want PinWin to slow the OS down either.
Thank you for developing it (I was a long time Deskpins user before I discovered PinWin and I don't plan to switch back).
Sure, thanks for your participation!
Indeed, among so many "on top" programs, only deskpins get so many crowds. It is this automatic "on top" function that is very convenient and excellent! In addition, I hope the function of hiding tray icons and custom shortcut keys could be provided, which is the same as deskpins. Actually deskpins also works on my windows 10 ltsc 2021, but since windows 7 it has a bug: it often occupies some irrelevant file and folder make this file(folder) can't be deleted, just can only delete it by ending deskpins, hope you are in This bug can be solved while improving the above functions, thank you for your efforts!
@921j So DeskPins has auto on top? I didn't know that. Can you elaborate? Attach some screenshots etc. Custom shortcut keys is already implemented here. What do you mean by "hiding tray icons"?
Yes, Elias fixed a bug that prevented DeskPins from starting on Windows 10, and a few other bugs, it happened sometime after I published PinWin.
I am not aware of any issues like locking files/folders with DeskPins, perhaps you should let Elias know.
@921j So DeskPins has auto on top? I didn't know that. Can you elaborate? Attach some screenshots etc. Custom shortcut keys is already implemented here. What do you mean by "hiding tray icons"?
Yes, Elias fixed a bug that prevented DeskPins from starting on Windows 10, and a few other bugs, it happened sometime after I published PinWin.
I am not aware of any issues like locking files/folders with DeskPins, perhaps you should let Elias know.
"Hide tray icon" is I can run deskpins without a tray icon display, just hotkey. I am currently using AHK to do that.
"AutoPin" is the auto on top some customize windows
If ignore the problem of locking the file / folder, Deskpins basically no problem，but deskpins has not been updated for a long time, I don't know how to feedback. Sorry, I don't want you to solve this bug for Deskpins, I just hope that your Pinwin can go beyond Deskpins and have all the advantages of Deskpins without disadvantages.
@921j: I see, thanks for your feedback. Although note, you are NOT using the original DeskPins, because the original looks a little different. Notice a different icon. Maybe it explains why you are seeing those bugs? Just a thought.
To hide tray icon, you can just drag it into the hidden tray icons sections. It's a standard Windows 7/8/10 feature. I have 8 icons hidden right now and about 10 showing. If you are not using that hidden section, just start dragging an icon, it will appear as a drop target. No need for a custom implementation. If used, hidden section toggle looks like this - highlighted in orange:
I'll think about autopin. I see here it can be enabled or disabled, so user can decide between saving system resources and more features.
@921j: I see, thanks for your feedback. Although note, you are NOT using the original DeskPins, because the original looks a little different. Notice a different icon. Maybe it explains why you are seeing those bugs? Just a thought.
To hide tray icon, you can just drag it into the hidden tray icons sections. It's a standard Windows 7/8/10 feature. I have 8 icons hidden right now and about 10 showing. If you are not using that hidden section, just start dragging an icon, it will appear as a drop target. No need for a custom implementation. If used, hidden section toggle looks like this - highlighted in orange:
I'll think about autopin. I see here it can be enabled or disabled, so user can decide between saving system resources and more features.
I know about this feature but I don't like the superfluous stuff, including its indicator icon, I just want to be thorough, so I use AHK instead of turning this feature on. BTW, this version was changed by myself using ResourceHack when I hadn't learned to use AHK to hide before. I think this is not the root of the bug, it just appears randomly, maybe the reason why deskpins does not have 64 bits? I'll try original version again, thx!
@921j Well, you see, it does not make sense for every software vendor to include a feature that's already included in Windows. That would be a massive waste of effort, also consider that it will need regular maintenance to ensure it does not break between Windows version updates. Standardization is why writing software is cool.
you could create an app like "TXMOUSE", it's a very useful app because it copies the text selection automatically and it's possible to paste it using the middle mouse button. but because it is very old, it has some conflicts with the windows interface, defects in which the mouse pointer is jumping. I would be very grateful. http://fy.chalmers.se/~appro/nt/TXMouse/
@cleuton4k I created a separate ticket for your idea #36, although realistically I don't think I'll ever get to it. I've switched to web development shortly after creating PinWin, and have been full time on it for roughly 5 years.