Problems with sorting

Can't sort or delete fences in v4.2.1.2 or v5.88.8

from Stardock Forums

I have been using Fences 3 and 4 for many years, with few, if any, problems, although I don't often create new Fences. However, when I recently created a new fence in Fences4 I was unable to sort the shortcuts. The 'Sort by' menu had 'None' selected, but clicking on any of the options had no effect. Moreover, I could not delete the newly created fence. I opened one of my previously created fences which was sorted by Name, and found I could not sort by any other criteria. This fence had a ticked 'Maintain sorting' option, and I could not deselect it. The 'Sort by' option on the Desktop Context menu works as expected for items which are on the desktop but outside a fence.

I fully uninstalled Fences 4 and ran the purge fences batch file, rebooting at appropriate points. I downloaded and installed the trial version of fences 5.88.8. and created a new fence for desktop icons. I could not sort them nor delete the fence. I restored a recent snapshot from a backup of my Fences 4 data. The restored fences still could not be sorted by different criteria.

I installed version 5.88.8 in a new Windows sandbox and also in an older Windows 11 Hyper-V VM. In both cases, they worked correctly.

Please can you advise how to make my fences sortable and deletable again?

fences
3,178 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. It may be that your locked Fences setting from previous version get carried over to your current Fences v5. Please try this to force Locked Fences appear in your desktop context menu. Once that is done, try lock/unlock again your Fences. Once it is under unlock stage. Please retest all your issue above and report back.

https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1621360668/Show+%22Lock+Fences%22+in+Fences+5

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for the quick response. I added the registry entry and restarted to no avail. There is no 'Locked Fences' item in my desktop context menu (and I had never locked fences in previous versions, and I'd've thought the Purge file would have deleted this option). However, close inspection of the extended context menu showed I still had an entry for DisplayFusion. Although I'm sure I've successfully run DF alongside Fences on my previous multi-monitor system, I don't really use DF for much. I'd seen on these forums a potential conflict between the two programs, so deleted DF and restarted. I still don't have a desktop context menu for lock/unlock folders, but the good news is that Fences appears to be working as expected now, including the warning if I try to move an item in a sorted folder.

TLDR: Registry change didn't appear to have any effect; following removal of DisplayFusion, Fences now appears to work as expected. Payment incoming (eventually).

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

In Windows 11 you will need to click on "Show more options" to see the lock Fences. Refer screenshot below.

 

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks, but I have classic full context menus enabled, so don't have a 'More Options' option. The '(Un)Lock  Fences' option doesn't appear (yes, it is set in the registry). It's not an option I've ever felt the need for, so NP.

 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

If you have done something to mod the default Windows 11 context menu that will probably mess thing up.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant