XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

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JKForde

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Hi,

Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)
desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest
of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not
recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any
icons or files.

Thanks for any info!
 
Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

"JKForde <jkforde@gmail.com>" wrote

>Hi,
>
>Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)
>desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest
>of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not
>recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any
>icons or files.
>
>Thanks for any info!

Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden
(right-click, Properties, General).

Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the
start menu.

I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.
 
Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

On Oct 14, 11:32 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>
wrote:
> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote
>
> >Hi,
>
> >Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)
> >desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest
> >of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not
> >recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any
> >icons or files.
>
> >Thanks for any info!
>
> Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden
> (right-click, Properties, General).
>
> Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the
> start menu.
>
> I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.


Thanks TBS, I'll try to explain my wish better...

I have Google desktop sidebar on the right of the desktop which takes
up a chunk of the desktop where files, shortcuts etc. can't be placed
and that's fine. I also have a notes program running on the desktop
(StickyPad) which appears as a transparent window down the whole left
of the desktop (top to bottom). Now, when I save shortcuts, files etc.
to the desktop they are placed 'behind' the notes window and this is a
pain in the arse. What I'd like to be able to do is what Google
Desktop does which occupies a specific area of the desktop and doesn't
allow the rest of the system to use it. What I have in mind is to be
able to drag a cursor over the desktop into a rectanglar shape and set
that area as the usable desktop area - all files etc. will then be
placed within this user-delimited area and no where else. Am I making
any sense? Thanks!
 
Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

"JKForde <jkforde@gmail.com>" wrote

>On Oct 14, 11:32 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>
>wrote:
>> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote
>>
>> >Hi,
>>
>> >Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)
>> >desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest
>> >of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not
>> >recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any
>> >icons or files.
>>
>> >Thanks for any info!
>>
>> Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden
>> (right-click, Properties, General).
>>
>> Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the
>> start menu.
>>
>> I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.
>
>
>Thanks TBS, I'll try to explain my wish better...
>
>I have Google desktop sidebar on the right of the desktop which takes
>up a chunk of the desktop where files, shortcuts etc. can't be placed
>and that's fine. I also have a notes program running on the desktop
>(StickyPad) which appears as a transparent window down the whole left
>of the desktop (top to bottom). Now, when I save shortcuts, files etc.
>to the desktop they are placed 'behind' the notes window and this is a
>pain in the arse. What I'd like to be able to do is what Google
>Desktop does which occupies a specific area of the desktop and doesn't
>allow the rest of the system to use it. What I have in mind is to be
>able to drag a cursor over the desktop into a rectanglar shape and set
>that area as the usable desktop area - all files etc. will then be
>placed within this user-delimited area and no where else. Am I making
>any sense? Thanks!

Yeah, you are. But AFAIK, what you want to do can't be done without
some third-party helper. And I know of none myself.
 
Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

On Oct 14, 11:51 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>
wrote:
> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote
>
>
>
>
>
> >On Oct 14, 11:32 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>
> >wrote:
> >> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote
>
> >> >Hi,
>
> >> >Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)
> >> >desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest
> >> >of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not
> >> >recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any
> >> >icons or files.
>
> >> >Thanks for any info!
>
> >> Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden
> >> (right-click, Properties, General).
>
> >> Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the
> >> start menu.
>
> >> I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.
>
> >Thanks TBS, I'll try to explain my wish better...
>
> >I have Google desktop sidebar on the right of the desktop which takes
> >up a chunk of the desktop where files, shortcuts etc. can't be placed
> >and that's fine. I also have a notes program running on the desktop
> >(StickyPad) which appears as a transparent window down the whole left
> >of the desktop (top to bottom). Now, when I save shortcuts, files etc.
> >to the desktop they are placed 'behind' the notes window and this is a
> >pain in the arse. What I'd like to be able to do is what Google
> >Desktop does which occupies a specific area of the desktop and doesn't
> >allow the rest of the system to use it. What I have in mind is to be
> >able to drag a cursor over the desktop into a rectanglar shape and set
> >that area as the usable desktop area - all files etc. will then be
> >placed within this user-delimited area and no where else. Am I making
> >any sense? Thanks!
>
> Yeah, you are.  But AFAIK, what you want to do can't be done without
> some third-party helper.  And I know of none myself.

Thanks anyway for your input Spoofer. I just tried to move the GDS
sidebar to the left of the screen but it actually doesn't kidnap the
area of the desktop 'under it' unless it is set to 'always on top'
which is no bleedin' good for general window screen real estate!
Any MVPs have any opinion?
 
Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:46:43 -0700 (PDT), JKForde <jkforde@gmail.com>
wrote:

>On Oct 14, 11:32 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>
>wrote:
>> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote
>>
>> >Hi,
>>
>> >Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)
>> >desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest
>> >of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not
>> >recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any
>> >icons or files.
>>
>> >Thanks for any info!
>>
>> Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden
>> (right-click, Properties, General).
>>
>> Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the
>> start menu.
>>
>> I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.
>
>
>Thanks TBS, I'll try to explain my wish better...
>
>I have Google desktop sidebar on the right of the desktop which takes
>up a chunk of the desktop where files, shortcuts etc. can't be placed
>and that's fine. I also have a notes program running on the desktop
>(StickyPad) which appears as a transparent window down the whole left
>of the desktop (top to bottom). Now, when I save shortcuts, files etc.
>to the desktop they are placed 'behind' the notes window and this is a
>pain in the arse. What I'd like to be able to do is what Google
>Desktop does which occupies a specific area of the desktop and doesn't
>allow the rest of the system to use it. What I have in mind is to be
>able to drag a cursor over the desktop into a rectanglar shape and set
>that area as the usable desktop area - all files etc. will then be
>placed within this user-delimited area and no where else. Am I making
>any sense? Thanks!

Google for Sideslide and see if thats any help .
 
Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

On Oct 15, 1:28 pm, Jim <bojimbo...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:46:43 -0700 (PDT), JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >On Oct 14, 11:32 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>
> >wrote:
> >> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote
>
> >> >Hi,
>
> >> >Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)
> >> >desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest
> >> >of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not
> >> >recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any
> >> >icons or files.
>
> >> >Thanks for any info!
>
> >> Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden
> >> (right-click, Properties, General).
>
> >> Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the
> >> start menu.
>
> >> I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.
>
> >Thanks TBS, I'll try to explain my wish better...
>
> >I have Google desktop sidebar on the right of the desktop which takes
> >up a chunk of the desktop where files, shortcuts etc. can't be placed
> >and that's fine. I also have a notes program running on the desktop
> >(StickyPad) which appears as a transparent window down the whole left
> >of the desktop (top to bottom). Now, when I save shortcuts, files etc.
> >to the desktop they are placed 'behind' the notes window and this is a
> >pain in the arse. What I'd like to be able to do is what Google
> >Desktop does which occupies a specific area of the desktop and doesn't
> >allow the rest of the system to use it. What I have in mind is to be
> >able to drag a cursor over the desktop into a rectanglar shape and set
> >that area as the usable desktop area - all files etc. will then be
> >placed within this user-delimited area and no where else. Am I making
> >any sense? Thanks!
>
> Google for Sideslide and see if thats any help .

Thanks Jim, not what I'm after (already have RocketDock which I'm
happy with) but thanks for taking the time!
 
Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area


"JKForde" <jkforde@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:e6ca39b8-c833-44be-816e-44b0bd1fb31a@q26g2000prq.googlegroups.com...
On Oct 15, 1:28 pm, Jim <bojimbo...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:46:43 -0700 (PDT), JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >On Oct 14, 11:32 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>
> >wrote:
> >> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote
>
> >> >Hi,
>
> >> >Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)
> >> >desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest
> >> >of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not
> >> >recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any
> >> >icons or files.
>
> >> >Thanks for any info!
>
> >> Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden
> >> (right-click, Properties, General).
>
> >> Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the
> >> start menu.
>
> >> I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.
>
> >Thanks TBS, I'll try to explain my wish better...
>
> >I have Google desktop sidebar on the right of the desktop which takes
> >up a chunk of the desktop where files, shortcuts etc. can't be placed
> >and that's fine. I also have a notes program running on the desktop
> >(StickyPad) which appears as a transparent window down the whole left
> >of the desktop (top to bottom). Now, when I save shortcuts, files etc.
> >to the desktop they are placed 'behind' the notes window and this is a
> >pain in the arse. What I'd like to be able to do is what Google
> >Desktop does which occupies a specific area of the desktop and doesn't
> >allow the rest of the system to use it. What I have in mind is to be
> >able to drag a cursor over the desktop into a rectanglar shape and set
> >that area as the usable desktop area - all files etc. will then be
> >placed within this user-delimited area and no where else. Am I making
> >any sense? Thanks!
>
> Google for Sideslide and see if thats any help .

>Thanks Jim, not what I'm after (already have RocketDock which I'm
>happy with) but thanks for taking the time!

JKForde,

Why can't you hide the desktop icons> by right clicking the desktop> and
under Arrange Icons By> and uncheck show desktop icons? Which will then put
your desktop icons down by your clock with a little double right pointing
arrows which is now where your desktop icons are and whenever you create a
desktop icon it will place it there for you out of the way?

George
 
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