Craig Tashman   |   GVU Center  |  Georgia Tech

WindowScape Beta 2

Download WindowScape – To use WindowScape, just unzip the download to a folder of your choice. Run yexplorer.exe, and WindowScape will start.

Download Documentation – A reasonably short documentation file is available as well, and it includes some pictures to try to put things in context.

Some more documentation

• Basics:
• Miniaturize all windows by double-clicking on an empty area of your desktop background.
• You can drag miniatures to reposition them, and click on them to expand them.
• Expand several miniatures at once by either 1) right clicking to highlight them, and then left clicking one of them to expand them all, or 2) clicking miniatures with the shift key pressed, which will leave the other miniatures visible to expand until the shift key is released.
• Access obscured miniatures by dragging over your desktop background (starting over an area without any desktop icons, of course). This will show all miniature windows, as well as the title-bars of all expanded windows. Release your mouse while over one of them to expand it or show it, respectively.
• Press and hold F2 to show all miniature windows. You can change this hotkey in the settings dialog box.
• Press Alt + Ctrl + / to miniaturize all windows. You can change this key combination in the settings dialog box.
• Miniaturize a window by pressing Alt + Esc, or by clicking on the Miniaturize button which WindowScape adds (or at least tries to add) to the title-bars of all windows.
• Miniaturize a window and reposition it by dragging the Miniaturize button on the window’s title-bar, which will miniaturize it in place, and allow you to put it where you like all at once.
• Accessing previous states:
• Note the timeline at the top of the screen. You can drag and resize it via the timeline bar. You can also click any of the thumbnails to return to the selected window configuration.
• Press the WindowsKey + A to cycle through, and return to, your previous window states in a way similar to Alt + Tab. Of course, you can change this key combination as well.
• Assign your current window state to a bookmark by either 1) clicking the desired number on the group bar and choosing “From Expanded” from the menu that appears, or 2) pressing Alt + WindowsKey + the desired number key. That key combination can also be changed.
• Return to a state on the group bar by pressing WindowsKey + the desired number key. You can change this key combination—and you will have to on Vista for it to work properly.

Known Issues

• WindowScape’s procedure for automatically updating its thumbnails sometimes causes flicker during video playback. If you notice flicker, make sure the automatic-update option in WindowScape’s system tray menu is unchecked. Even with automatic-update turned off, WindowScape should usually be able to update its thumbnails properly anyway, but should not interfere with video playback.
• Moving the mouse while WindowScape is starting up (i.e., while its progress bar is displayed) might, in rare circumstances, cause WindowScape to malfunction. If you notice this, simply restart WindowScape.
• The Miniaturize title-bar button WindowScape adds to all windows will sometimes not appear, but will operate properly when clicked on!
• The Miniaturize title-bar button does not work in IE on Vista.

Disclaimer:  This software is pre-release, beta-level! It is a work in progress and, although I do not believe it has ever damaged my computer or my data, I can not guarantee the same for you. By using WindowScape or anything else I post here, you agree—to the highest extent legally possible—not to hold me responsible for any undesired consequences of using the software.