vwPager
Due to some clowns on the net that posted automated bullshit, I've had to close the discussion section until I can prevent this better. Sorry for the inconvenience.
What?
vwPager is a pager module for VirtuaWin, which is a virtual desktop manager. It gives you visual feedback on what your current virtual desktops look like, plus some extra functionality:
- Use context menu to move windows to the current desktop;
- Use context menu to make windows shown on all desktops;
- Use context menu to access a specific application and therefore the virtual desktop it lives on;
- Customizable color scheme, so it can blend in with your theme, if any.
Interactivity is limited to mouse entry, since VirtuaWin deals with the keyboard shortcuts:
- Left mouse button - Used to jump to a virtual desktop.
- Middle mouse button - Used to drag pager to the desired location.
- Right mouse button - Accesses the context menu.
Why?
I've created this pager because I felt that VirtuaWin was 'lacking' a visual feedback of the current desktop situation. I used to use sDesk and had gotten quite used to its interface. sDesk is a closed project now, by the way.
So I wanted something similar for VirtuaWin, to get an overview of which windows are where. This resulted in me writing up a module.
Where?
vwPager v1.1 - download for version 4.0 (and up) of VirtuaWin
- Setting pager window unmanaged if available.
- Fixed drawing of miniature desks for all possible layouts.
- Fixed disappearing pager window when folding overshoots perimeter.
- Fixed sticky windows drawn on previous desk.
- Fixed (not) drawing of minimized windows.
- Fixed drawing of hidden-by-move windows.
- Fixed layout and folding for linear arrangements.
- Make vwPager window sticky only on first desk change.
- Removed unneeded focus tracking.
Or get the latest at the VirtuaWin sourceforge module page.
Old releases
vwPager v1.03 - download for version 4.0 (and up?) of VirtuaWin
vwPager v1.02 - download for version 3.2 of VirtuaWin
vwPager v1.0 - download for earlier versions
Feature Requests & Bugs
Here are some of the features requested so far. I might not implement all these features, but I'm listing them here so you are aware that I am aware. 
Are you missing a feature that you think vwPager should have? Add a request below in the discussion area.
- Add transparency, as many seem to like it.
- Use the left mouse button to drag windows from one virtual desktop to the other.
- Multi monitor support.
- Font bigger or user selectable.
- Place pager window at several predefined spots easily.
- Fix dragging of pager window and perhaps add a quick locate method, eg. move it to the top right, folding up.
- Make pager window snap to perimeter, stay visible and limit the desktop area so maximized windows are restricted to the area that the pager window does not occupy.
Discussion
Hi, maybe I'm just to stupid, but I get the Window only very short when changing desktops … ist this intended ? I was looking for any way to aktivate the vwPager somehow manully …
regards
Hermann
Now I got it .. after moving it to another position I can grab it. I have my taskbar on the left side, and there vwPager was initially. but I could only activate it by switching desktops…
maybe something to change in a future release …
Hermann
Sorry for the late reply; I only just noticed that you replied to my first message…
I can imagine that it's hard to grab with the taskbar over it. You could move the taskbar to a different side and then move the pager window, and then return the taskbar to its original position.
But I'll try and add some 'fixed' positions to the Options menu for situations like this.
I wish there was a way to move the switching tool like I can move any other window to different corners.
Well, the left mouse button is reserved for switching to the desktops, so that won't work. You can drag the pager window using the middle mouse button to the desired position. I'm aware that this is awkward to use at the moment and I am working on better functionality.
@snapshot thumbnail: Do you mean a thumbnail of what a desk looks like? Would this be in place of the current view, or a 'popup'?
@second monitor: I do not work with two monitors; that's why I use VirtuaWin. ;oP But I'll try and see if I can test it more thoroughly on multi monitor settings for the next release.
Thanks for your suggestions.
I'm having problems with dragging the paging window around while using the middle mouse button. I'm not sure why.
I have one of the typical scroll-wheel mice where the middle button is simulated by clicking the scroll wheel. I generally don't have any problems with normal middle button behavior, but I cannot seem to scroll the vwPager window around very well. I managed to do it ONCE partially, but now it's stuck in the unfortunate position of just above my START button.
You have any suggestions? ( I can just disable the module for now, but I was trying it out to demonstrate VirtuaWin to a friend who prefers pagers more similar to vwPager. )
@dragging problems: The dragging is rather sensitive at the moment. I've added a bug report for that. Main thing is to make sure the mouse is always over the pager window and drag slowly. Sorry 'bout this.
@demo: thanks for showing more people the beauty of VirtuaWin! Too bad that my module suffered from the typical 'presentation effect'… :o(
Cheers.
@dragging - Yeah I have the same mouse & problem but as you say drag very very slowly. Eventually I got it positioned just right.
@second monitor support: I'll be happy to test any multi monitor releases if you need. Also any windows that are open on the second monitor do no show up in the pager but it works just as expected.
Thanks for this fantastic plugin.
@snapshot: yep, the pager window shows all the “open” windows (with/without the background) of the desktop at the time the user left the desktop.
Wow, this is great. But, the text is SO TINY! I can't read it. I'd love to be able to set the font and font size. It folds to the edge of the screen, so it would be okay with me if it were huge.
Glad you like. :o)
@tiny text: It was a choice I made some time ago, when I wanted to copy the sDesk look and behaviour as close as possible. Making the text larger will leave you less to read / decipher to identify individual windows. I've noted your request. It will not be in the upcoming 1.1 release, though; I'm fixing some major bugs in that one first, so I have a stable build to build on.
Hi all
the tool is cool, just what i was looking for!
Here is some bugs, a few small fix would make it better, but I like it as it is :P
@dragging: same problem with dragging and repositioning, bit painful but not an often used feature anyway @taskbar on lef: same problem as described above, by default the pager is hiding under my taskbar @setup colors: when you select colors for a window, it is not showed correctly on setting page, but updated after reenter to settings. Changing the color of the pager works, but settings not updated correctly
have fun! Attila
@taskbar on left: I'll see if I can find out just where the taskbar is located and use that information when first running vwPager, to make sure it'll not disappear behind it.
@setup colors: Forgot about that one! Thanks for the reminder. I've added it to my bug list and I might make sure you see the pager window and update the colors there as well; that way you can see what the result will look like, while you're editing.
Thanks.
When I move from window to window using my hotkey sequence my mouse pointer is moved from wherever it started to right on the pager window. Is there some way to tell it to leave the mouse pointer where it started?
Oops! I wanted to delete you second copy of this post, but it deleted the 'solution' as well. I'm happy you've found the solution in VirtuaWin itself because I could not really follow your problem here, sorry.