Microsoft launched a new Workspaces PowerToy that lets you set custom layouts and configurations for multiple applications. The tool allows the user to save a specific desktop environment configuration as a workspace and relaunch the apps in the same layout on their desktop.
With the utility, a workspace can be launched with a single click, removing the need to start all the apps separately and arrange them in a preferred layout. App behaviour may differ on launch if an application instance is already open, leading to some apps repositioning the present instance while others might start a new instance by default.
Microsoft recommends modifying launch behaviour through available CLI arguments. “For example, VS Code will launch a new window by default, but should a user prefer to move the existing window, the –reuse-window CLI argument can be added to VS Code’s CLI arguments,” said Microsoft.
PowerToys creates the workspace by launching the app first, then instructing it to move and resize to a specific position. A new workspace can be created by clicking on “Launch editor” from the Workspaces settings or with the keyboard shortcut, Win + Ctrl + ‘.
In the editor, a “Create workspace” option will appear. Once the option to create has been selected, applications can be opened, closed and arranged according to one’s preference. Once the layout has been finalised, selecting the “Capture” button will save the workspace.
The editor window lets the user name the workspace, change window sizes, add or remove apps, insert command-line arguments and set desktop shortcuts. Alongwith the desktop shortcut, the workspace can be pinned to the taskbar.
PowerToys began during the Windows 95 time period as a set of freeware tools created by Windows developers as personal projects. The company revived it in September 2019 as an improved, open-source utility tool kit.
While an existing PowerToy, FancyZones, lets you arrange windows in a specific layout, Workspaces take it a step further by letting you launch and save the layout of only those apps that were added in a custom configuration. PowerToys can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store or the PowerToys GitHub page.
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