Ending Windows desktop file clutter, help! |
Loading ...I’m sure there is a Windows application out there that sorts desktop files into folders automatically already and if there isn’t then somebody should develop one post haste. I complained about desktop clutter almost three years ago, ouch. It’s been on my development to-do list for some time and this morning after staring at my desktop I decided to ask the rest of the world if such an animal already exists. Here’s a picture showing the problem:
What I’ve been doing for far too long is manually sorting these desktop files by type into folders. Like image files are sorted into a ’screenshots’ folder and .txt files are sorted into a ‘writing’ folder. It wouldn’t be that involved having a program that watches the desktop folder and then auto sorts any file by type (or custom definition rule) into custom directories defined by the user. It could also be run as a scheduled task once a day to clean out the icons of the day and sort into date stamped archive folders also customizable by the end user. Like say I wanted to have the program auto sort each day’s desktop files into monthly folders like July2008, Aug2008, etc., but the default should be to just sort into one folder so one doesn’t have to make too many clicks to get to the file.
If you’re reading this and have the perfect Windows application in mind — freeware, donationware, shareware or commercial — please pipe up in the comments section below with a link. If it’s a commercial or shareware application feel free to use your own affiliate code and if it looks good to me and you’re the first to mention I’ll buy the program through your link. Or write a blog post and trackback in, your choice. If I only hear crickets on this one I may just have to break out Visual Studio and get this done. I need a useful little app like this.
If it does cost money for this application, it shouldn’t cost very much. This isn’t Photoshop. I’m thinking $20 or less. Thank you in advance for the help.
Update 10:16am PST: Wow, that didn’t take long. Major props to Dean in the comments below for pointing me to Belvedere by Lifehacker’s Adam Pash. Now look at my desktop (right). 
As the screenshot displays in the upper left corner I’ve got the recycle bin (emptied) and four shortcuts to the following directories:
icons - this contains shortcuts to all programs with the word ’shortcut’. Windows, by default adds the word shortcut to each shortcut on the desktop.
screenshots - all files matching .jpg, .gif, .png and .bmp are automatically moved off the desktop by Belvedere to this directory.
software - zip files are moved here
writings - .txt, pdf and html files moved here
My most commonly used programs are stored in Rocketdock which is right aligned and takes up a very tiny amount of screen real estate. I linked to my original post about Rocketdock in the comments area below. This is on the short list of useful programs I regularly use on Windows plus it gives it a little of that Mac flavor.
For Mac Readers, Belvedere is based on the Mac program Hazel ($21.95, just about the price I suggested a program like this should cost). I’m not sure what is out there for Linux, but a desktop auto clean-up program should be a standard accessory in every OS. If anybody knows of something similar that will help Linux users keep their desktops tidy, feel free to use the comments below to share.
Related Posts- Dealing with Windows desktop clutter
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I personally keep my desktop pretty clean. The only thing on it is shortcuts to folders in my documents since My documents are backed up regularly. Including a ‘working’ folder shortcut (back to my docs). I use this for holding a notes.txt, and todo.txt etc. Anything I do have on my desktop is deemed ‘temporary’ so that should I do a reformat and that is lost - no big deal. It also makes it easier to locate any downloaded items that get plopped on my desktop.
As far as program icons, I only have a few. The rest I reach via the start menu. It’s only an extra click or Two. I think everyone probably does it their ‘own’ way.
Comment by Lestat — July 22, 2008 @ 8:11 am PST
I use Rocketdock to keep the important desktop icons in place but there are times you want or need to work with a file and it’s handy to have it one or two clicks away versus pulling up the Windows explorer and locating the file that way. Just like having pens near the phone, if you know what I mean.
Comment by TDavid — July 22, 2008 @ 8:26 am PST
I don’t really save anything to my desktop so it stays pretty uncluttered. I do have a multi-media and web folder on my desktop but I just put all those short cuts that programs create in them to help keep it clean.
Comment by FranciscoIV — July 22, 2008 @ 9:06 am PST
I’ve never tried it but this sounds like it might help out - http://lifehacker.com/341950/belvedere-automates-your-self+cleaning-pc
Comment by Dean — July 22, 2008 @ 9:12 am PST
Dean - thank you, that looked perfect and I downloaded and tried but it doesn’t seem to work with the Windows Vista desktop. It keeps using “user/desktop” instead of “desktop” No way to change from what I see unless I modify the source code (which might be worth doing if I don’t figure out some workaround).
Comment by TDavid — July 22, 2008 @ 9:30 am PST
http://www.desktopminds.com/cleandeskorganizer.html is another one that looks like it might work.
Comment by Dean — July 22, 2008 @ 9:37 am PST
Actually Belvedere does work, I had to run as admin though to get the permissions to work. Thank you again, Dean! Very helpful. You have some blog URL or something I could link to in an update in the post as an additional thank you?
Comment by TDavid — July 22, 2008 @ 9:45 am PST
I don’t have an active blog, but I’m glad it’s working for you.
Comment by Dean — July 22, 2008 @ 9:56 am PST
I don’t have any desktop icons. As soon as one gets put there by an installation, I delete it. The things I use most often go in the Quick Launch, for everything else I navigate the Start Menu or launch it from a command prompt.
Heh, Captcha is “usually Eugene” — sorry to disappoint you, Captcha, but it’s Chip this time.
Comment by Sterling "Chip" Camden — July 22, 2008 @ 12:02 pm PST
You wouldn’t have to manually delete ever again, Sterling, if you used Belevedere. I like this program. Handy!
Comment by TDavid — July 22, 2008 @ 12:05 pm PST
Ok, I’m confused, are you the same Dean as above? And it’s a ‘no’ on Palms Middle School. Edit: the last three comments are weirding me out. I’m not sure what they have to do with anything here. Will probably be nuking them. Enjoy them why they are hot.
Comment by TDavid — July 24, 2008 @ 10:08 am PST
i’m guessing that newbreaktimes is spam… That is indeed not the same Dean…
Comment by Dean — July 24, 2008 @ 10:22 am PST
Thanks to the helpful Dean (#12) - the strange Dean’s comments are gone.
Sterling - CAPTCHA? You are still seeing that? You shouldn’t see the CAPTCHA after making a few comments as long as you keep the cookie.
Comment by TDavid — July 24, 2008 @ 11:27 am PST
Yeah, I accept cookies, but it keeps asking for Captcha. I’m using FF 3.0.1. I may have something else sweeping cookies away, though. I also notice that FF doesn’t keep my saved passwords around for more than a week.
Comment by Sterling "Chip" Camden — July 24, 2008 @ 11:40 am PST
I noticed you changed your name too. You used to post without the “Chip” in your name, Wonder if those quotes are fubarring something, I’ll add this to my to-do list. Sorry about that. The CAPTCHA isn’t supposed to be there annoying anybody but newbies — and even them only for a few comments.
Comment by TDavid — July 24, 2008 @ 11:59 am PST
I simply arrange the most commonly used programs and files to the left top and right…in the middle I keep a workspace for app windows with some tiling so I can bounce back & forth…that’s about it, nothing fancy but it works.
-S
Comment by sean — July 26, 2008 @ 9:10 pm PST
Not sure why you need to place shortcuts on the desktop? I mean it costs 1 MB of RAM for each shortcut and that in itself will slow down the system a lot. The program looks great and I will be checking it out for myself. Thanks for sharing about it.
Comment by moserw — July 29, 2008 @ 8:29 pm PST
Don’t Macs come preloaded with a desktop automator? I seem to recall running across it on my old MacBook, though I never explored it. So if you throw an automator and a rocketdock on there, you’ll be well on your way to building yourself a Mac.
Comment by Jay @ Advance — July 30, 2008 @ 7:03 am PST
Full clutter desktop. It reminds me of the Windows 3.1 days, when there is no start menu available, and your screen is full with shortcuts.
Comment by pening — July 31, 2008 @ 6:09 pm PST