We reveal how nSpaces can be used to create a
multi-desktop workspace.
‘nSpaces provides a versatile multiple
desktop environment that you can use to keep your programs better organised.’
It’s difficult to have too large a desktop
to work with, and this is clear from the gradual increase in monitor sizes in
recent years. Anyone who’s used a multi-monitor setup – in which two or more
displays are connected to the same computer – will be aware that the extra
screen space can be a real boost to productivity. If desktop space is at a
premium, though, or finances do not allow, adding a second monitor is not
always an option, so you may have to investigate different ways of getting a
little more space. This is precisely where nSpaces can help, providing you with
a versatile multiple desktop environment that you can use to keep your programs
better organised.
The application enables you to use a number
of virtual desktops, known as spaces, to group programs and tools together.
This is very versatile and you can create whatever number of spaces you
require. Each can be assigned a different purpose, so you may have one that you
dedicate to internet-related software such as your web browser, email client
and chat tools, while another may be used to house your office tools such as
word processor and spreadsheet. As well as enabling you to group together
applications in a task-oriented way like this, you can also use nSpaces to keep
work and fun applications separate to help reduce distractions when you’re
trying to focus on something. There are also interesting options such as the
ability to password protect a particular desktop if you would like to ensure
that no one else is able to access the things you’re working on.
In many ways, working with the program is a
better option than adding a second monitor to your computer. Firstly, the
software will not cost you a penny and there’s the added bonus that you will
not lose any desktop space in the real world. You can also configure a variety
of keyboard shortcuts that can be used to speed up common operations, enabling
you to get even more from the program. To get started, you’ll first have to
download a copy of the software, so fire up your favourite web browser and pay
a visit to the program’s home page at www.bytesignals.com.
Click the Download button in the nSpaces section of the page and choose to save
the setup file to the desktop. If you want to read a little more about what the
program is capable of, just click the More Info button.
Once the download is complete, double-click
the file to start the installation process. Click the ‘Run’ button if Windows
displays a ‘Security Warning’ dialogue box and then make sure that English is
selected from the drop-down menu before clicking ‘OK’. Click ‘Next’ followed by
‘I Agree’, click ‘Next’ and then choose where the program should be installed
before clicking ‘Next’ again. Click the ‘Install’ button, and once the
installation is complete ensure that the box labelled ‘Run nSpaces Version
1.2.2’ is ticked and then click ‘Finish’.
nSpaces is a free download that can
be used with all versions of Windows
Be default, nSpaces provides you with four
virtual desktops, but this number can be easily changed. Right-click the
nSpaces icon in the notification area and select the nSpaces options from the
menu that appears. Use the + and – buttons next to the Rows and Columns labels
until the number of desktops you require has been reached. Once you’ve create
to correct number of desktops, each one can be configured individually. Click
the small preview icon representing a virtual desktop and then use the tabs at
the bottom of the dialogue to start the customisation process.
On the ‘Label’ tab you can name your
desktop space to make each one easier to identify, while by moving to the
Wallpaper tab you can choose a new background image for each one and decide
whether it should be stretched or centred – this type of customisation again
helps to make each of the desktops easier to identify at a quick glance. If you
would prefer not to use a background image, you can use the ‘Color’ tab instead
to choose a colour for the desktop. When naming desktops, you might find it
helpful to give them labels such as ‘Internet’, ‘Writing’, ‘Work’, etc.,
because this will help to make things easier to remember when it comes to
organising applications.
The next tab, ‘App’, can be used to force
individual apps to open up on a particular desktop. This way you could force
Microsoft Word, or your preferred word processor, to automatically open on your
‘Writing’ desktop, or Firefox to open on your ‘Internet’ desktop, helping to
keep things neatly organised. On the ‘Apps’ tab, click the ‘Browser’ button and
then browse through the contents of your hard drive until you find the
executable that relates to the application you want to filter. Click ‘Open’ and
then repeat the process as many times as necessary.
There are now just two more tabs that need
your attention. The ‘HotKey’ tab can be used to configure keyboard shortcuts to
jump to a particular desktop quickly. Tick any of the Alt, Ctrl, Shift and Win
boxes and then type the letter, number or symbol you’d like to use as the
shortcut. You can then repeat this process for the other desktops you have
created. The final tab, ‘Password’, can be used to password protect individual
desktops. If you’ve configured one of your desktops to work-related apps, it is
likely that you would prefer it if other people were not able to access it.
Make sure that you have the correct desktop selected, move to the ‘Password’
tab and then type the password you would like to use. Click the ‘Save’ button
at the bottom of the dialogue to save all of the settings you’ve put in place.
