Desktop grid/icon placement

[Lunaray]

How do I change the invisible desktop-grid so that I can put my icons where
I want them, and yet use "align to grid" to keep them aligned? I've tried
re-defining the "icon-spacing" in desktop properties/advanced, but this
doesn't seem to change anything, my icons still jump to a grid that is too
widely spaced (vertically that is; the horizontal alignment is okay)!

Thanks!

 

[Jonathan Maltz [MS-MVP]]

Right click your desktop, mouse over "Align icons by..." and uncheck "Align
to grid"

--
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server]
http://www.imbored.biz - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site
Only reply by newsgroup. If I see an email I didn't ask for, it will be
deleted without reading.

 

[Lunaray]

Thanks Jonathan, but I don't think you understand; I know that I can uncheck
"align to grid" and put the icons anywhere that I want, but then I have to
meticulously line them up manually and I would like to have "align to grid"
do it for me, it's just that the grid-size needs to be changed to allow me
closer vertical alignment. Does this make any sense?

Right click your desktop, mouse over "Align icons by..." and uncheck "Align
to grid"

--
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server]
http://www.imbored.biz - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site
Only reply by newsgroup. If I see an email I didn't ask for, it will be
deleted without reading.

How do I change the invisible desktop-grid so that I can put my icons where
I want them, and yet use "align to grid" to keep them aligned? I've tried
re-defining the "icon-spacing" in desktop properties/advanced, but this
doesn't seem to change anything, my icons still jump to a grid that is too
widely spaced (vertically that is; the horizontal alignment is okay)!

Thanks!

 

[Jonathan Maltz [MS-MVP]]

Oh, I understand. I don't think that can be changed

--
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server]
http://www.imbored.biz - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site
Only reply by newsgroup. If I see an email I didn't ask for, it will be
deleted without reading.

Thanks Jonathan, but I don't think you understand; I know that I can uncheck
"align to grid" and put the icons anywhere that I want, but then I have to
meticulously line them up manually and I would like to have "align to grid"
do it for me, it's just that the grid-size needs to be changed to allow me
closer vertical alignment. Does this make any sense?

Right click your desktop, mouse over "Align icons by..." and uncheck "Align
to grid"

--
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server]
http://www.imbored.biz - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site
Only reply by newsgroup. If I see an email I didn't ask for, it will be
deleted without reading.

How do I change the invisible desktop-grid so that I can put my icons where
I want them, and yet use "align to grid" to keep them aligned? I've tried
re-defining the "icon-spacing" in desktop properties/advanced, but this
doesn't seem to change anything, my icons still jump to a grid that is too
widely spaced (vertically that is; the horizontal alignment is okay)!

Thanks!

 

[toddkozi]

I just tried adjusting my verticle icon spacing.
It wasn't apparent that the spacing had changed even after applying the
changes. But, having applied the changes, unsnapping from grid and
finally resnapping to grid again made the changes apparent. Of course if
you've halved the grid then your icons will be on the desktop grid in
same position but 2 grid spaces away. When I did it some gaps appeared
due to trying to put icons on nearest snap-to points.
Odd. I never knew there was a grid. Thanks for asking!
-
Todd

 

[Bobsoft]

I can't believe that I couldn't get a hit on Google about
this - perhaps because it was so simple *egg-on-face*.

I feel MS should've crafted the UI a little better so
this cumbersome step was not required - oh well, maybe
next time.

Heehee. New subscriber here. Don't feel bad! I've been looking for thi
answer for a while. Being a Win3.0, Win3.1, Win3.11, WFW3.11, Win95a
Win95b, Win98, Win98SE, WinMe, Win2000 user (*pant* *pant*), it wasn'
obvious to me. My problem was I was approaching the XP desktop like al
those previous OSes.

For all future hunters of the Windows XP Desktop Grid, here's how i
works:

Right-click the desktop, select properties, click the Appearance tab
click the Advanced button and modify the Icon Spacing settings unde
"Item". Click OK, OK and you're back to the desktop. Here's the secret
Right click the desktop, select "Arrange Icons by" and uncheck "Align t
Grid". Right-click the desktop, select "Arrange Icons by" and chec
"Align to Grid".

The problem is the icons don't jump into place when you "Arrange Icons
by Name as they did in the past (I just tested it in Windows 95 - tha
was the older method). We do have to go through more hoops to force th
icons to "align" to the grid when it comes to the desktop. This is jus
typical of OS upgrades.

I once saw a cartoon where this poor dejected fellow is tappin
hopelessly on his PC keyboard saying: "Hmm, they must've improved th
system again: can't do anything with it."

Bo