Ok, so here is what I did to (mostly) solve this issue:

If the file is a document (as opposed to an executable) I check the name of the shortcut to see if the beginning matches the name of the parent folder (e.g. parent folder is AllwaySync and document is named "Allway Sync Help") and if it is, as in this case, I don't do anything as the document will be grouped with the companion application since it already starts with the same name.

If it isn't (e.g. Readme file inside the HxD Hex Editor folder), then I prefix the name of the document with the name of the parent folder - "ReadMe" (which without this would be bundled with a bunch of other "ReadMe" files in the letter R section, with no way to know which app it belonged to without opening it first) thus becomes "HxD Hex Editor - Read Me" and this way it gets "bundled" together with the associated application (HxD) in the same letter group.

Again, this is great for making a Start Menu alternative out of a Grid Stack:

By changing the Number of Rows and Number of Icons settings in the Grid Stack properties dialog, you can control the actual size of the Grid Stack (and you can also change the number of text lines displayed in order to help identify the items) - then you can create a shortcut in the NextSTART taskbar that invokes this Grid Stack and voila, Bob's your uncle!

You can also apply a specific theme to the Grid Stack (anything that reminds you of the Windows Start Menu, if that is what you want) and lock it to prevent any further changes.

Start typing and the Grid Stack opens the Search Box, instantly filtering out all content that does not match the search filter - or just scroll the Grid Stack to manually locate what you are looking for.

Looks like a perfect solution! Kudos, Jorge

Since discovering the last major "What's next" post was a wealth of info and interesting read, I've kept this one open to keep up on what's going on behind the scenes so to say

Minor useability question/point - For this All Programs function you are working on, I see up/down arrows in the top right of the window. Will this up down function also be scrollable with a mouse wheel?
As someone who only reaches for the keyboard when absolutely necessary, and who has a lot of applications installed, which also have folders, it would be convenient to just type a letter for search then be able to scroll with the mouse, vs finding the arrows and clicking on them.

Also, along the lines of the theme builder (which sounds exciting...I am no skinner, but would be great to be able to change or create things to my liking) - A way to save a visual configuration as a theme for recall. For example, say I am using Darktech for the Workshelf, and dock theme aaa for my main bottom dock on monitor A, and dock theme bbb for my vertical docks on monitor A, and theme ccc for my top dock on monitor B, ddd for bottom dock on monitor B, and theme eee for drawers, and so on. It would be great to be able to save that (besides making it a backup) as a complete theme for my own use (not to publish for public consumption as all elements were created/owned by someone else). After creating a few of those as a theme package, I could just switch up the whole look as desired by just applying one of these overall themes. It may be too complicated, as it would need to take into consideration all the current elements (docks, shelves, drawers) and everyone's config is going to be different as to what they are running for elements. Just a thought though.

Speaking of themes, it's disappointing that theme creation has become a lost art. Most themes out there are very old. Sure, they still function, and scale to modern monitors for the most part being made up of PNG's, but no one has really been creating new ones, and the one or two that are, at least that I have been able to find, are not very good graphically lol.
Even the past popular theme sites, most have become malware, add riddled, or forcing browser extension/add-in installs to do anything. Basically all that's left is Wincustomize or DeviantArt. And seems people are only creating for Win shell theming which has it's own pitfalls, as well as you being stuck with one overall look. Whereas I like to use bits, pieces, and parts of things for the overall look.
Hell, people are barely creating new custom or cool icons, nevermind themes lol. And forget about someone these days creating something as cool as the spinning Chrome icon that comes with Winstep, lmao.

Thanks. That helps keeping me motivated to post changes here.



The shelf has always been scrollable with the mouse wheel. You can also use the arrow keys to scroll row by row (and I might also probably add Pgup, PgDn, Home and the End keys)



Hmmm... Picco14 and BassDudeNZ are making some really good themes, but you won't find BassDudeNZ at Wincustomize or DeviantArt.



Yes, IMO the whole skinning scene basically started dying once Windows became "good looking enough" (with Vista and Windows 7).

We almost lost Wincustomize recently because someone apparently hacked their servers (and that would have been a tragedy), fortunately Brad decided to bring it back from an offsite backup and they were able to pull it off over the course of several days. But for a while there it was touch 'n go.

Thanks for the kind words and Picco14 makes possibly the cleanest most articulate themes I have seen, he's a bit of a wiz.

I was sorry to hear about wincustomize and Kudos to Brad for restoring it but I do not think everything is quite right. I went to download one of Picco14's I liked and I got an error message that mathematically is completely wrong - Maybe you can say something to Brad.

You also left out JCRabbit who is busy coding at the moment.

The funnier thing is I own deskscapes and have it disabled yet I have unlimited downloads. Musts be a stardock thing.

Hello BassdudeNZ...

Which theme did you try to download from Wincustomize?

His account there probably got downgraded with the restore from backup.

Anyway, if it was one of Steve's (WebGizmos) themes they are also all here in the Winstep Gallery.

Armageddon. You did some great metal textures and a clever design
I admire how clean and crisp your themes are.

Why can't you download it from WinCustomize?
I tried without logging in and had no problem downloading it...
Besides, I didn't create the metallic textures or the theme itself.
I simply adapted the textures from the theme created by Xiandi for WindowBlinds and ported them to Winstep. There's nothing creative about it, the credit goes to Xiandi and Murex.

If I could answer why not I would. I apologise for complimenting you incorrectly.
It won't happen again.

Hello Jorge,

Thanks for the answer on scrolling. I asked as it seemed to not work in Workshelf, but after trying it, it does work, just takes a second to kick in.

And thanks for the tip on themes and artists.
I was able to find Picco14 on WC and remember their character/movie based themes.

BassDudeNZ was harder to find, which brings me to highlight an issue lol.
I googled his name, which one of the links brought me to the Winstep theme gallery. Hmmm, haven't been here before, why is that....
There is a cliche saying about Mainers when asking them for directions, "Ya can't get therrre from herrre"
I've been to the Themes tab on the Winstep site and didn't see it. So went back purposely to find it. To my surprise, there are links to WC, DA, and Skinbase, but no where could I find a link to the dedicated Winstep theme gallery lol.
Please let me know if I am blind lol.

On this topic, found some that, while I may not use the full theme, I may use parts of them, say the Workshelf part, or modules part. And I saw that BDNZ had recently updated and uploaded a bunch. So started downloading some, then got a message I hit my limit for downloads for the day....? Lol...there wasn't that many of them. Oh well, will have to wait until tomorrow.

Another link brought me to the forum thread "Theme approach", which looked interesting, so I will be reading through/keeping up with that one as well.

The Winstep Themes Gallery, although fully functional, still needs an "extreme makeover", which is **one** (there are others) of the reasons it is not open to the public yet or has links to it on the main Winstep web site.

Ahhh, ok lol

And talking about the User Guide, running in a browser window with dark mode + lateral table of contents: