VirtuaWin supports modules for adding functionality without adding more features to the core application itself. This will insure that VirtuaWin will remain as small and fast as possible but still have the possibilities to add features for special needs. To use a module, just put the module in the 'modules' directory in your VirtuaWin installation directory, and upon startup or if the reload button is pressed in the setup dialog, the module should kick in.
The module idea is quite simple; a module consists of an ordinary windows executable that communicates with VirtuaWin by sending messages. Download the module SDK (VirtuaWin_SDK_3.1.zip) to get more information and code (in C) for module development. Any developing language supporting windows executables should be usable for developing modules.
Send modules, questions and requests for improvements to me.
If you send me a module I will also put up the source code, if included, and also your mail address or web address. Please tell me if you have another opinion about this. I would also appreciate if you could include a small screen shot and a short description.
| Module | Description | Developer | Source | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoSwitcher | This module will autocycle through your desktops until you stop it. The cycle interval is configurable. | In CVS | 2008.05.29 | |
| Cool Desktop Switcher |  This is a module to VirtuaWin that enables you to quickly change between desktops. It places a number of icons in your systray equal to the number of desktops (a maximum of 9) plus to icons for incrementing and decrementing the desktop number. You can switch the desktops by left-clicking on the corresponding icon. If you have 'SL Desktop name' module from SLOVAS Software installed, this module gets the corresponding desktop names from registry and uses them in the tooltips associated with each icon.
version 1.3.1
- added possibility to move the active window to a specific desktop (needs VirtuaWin 2.8 or later to work) |
No | 2003.11.26 | |
| I-conized |  I-conized is a module for VirtuaWin to simplify window management.
It utilize the same approach as many virtual desktop managers: each virtual desktop is represented as small peace (cell) of small topmost window and each window is represented by its icon on appropriate cell.
See sourceforge.net/projects/iconized/ for download and more information. |
C++ | 2008.07.08 | |
| PCVideo Desk Switcher |  This is a small plugin for mouse only desk switching. It allows quick switch between different desks with a popup menu. And it displays
the current desktop number in the taskbar notify area. |
Yudong Yang | C++? | 2000.10.31 |
| PCVideo Desk Switcher (no blink) | This is a small plugin for mouse only desk switching. It allows quick switch between different desks with a popup menu. And it displays
the current desktop number in the taskbar notify area. |
Yudong Yang | C++? | 2000.10.31 |
| SL Desktop Name |  This is a module to VirtuaWin that enables you to associate names with your desktops and display them when switching between desktops. You may configure the font, colors and how long the name should be displayed. Fixes in this version:
Some systems didin't shut down properly. Added some additional checks so the program shuts down when windows closes. |
Snorre Lovas | No | 2000.06.15 |
| Smart CoolName | This one is similar to existing module SL Desktop name, but it shows the text as a transparent text - it looks like f.e. in Linux systems, when user changes between the desktops. Users may associate the desktop names, change fonts, its size, position where the text is displayed, colors of the outline and the text. This module is compatible only with Windows 2000, XP and 2003. | No | 2003.10.08 | |
| SwitchDesk | A wallpaper switcher for VirtuaWin. The new version is now Multi-user aware, ie. Joe Bloggs can have differen backgrounds to John Doe. Now updated for VirtuaWin 3.0. Known to work on Windows 95, 98, NT 4 sp6, 2000, XP. Note: If you are upgrading from earlier versions you may need to set your desktop backgrounds up again. | C | 2007.06.14 | |
| SwitchPling | This one plays a wav file when switching desktop. Very simple and very annoying :). Can have different sounds on left/right/up/down switching. | C | 2000.01.08 | |
| VBackdrop | VBackdrop is a very stupid but workable background switcher. When the desktop is changed it looks at the number for the new desktop and attempts to load a bmp file in your Windows directory named backdropN.bmp. | C | 2000.03.08 | |
| VirtuaPlus | VirtuaPlus 1.1 This is a module to VirtuaWin that enables you to display virtual desktop names when switching between desktops. It also can play an audio file when switching desktop. You can set up an individual background image for each virtual desktop. And finally you can run a list of items when a desktop is initially activated (i.e. startup items, can be disabled temporary if CTRL key is down). The module is written in Delphi 7. | Zdravko Stoychev | Yes, Delphi 7. | 2008.06.11 |
| VirtuaSam | VirtuaSam is a Samurize plugin to interface with VirtuaWin. As such, it can be seen as two things:
VirtuaWin has no graphical interface of its own. It is controlled with the keyboard or through a systray icon, or as in this case, with an external application. This makes it an ideal companion for Samurize, providing virtual desktops integrated in your Samurize config. VirtuaSam is freeware. VirtuaSam website |
No | 2007.08.16 | |
| VirtuaWin Switcher |  This is a small plugin similar to the Clip in WindowMaker. It allows horizontal, vertical and diagonal desktop switching with a mouse click. It also displays the current desktop number. Now also support for skins, check Henriks site for more info. |
Henrik Myr?n | No | 2000.02.07 |
| VWAssigner | With this module you can define two hotkeys, one for sending the active window to the next desktop and one for sending it to the previous one. Requires VirtuaWin 2.8 or above. | In CVS | 2005.11.15 | |
| VWDeskStart | VWDeskStart is a module that enables you to automatically start certain Applications when you first enter a desktop. | No | 2000.03.03 | |
| VWDesktopIcons | This VirtuaWin module enables the user to select which desktop icons are visible and set their position on each VirtuaWin desktop. This module requires VirtuaWin version 3.0 or above. | In CVS | 2008.06.08 | |
| vwPager | 
vwPager 1.1 - A pager module. Displays a small graphical representation of all your current virtual desktops and lets you manipulate programs using the mouse: sticky, access and assign. The pager view can be automatically folded into the side of your desktop so it hardly uses any screen real estate. Colors are customizable too, as is the location of the pager view. See the readme file for further details. |
No | 2008.03.28 | |
| VWRun | This isn't actually a module. It's a tool which can be used to switch to various desktops from cmdline. It's also possible to run specific applications on specific desktops in one call. The source file contains more usage information. | Thomas Wolf | C++ | 2003.06.26 |
| VWTimeTracker | This VirtuaWin module records the time spent on each desktop, this can be used as a basic automatic time tracker enabling you to know how much time you have spent an a particular desk. With build in screen saver activation detection pausing the timer the accuracy is reasonable with no user input. Requires version 3.0 or above. | In CVS | 2007.06.13 | |
| Win32WM | A module(can also be used standalone) that implements a few window manager functions available in modern unix systems, like dragging windows around using Alt-key and left mouse button drag, etc. Click Matti Jagula link for more info. | Matti Jagula | C++ | 2002.07.17 |
| WVP | This module allows you to switch desktops via the commandline (or a .bat-file). | Leonhard Klein | Delphi | 2001.09.01 |