ELSA Desktop

The ELSA Desktop Manager is divided into four sections:

1. Enable ELSA Desktop

2. Sizeable window management

3. Pop-up window management

4. Miscellaneous

1. Enable ELSA Desktop

All of the functions provided by the multi-screen manager can be switched on and off here.

2. 'Sizeable window' management

Here you can select additional functions which help you handle your application windows and their arrangement on the monitors.

Enable 'Monitor boundaries detection' (inactive as standard)

This prevents an application window from appearing on more than one monitor at any time.  When dragging a window onto another monitor, it will be displayed in full on the first monitor until the mouse cursor has reached the other monitor.

An advantage of this function is that the mouse cursor can be used to move windows more quickly onto another monitor.

A disadvantage is that the "Maximize to window corners" button is disabled.

Display 'Maximize to monitor' button

This function inserts an additional button in the upper-right hand corner of your application window.  This button enlarges the application window to the size of your monitor.  If your application is spread across two monitors, the window will be enlarged to fill the monitor containing  the largest proportion of the window.

Display 'Maximize to windows corners' button

This function inserts an additional button in the upper-right hand corner of your application window. This button maximizes the application window to fill multiple monitors.  For example, to enlarge your monitor onto two monitors, proceed as follows:

With the mouse, drag or stretch  the window until it appears on two monitors and click on the "Maximize to windows corners" button.  The same method applies for three or more monitors.

Display 'Maximize child to windows corners' button

This function inserts an additional button in the upper-right hand corner of a child window within an application (e.g. a document within Microsoft Word).  This button maximizes the child window to the size of the monitor.

This function is useful if an application window is maximized on two or more monitors and you would like to distribute two or more documents across these monitors.

Offset for maximize buttons

Here you can change the position of the ELSA maximize buttons. If you select no offset (0), the ELSA buttons are displayed directly left of the windows buttons in the title bar. Every increment of this value will move the ELSA buttons left one button width.

Using an offset you can reach the ELSA buttons, so other applications show there own buttons in the title bar.

3. 'Pop-up window' management

This section lets you define which monitor the pop-up messages should appear on.

on applications monitor

The pop-up messages appear on the monitor containing the application generating the message.

on same monitor as the cursor

The pop-up messages appear on the monitor where your mouse cursor is located.

on "Monitor x"

If you select this function, the pop-up messages will always appear on the monitor selected.

(Monitor 1 to x, where x is the number of monitors in your system.)

4. Miscellaneous

Reopen application at last position

This function opens you application at the same position where it was last ended.

Single-screen display for Windows start up

This function instructs your system to boot on one monitor only.


ELSA Hotkeys

The ELSA Hotkey Manager allows you to designate hotkeys for controlling the multi-screen functionality.

You can also use this tool to assign hotkeys to start applications you frequently work with.

Designate hotkeys

This is how to designate a hotkey to a multi-screen function:

1. Select a hotkey

Place the cursor in the 'Hotkey' field and press a (not yet used) key or combination of keys.

2.Select the multi-screen function

Select a function from the 'Hotkey Action' selection window.

The 'move active application to' function calls a further selection window where you can define where the application should be moved to.

to next monitor

to previous monitor

to cursor monitor

to monitor x (where x is the number of monitors in your system.)

Once you have made your selection, follow the description under 3.

The 'launch application' function calls a further selection window where the path to the desired application can be defined.  If you don't know the precise details of the path, you can use the Browse option to search for the application manually.

You can also enter the 'working directory' (optional) and the application parameters to transfer (optional)

3. Click on Add to assign the function.

The newly assigned function will be displayed in the 'Configured Hotkeys' window.

4. Click on Apply or OK to make the hotkey designation effective immediately.

If you click OK the Display Properties Sheet will close

Temporarily disable the hotkey functions

To disable any hotkey function, just remove the check mark in front of the hotkey designation in the 'Configured Hotkeys:' window.

To disable all of the hotkey functions, just click on the Disable All button.

Then click on Apply or OK to bring the temporary disablement into effect.

Re-enable the hotkey functions

To enable any hotkey function, just activate the check mark in front of the hotkey designation in the 'Configured Hotkeys:' window.

To enable all of the hotkey functions, just click on the Enable All button.

Then click on Apply or OK to bring the hotkey functions into effect immediately.

Delete hotkey designation

In the 'Configured Hotkey:' window, mark the hotkey designation you wish to delete and click on Remove.