microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

[FancyZones] Add ability to open links directly into a different/adjacent FancyZone

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Needs-Triage Product-FancyZones
Dominant language
C
Stars
139k
Forks
8.6k
PR merge metrics
PR metrics pending

Description

Description of the new feature / enhancement

Ability to open browser links directly into another FancyZone (e.g., Zone 2) while browsing in the current zone (Zone 1).

This could work via a context-menu option (similar to Chrome's "Open link in split view") or a browser/system shortcut that targets an adjacent or specific FancyZone window, allowing side-by-side reference browsing without needing to open the link in a new tab/window and manually drag it over.

Scenario when this would be used?

When doing research, comparing pages, or navigating workflows across zones. Currently, if I'm working in Zone 1 and click/open a link in a new window, it opens in the active zone or defaults to standard OS window placement, requiring an extra step to drag or move the window into Zone 2 to view them side-by-side.

Allowing a direct "Open link in Zone X" action streamlines power-user workflows by eliminating manual window rearrangement.

Supporting information

Requested to file by @Niels9001 on X/Twitter:
https://x.com/MarkPraschan/status/2087879845719978029

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reviewing the FancyZones implementation and how it handles new browser windows, then investigate the context-menu and shortcut approaches described in the issue. Compare the options for targeting an adjacent or specific zone, and define a demonstrable workflow in which a link opens directly in the selected zone without manual window movement.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
desktop
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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