microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys
[FancyZones] Add ability to open links directly into a different/adjacent FancyZone
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- Dominant language
- C
- Stars
- 139k
- Forks
- 8.6k
- PR merge metrics
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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
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- 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