DTLdesktop

It records monitor layout and orientation, the wallpaper assigned to each monitor, and every desktop icon position. When a known configuration is detected again, DTLdesktop can restore the entire environment in one controlled operation.

Why DTLdesktop?

Windows can move icons, swap monitor identities, or keep a badly cropped wallpaper after a rotation, a monitor change, a projector connection, or a move between office and remote work. DTLdesktop recognizes the actual monitor geometry and quickly restores a reliable layout.

Main features

• separate profiles for every monitor configuration;
• layout recognition based on geometry, even when Windows renames the monitors;
• restoration of orientation, resolution, wallpapers, and icon positions;
• separate landscape and portrait wallpapers for every monitor;
• read-only comparison and simulation before restoration;
• result verification and an automatic rollback attempt if an operation fails.

Desktop profiles

Each configuration is stored separately in the Desktop directory. A profile such as DualLandscape contains the icon positions, monitor description, and wallpaper assignments.

Desktop\
    DualLandscape\
        icons.json
        monitors.json
        wallpaper.json

For each monitor, wallpaper.json can associate one image with landscape mode and another with portrait mode. Full paths are recorded so Windows can locate the files directly.

Interactive use

Started without arguments, DTLdesktop detects the current desktop, selects a compatible profile, and offers the following actions:

• S save or update the selected configuration;
• A apply a complete profile after confirmation;
• R restore icon positions only;
• T simulate restoration without changing anything;
• D diagnose the current configuration;
• C compare the desktop with a profile;
• F choose each monitor's wallpaper with Windows Explorer.

Command line and automation

The same operations can be launched directly from a script, a scheduled task, or a shortcut placed in the Windows Startup folder.

DTLdesktop.exe --save
DTLdesktop.exe --apply DualPortrait
DTLdesktop.exe --test DualLandscape
DTLdesktop.exe --restore DualLandscape
DTLdesktop.exe --diagnose
DTLdesktop.exe --auto

--auto automatically restores the profile recognized for the detected configuration. If no compatible profile is found, the desktop is left unchanged.

Applying a profile

The A action first captures the current state, applies monitor orientation, resolution, and layout as one operation, waits for Windows to stabilize, reapplies every wallpaper in Fill mode, restores icon positions, and verifies the result. If Windows rejects the new configuration or verification fails, DTLdesktop attempts to restore the previous display, wallpapers, and icons.

Safety and compatibility

• T mode is strictly read-only;
• confirmation is required before interactively applying a complete profile;
• missing icons are skipped and reported;
• R and T do not change monitor resolution or layout;
• DTLdesktop supports 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11 and must run with the same privilege level as Windows Explorer.

Building with PyInstaller

The Windows build uses DTLdesktop.spec. After installing PyInstaller, the following command produces dist\DTLdesktop.exe.

python -m pip install pyinstaller
pyinstaller --clean DTLdesktop.spec

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