TidyTabs

Absolutely brilliant. Works with everything (except excel 2007 -bizarre malfunctions but at least it shows what files are open) (I'm using dozens of apps on Win8.1 on 3 monitors). Simple to set up (read the help links). Worth the $9. Wish I'd installed it years ago. Don't leave home without it. :-)

[Edited by piecevcake, June 13]

[Edited by piecevcake, June 13]

[Edited by piecevcake, June 13]

Tested free portable version
Very frustrating for first hour or so, trying to mount groups
60 minute (yes minutes) all-features trial with free edition ... is not long enough

• even a 24 hour all features enabled trial would be more realistic
• 60 minutes trial is a suspicious way to manipulate a BUY it
• 90 day refund = pay and hope to get a refund, currency fluctuations can make the user the loser too.
  opted for white list grouping (setting)
• simpler than blacklist (IMO)
• browsers, PDF, Notepad++, office suites, come with tabbed convenience
  "Always on top" sabotages "TidyTabs" ... even with TidyTabs, I cannot operate without always on top
• AoT must be disabled for the target file/doc -> minimized -> reactivated for the tab to appear.
• changing transparency setting dumps grouping for AoT windows
• "DeskPins" | https://efotinis.neocities.org/deskpins/index.html
  License keys for PRO version are sole responsibility of the user
• developer does not provide a lost key/s service ... you lose it and you pay again

Free edition is crippled from the start:

• no tab renaming
• groups limited to 3 tabs
• so how does transferring the license to a new PC (when the old PC is dead) ... work ?

saving an orphan doc in a group of orphans dumps all remaining orphans from the original group

• the newly saved file loses all other tabs

PROS:
worth trialing the free version for several days/weeks, despite limitations
orphans + existing files are all recognized by TidyTabs
is worth a try, it might not suit everybody
renaming tabs is a god send (only in PRO)
$9 usd is a reasonable price (IMO)

CONS:
Always on top problem (my experience) is pest ... always on top is more important for me

• constantly deferring to TaskBar to re-activate windows is a PITA
  Online help
• index pages require opening a new webpage for every help item, dozens of browser tabs
• impossible to save as a PDF with index list
• categories list is not a tree list
• a Wiki style index with articles all on the same webpage would be slicker
  terms and conditions are buried in the TidyTabs website, are a must-read
• https://www.nurgo-software.com/company/eula/91-tidytabs

2 stars for free version

Invisible tabs form on the upper left corner of windows. You slide one window by the tab to the other window's tab and they join to make a group that will last until you close the window, tabs, or restart.. though you can get the profession version and predefine groups that will last. Quirk: tried to install in an odd folder.

It's so called "free" version is just a trial. I started the thing up and the first thing I got was a massive nag screen telling you to select a version, with the only option that does try to get you to buy something being to start a trial. Uninstalled without even clicking any option.

Looking over other comments, this thing is timed to only 60 mins use (!!) and the dev even limited it further to forcing you to upgrade to a paid version after a few months use even you can stomach that. Not at all impressed!

Want people to buy your product? Don't use bait and switch tactics for a start.

The software is top notch. There is no better one in the world in 2022. I tested all other apps.

The best thing is that everything can be automated.

You can also create tab groups and determine on which screen and with which window size the programs should be displayed.

This feature makes the app extremely powerful, especially when you work with multiple screens.

*** This review has been updated. Please see below ***

Man, oh man, I really did not want to have to write this review, but I feel like I've been cheated. TidyTabs is a great idea ruined by too many bugs. The developer is more than happy to answer questions before you buy it but, once he has your money, becomes non-responsive. The program hasn't been updated in almost a year, is riddled with bugs, and does a poor job of dealing with multiple displays and resolutions. Windows fly around, resize on their own, get grouped under other tabs, interferes with application dialogs (it absolutely destroys MS Word), and windows are randomly minimized or moved to other displays. There is no option for support, the "report a bug" feature merely opens up their FAQ. The only way to report is to send him an email, which is fine but, again, he ignores them. All of this would be tolerable if the dev was at least half-way responsive and tried to provide bug fixes. Three stars for the app but it gets knocked down to 1 star for the non-responsiveness after purchase. As of now, go with Groupy instead. That has bugs, too, but at least Stardock tries to fix them.

Update: 22 Nov 2023

Last week, I decided to give TidyTabs another try. There have been updates since I left my first review and the bugs appear to have been fixed. I haven't had any issues and the exclusion filters work very well now. Stardock's Groupy became a disappointment as it became stagnant and bugs were not fixed. Instead, after two years of no updates, they released a version 2 of the app which needs to be purchased again. It only costs something like $5 but I can't recommend Stardock anymore, especially as they seem to fade further into irrelevance. As a result, I have changed my review from 1 star to 4, and now recommend it.

Update: 16 Feb 2024

Yeah, nevermind. Still buggy, tabs disappear, window tabs consistently get re-arranged and glitches abound. The developer removed any ability to report bugs to them. Even within the app itself, clicking on "report a bug" just dumps you off in a general sales FAQ page on their website. They've lost all interest in supporting their product and just want to sell you some kind of AI thing now.

Dropping this down to three stars for the lack of support and updates.

Home page does not even hint at upgrade date.
Have to scan with VirusTotal to "discover" release date.
I am sceptical of developers who hide (IMO) important details ... like release/upgrade date