Backup, restore and moving to a new PC

Copying one file backs up your entire layout. What transfers cleanly to another machine and what does not.

Backing up#

Copy config.json from the Configuration folder — tray menu → Open the configuration folder. That single file is your entire layout.

You do not need to back up your desktop files as part of this, because DeskDrawer never moved them. They are in your desktop folder, where whatever already backs up your documents is presumably covering them.

Restoring#

1. Quit DeskDrawer from the tray menu.
2. Copy your saved config.json back into the configuration folder, replacing the current one.
3. Start DeskDrawer.

Moving to another PC#

The same procedure works, with one honest caveat.

What transfers cleanly: board names, sizes, sort modes, icon sizes, appearance toggles, folded states, and the assignment of any desktop item whose name matches on the new machine.

What may need a tidy-up:

• Board positions, if the new machine has a different display arrangement or resolution. Board rectangles are stored in screen coordinates. Run Fix misplaced boards from the tray menu and they will be re-placed inside the visible Work area.
• Membership for items that are not on the new desktop. If a file is not there, there is nothing to assign. Copy your desktop contents across first, then restore the configuration.

Starting over#

There is no "reset everything" command, deliberately — it is too easy to hit by accident. To start clean: quit DeskDrawer, delete config.json, start it again. You get one board containing every desktop item, exactly as on first run.