Retaining multiple display arrangements over variable parameters

[DJS4Jesus]

Is it possible to lock a set of virtual displays to always arrange themselves a certain way whenever I connect the first hardware monitor, regardless of what the monitor or monitor resolution might be?

For instance: I have a general stack of the displays which I always want to be available and arranged in a certain order:
4. ——(Projection Screen 1)——
3. ——(Projection Screen 2)——
2. ——(Presenter Notes/Cue Screen)——

1. ——(Primary Projection Controller Screen)
   Where display “1”, is, this is the display that is subject to change depending on environment/situation.

Usually, display 1 is an 1440p ultra wide monitor. But sometimes it’s a 16:9 TV or projector. And in those rare instances where it doesn’t exist - I’ve created another virtual display to take its place for a full headless setup.

Basically, I want to Better Display to accomplish three things on startup/connecting/disconnecting of an external display (in other words, the first external display should not be tied to or identified by any specific hardware per se - instead, I’d like it to be more open-ended as follows):

1. When connecting the first hardware display, move the macOS menu bar to that display and set it as the primary display
2. Once the hardware display has been set to primary, enable a preconfigured group to move all other virtual displays above it (or wherever I determine), so that the hardware display is always first in line, with virtual displays 2, 3, & 4 following after it
3. When disconnecting the hardware display (or no hardware display is connected), turn on a specific virtual display to take its place in the exact same arrangement and set that display to primary

Is this something that can be achieved?

Thank you very much!

[waydabber]

Yes, you can use the Groups/Layout Protection feature to define and protect a display layout for a display group you specify, but with an unknown display this might be difficult to use.

Alternatively, if you are a scripting person, you can create scripts that enable virtual screens and position them (and any real screens you have) in the layout exactly using relative or absolute values (in the global display coordinate space). Using scripting might require some experimenting though, especially as you might need to query connected displays, parse the unknown one and then position things based on its configuration. Basically all app features are available via the app's CLI interface:

https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDisplay/wiki/Integration-features,-CLI