Win10 App Launcher Alternative
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Ironic that you mention that, as I'm writing an app-launcher as an eventual article. Launch websites, apps (and files associated with apps) and explorer. One of the things that drives me nuts is the default location of apps -- with my launcher, you can "easily" specify the default starting location, including overriding the location with simple quadrant selection of all your monitors. That part, positioning the window, is a bear. Windows does not make it easy. :sigh:
Latest Article - A Concise Overview of Threads Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
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Kyudos wrote:
Sounds cool...can you hurry up ?
Well, it is in [my public repo](https://github.com/cliftonm/LaunchPanel) if you want to see what I'm up to. Very unpolished though!
Latest Article - A Concise Overview of Threads Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
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raddevus wrote:
Lots of API calls in there.
It's not quite that simple. Applications like Visual Studio add their brand to the window title, maybe also "(Administrator)", though of course matching a substring is trivial. The main problem is that apps like VS take forever to load, so what do you set an acceptable timeout to for "wait for the window to show up before moving it?" Then there's the scenario where I might want two instances of the same explorer window open. The titles match exactly, but finding the correct window handle is a bear that I haven't successfully wrestled to the ground yet.
Latest Article - A Concise Overview of Threads Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
Marc Clifton wrote:
Then there's the scenario where I might want two instances of the same explorer window open.
Just add a "Wrong one, you jerk!" button, at the end of the bar.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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I now use this method, having given up on the W10 start menu. Its worth pointing out that you can have sub-folders, the contents of which 'pop out' when you hover over them - only once click needed.
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raddevus wrote:
Lots of API calls in there.
It's not quite that simple. Applications like Visual Studio add their brand to the window title, maybe also "(Administrator)", though of course matching a substring is trivial. The main problem is that apps like VS take forever to load, so what do you set an acceptable timeout to for "wait for the window to show up before moving it?" Then there's the scenario where I might want two instances of the same explorer window open. The titles match exactly, but finding the correct window handle is a bear that I haven't successfully wrestled to the ground yet.
Latest Article - A Concise Overview of Threads Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
Marc Clifton wrote:
It's not quite that simple.
I didn't think so. I was actually meaning that you have to go a bit low-level to do the work. And as you said...
Marc Clifton wrote:
The titles match exactly, but finding the correct window handle is a bear that I haven't successfully wrestled to the ground yet.
I've worked with this also and I found it a bear too. It feels quite odd that the final way to get the correct window is by comparing title text. :| Seems crazy, like there would have to be a better way. Good luck! :thumbsup:
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I still miss side-dockable app-launch toolbars on Windows 10. I've been looking for alternatives - I don't want fancy scrolly Mac-ish 'docks' I just want to be able to launch apps and open locations from an unobtrusive bar docked to the side of my desktop. You know - like you used to be able to... Any recommendations?
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I still miss side-dockable app-launch toolbars on Windows 10. I've been looking for alternatives - I don't want fancy scrolly Mac-ish 'docks' I just want to be able to launch apps and open locations from an unobtrusive bar docked to the side of my desktop. You know - like you used to be able to... Any recommendations?
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I still miss side-dockable app-launch toolbars on Windows 10. I've been looking for alternatives - I don't want fancy scrolly Mac-ish 'docks' I just want to be able to launch apps and open locations from an unobtrusive bar docked to the side of my desktop. You know - like you used to be able to... Any recommendations?
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Have you looked at Rainmeter, I know there are some using it as an app launcher. It is a wonderful app and you can customize it endlessly (benefit and drawback). Also it has a large community writing skins for it.
I use Classic Shell. It can be configured to look like a Win7 start menu. It allows access to the kiddy blox menu if you need it, handles Win+X menus too and it seems to be very stable. Best of all, its FREE!!! We're philosophical about power outages here. A.C. come, A.C. go.
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I still miss side-dockable app-launch toolbars on Windows 10. I've been looking for alternatives - I don't want fancy scrolly Mac-ish 'docks' I just want to be able to launch apps and open locations from an unobtrusive bar docked to the side of my desktop. You know - like you used to be able to... Any recommendations?
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Nice look, I like it! :-D