Subscribe to our How to Create a Program Launcher
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Introduction
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Finding a program to run on Windows can be difficult when many more programs are installed and get cluttered in one place without grouping. Windows XP has four places to launch a program, but all with some limitations:
To cope with these restrictions, Vista adds another place to launch a program:
Windows 7 hides Quick Launch and removes Classic Start Menu. It adds a new approach to running a program:
Why not create a Program Launcher? |
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Do-It-Yourself Program Launcher
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To prevent many programs from cluttering in a limited space, grouping of similar programs in the same folder by their functions helps the user access to the programs, quick and fast. With this in mind, the user can create a program launcher easily with a toolbar without the need to install any other programs. Create a Program Launcher in Two Steps These are two simple steps, I and II, to build a Program Launcher using the toolbar: I. Creating a Folder Containing Sub-folders and Shortcuts
For example, the user may right-click a program Notepad.exe, select Create shortcut, then cut and paste the program shortcut to the sub-folder Home & Office, and so on. Rename the shortcut if needed. (Note: A program shortcut can also be created in a single step by dragging a program to a folder while holding down Ctrl-Shift keys). The Launcher folder will then look like the screenshot here.  II. Linking a New Toolbar to the Folder
  Other Features Available to the Launcher Toolbar After setting up the Launcher, the user can utilize other features available to the toolbar:
Other than programs, shortcuts to favorite folders can be added for quick access too. Applicable to: Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / 7. |
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Related Products and Links
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You might want to check out these articles too: |
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Tags
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taskbar launcher, DIY, program launcher, favorite folder, favourite folder, shortcuts, desktop toolbar, taskbar toolbar, freeware taskbar launcher, create, build, application launcher, taskbar launcher, quick access, free launcher. |
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Hi,
Of course, the folder labeled "launcher" will display this name on the taskbar. Okay...say you don't want to display a name. Well, with an unlocked taskbar, you can just right click the gripper and uncheck "Show Title." But what happens when you do that? The taskbar will display the first icon in the list, which isn't necessarily desirable.
To avoid that, give your root folder icon a blank name and make sure you check "Show Title." In this case, we're renaming the folder called "Launcher." It's the folder that contains the subfolders Home & Office, Cleaning & Tuning, etc. Rename the Launcher folder by clearing the name "Launcher" and pressing "ALT" 255, then ENTER. Your Launcher folder will now have a blank name. Now the taskbar is clean and only shows the open folder arrow. Works nicely.
- Web
http://webtrance.deviantart.com/
You have a good observation and that's a good idea.
Alt 255 shows a 'ÿ' on my XP. Another Alt Code which can be used is probably Alt 0160.
After creating a space using Alt 0160, need to repeat Step II mentioned in the article to get the effect :>)
Hi All, is there an app that will allow me to "log off & hiberenate" with one clicknin Windows 7?
You can do this by Windows itself. Check this out.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/819-hibernate-enable-disable.html
A good program
Free Launchbar does the same thing ,have used it for years ,one of Gizmo`s recommendations in his old newsletter
www.freelaunchbar.com/
Being a keyboard guy I don't want to dig into whatever menus using the mouse.
I prefer a launcher like Executor or SlickRun: With a few keyboard presses I start ALL my programs. Fast and easy.
I like this a lot! Very nice idea. More convenient than the start menu.
Glad to hear that :)
Rocket dock free software is another great option for XP users if you want the Apple / Vista type of Floating Dock.
The link for Donation Coder:
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/findrun/index.html
Thanks for your great idea Jojoyee,.. I'll give it a try.
Another good alternative is "Find and Run Robot". It's a freebie from the Donation Coder website. I've been using it for a couple of years now and couldn't imagine using my PC without it,.. ultra quick and so easy.
I'm sorry to be dim but surely you can do this anyway by using the "Start Menu" option? Simply opposite-click on "Programs" and then click on "Open". This will bring up an Explorer page showing the start menu - eg "C:\Documents and Settings\User Name Here\Start Menu\Programs". You can then organise your existing entries and create new sub-folders as you want - just like the Program Launcher idea.
When you highlight Programs in the Start Menu, it will display your sub-folders automatically. One advantage of using the Start Menu is that new programs will add themselves automatically to the menu when they are installed. You just drag and drop new entries to the appropriate folder.
Oh, hang on! The penny has just dropped. I have always used use the XP Classic start menu. What I have just described does not work quite so well with the normal start menu - I've just tried it.
Thanks for your input. Truly that's one of the alternatives to organize the program shortcuts in the Start Menu.
A few points need to mention though:
1. Quite often a program installer may add a few shortcuts to the executable, uninstaller, configuration, help file, license, homepage, update, etc. to All Programs in the Start Menu.
2. Some installers create shortcuts for Current Users, some for All Users. The programs shortcuts are then stored in two separate folders. This makes organizing the folders complicated.
3. Some installers don't create shortcuts in All Programs in the Start Menu, rather in the All Users' desktop or Current User's desktop folders, or optionally in the Quick Launch folder (%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch). A few more folders to deal with.
4. Some applications including portable programs may not include installers.
In view of these points, personally I prefer to leave program shortcuts in the folder of Current Users and All Users intact, and create one folder containing all program shortcuts for quick access from the taskbar's toolbar.
I used your method a few years ago but didn't see the point in having 2 start menu sytems. So I organised my start menu the same way. I use a file manager instead of windows explorer so it is easy to find and alter the shortcut folders to the way I want & to include portable apps as well, and as you know it is simple to do all the organising by drag & drop. I go further and have shortcuts for my price lists & catalogues (for business). All of my main folders are shown as soon as you click on the start button and normally there is only one flyout sub-menu.
I use the OPs method for managing my own workspace(s) and have run into all of the problems you mention Joyoyee. It is nice to hear advice from someone experienced in the arcane of workflow optimisation. Anyways, I have a few tips on dealing with those points for those interested:
1. Keep the executable shortcut, cut the cruft. If the program warrants keeping the help docs readily available it likely needs it's own folder. I have 9 shortcuts in a folder named Autohotkey, however that folder and Notepad++ (WinKey,P,D,N) shortcut reside in Programs > Development. Of course Notepad++ is awesome and has context help and a dedicated help menu.
2/3. That's a pain, I often make my own shortcuts to apps and delete almost everything in All Users profile because of it. Find a standalone explorer replacement, and use "Run As" Admin to escape limited user context for managing them.
4. I find that preferable to #3. :)
I'll re-second it, the process is a pain. BUT... I have 10 folders in Start > Programs, three of which are system provided. In this space I have Development, Networking, Office, Multimedia, System Utils, etc. Things I use very often go right into Start, like: Calculator, IrfanView, Firefox preset shortcuts (look up "no-remote"), Notepad, and Wordweb. Filesystem shortcuts are under "1 [FILESYSTEM]", additional quick apps are in "2 [SHORTCUTS]".
Almost everything I use is no more than 3-5 keypressses away, this works at home and work under Vista and XP (Classic Start Menu, of course) for Accounting, Web development, entertainment, network diagnostics (preset ping scripts):
Ping google = Winkey,P,N,P,G
MS Excel = Winkey,P,O,M,E
NetworkShortcuts = Winkey,1,N,
ad nauseum.
Sorry this is so long, but I had to evangelize.
@OP, the benefits are DEFINITELY compelling.
@Jojoyee, all your points are valid, especially for the non-power user.
Just noticed that I have to press: Winkey, ESC, TAB (to position on taskbar), 4 times in my case to reach the Launcher. Would be awesome if it had a keyboard shortcut. I would use it just so I wouldn't have to see the start menu for the 200-800ms its open.
Keep the great tips coming, I just discovered this site!
-James
Welcome to the site and appreciate your feedback.
Remembering keywords or pressing too many hotkeys to reach a program is a pain to me as well. I prefer one-click access.
Program launcher here is good for linking to all programs, either installed, non-installed or portable executables, and classifying them so that they are easier to find on a PC. For most frequently used programs, I use ViGlance to pin them to the taskbar in XP, similar to the "Superbar" in Win 7.
You might want to check out this related thread Pinning Programs to Taskbar in the Freeware Forum.
Will this create the double height taskbar as reviewed in the Daily Tech Treats section?
This will not create double height taskbar, which takes up the space of the desktop and the number of programs it can contain is limited.
The Launcher toolbar is much more extensible and can contain as many programs, grouped in sub-folders, as you like.
Thanks for the clarification, Jojoyee.
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