A simple text-based task switcher?

[inventories]

I'm searching for something so simple that I think it must be out
there somewhere, but so far, no luck.

I'm looking for a task-switcher that's text-based, that will show a
simple column menu, without icons, with the names of open windows. I'm
thinking of something similar in appearance to the wonderful program
RUNit. Ideally, this program would have a hot-key combination so that
it can be accessed at all times (like RUNit).

The closest I've come so far--a very old program called SOSmenu (not
even sure now where I found it on line), which makes a menu pop up,
sometimes rather awkwardly alongside any right-click menu. SOSmenu
also interferes with FileTargets, so it's unworkable for me.

I've also found Switch Window (http://www.desktopboosters.com). This
program's better, but it features ugly (to my eyes) icons that can't
be removed. It's a .dll, not a program that can be started and ended.

I like TaskSwitchXP, but still like the idea of a simple text menu of
open windows. Does anyone know of a freeware program that does what
I'm looking for?

Thanks,

Michael

 

[jo]

I'm looking for a task-switcher that's text-based, that will show a
simple column menu, without icons, with the names of open windows

What's wrong with alt+tab?

 

[jo]

I'm looking for a task-switcher that's text-based, that will show a
simple column menu, without icons, with the names of open windows

I've no idea what this is like

http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA031384/software/Joe_en.html

 

[inventories]

I'm looking for a task-switcher that's text-based, that will show a

simple column menu, without icons, with the names of open windows.

I think I just answered my own question--

http://thunder.prohosting.com/~ladi/e_desk.html#top

This looks much nicer in real life (and in XP) than on the webpage--I
have it set up without icons. A right click lists open windows; a
left-click lists all desktop icons. You can edit the .ini file to
change things too.

This looks to me like something for Pricelessware--small, simple,
flexible, and free.

Cheers,

Michael

 

[jo]

I think I just answered my own question--

http://thunder.prohosting.com/~ladi/e_desk.html#top

This looks much nicer in real life (and in XP) than on the webpage--I
have it set up without icons. A right click lists open windows; a
left-click lists all desktop icons. You can edit the .ini file to
change things too.

Nice. 20kb standalone exe.
Someone was asking for just such an app to show the desktop recently.
Good find.

(Susan might need to disable her hosts file if she waants a look)

 

[jo]

I'm looking for a task-switcher that's text-based, that will show a
simple column menu, without icons, with the names of open windows.

I must nLaunch one day, also

http://www.nakka.com/soft/nlaunch/

 

[omega]

(e-mail address removed):

Ideally, this program would have a hot-key combination so that
it can be accessed at all times (like RUNit).

What does that have over the method whereby you create a shorcut lnk
to an object such as a program, and use the properties dialog of the
lnk to create a user-defined hotkey for launch?

Not a rhetorical question, btw. I rarely define hotkeys for launch
(too hard to remember that many), so might not be aware of possible
shortcomings that might come into play when one relies on the method
of shortcut lnk properties for setting up hotkey launch.

Also, for those who want do be able to launch lots of programs by that
method: that which seems better over needing to look in the program
itself, and over needing to set up a shortcut, it might be to adopt
one of the third-party utilities. So that you can have a central menu
to view your config, all the hotkeys defined for different items.

 

[inventories]

Ideally, this program would have a hot-key combination so that

What does that have over the method whereby you create a shorcut lnk
to an object such as a program, and use the properties dialog of the
lnk to create a user-defined hotkey for launch?

I'm not sure I understand your question. I was looking (and have now
found) a program that shows all open windows. DeskTask is a bit like
RUNit--you start it and then access it (by clicking on a system tray
icon with DeskTask, or with RUNit, by clicking on a system-tray icon
or using a key and mouse-click combination). A user-defined hotkey can
start the program, but it won't work to get the menu to pop up.

Cheers,

Michael

 

[omega]

(e-mail address removed):

I'm not sure I understand your question. I was looking (and have now
found) a program that shows all open windows. DeskTask is a bit like
RUNit--you start it and then access it (by clicking on a system tray
icon with DeskTask, or with RUNit, by clicking on a system-tray icon
or using a key and mouse-click combination). A user-defined hotkey can
start the program, but it won't work to get the menu to pop up.

Ok, that answers it, the part about the menu popping up. I have RUNit
in my archives and looking at its docs clarifies the distinction further.
RUNit pops up its menu upon <mouse-rt-click + ctrl(or)shift> at the place
on your screen defined as its "hot area."

On your original request, my suggestion would be Methodik's xTaskSwitch.

It has two modes. The one, if you use external means to define a hotkey,
say by making a shortcut lnk to it, then that hotkey launch will cause
it to appear free-floating on screen wherever your mouse is, with your
active tasks displayed as a menu list.

If you've called it up, eg by keystroke, for this mode, it vanishes
(terminates) right after you've clicked something. It goes away whether
you've clicked one of your displayed tasks on its menu, or whether just
clicked an area outside its screen.

The other mode to operate xTaskSwitch is letting it stay on, docked in
the tray. Like the program DeskTask that you'd found
<[email protected]>.

Here's some visual on xTaskSwitch:

http://www.redshift.com/~omega/clips/methodik/xtaskswitch.htm

Methodik has at least two programs that serve the purpose of showing
active tasks in list without graphical objects. Direct links:

http://methodik.pixelarmy.org/downloads/xTaskSwitchv807.zip (21k)
http://methodik.pixelarmy.org/downloads/xTrayTasks-1.1.zip (25k)

I don't have any guess on which of the three programs you might prefer:
the program DeskTask, or else one of those by Methodik.

If you are an extreme minimilist, you might want to know that Methodik's
problems load VB modules. If that's not a concern, then a factor would
be whether the several additional functions in xTaskSwitch offer any
interest for you. And of course, the main thing, which of the three
programs comes closest to "feeling right."

 

[omega]

[edit]

If you are an extreme minimilist, you might want to know that Methodik's
problems load VB modules.

That was supposed to say: "...programs load VB modules."

(I seem to have got hit with one of those Siggy subconscious slip things,
concerning visual basic)

 

[Doc]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in @posting.google.com:

I think I just answered my own question--

http://thunder.prohosting.com/~ladi/e_desk.html#top

This looks much nicer in real life (and in XP) than on the webpage--I
have it set up without icons. A right click lists open windows; a
left-click lists all desktop icons. You can edit the .ini file to
change things too.

This looks to me like something for Pricelessware--small, simple,
flexible, and free.

Cheers,

Michael

Looks nice, but incompatible with a shell menu extender I use - CFI Shell
Toys. Upon trying to open a desktop item with DeskTask, DeskTask crashes
with and error in cfitoys.dll ......... and it looked so good too, ah
well.

 

[inventories]

On your original request, my suggestion would be Methodik's xTaskSwitch.

Thanks, Karen! This looks very good. Much better to have a hot-key
accessible list than to always have to mouse down to the system tray
(as with DeskTask).

Cheers,

Michael