freeware launcger programme

[Alastair Smeaton]

I used to use a simple programme launcher - seem to remember it was
called simply "launcher"

Now can;'t find it at all.

It was a little red square in the system tray, right click and you
could run any programmes you had added.

Double click and it showed a floating toolbar, and you could drag and
drop desktop shortcuts onto it, into groups if you liked.

I can't seem to find any similar true freeware programmes

Any ideas ??

Thanks

 

[Al Smith]

I used to use a simple programme launcher - seem to remember it was

called simply "launcher"

Now can;'t find it at all.

It was a little red square in the system tray, right click and you
could run any programmes you had added.

Double click and it showed a floating toolbar, and you could drag and
drop desktop shortcuts onto it, into groups if you liked.

I can't seem to find any similar true freeware programmes

Any ideas ??

Thanks
-- Alastair Smeaton

I've been using a free program called LaunchMate for about two
years. I wouldn't want to be without it. It docks to the edge of
your screen in the form of a bar and disappears until you move
your cursor over to touch the edge of the screen, at which point
it comes down (or up, or over) and displays your icons. It's
attached to the top of my screen, but you can put it on the side
if you wish. Using it, I've been able to get all my icons off my
desktop, except the Trash and My Computer icons, which don't want
to be moved.

You configure a part of the invisible bar to be "hot" so that it
activates the program and displays the bar when you mouse over
that part of the screen edge. I've got the middle 60% of the upper
edge of my screen as the hot zone, which means the bar doesn't
come down when I click the upper corners of the screen to
manipulate other programs.

Before installing LaunchMate, I tried three or four other popular
launchers, but all of them had shortcomings that I couldn't live
with. You have to spend a half hour or so configuring LaunchMate,
but once you get it where you want it to be, it's the best. I'm
running it on Windows 98 SE -- I don't know if it works on Windows
XP, but there's nothing on the site saying it doesn't, so it might
be worth a try.

You'll find it at:

http://tdrware.virtualave.net/LaunchMate/lmdwnld.htm

That's the download page. You should get version 3.0.0.21, which
is the stable finished version. I wouldn't try version 4, which is
still in beta, although there's a link to it on the home page of
the author's site.

Why this program isn't classed as pricelessware is beyond me. It's
great. By the way, if you download it, you don't need to download
the separate "LMConvert.exe" file. It's only for those with a
really old version of the program already running on their computer.

 

[Bob Adkins]

I can't seem to find any similar true freeware programmes

Any ideas ??

Jet Toolbar.

www.jetaudio.com

Bob

 

[bambam]

I used to use a simple programme launcher - seem to remember it
was called simply "launcher"

Now can;'t find it at all.

It was a little red square in the system tray, right click and you
could run any programmes you had added.

Double click and it showed a floating toolbar, and you could drag
and drop desktop shortcuts onto it, into groups if you liked.

I can't seem to find any similar true freeware programmes

Any ideas ??

Hi Alastair, have you tried "RUNit"?

RUNit (38kb)

RUNit gives you quick access to applications, documents, folders and
shortcuts. RUNit doesn't occupy any space on your screen - you only
see it when you actually use it. RUNit defines a "hot area" on your
screen where a click of the right mouse button makes the RUNit
launch-menu appear.The "hot area" can be any border of the screen or
even the whole screen. (you have to hold down the CRTL or SHIFT key
while right clicking in "whole screen mode")

http://www.pricelessware.org/2003/PL2003DESKTOP.htm#R129

If I use other peoples computers I keep right clicking the top of
the screen to launch RUNit , I wouldn't be without it.

 

[omega]

I used to use a simple programme launcher - seem to remember it was
called simply "launcher"

Now can;'t find it at all.

It was a little red square in the system tray, right click and you
could run any programmes you had added.

[...]

Was it a little red rocket? In my archives I've a program whose executable
name is launcher.exe. Homepage is programming.de.

http://www.programming.de/download.php (about halfway down thie page)

| Program Launcher (Freeware)
| If you need to start several programs simultanously, this program
| can be useful to you. It can start 5 groups of programs with up to
| 5 programs in each group, either manually or timer controlled.

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

I used to use a simple programme launcher - seem to remember it was
called simply "launcher"

Now can;'t find it at all.

It was a little red square in the system tray, right click and you
could run any programmes you had added.

[...]

Was it a little red rocket? In my archives I've a program whose executable
name is launcher.exe. Homepage is programming.de.

http://www.programming.de/download.php (about halfway down thie page)

| Program Launcher (Freeware)
| If you need to start several programs simultanously, this program
| can be useful to you. It can start 5 groups of programs with up to
| 5 programs in each group, either manually or timer controlled.

Thanks Karen - not this one - the limit of 5 progs per group is a
problem.

Thanks for looking though

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

Jet Toolbar.

www.jetaudio.com

Bob

Thanks - but a toolbar, even one which can be invisible, I find
intrusive

Thanks anyway

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

Hi Alastair, have you tried "RUNit"?

RUNit (38kb)

RUNit gives you quick access to applications, documents, folders and
shortcuts. RUNit doesn't occupy any space on your screen - you only
see it when you actually use it. RUNit defines a "hot area" on your
screen where a click of the right mouse button makes the RUNit
launch-menu appear.The "hot area" can be any border of the screen or
even the whole screen. (you have to hold down the CRTL or SHIFT key
while right clicking in "whole screen mode")

http://www.pricelessware.org/2003/PL2003DESKTOP.htm#R129

If I use other peoples computers I keep right clicking the top of
the screen to launch RUNit , I wouldn't be without it.

Thanks bambam - I tried the beta a while ago, as I like the cascading
menus, but it crashed on XP - but - I see the beta has been developed,
and am trying it out right now

Thanks to you, and to all who replied.

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

Hi Alastair, have you tried "RUNit"?

RUNit (38kb)

Aaagh

tried it again, with the same result - set up groups, and then it
crashes.

Went to feedback page on the website and see that it is no longer
developed - I was probably trying the same beta I had tried months and
months ago


So - the search is still on

 

[bambam]

Aaagh

tried it again, with the same result - set up groups, and then it
crashes.

Went to feedback page on the website and see that it is no longer
developed - I was probably trying the same beta I had tried months
and months ago


So - the search is still on

OK, one more try.
I use RUNit under WinXP, without problem, although I have most of the
useless fluff turned off. Have you tried "Compatibility Mode"? If not
try this- right click the RUNit.exe, select properties, then the
Compatibility tab, tick the Compatibility Mode box and then a version
of Windows, 98 is probably best.
Maybe, this time.

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

OK, one more try.
I use RUNit under WinXP, without problem, although I have most of the
useless fluff turned off. Have you tried "Compatibility Mode"? If not
try this- right click the RUNit.exe, select properties, then the
Compatibility tab, tick the Compatibility Mode box and then a version
of Windows, 98 is probably best.
Maybe, this time.

Thanks - will try this - do you use the beta - to give you cascading
menus ?

Meantime found one called Hidden menu

not as elegant, but does the trick

http://home.i-cable.com/lokinwai/

cheers - will let you know how I get on

 

[Bob Adkins]

Thanks - but a toolbar, even one which can be invisible, I find
intrusive

I fail to see the difference. If it's not visible, it's not visible.

Perhaps "Traylaunch" by Alex Khaufman.

Bob

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

I fail to see the difference. If it's not visible, it's not visible.

Perhaps "Traylaunch" by Alex Khaufman.

Bob

Maybe just a personal opinion

I prefer a tray button I can right click, or a defined part of the
screen - rather than a toolbar which I need to make come into view
first, then find an icon,

I'll look at traylaunch - thanks

 

[Bob Adkins]

I prefer a tray button I can right click, or a defined part of the
screen - rather than a toolbar which I need to make come into view
first, then find an icon,

Jet Toolbar does that. Did you overlook the tray icon?

Bob

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

Jet Toolbar does that. Did you overlook the tray icon?

Bob

Thanks - I will try jet toolbar

still playing with Runit - seems I can overload it when setting it up,
but once it is set up, seems stable so far - and simple, small,
elegant

Let you know how I get on....

Ta

 

[Dan Rather]

Hello,

If you want a great program it is called FastOpen. It is now available
only as shareware. You can go to the website and see if you like it.
If so, I have the last freeware version FastOpen 2.2. You can't find
it on the web any longer. The program is incredible and the author
finally realized it (sharware). If you decide you want it I can upload
it to the other freeware room.