Toolbar Launcher, or, Sorting shortcuts in Links folders

[Chad]

Hi all,

I'm trying to create a "dock" or "wharf" or "toolbar launcher" that is
integrated into the Taskbar, and that I can use to categorize my most-
used shortcuts into groups.

For example, I might have a "Development", "Games", and "Internet" icon
in a toolbar on the taskbar. And when, for example, I click on "Games",
it brings up a menu with "Warlords IV" and "Spider Solitaire" (i.e. oft-
used shortcuts that I have placed in there).

I've managed to do this, for the most part, but (call me perfectionist),
I would like a bit more functionality.

Here's what I did:
1) Create a folder on the desktop for each category
2) Copy/create shortcuts into each of these folders, according to what I
want in there
3) Enable either the QuickLaunch or Links bar in the taskbar
4) Move the folder into the bar

I can even change the folder icon to match the category. Cool.

What I'm trying to do now, though, is to rearrange the icons within the
category folders into different orders (other than alphabetical). I'm
thinking of something like the Start Menu -- you can drag shortcuts
around and rearrange them as you like it.

Q: Can anybody tell me how to rearrange those shortcuts into orders
besides alphabetical?

Q: If not, is there a 3rd-party add-in program that (a) integrates into
the taskbar (as a toolbar, or similar band), and (b) has similar
functionality?

Q: If not, is there some other workaround? The only thing I can think
is to number the shortcuts, adding "1., 2., 3., etc" in front in the
particular order. (But I would also like to add "seperator" shortcuts,
i.e. blank shortcuts with an empty icon, and that wouldn't work here.)

Q: Why must I hold down the Control key when clicking the category
folder in the QuickLaunch bar, but not in the Links bar? Is there a way
to make it so I don't have to hold down Control?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Perhaps I've thought of this way
too long and am not seeing an obvious solution.

Thanks
Chad

PS: I've looked at the Order value in the HKCU\Software\Microsoft
\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Favorites\Links key, but I
think that only controls the order of the icons in the "root" Links
folder (i.e. the category folders). Right?

 

[Chad Harris]

Chad--

I don't have ready answers for all these interesting questions, but to the
one:

*Q: Can anybody tell me how to rearrange those shortcuts into orders besides
alphabetical?*

You have these icons within your category folders and you want them arranged
as to type. On the toolbar of each folder, why not go to *View>Arrange
Icons by Type* and if you want them under headings you can also click "Show
In Groups."

I don't see a regedit at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control
Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics that is going to help you.

Chad Harris


____________________________________________________________________

 

[Chad]

This might be overkill for what you want to accomplish (or are willing
to spend time doing), but for the maximum amount of flexibility
(without using any third-party program or coding something yourself),
you can write a set of HTML files to create a layout as complex as you
wish, and use scripting to launch your apps.

Assuming you have IIS running, right-click on the taskbar,
Toolbars|New Toolbar. Then type in http://localhost/blah.htm.

Then you're free to put anything you want in blah.htm. Look up WSH
(use it to launch local EXEs in HTML). You may also want to review
Q182569 so IE will let you run local ActiveX controls without popping
up warnings.

I know I'm not supposed to post binaries in this group, but most
people don't "get" what I'm describing until they actually see
it--I've attached a screenshot of my current toolbar...

As you can see, I've docked it vertically (with that original intent
when I designed it from scratch), with rows of buttons set up more or
less in a tab arrangement. Clicking the "tabs" load a different HTML
file in the frame occupying the main area.

If you're not using a multi-monitor setup, you'll probably find
something like this to take up way too much desktop real estate--the
beauty of this being HTML is that you're free to build the layout
however you wish. If you don't need the text descriptions, you could
design something similar horizontally. You could also use DHTML to
make entire sections expand/collapse...

Interesting idea! I don't have IIS running, but if I can figure out
something that's "elegant" enough, it might be worth a try. In the
meantime, I can prototype from my ISP's server.

You're right though, it is more complicated, and the disadvantage would
be that in order to add a shortcut, or change an icon, or whatever, it's
not as simple as drag and drop, etc.

One thing, though. I perceive that any popup menus, etc, must be part
of the HTML window themselves. Therefore if I want to have a popup menu
like I have now, I would have to resize the taskbar (assuming I keep the
toolbar as part of the taskbar) to the appropriate height required by
the HTML window. Correct?

Chad

 

[Chad]

Chad--

I don't have ready answers for all these interesting questions, but to
the one:

*Q: Can anybody tell me how to rearrange those shortcuts into orders
besides alphabetical?*

You have these icons within your category folders and you want them
arranged as to type. On the toolbar of each folder, why not go to
*View>Arrange Icons by Type* and if you want them under headings you
can also click "Show In Groups."

<SNIP>

Well, I did try this, and while it does sort them differently in the actual
explorer window, when I move the folder back into the Links bar and click
on it, the shortcuts are still alphabetical.

Chad

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

Interesting idea! I don't have IIS running, but if I can figure out

something that's "elegant" enough, it might be worth a try. In the
meantime, I can prototype from my ISP's server.

You can also simply write HTML files in Notepad and preview them with IE.
You don't *need* IIS to write the thing; in fact, the only reason you need
IIS at all is because using http://localhost/whatever.htm is the only way
(that I found) that the Toolbar dialog will let you specify a local HTML
file.

You're right though, it is more complicated, and the disadvantage would
be that in order to add a shortcut, or change an icon, or whatever, it's
not as simple as drag and drop, etc.

True, but once it's set up, you never have to touch it again...

One thing, though. I perceive that any popup menus, etc, must be part
of the HTML window themselves. Therefore if I want to have a popup menu
like I have now, I would have to resize the taskbar (assuming I keep the
toolbar as part of the taskbar) to the appropriate height required by
the HTML window. Correct?

Yes, it all has to be contained within the window's client area, but as I
mentioned, since it's HTML, you can have entire sections expand/collapse
dynamically and add as many 'tabs' as you need. On top of that, if it gets
too big, you'll get scrollbars, so you can actually make it as tall (or
wide) as you wish...