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What's your favorite launch bar? Your favorite features? Missing Features?

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mouser:
DonationCoder.com will be releasing a launch bar app soon, as a precursor to Context Menu Commander.
It will be focused mostly on functionality rather than slick appearance (ie nothing as visually fancy as the mac osx dock).

I'm interested in hearing what "launch bar" apps people use:


* what's your favorite and why?
* best feature?
* things you'd like to see added or improved?
examples of some launch bar tools:
http://www.truelaunchbar.com/
http://www.freelaunchbar.com/
http://www.alentum.com/alaunch/index.htm

brotherS:
Well, looks great for sure.

I just wonder if such a launch bar is more for people that aren't yet using the keyboard a lot (which is a lot faster compared to mouse usage)?

mouser:
i actually find myself using a launch bar a lot (i use advanced launch bar above).
mainly it offers me a quick visual choice of commonly used apps - and i find it sort of like a "reminder" of the tools i use the most.  without it on the screen i don't remember my available tools :)

brotherS:
Well, the most often apps are in the Windows quick start bar (or whatever it is called), but I might try and like your new program too :)

AbteriX:
Iam attempted a few launch bars 'cus i like to have my most used apps "by the hand" and most used .CPLs also.

Just now i use <MenuApp> , an EXE wich pop ups an folder structure of the folder the exe is in.
(or the working dir i have wrote in the shortcut.lnk)
Than i have an link to MenuApp.exe in my QuickFolder to see the icon of MenuApp in the quick launch bar.

MenuApp have nice feat like simple text files as shortcut, e.g. "!MA0001_Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
Well, you have to use the following filename syntax:

   !MAXXXX_-Y_The name as it appears on the menu

Where XXXX is whatever number you like, so that the entry appears on the menu
in your prefered location, and Y is the special folder code.

So, if you wanted to create a submenu displaying the current tasks,
you would first create a new text file and then change it's name to:

   !MA0000_-t_Current Tasks
--- End quote ---



Other bars i have used and use ofttimes:
LaunchMate
 http://launchmate.sourceforge.net/index.html


Systray+ - put an icon in the TNA
http://home.nikocity.de/stefan.schmitz/

TrayMenu by Wei Ke
with beta TrayBar
http://f2.org/archive/software/traymenu.html


lastly i found
H-Menu
http://home.planet.nl/~vrloohdv/homeEN.htm

and there is of course
PowerPro

and some more.

-

I like an tool like  LaunchMate most, its like MSs Off1ce Sh0rtCut Bar
you can have diff bars as layers of the main bar.
You can add single files, URL links, folders which pop ups like the WindowsStartMenu

LaunchMate ReadMe File:

Description:
------------
LaunchMate is the program launcher that will end your search.
It can dock to any edge of the screen just like the Windows taskbar.
You can organize your programs in up to 50 categories a sure a way to remove the clutter.
LaunchMate is one of the most customizable programs you'll find.
One of its standout features is the ability to set the display settings for each program so
that when it is launched the screen will change to those settings.
This takes away the hassle of having to remember to change your display setting every time
you want to play a game or use a program that works better in a specific display setting.
A few days with LaunchMate and you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
--- End quote ---


I suggest for your bar:

- docking on all edge
- drag and drop files and folder on the bar
- context menu entry on each bar item "explore"
- variable size of bar icon
- auto hide after n seconds
- auto hide if the mouse pointer is near
- show costum date and time on the bar  ------  :-*
- lets users wrote plugins for advanced features like system resurces
- let use start other exe's and .CMD with parameters to expand the usebillity of your bar
- TNA icon should be optional pls
- maybe an shortcut to focus your bar and the possibility to use the arrow keys to launch an button
- and... i have to work now, if you want more later :-)

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