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Author Topic: LaunchBar Commander beta 1.40.01  (Read 4358 times)

mouser

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LaunchBar Commander beta 1.40.01
« on: February 13, 2014, 07:03 PM »
I'm going to be posting some early beta versions for LBC as I try to tweak and fix some bugs/issues I've only just noticed.
I might be updating these pretty rapidly so if you don't feel like downloading you can just wait till an official release.

Download:


v1.40.01 beta:
  • Bugfix - LBC was not properly identifying full screen applications, causing it not to unhide when it should if current window was maximized (but not full screen); if you have turned off the option to Keep LaunchBars "On Top" and you use AutoHiding docks, you should try re-enabling this option.  Should make it possible to use full screen games without LBC waking up.



mouser

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Re: LaunchBar Commander beta 1.40.01
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2014, 07:05 PM »
Happy to (re)hear about additional bugs so I don't forget to fix them in this next round.

The other main thing I want to fix that i hit recently was that LBC silently fails to launch items that can't be found; this can be especially confusing if you move your LBC config between machines.  I will make it report when an item can't be launched, and add a Maintenance item to report a list of all bad commands to make it easier for you to identify and correct them.

Vurbal

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Re: LaunchBar Commander beta 1.40.01
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2014, 08:36 AM »
Well I started this post a couple times and accidentally wiped it out both times   But I'm better now and hopefully this will actually be more coherent anyway.

1. First the great news: AFAICT the new version has completely eliminated all the situations where my launchbar wouldn't unhide unless I moved the mouse around. This is separate from the issue of having to click at the desktop border (unhide area I guess you could call it) so LBC would get focus. It did happen in those cases but also at other times when I didn't have any maximized windows. In any case it seems to be 100% fixed and honestly that was by far my biggest LBC annoyance.

2. Followed by the really good news: The second most annoying issue - the launchbar failing to autohide again if I moved the mouse away without launching anything - also appears to be completely fixed.

3. Then the still no complaints item: If a maximized window has focus I still have to click in the unhide area before my launchbar appears. Not sure if this is the intended (or at least expected) behavior. It's definitely not something that bothers me at all.

4. And my first actual test with a fullscreen app: I rarely play games so this is the first time I've tested the behavior with an actual fullscreen app. I tested with Firefox in Fullscreen mode and as long as it had focus my launchbar wouldn't unhide by either mouse position or hotkey. It might actually be preferable to have an option to keep the hotkey active and just disable the proximity trigger. Don't put any serious time into it or anything. It would just allow me to use the same trick that (usually) works with the Windows taskbar.

5. Finally the Microsoft is still Microsoft part: There's still one last remaining quirk. If I unhide the launchbar and then let it autohide instead of clicking on a node it doesn't return focus to the previously active window. It's always done that for me but I've only used LBC on Windows 7. I suspect it doesn't do that on Windows XP. I say that because LBC looks like it's using the taskbar autohide routines and I'm sure the taskbar code changed significantly in Win7.

Rather than explain my theory I'll just give you instructions to demonstrate some of the changes and you can decide for yourself. Alternatively you may be able to tell me I'm wrong and I'll know it's some of my weird shell software.

  • Set the taskbar to autohide and of course you need a launchbar set to autohide as well.
  • Open a text editor window and click in the text entry area. That should give you a cursor to use as a reference to see when the window has focus.
  • Unhide the taskbar by moving your mouse to the edge of the desktop but don't click on it.  Watch the text editor window while the taskbar is unhidden. Unless my system is somehow unique (not a first as we both know) the text editor will never lose focus, meaning of course the taskbar must not be receiving focus. Move the mouse away and let it autohide again.
  • Open the Start menu using the Windows key. When the Start menu opens it should take focus from the text editor. Close it the same way and the text editor should get focus back automatically.
  • Now open it by clicking the Start button and close it the same way. The text editor will appear to get focus back just like before but actually the Start button still has focus. Type Enter or Space and it will open again. To type in the editor window you'll have to click on it first. Or at least I do.
  • Finally unhide the taskbar again using your mouse but this time click on a blank area. Now the taskbar will have focus. Press the Windows key twice and the taskbar will autohide automatically but nothing will have focus now - just like what LBC is doing.
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Vurbal

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Re: LaunchBar Commander beta 1.40.01
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2014, 06:58 PM »
An upate with our previous IRC discussion about this update in mind.

I'm 99.999% sure the issues with needing to move the mouse or click in the trigger area are entirely gone, at least WRT the situations where I have experienced the problem. Previously I ran into the problem at least once or twice a day but in the week and a half I've been using this beta it hasn't happened even once.

This does not, obviously, apply to the full screen app issue. However I don't think this is worth wasting time because I'm convinced Microsoft low level code is probably at fault and the combination of conditions where it applies amount to an insignificant border case.

tl;dr
Awesome update! When I have a few minutes (okay a lot more than a few) I'll try to assemble a comprehensive list of the text-menu enhancements we've talked about.
I learned to say the pledge of allegiance
Before they beat me bloody down at the station
They haven't got a word out of me since
I got a billion years probation
- The MC5

Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the danger of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of ''crackpot'' than the stigma of conformity.
- Thomas J. Watson, Sr

It's not rocket surgery.
- Me


I recommend reading through my Bio before responding to any of my posts. It could save both of us a lot of time and frustration.

mouser

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Re: LaunchBar Commander beta 1.40.01
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2014, 07:13 PM »
great -- give me some more easy feature requests because i'd like to release a new version.