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6951

General Software Discussion / Re: Selector 1.1

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 30, 2009, 02:44 PM »

Selector 1.1 now accepts additions of programs and shortcuts to the ListBox via Explorer Drag & Drop.

For each item in the drag & drop a short name is automatically generated.  Hit Enter to accept it or edit it as you prefer.  Note that all entries in the ListBox are unique. If "MyEditor" is already in the ListBox, adding an item with the short name "MyEditor" will overwrite it with the path to the new program or shortcut.

6952

Finished Programs / Re: IDEA: Shell extension which would let you choose which browser opens a hyperlink

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 30, 2009, 01:15 PM »

I don't *think* this would be very complicated, but I don't have the expertise to do it myself

I would like to right click on a hyperlink and be able to choose which browser opens the url. For example, I prefer Chrome, but there are some things I still need firefox for (firebug for example). Most of the time, I want to use Chrome, but sometimes I'd like to open the link in Firefox. And still other times, I need to use IE (for some very dumb apps that don't speak ff or chrome).

Sort of similar to this idea: https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=8979.0 which didn't seem to get any traction (that I could find) although it seemed popular.

This would be incredibly useful for me and I'm certain for many others. What are your thoughts?

-chrisalbright (March 27, 2009, 02:42 PM)

The utility I wrote(Selector) is almost exactly what you want.
See the announcement for more details:
https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=19717.0


If you want to open a link in another browser, right click the link and use the command that copies the link to the clipboard, such as "copy link location" and press the Selector hotkey, choose the Clipboard Text Radio Button, then double click the browser you added to the ListBox.  You may add individual programs or shortcuts to the list via the Add Button or Drag & Drop them from Explorer.

There may be one more click than using a plugin to launch another browser, but using Selector, instead of having to install a plugin in each browser that you use, just open the Selector popup window and drag & drop shortcuts to all your browsers in one go!


In the other case when you want to open the current page in another browser, just click the address bar to highlight, hit Selector hotkey and double click the browser in the ListBox.  Selected Text Radio Button is enabled by default when the popup window displays.

When you hit the hotkey, Selector gets the Clipboard contents as text and saves it, then it does a Copy to put the selected text in the clipboard and retrieves it.  Then it restores the original text to the clipboard.  The idea is to avoid disrupting editing if you already have text in the clipboard.  Other data types such as images aren't preserved.. only text.

You can also use it just as a quicky launcher.  Select the Text Radio Button and leave the Input line blank to launch with no command line parameters.

6953

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Applet for Changing the Explorer Invocatio Start Location

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 30, 2009, 12:51 PM »

You may find these 2 items to be of interest:

http://www.vistax64....a-64-bit.html?filter[11]=Shortcuts

http://www.codeproje...ExplorerObjects.aspx

For Custom Explorer startup locations I've found it easiest just to make a shortcut and put it on a launch bar such as QuickLaunch or RocketDock.

I gave up on doing much with Start Menu customization.  I tried to make a custom icon for my program's folder group in the start menu, and succeeded, but it would only take effect after the user logged off, then back on.  Seeing the folder change probably would just make them think I introduced a bug into their system. I abandoned messing with that mess.  I use RocketDock with a bunch of folders to group my shortcuts and zero desktop icons.  Sorry, I rambled.  

edit: the other one to check out would be google Explorer Command Line for switches such as "select" to customize how it comes up.

6954

General Software Discussion / Re: Selector 1.01

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 29, 2009, 11:58 AM »

Selector 1.01  Double click of item in ListBox presses the Go Button.

6955

General Software Discussion / Selector 3.4.3.0

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 29, 2009, 09:46 AM »

Selector 1.0 is ready for general use I think.  The idea is a hotkey app in the Tray that holds a few of your favorite programs that can take the command line param from selected text or the clipboard. One example would be a browser.  Instead of relying on a plugin to open the current page in another browser hit the address bar to select text and hit the Selector hotkey(Shift-NumPadDiv by default.) Choose your browser and hit the Go button.

Currently adding programs to the list requires using a FileOpen dialog to browse to the .exe file.  A short name is automatically generated but can be edited.

At the moment there's no provision for sorting the list or rearranging the order of apps.  A later version should have a few more bells and whistles.

The program uses Glass if enabled on the system.
It requires Scripting.Dictionary object on the PC.
If you don't have Scripting.Dictionary I believe installing
the .NET 2.0 or later run-time will put it on but check the
MS web site for the correct download.  If you have .NET 2.0
or later you should have it already.

FavesSoft Hotkeys Page

6956

Coding Snacks / Re: A "redirector" to send clipboard or selected text to various external apps

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 28, 2009, 09:21 PM »

It's still a bit rough.  I decided to call it Selector since usually you will select text and hit the hotkey(default is Shift-NumPadDiv) then select an app from the list.

If you would rather use the text that is in the clipboard already, select the appropriate radio button before hitting the Go button.  I might break out the bottom radio button into a mechanism for command line switches in the future.  This is just a rough working prototype.

Right now you have to use the pop up window to add programs with a File Open dlg.  It's a bit cumbersome but I don't know if the apps you run with selected text will be more than 1/2 dozen anyway.  If it's a problem then I'll have to work on it. A file with program short names and paths is written on program exit and read of program load.  I haven't figured out drag & drop on ListBox yet to see about reordering entries.

Radio Button Groups aren't that cooperative for colors in AutoIt3 so the look is not as smooth as I'd like.  But it seems to work.

http://www.favessoft.com/Selector.zip

btw it requires that Scripting.Dictionary is available on the machine.  It uses it for Associative Arrays.

edit: I found the trick on AutoIt forum.  Instead of figuring out how to set the Radio Button text color, you make a Radio Button with no text and stick a label adjacent to it.  Then it's trivial to adjust the label text color for contrast with the background.  Looks a lot better now.  Plus I set the ListBox to autosort when entries are added, so no real need to rearrange entries.

6957

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA small script to set a timer to startup jkdefrag.exe when computer idle for

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 27, 2009, 08:14 PM »

Just in case anyone is curious, the Auslogics auto defrag in the latest version seems to work.  I'm not clear yet on what the actual threshold is to trigger an actual defrag as opposed to an analysis after the idle time.  I sent a question to Auslogics for more info about it and requested they have it user configurable(as in, if analysis shows >= 20% fragmentation, do the defrag.)  If I get anything more that a template reply I'll post it.

6958

Coding Snacks / Re: A "redirector" to send clipboard or selected text to various external apps

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 27, 2009, 06:03 PM »

I'm working on this now. Eventually what I hope to have is a small list with the short names of programs.  There will be an option for each afa selected text, clipboard text or no clipboard, param switches, and I think I'll have it so you can do a file open dialog to add new programs or drag & drop.  I'll see how it goes.  Maybe in a week I'll have it debugged enough upload.

6959

General Software Discussion / Re: App to minimize to tray.

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 27, 2009, 05:59 PM »

Also nice is WinTray.  It's an AutoIt3 and you can get source as well as exe if you like:

http://www.autoitscr...;hl=WinTray&st=0

6960

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA small script to set a timer to startup jkdefrag.exe when computer idle for

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 27, 2009, 01:56 PM »

I was meaning to ask if you had IdleStart configured so that multiple instances could run but I got distracted when I noticed the Auslogics scheduling thing. 

6961

Post New Requests Here / Re: Open Containing Folder

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 26, 2009, 11:28 PM »

well, it's been a long time, but better late than never i guess....

yea, i was confused about what was being requested. Thanks for the clarity. I'm also going to be getting and using the autohotkey script

-Kamel (August 25, 2009, 12:10 PM)

I have a utility that is similar called Home Folder.  It has hotkeys to either open the Home Folder of the active window(would be the folder the .exe is in for programs) or opens a command prompt in that folder.  You can download from here if you'd like to try it:

http://www.favessoft.com/hotkeys.html

6962

Living Room / Re: Help? Learning how to drive...

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 26, 2009, 06:45 PM »

I just got my licence today. It was a very easy driving test ( Illinois ). The guy testing me just asked me to drive around a little bit. No parallel parking or anything like that.

-alivingspirit (August 26, 2009, 06:23 PM)

For my motorcycle driving test the guy took me to this narrow road the public works guys use to heap tar on top of the heaped tar when they have nothing else to do.  Narrow and bumpy in the extreme.  To get to work that day I had to drive the bike through thunderstorms at @45 MPH.  The water was running out of my shoes.  I changed to a work uniform but I was cold and damp and shaking trying to go over these bumps in little figure 8s.  Finally the guy says "how long you been ridiin' bikes?" and I say "6 years."  He just looked at me weird.  I said, "I'm still kind of shaken up because I had to ride through that thunderstorm at 45 MPH to get here. I changed into dry clothes  but I'm still shaking from being soaked."  The guy says "you road through that thunderstorm?" and I said "yeah."  He then said, "if you made it here through that you know how to ride."  He wrote me up for the license.  Then said something to the effect "we're not all s.o.b.s you know" and laughed.

6963

Find And Run Robot / Re: Enso - Another FARR similar app, but not quite

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 26, 2009, 05:44 PM »

Figures

-skajfes (August 26, 2009, 03:24 PM)

Don't feel bad.  I just noticed it on Gizmo's site today.  I think I may have tried it awhile back because I vaguely remember rejecting some utility as soon as I found out they expected me to type while holding a key down(like a dead man's switch driving a train.)

The main interest is redirecting stuff to other apps without a bunch of hotkeys.  But even with "sticky" mode having to type "open with" is going to get old fast.  Guess I'll have to code my own redirector app(take selected text or clipboard and pass it as param to a bunch of apps user configurable as buttons in a GUI is how I see it now.)

6964

Find And Run Robot / Re: Another FARR similar app - Executor

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 26, 2009, 05:10 PM »

MilesAhead: Enso has quite a few threads on DC, see here

[edit] Yay! This time I was faster than mouser [/edit]

-jgpaiva (August 26, 2009, 03:04 PM)

Thanks. I'll take a look.

6965

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA small script to set a timer to startup jkdefrag.exe when computer idle for

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 26, 2009, 05:08 PM »

...
That's why IdleStart has an option on the tray menu to disable it without closing it. If I were burning something or defragging manually, I'd disable it till it was finished and then turn it back on.

-app103 (August 26, 2009, 04:10 PM)

That's interesting.  If I could suggest one feature, maybe a time of day span window when the task can fire?  Like, be able to set it to only fire on idle if between 2 AM and 4 AM type of thing?

I just noticed too looking at the latest version of Auslogics Defrag under the schedule options it gives options for a combined CPU/Disk idle percentage.  How it's calculated I don't know but I didn't notice the "disk" part before.  Guess I'll have to try it out of curiosity.

edit: in case anyone is curious, I set up Auslogics defrag to automatic.  It gives ranges from 10 to 30 minutes idle time and I used the default 20% CPU/disk idle setting.  My disk was recently defragged so I didn't notice that much disk activity but the tray icon twirled around for a few minutes.  Looks like it's good enough that my secondary machine might be defragged automatically.  I haven't tested what you have to do to pause the defrag though.  So far it seems like a plausible alternative.

6966

Find And Run Robot / Re: Another FARR similar app - Executor

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 26, 2009, 02:56 PM »

An interesting one I just noticed on Gizmo's site is Enso.  It's kind of strange in its approach but it looks like it may be good for at least opening the current URL in a different browser without depending on a plugin and without using a different hotkey for each different browser.  You have to type the "open with" jazz and teach it open commands but it may have some uses.

Most stuff is faster in FARR because you just type the name of the app or folder, but Enso may be handy for some stuff with selected file or text.

6967

Finished Programs / Re: IDEA: Shell extension which would let you choose which browser opens a hyperlink

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 26, 2009, 02:44 PM »

I found another approach.  It's not quite as versatile as optional clipboard use, but it is interesting.  It's a free launcher called Enso.  There's a write-up on Gizmo's site:

http://www.techsuppo...program-launcher.htm

What applies here is after you teach Enso some "open" commands then you can highlight text, a file in explorer, or a URL in a browser and hit the hotkey and type "open with command" where command is an open command you taught Enso.  So you can highlight a URL in the address bar and hit the hotkey and type "open with opera" as example, and it will open the URL with Opera.  The really weird thing is it comes configured for you to hold down the caps lock key while you are typing this stuff in.  Bizarre.. but it lets you choose another key such as Left Windows key and also set "sticky" so you can let go of the key.  Hit Esc to cancel.

I think I'll play around with it for awhile.  The main thing I don't like so far is you can't tell it, afaik, to use whatever is in the clipboard.  Only highlighted text, images or a file/folder.  Still you can set up a bunch of different programs only using the one hotkey.

6968

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA small script to set a timer to startup jkdefrag.exe when computer idle for

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 26, 2009, 12:24 PM »

how long it has been since a human* has interacted with the pc,

-app103 (August 26, 2009, 03:33 AM)

Ok I wanted to make sure.  So far the only small utility I've seen that does disk access monitoring is a little Tray App that simulates the LED for HD access(called HardDriveIndicator.)  I don't remember if I ever saw the source or just read the info while looking on the MS site but it uses some performance profile calls(WMI I think) to get the disk activity over the last 2 minutes or something.  But I think those defraggers that run in background either do that or hook right into the disk driver code somehow.  For non device driver probably all you can do is the WMI stuff.

Unless you can measure the disk access there's no way to be sure your scheduled task won't kick off right in the middle of a DVD burn or a defrag by another defragger the user started manually(like if they forgot the scheduled task was there or are not the user who put it there and just decided to defrag.)

6969

Finished Programs / Re: IDEA: Shell extension which would let you choose which browser opens a hyperlink

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 25, 2009, 02:22 PM »

Thanks for the info.  I guess my next project will be some redirector to most used apps.  FF is my default so launch from Opera going the other way is very rare.  But I'm sure the links are good for Opera lovers.

Then again, I have to search AutoIt3 forum.  Maybe somebody made a freebie that does what I want already.

6970

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA small script to set a timer to startup jkdefrag.exe when computer idle for

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 25, 2009, 02:13 PM »

You could use Windows built in task scheduler, set it to run the task when idle and stop the task when the computer isn't idle or on mouse movement. Easiest way to do it.  Or, you can use JKDefragGUI which sets this up for you.

If you want to use JKDefrag only: http://www.emro.nl/freeware/
If you want to use it's successor MYDefrag: http://www.wieldraai....nl/MyDefragGUI.html

Both include a ton of options and the ability to schedule a defrag. 

Be sure to check out the rest of the freeware available on those sites.  Good stuff.

-y0himba (August 25, 2009, 09:34 AM)

If you are going to do it that way I suggest making the Idle period longer than it takes the burn a Double Layer DVD if you do such burns.  It's very easy to forget a scheduled task.  With a DVD burn you're not hitting the keyboard or mouse once it starts usually, and even though the HD is accessing with a solid LED the system will show as idle.  There needs to be disk access measurement for this stuff to be trustoworthy imho.

Either that or you just have to remember it's on there and set the idle time longer than any task you are going to run unattended.

6971

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA small script to set a timer to startup jkdefrag.exe when computer idle for

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 25, 2009, 02:10 PM »

You could use my IdleStart application. It will launch whatever you configure it to, after the length of idle time you configure passes. So it sort of acts like a screensaver, but for opening files and launching applications. (there is no actual screensaver involved)

I was more thinking of idle away time.  You know...if you haven't moved the mouse for ten minutes, fire up the defragger.  Chances are you're away from the desk and don't really care about CPU or disk usage at that point.

-skwire (August 25, 2009, 06:24 AM)

That is exactly what my IdleStart application does.

-app103 (August 25, 2009, 06:31 AM)

What defines "idle" ??
If it also includes disk usage then I'd be very interested.

6972

Finished Programs / Re: IDEA: Shell extension which would let you choose which browser opens a hyperlink

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 25, 2009, 01:11 AM »

I don't know if the OP is still interested in this topic but since I just configured FARR for a similar thing I thought I'd post.  If you watch the Screencast for FARR hotkeys, you can see how to set up a hotkey.  The other part of it would be to set External Tools option to Override default browser.

Granted this only works for one browser.  That's one reason I posted a Coding Snacks request for a "redirector" program so you could select from several.

But this method of calling Opera from another browser has the benefit that it doesn't depend on a plugin for the first browser.  It should work for any starting browser(or any app where you can highlight text.)

For my set up I have 2 hotkeys configured.  One copies selected text to the clipboard, then pastes in into FARR and lets FARR call Opera with the URL.  For the other if you want to launch from a link, you use the browser "copy link location" or equivalent to get the URL into the clipboard, then FARR just pastes the URL from the clipboard and calls Opera.

Just one way of skinning the cat but not as versatile as a general purpose redirector thingy would be.

6973

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA small script to set a timer to startup jkdefrag.exe when computer idle for

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 25, 2009, 12:39 AM »

You could use the Task Scheduler in Windows.  The gotcha' with scheduling defraggers after some period of "idle time" is that the idle detection almost always only checks the CPU usage.

When I bought my first Vista PC I didn't know defrag.exe was in the task scheduler by default.  In the middle of running JkDefrag Windows decided my computer had been "idle" long enough to start defrag.exe.  Yup!!  It ran defrag.exe in the middle of a disk defrag job!!!  Talk about stupid!!!

Unfortunately in Windows they don't make it easy to detect the disk usage.  That's why I posted awhile ago asking if somebody had a "disk busy" detection algorithm.  Basically, it's a pita and I wouldn't mess with it.  Better if you want that feature to try to get a defrag suite with that feature built in.  Presumably the defrag programmers know enough about the innards to detect when the disk has been at low usage for a period of time.

My feeling is I'd rather run them manually.  But I only have 2 PCs.  I could see if you had a bank of machines you'd want to automate it.  Still, it's generally not good to do a defrag inside a defrag.

6974

Coding Snacks / Re: A "redirector" to send clipboard or selected text to various external apps

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 24, 2009, 06:32 PM »

Hmmm, I can do some of this with FARR hotkeys, like the Open with Opera thingy.  Still it might be useful for frequently used apps... or not.

edit: granted I can set up FARR hotkeys to accomplish some of this, but the downside is, every utility I set up I have to remember another hotkey..  instead of just remembering the hotkey for the redirector.

6975

Living Room / Re: Help? Learning how to drive...

« Last post by MilesAhead on August 24, 2009, 06:12 PM »

Oh yeah, on a serious note... and I've seen this happen right in front of me while walking down the road, plus it's one of those tips they used to give all the time on public service announcements on TV:

If you happen to be driving and a vehicle is coming the opposition direction, like on a 2 lane road, not divided, and the car starts drifting into your lane(the guy is falling asleep at the wheel.. prolly drunk) do not try to sneak over into his lane and sneak by his car, even if there's nobody on that side of the road after his car.  What will happen, at the last second, the guy will open his eyes, see he's on the wrong side of the road, and instinctively steer back to the correct side of the road.  If you are trying to sneak by, he'll steer right into you.

All you can do in that case is slow down, stay on your side of the road, move over onto the shoulder if possible, and you can try beeping the horn incessantly.  He may wake up and correct his steering.

I've seen a guy try to "sneak by to the left" and the dude woke up and plowed him just like in the PSAs on TV.  Fortunately I was far enough away I didn't catch any shrapnel.