Author Topic: How do you launch stuff? (Read 122086 times)

sri · « **on:** September 19, 2007, 01:22 AM »

Off late, I've been researching on several ways to launch programs/files/folders/web sites.

I've tried

a) adding a menu in DOpus but realized that I have to switch to its window and click on the menu to get to the items

b)
1) Added a menu in PhraseExpress and set a hotkey ctrl+M to bring up the menu. I still have to press a hot key to bring up the menu
2) Similar hotkey menu activation using PS Hot Launch (better than DOpus method because the individual items automatically get a letter by which they can be selected)

c) Launchy, FARR etc.: I have to press a key like Alt+space to bring up the floating command line. Of course this method has the added advantage that you need not manually add items to the menu as they get auto picked from Program Files.

d) LaunchOnFly: This brings up the menu simply by moving mouse to one of the 4 screen edges or corners. Excellent! Here are some screens:

I'm using the last free version which can be downloaded from here.

Are there any similar better free programs that brings up a menu by simply mousing over a region of the screen?

How about you? What do you use?

TucknDar · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2007, 01:59 AM »

I use FARR, LaunchBarCommander and some shortcuts in my LiteStep theme. I've also got quite a few hotkeys configured (in an AHK script) to launch at least the most used apps (WIN+E = Total Commander, WIN+N = metapad, WIN+T = notepad++, etc...).

jgpaiva · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2007, 03:20 AM »

I only have 4 methods to launch stuff:

Farr (this is the one i use 99% of the time)
QuickLaunch bar (i use this when i don't feel like using the mouse)
AHK shortcuts (after i've launched my main ahk script through one of the above methods)
XYplorer (to launch files which i can't remember their location)

icekin · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2007, 03:32 AM »

I use

Launchy

Stroke it

Panekiller (CTRL + right click anywhere to get start menu)

yksyks · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2007, 05:39 AM »

I created a dozens of single-key shortcuts for the main applications (using Hotkeyz), for the not so frequented apps I'm using FARR and the rest including command-line driven apps I'm starting from within ZTreeWin. Not a single icon on desktop, no Quick Launch toolbar. For me very efficient setup.

rjbull · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2007, 05:48 AM »

Are there any similar better free programs that brings up a menu by simply mousing over a region of the screen?
-sri (September 19, 2007, 01:22 AM)

PowerPro can do that (amongst an astronomical number of other things), depending on how you set it up.

PhilB66 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2007, 07:46 AM »

I use QuickMenu (see https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=9627.0) and MenuMaker (plugin for Samurize).

edbro · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2007, 07:59 AM »

1. Powerpro hotkeys & mouse assignments
2. Powerpro built toolbar.
3. Start menu
4. FARR

rjbull · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2007, 08:38 AM »

PopSel and Qsel, freeware by Horst Schaeffer.

tomos · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2007, 11:21 AM »

of course then there's Vista Start Menu which is keyboard friendly

Armando · « **Reply #10 on:** September 19, 2007, 11:31 AM »

Farr almost exclusively. Easier, and overall quicker than any other solution (except for the other similar solutions, like Launchy, etc.). I've timed myself.
Sometimes i'll use the start menu -- to start farr if I had to close it for some reasons.

ljbirns · « **Reply #11 on:** September 19, 2007, 12:38 PM »

Direct Acess for programs I use often every day
FARR for programs I use occasionally and for programs I know I have but don't always know where

scancode · « **Reply #12 on:** September 19, 2007, 12:40 PM »

for RL things... I tend to use rocket fuel to launch them;
for software... I use bbLean and the hotkey plugins :]

Nighted · « **Reply #13 on:** September 19, 2007, 02:04 PM »

SLICKRUN!!!!!!!

nitrix-ud · « **Reply #14 on:** September 19, 2007, 02:17 PM »

FARR and autohotkey
because it is much much faster than anything else

Curt · « **Reply #15 on:** September 19, 2007, 04:09 PM »

SLICKRUN!!!!!!!
-Nighted (September 19, 2007, 02:04 PM)

Stable or Beta ?

"floating" - what about showing us a screenshot ??

Curt · « **Reply #16 on:** September 19, 2007, 04:27 PM »

I can only remember a few hotkeys and I very often cannot remember the name of the program I want to use, when I want to use it, so all these "click, type 2 or 3 letters, and hit enter" programs are not for me.

But I can visualize where the link to the program is placed, and how it looks, so I have almost every program represented in True Launch Bar, Rocket Dock, PS Tray Factory, PS Hot Folders (and apps), and in the Maxthon toolbar. In Firefox I use Launchy. And when my PC is ztable I also have a lot of favourite apps linked in Explorer > QT TabBar.

It really is a very fast way of launching. I NEVER go to Windows' standard Start > All Programs, but I do have TidyStartMeny and VistaStartMenu installed - but as I said, I never go there.

Dirhael · « **Reply #17 on:** September 19, 2007, 05:03 PM »

Here's what I have running currently:

* FARR
* Enso
* Direct Access
* True Launch Bar
* Objectdock+
-- And when the next update is out, I'll start running Dash Command again as well.

Yes, I know that I use to many application launchers for my own good…but I love them all and can't really see myself removing any of them

edbro · « **Reply #18 on:** September 19, 2007, 05:15 PM »

Here's what I have running currently:

* FARR
* Enso
* Direct Access
* True Launch Bar
* Objectdock+
-- And when the next update is out, I'll start running Dash Command again as well.

Yes, I know that I use to many application launchers for my own good…but I love them all and can't really see myself removing any of them
-Dirhael (September 19, 2007, 05:03 PM)

Dash and FARR together??? Seems odd.

I gave Dash a good try, even buying the license. But, it is no where near ready for primetime. After using it I realized that it didn't do anything that FARR couldn't do and FARR was more mature (even if Mouser won't do a public release

)

Dirhael · « **Reply #19 on:** September 19, 2007, 05:28 PM »

Here's what I have running currently:

* FARR
* Enso
* Direct Access
* True Launch Bar
* Objectdock+
-- And when the next update is out, I'll start running Dash Command again as well.

Yes, I know that I use to many application launchers for my own good…but I love them all and can't really see myself removing any of them
-Dirhael (September 19, 2007, 05:03 PM)

Dash and FARR together??? Seems odd.

I gave Dash a good try, even buying the license. But, it is no where near ready for primetime. After using it I realized that it didn't do anything that FARR couldn't do and FARR was more mature (even if Mouser won't do a public release )
-edbro (September 19, 2007, 05:15 PM)

Hehe, see the problem is that I just can't decide which of them to use. I mean, I like both programs and when the next Dash update comes out and solves the problem with it not removing old outdated shortcuts it should be ready for everyday use (for me at least), but at the same time...I love the real-time updating of FARR. On the other hand, I wouldn't dare even attempting having FARR index all of my music and movie folders, something I can do with Dash seeing as it uses an index. Gah, the problems of having a choice

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9574/panicbyzacthetoadlz7.gif

How do you launch stuff?

Darwin · « **Reply #20 on:** September 19, 2007, 05:34 PM »

Direct Acess for programs I use often every day
FARR for programs I use occasionally and for programs I know I have but don't always know where
-ljbirns (September 19, 2007, 12:38 PM)

Ditto. This is getting repetitive as I've had to say "ditto" about using the same workflow as ljburns in a different thread on the FARR boards

Armando · « **Reply #21 on:** September 19, 2007, 05:59 PM »

Direct Acess for programs I use often every day
FARR for programs I use occasionally and for programs I know I have but don't always know where
-ljbirns (September 19, 2007, 12:38 PM)
Ditto. This is getting repetitive as I've had to say "ditto" about using the same workflow as ljburns in a different thread on the FARR boards
-Darwin (September 19, 2007, 05:34 PM)

But can't you guys create specific aliases (or boost scores) in farr for those apps you use everyday? How is Direct Access more convenient?

Darwin · « **Reply #22 on:** September 19, 2007, 06:45 PM »

To be honest Armando, the thing I like most about DirectAccess (and to a lesser degree ActiveWords) is the ability to simply type an abbreviation, word or phrase followed by a trigger and having a file or a program open up (or boilerplate text inserted, etc.). It all happens in the complete absence of a programme interface. It might just be the gee whiz, neato factor, but I've been using this type of launcher for three or four years and still love it...

A contributing factor is simply the fact that I bought ActiveWords a long time before I discovered FARR and got used to working like this. I *should* try running with FARR only. Darn it! I will... I expect I'll fall back into this pattern because it's very comfortable and I am sentimental - I paid for DA so want to use it! I've also gotten used to using it and like it... For a long time, as an aside, I couldn't get the FARR alpha to work (it does so now, brilliantly) which is one reason I turned to DA from AW.

Darwin · « **Reply #23 on:** September 19, 2007, 06:48 PM »

PS Just noticed dirhael's post above - he hit's the nail on the head for me with:

Hehe, see the problem is that I just can't decide which of them to use. I mean, I like both programs...

About sums it up for me. Every so often I still fire up ActiveWords as well...

Sue me! I'm a software junkie

Armando · « **Reply #24 on:** September 19, 2007, 06:50 PM »

[...]the gee whiz, neato factor [...]
[...] it's very comfortable and I am sentimental [...]
-Darwin (September 19, 2007, 06:45 PM)

These are good reasons ! Even a scientific like you needs to satisfy these needs.