feature idea : "dynamic aliases"

[nitrix-ud]

hi mouser,

i can't let go this idea... (already suggested a few times)

i really really miss the possibility to create dynamic alias...

for instance, you work on a particular project, that project has folder shortcuts, internet favorites, code snippets, etc.
one cannot have aliases that will work on that particular project dynamically... one cannot create a dosearch alias with a changing folder search...

dosearch +searchfolder
you cannot change the path of +searchfolder... dynamically without going into FARR's options
even if you change the FindAndRunRobot.ini file, it does not work right away, it works after restarting FARR

i personnaly use FARR as a top layer in my workflow, i work on more that 150 projects
i switch from one to another using FARR with just a few keystrokes (by indexing autohotkey files, each one of them corresponding to a particular project, you run one, the current project is set)

when switching from one project to another (within 1 or 2 seconds <= i insist), i'd like to have some alias switching too (within that same 1 second !)

i guess there are many ways to do it
maybe it should be done through command-line ?

FindAndRunRobot.exe -changealias aliasname=dosearch c:\_snippets\projectname\ +open_snippets -alias -.ini +. $$2
FindAndRunRobot.exe -changesearchfolder folderkeyword=c:\newpath (not sure about this one, since keyword are optionnal, and you can have more than one...)

-changealias would change the alias AND "reload" it

then we can imagine -addalias, -deletealias

that would be so great, so many uses... 

[mouser]

this seems pretty strange and a lot of work for something im not sure anyone else on planet besides you would use 

perhaps there is another way to do the kind of thing you are interested in, in a simpler or more general way?  some other way to implement some kind of dynamic aliases..

[nitrix-ud]

this seems pretty strange

i guess my english is not good enough  since this request seems just natural to me ! not even close to fancy 

other ways to do it ...     ok... let's try...

1) let's say i'm gonna change FindAndRunRobot.ini manually (i don't like that ... modifying .ini file duh)
could you add a command-line switch to reload the FindAndRunRobot.ini file ?

• -standalone = start FARR visible and in taskbar, and exit on close of window
  
• -search "search string" = start FARR visible (or bring up any running copy) and start a search
  
• -show = start FARR visible (or bring up any running copy)
  
• -exit = exit any running copy of FARR
  
• NEW! -reload = reload FARR ini file without bringing up FARR

2) better option in my opinion, i already asked for this many many times
please allow to configure the results of an alias in an external text file...
that is :
instead of having :
Music album search $$1 | dosearch -alias +folder_music +open_winamp +\ $$1
give the possibility to specify a text file :
c:\pathtofile...\result.txt

where result.txt is :
Music album search $$1 | dosearch -alias +folder_music +open_winamp +\ $$1

now an external program can change the result.txt file with much ease...

this has many applications : changing the action keyword, the folder to search, etc.

or you can just use that to quickly add an item in an alias without opening FARR
imagine a list of web favorite...

more core functions = more power !!

cheers, nitrix

[nitrix-ud]

just a few thoughts, i think it is natural to be able to have "dynamic aliases"
because it is so powerful to have contextual aliases !

depending on the project you are working on... depending on which browser is your current default (same for the music player...)
depending on the keyword layout, depending on the current date, etc.

[mouser]

give the possibility to specify a text file: c:\pathtofile...\result.txt

this i could do.

[nitrix-ud]

this i could do.

as long as it is "refreshed" everytime it is triggered that would be wonderful