Author Topic: NANY 2012 RELEASE: Portable Extension Warlock (Read 112080 times)

hamradio · « **on:** September 06, 2011, 11:26 PM »

NANY 2012 Release Information

Application Name	Portable Extension Warlock
Version	2.2.0 build 1
Short Description	Build a launch file to launch files of certain types in certain applications skipping the system file associations.
Supported OSes	Tested on Windows 7 and 10 64 bit. (Let me know which other windows it works on.)
Web Page	Portable Extension Warlock
Download Link	Portable Extension Warlock
License	USE/MISUSE AT YOUR OWN RISK! NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND! Do not distribute!
System Requirements	.NET Framework 4.0 Obviously a computer...
Version History	"Version 2.x.x build x" 2.2.0 build 1 - Current Version 2.1.0 build 5 2.1.0 build 2 2.1.0 build 1 2.0.2 build 1 2.0.1 build 1 2.0.0 build 1 "Version 1.x.x build x" 1.0.5 build 1 1.0.2 build 0 1.0.1 build 12 1.0.0 build 73 1.0.0 build 1
Author	hamradio

Description
Build a launch file to launch files of certain types in certain applications skipping the system file associations. You should be able to use this as well on portable devices as long as the computer you intend to use it on has .NET 4.0. by using the DropZone that is included.

Features
Portable enabled.
Shows an open with menu when it detects you have more than one type of an extension in the launch file configuration.
You can also create application listings with specific command line arguments to do certain things for you when launching the file.

Screenshots

The launch file editor...

The DropZone with the built-in form skin.

The launcher when it has detected that you have multiple file extensions of the same type in the launch file configuration.

Usage

Installation
Extract to an application folder outside of the normal program files folder making sure to extract it with folder structure intact.

Using the Application
To act as a launcher for file types you specify from the launch file editor. For non flash drive you can add a shortcut in the SendTo folder of your system that points to the launcher. Then when you right click a file goto the Send To menu and select the shortcut to launch with the launcher. This also has the added benefit of not having to change file associations on the system. Currently to use from your flash drive or portable hard drive you would need to use the DropZone with the launcher and launch configuration file in the folder that the DropZone is.

DropZone Skins
Any png file with alpha transparency placed into the skins folder.

ac_arguments.dat
Feel free to edit that file in your favorite text editor for argument auto complete to show up when adding and/or editing an application. Note: One set of arguments per line.

Help File
Please note that the help file is not done.

Uninstallation
Just delete the application folder.

Known Issues
Currently do not know of any.

Deozaan · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2011, 11:11 AM »

Secret? That stinks!

hamradio · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2011, 09:23 PM »

Please note that while I have released an early beta I will not be around much for the next few days or so.

See first post for download link.

mouser · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2011, 09:27 PM »

Very cool!

I'm going to be adding support for pew into FARR.

Deozaan · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2011, 09:30 PM »

This does sound very useful for a portable apps drive.

capitalH · « **Reply #5 on:** September 08, 2011, 01:58 AM »

Cannot get DropZone to work.

PortableExtensionWarlock.exe works fine - added Notepad++
Launched DropZone - created the icon on my desktop
dragged a txt file on it - got the error message that "Could not be found" - does not say what could not be found

Windows XP SP3 , .Net4

hamradio · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2011, 03:00 AM »

Cannot get DropZone to work.

PortableExtensionWarlock.exe works fine - added Notepad++
Launched DropZone - created the icon on my desktop
dragged a txt file on it - got the error message that "Could not be found" - does not say what could not be found

Windows XP SP3 , .Net4
-capitalH (September 08, 2011, 01:58 AM)

Sounds like it is having trouble finding the application at the path you entered that will handle the txt file. You can download it again the version hasn't changed but I uploaded one that changed the area I think it is to tell you what couldn't be found. So you might try that and report back.

jgpaiva · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2011, 07:58 AM »

Not sure if you are aware, but xyplorer has something similar to this: portable file associations.
It has a ton of features which may serve as inspirations for the future development of PEW

kyrathaba · « **Reply #8 on:** September 10, 2011, 08:09 AM »

Great program, hamradio!!

thomasp67 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2011, 05:22 PM »

I'm Having the same issue as capitalH, its not an issue with finding the application as the correct icon is displayed for that application. It seems to me like PEW_DropZone.exe is not finding PEW_Launch.exe. When I drag a file onto PEW_Launch.exe it works perfectly.

hamradio · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2011, 05:49 PM »

Is the PEW_DropZone.exe in the same directory as the PEW_Launch.exe?

Does it popup a messagebox saying...

---------------------------
Error!
---------------------------
PEW_Launch.exe was not found in the dropzone folder.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

(Ctrl + Copy) on a message box will copy the contents of it. If it is different than that then let me know a little more on what it says so that I can track it down.

thomasp67 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2011, 05:55 PM »

Yes, both files are in the same folder. The error is as follows:-

---------------------------
Error!
---------------------------
was not found in the dropzone folder.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

I don't know if it makes any difference but here's the PEW_DropZone.xml file, is the <LauncherApplication /> node supposed to be empty?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>


<Settings>
<WindowTop>931</WindowTop>
<WindowLeft>1587</WindowLeft>
<WindowSkinImage>{0af8c8c7-f98a-4910-841b-3c789eda30ae}</WindowSkinImage>
<LauncherApplication />
</Settings>

hamradio · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2011, 06:00 PM »

Yes, both files are in the same folder. I don't know if it makes any difference but here's the PEW_DropZone.xml file, is the <LauncherApplication /> node supposed to be empty?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>


<Settings>
<WindowTop>931</WindowTop>
<WindowLeft>1587</WindowLeft>
<WindowSkinImage>{0af8c8c7-f98a-4910-841b-3c789eda30ae}</WindowSkinImage>
<LauncherApplication />
</Settings>
-thomasp67 (October 05, 2011, 05:55 PM)

No and that is a clue try changing it to: <LauncherApplication>PEW_Launch.exe</LauncherApplication>

If that works I may need you to test a solution when I figure out why it is not writing that setting for you. Let me know please.

Actually try downloading it again from same place and make sure the modified date of the DropZone is 10/05/2011. If it is try that version for me and see if I have corrected the issue.

thomasp67 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 05, 2011, 06:14 PM »

Thats fixed it, I'll let you know if it changes back.

I downloaded and extracted again and opened PEW_DropZone.exe and the xml it generates does the same thing.

Great program by the way, thanks.

hamradio · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2011, 06:17 PM »

Thats fixed it, I'll let you know if it changes back.

I downloaded and extracted again and opened PEW_DropZone.exe and the xml it generates does the same thing.

Great program by the way, thanks.
-thomasp67 (October 05, 2011, 06:14 PM)

Oops added the wrong test file into the download please redownload. Then it should be fixed for good.

And a big thanks to you for working with me to help get a better handle on it. The first was a little broad and couldn't find it.

thomasp67 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 05, 2011, 06:37 PM »

Glad to help.

hamradio · « **Reply #16 on:** October 06, 2011, 07:06 PM »

Development notes on some stuff here...seeing as how last night was only a temporary fix I have converted all the previous xml code over to a serialization routine that will hopefully ensure it does what it is suppose to from now on.

A small update sometime in the next week perhaps.

hamradio · « **Reply #17 on:** October 07, 2011, 03:32 PM »

EARLY BETA RELEASE #2: (from Version 1.0.0.1 to Version 1.0.0.73)

1. DropZone was not loading/saving the LauncherApplication setting under certain circumstances should be fixed.
2. Fixed the backup save routine to where it should now display the right month and year of the older launch file backups.
3. DropZone settings now use the same backup routine as the launch files.

See first post for download link or use the built-in update checker button to open in the default browser the download url which will allow you to save it.

Enjoy!

kyrathaba · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2011, 07:53 AM »

Nice!

panzer · « **Reply #19 on:** November 20, 2011, 01:54 PM »

Looks OK, but the public comp I often use ~~does not have .NET installed~~.

Update: I tried PEW on that comp and works fine. It appears that .NET is installed after all.

kyrathaba · « **Reply #20 on:** November 20, 2011, 03:32 PM »

Looks OK, but the public comp I often use does not have .NET installed.

Unfortunately, there's not really anything that can be done about this. Even those few companies that purport to offer software that obviates the need for the .NET runtimes don't really succeed, except in the simplest programs having relatively few assemblies. Even in such cases, the software to produce such standalone .NET apps is usually prohibitively expensive for the hobbyist .NET programmer.

Your best bet is to ask the admin of the public PC to install the .NET runtimes. However, they may not be willing to install them, because then anyone who walked in with a .NET app could run it on the machine, and who knows what nefarious executables might get executed on the public PC?

fenixproductions · « **Reply #21 on:** November 20, 2011, 06:41 PM »

Looks OK, but the public comp I often use does not have .NET installed.

Unfortunately, there's not really anything that can be done about this.
-kyrathaba (November 20, 2011, 03:32 PM)

Although .NET framework is still needed, it would be nice to see if this requirement can be lowered a bit with framework version number.
Maybe this application does not utilize full potential of .NET 4.0 or even 3.0 and can require 2.0 only (or better: separate EXE files for 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 if it is possible).

The reason behind this suggestion: I saw few public computers with .NET 2.0 available thanks to ATI Catalyst Control Center.

wraith808 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 20, 2011, 07:32 PM »

Looks OK, but the public comp I often use does not have .NET installed.

Unfortunately, there's not really anything that can be done about this.
-kyrathaba (November 20, 2011, 03:32 PM)

Although .NET framework is still needed, it would be nice to see if this requirement can be lowered a bit with framework version number.
Maybe this application does not utilize full potential of .NET 4.0 or even 3.0 and can require 2.0 only (or better: separate EXE files for 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 if it is possible).

The reason behind this suggestion: I saw few public computers with .NET 2.0 available thanks to ATI Catalyst Control Center.
-fenixproductions (November 20, 2011, 06:41 PM)

Speaking as a .NET programmer, it's not just the potential, it's the way you program. I look back to even .NET 3.5 with trepidation, because a lot of the constructs that I use now wouldn't work. It's the same way as WPF vs WinForms... I could go back, but it would be a major adjustment. A lot of people think it's just feature set or bells and whistles, but it's not as simple as that IMO.

kyrathaba · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2011, 05:35 PM »

I look back to even .NET 3.5 with trepidation, because a lot of the constructs that I use now wouldn't work.

True. The saving grace, IMHO, is that 99% of code can be up-converted to a higher edition of .NET painlessly.

Update: I tried PEW on that comp and works fine. It appears that .NET is installed after all.

@panzer: Good deal!

hamradio · « **Reply #24 on:** December 27, 2011, 04:20 PM »

GENERAL UPDATE:
1. Very few changes.

See first post for download link.