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Author Topic: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?  (Read 14,989 times)

Armando

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How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« on: September 27, 2009, 12:20 AM »
Hi everybody,
I have a few programs (like Outlook) which sometimes have multiple instances showing up in the task manager... against my will.
Are there any utility which could prevent that from happening ?
Thanks.
"I suppose it can be said that I'm an absent-minded driver. It's true that I've driven through a number of red lights on occasion, but on the other hand, I've stopped at a lot of green ones but never gotten credit for it."
Glenn Gould
« Last Edit: September 27, 2009, 01:26 AM by Armando »

majoMO

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2009, 03:57 AM »
I  tried Activate with Outlook and it worked well.

Armando

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2009, 04:52 AM »
Hey ! That was quick. It seems to work. Thanks  a lot.  :Thmbsup:
"I suppose it can be said that I'm an absent-minded driver. It's true that I've driven through a number of red lights on occasion, but on the other hand, I've stopped at a lot of green ones but never gotten credit for it."
Glenn Gould

tomos

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2009, 03:44 PM »
Havent tried this Armando but it also sounds like what you looking for
Skrommel's SingleInstance

Quote
Allow only one instance of a program to run.

Features:
- User defined programs.
- Option to detect hidden programs.
- Won't close instances started before SingleInstance.
Tom

Curt

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2009, 06:04 PM »
- this makes me ask if  Explorer is meant to run twice - the first one at startup, for the taskbar etcetera, and (later) the second one, for my folders (when I open them)??

Eóin

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2009, 07:21 PM »
Quote from: Curt on September 27, 2009, 06:04 PM
- this makes me ask if  Explorer is meant to run twice - the first one at startup, for the taskbar etcetera, and (later) the second one, for my folders (when I open them)??

That could happen if the "Launch folder windows in a separate process" option is checked under "Folder Options >> View"
Interviewer: Is there anything you don't like?
Bjarne Stroustrup: Marketing hype as a substitute for technical argument. Thoughtless adherence to dogma. Pride in ignorance.

Armando

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2009, 01:36 AM »
Quote from: tomos on September 27, 2009, 03:44 PM
Havent tried this Armando but it also sounds like what you looking for
Skrommel's SingleInstance

Quote
Allow only one instance of a program to run.

Features:
- User defined programs.
- Option to detect hidden programs.
- Won't close instances started before SingleInstance.

AH! this is exactly what I wanted. Thanks a lot Tomos !  :-*
"I suppose it can be said that I'm an absent-minded driver. It's true that I've driven through a number of red lights on occasion, but on the other hand, I've stopped at a lot of green ones but never gotten credit for it."
Glenn Gould

lanux128

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2009, 01:47 AM »
Skrommel is so far ahead that he makes software even before they are requested. :-* :Thmbsup:

Armando

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2009, 01:50 AM »
:) yup.
"I suppose it can be said that I'm an absent-minded driver. It's true that I've driven through a number of red lights on occasion, but on the other hand, I've stopped at a lot of green ones but never gotten credit for it."
Glenn Gould

Curt

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2009, 06:30 AM »
Quote from: Eóin on September 27, 2009, 07:21 PM
Quote from: Curt on September 27, 2009, 06:04 PM
- this makes me ask if  Explorer is meant to run twice
That could happen if the "Launch folder windows in a separate process" option is checked under "Folder Options >> View"

- of course! I forgot about that option; Thanks for reminding me ;-)

Armando

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2009, 06:37 AM »
Quote from: Armando on September 28, 2009, 01:36 AM
Quote from: tomos on September 27, 2009, 03:44 PM
Havent tried this Armando but it also sounds like what you looking for
Skrommel's SingleInstance

Quote
Allow only one instance of a program to run.

Features:
- User defined programs.
- Option to detect hidden programs.
- Won't close instances started before SingleInstance.

AH! this is exactly what I wanted. Thanks a lot Tomos !  :-*


Hmmmm... It works well, but uses a certain amount of CPU power which I'm not sure I'm willing to let go for such a small app.
"I suppose it can be said that I'm an absent-minded driver. It's true that I've driven through a number of red lights on occasion, but on the other hand, I've stopped at a lot of green ones but never gotten credit for it."
Glenn Gould

lanux128

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2009, 08:01 AM »
Quote from: Armando on September 28, 2009, 06:37 AM
Hmmmm... It works well, but uses a certain amount of CPU power which I'm not sure I'm willing to let go for such a small app.

how much CPU usage? if possible, get the non-compiled ahk as well and compare the cpu usage.

Armando

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2009, 03:21 PM »
Quote from: lanux128 on September 28, 2009, 08:01 AM
Quote from: Armando on September 28, 2009, 06:37 AM
Hmmmm... It works well, but uses a certain amount of CPU power which I'm not sure I'm willing to let go for such a small app.

how much CPU usage? if possible, get the non-compiled ahk as well and compare the cpu usage.

Thanks Lanux.
Not much, hovering between 2 and 4%, but still... My computer isn't that powerful, so any app that continuously take CPU resources is considered unfavourably... Unless it's a absolutely essential.
I'll try your suggestion. Thanks !
"I suppose it can be said that I'm an absent-minded driver. It's true that I've driven through a number of red lights on occasion, but on the other hand, I've stopped at a lot of green ones but never gotten credit for it."
Glenn Gould

majoMO

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #13 on: September 29, 2009, 06:26 PM »
Quote from: Armando on September 28, 2009, 06:37 AM
uses a certain amount of CPU power which I'm not sure I'm willing to let go for such a small app.
Same here. Too CPU usage and an uneeded and wasted background CPU usage.

I'm using Activate. It does the work to me.

Armando

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Re: How can I force a process to never start more than once (only one instance) ?
« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2009, 06:38 PM »
Yes... I might do some further testing with SingleInstance, but activate seems to work... until then.
"I suppose it can be said that I'm an absent-minded driver. It's true that I've driven through a number of red lights on occasion, but on the other hand, I've stopped at a lot of green ones but never gotten credit for it."
Glenn Gould
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