Author Topic: DONE: Organize the Taskbar, organize the System Tray (Read 54,602 times)

gadlen · « **on:** April 20, 2006, 01:05 AM »

Wouldn't it be nice if you always knew the order of the items in the Windows Taskbar?

The program (let's call it TaskbarOrganizer) would specify the order in which the taskbar items appear. Possibly something like this:
All icons in TaskbarOrganizer's list will appear to the left of / before any other icon. When a program in TaskbarOrganizer's list is started, it pushes the taskbar icon for other programs to the right to make way for it. Items in the list have a user specified order, for example: 1-Notepad.exe, 2-Calc.exe, 3-Firefox.

The benefit would be that you'd always know where to look for your favorite programs in the taskbar when they are running. No more hunting the bottom of the screen!

--------------------------------------------------
Similarly, wouldn't it be nice if you always knew the order of the items in the Windows System Tray?
yada yada yada...

SexyLilDarkPaw · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2006, 02:33 AM »

Hey Gadlen,

It seems someone else has shared your frustrations. You might be interested in Mike Lin's Taskbar Commander.
I am not sure of DonationCoder's forum policies so, the author's site is www.mlin.net,

and the direct link is:
hxxp://www.mlin.net/files/TaskbarCommander.zip

As for the tray organization I don't recall anything like that. It maybe the code snack

Hopefully TaskbarCommander is what you were looking for

ttyl Felicia

lanux128 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2006, 06:49 AM »

i would like to add to the list...

Taskbar Organizer
Taskbar++ - page in Japanese (use google or babelfish to translate)

as for tray utilities, there's a mini-review here...

jgpaiva · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2006, 08:57 AM »

I have Taskbar Organizer, and it works very well, does exactlly what you're looking for

As for the tray managers, maybe you should see this thread which has the relevant links to everything talked about this matter on DC.

[edit]Actually, taksbar organizer doesn't allow you to specify a place of the windows to be opened, only relocate the windows on the taskbar. Still, it's pretty good

.
As for the tray, i think that there are a few apps mentioned in a few places on DC that allow you to do exactly that.[/edit]

Btw... Welcome to DC, gadlen!

noth(a)nk.you · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2006, 10:36 PM »

Having just tried the other three utilities listed here, I'm still liking Elias Fotinis' TaskArrange (TA) for this. Here's a screenshot (stolen):

The thing that sets TA apart from the others (for me) is that it takes advantage of XP's taskbar grouping (note the trees in the screenshot).

For what it's worth, I also think it's prettier than both Taskbar Organizer and Taskbar Commander. And, while Taskbar++ seems like a _neat_ idea, I couldn't get it to work on my machine (XPProSP2) and it requires that taskbar grouping is shut off

.

I don't use it very often, but I think it's great when I do.

Rover · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2006, 11:00 PM »

So what does TA look like when it's running? Can you give us a shot of that?

-- Obviously too lazy to try it myself

lanux128 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:46 AM »

i had this app on my hard-disk for some time, quite useful for a one-off changing of tray icons' position. i can't remember the source, so if anyone knows feel free to add the web-site's address. i'm also attaching the zip file.

Edited by brotherS:
Here's the URL: http://www.codeproject.com/tools/ShellTrayInfo.asp
(Guess what? First result when I googled for the program name

)

Shell Tray Info 1.0

ShellTrayInfo.png (21.5 KB)

mouser · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2006, 10:10 AM »

just wanted to post this link again to make sure no one misses it, where related programs were discussed previously:

http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=2507.0

noth(a)nk.you · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2006, 04:54 PM »

Quote from: Rover on April 20, 2006, 11:00 PM

So what does TA look like when it's running?

When you run the program, it'll look very similar to that above.

Actually sorting the entries, starting with something like

Note that it is possible to rearrange what's inside each group

and anything else on the taskbar

AFAIK, though, it is not possible to insert a program into the middle of a group (e.g. Firefox between ~Newest and Apps).

brotherS · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2006, 06:48 PM »

Quote from: gadlen on April 20, 2006, 01:05 AM

Wouldn't it be nice if you always knew the order of the items in the Windows Taskbar?

I'm using a vertical taskbar at the left side of my desktop (which has several benefits) and like the standard that Windows 2000 offers here: the oldest ones at the top, the newest at the bottom.

I also tend to remember what I have opened.

I thought about using a tool for hiding tray icons though... with 20+ icons it DOES become cluttered

Still need to find something that's 100% bugfree for Windows 2000 though...

gadlen · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2006, 06:50 PM »

I've been using Taskbar++ for a few days now and I like it a lot. Since some people have had trouble using it, here's how:

Start it up (put it in the Startup group)

To rearrange items:
- move the cursor to the task bar
- Hold down the Alt key for 2 seconds until the task bar items change in appearance
- While holding the Alt key, Drag and drop task bar items as you see fit.

The program doesn't remember the changes you've made for the next time you start up... it just rearranges things

Now that I've got a good Task bar manager, I'll look into all the good suggestions you guys have had for a system tray manager. :-)

Lee
http://lee.org

app103 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2006, 06:07 PM »

You know, I was just about to suggest something similar. I would love something that will allow me to drag & drop a taskbar button from a running app to a new position....on the taskbar itself.

I won't remember to open some window from my tray to do it, so it has to act like a taskbar feature. This Taskbar++ looks just like what I wanted.

I keep my taskbar on the side too...but the right side and on autohide (it's HUGE!). It's more mentally ergonomic to have your start button on the same side as you keep your mouse.

jgpaiva · « **Reply #12 on:** April 27, 2006, 06:21 PM »

I think taskbar++ is a great idea. I just don't like the fact that you have to press one key on the keyboard AND wait a bit before you move the taskbar buttons. I also don't quite like the redraw after you release the button (although that has to be done :S).
I think i'd find it very useful, if it wasn't for the fact that it's not very practical, having to press a button and wait 2 seconds is a bit too slow for me.

app103 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 27, 2006, 06:48 PM »

I just tried Taskbar++ and I think it's awsome...just what I wanted.

Having to hold down the alt key means that you won't be moving taskbar buttons by mistake...and having to wait a sec or 2 means that if you didn't intend to activate it, you have time to do whatever you did hold the alt key down for....such as to create a special character with an alt code...and you just happen to have the cursor over the taskbar by mistake.

Patience dude...moving them is better than not moving them at all, in my opinion.

I haven't had a prob with the redraw, but then again, this pc is pretty fast so I don't even notice it.

noth(a)nk.you · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2006, 07:02 PM »

Lifehacker today mentioned Taskbar Shuffle:

Quote from: Lifehacker

Very similar to ... Taskbar++, but it looks to be a bit more simple to use.

edit: Just installed the program--works exactly as it should. Check it out.

lanux128 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 19, 2006, 05:50 AM »

introducing TaskbarEx, a freeware that combines functions of both: Taskbar Shuffle and Visual Task Tips.

Rearrange buttons:

Preview:

nudone · « **Reply #16 on:** May 19, 2006, 06:27 AM »

that 'TaskbarEx' is pretty amazing. love the way you can drag the buttons onto the desktop. great find, lanux128.

jgpaiva · « **Reply #17 on:** May 19, 2006, 11:07 AM »

Quote from: lanux128 on May 19, 2006, 05:50 AM

introducing TaskbarEx, a freeware that combines functions of both: Taskbar Shuffle and Visual Task Tips.

This is the stuff! Just perfec, lanux! Thanks

jgpaiva · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2006, 11:53 PM »

I'm just checking in as i've been using taskbarex since my last post, and i'm quite happy with it!
Even though i don't have much need for such app, this one works just perfectly, and is much better than any of the ones mentioned in this thread! (not that the other ones aren't good, but taskbarEX, really is quite a good peice of code

)
This one has my seal of approval

DesertEagle · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2006, 08:48 PM »

You may also try JetStart http://www.codesector.com/jetstart.asp. In the recent version was added ability to reorder taskbar buttons with simple drag and drop.

Mizraim · « **Reply #20 on:** December 14, 2006, 02:01 PM »

I tried to Download lanux128 link to TaskbarEX but when I clicked on the 1.3 link I got the following message.

PK

I waited to see if a download dialog would spawn, but nothing happened. Any help?

Darwin · « **Reply #21 on:** December 14, 2006, 03:56 PM »

I just spent a fruitless 20 minutes trying to find an alternative download link. The pages I *could* read say the file has been removed. The Japanese and Chinese sites throw up "This program cannot display the webpage" in IE7/Maxthon 1.59 and Firefox 2 just sits there. Seems like it's gone!

FWIW, I'm using ButtonBoogie 2.1 by PCMag - it does all that I want it to. I can't comment on resource usage, because I've never been able to find it in TaskManager!

jgpaiva · « **Reply #22 on:** December 14, 2006, 04:46 PM »

Oh, that's not good to know. TaskbarEx is pretty good, possibly the best in it's job.
I still have the program's installer (zip), for anyone interested.

Mizraim · « **Reply #23 on:** December 14, 2006, 05:53 PM »

Quote from: jgpaiva on December 14, 2006, 04:46 PM

Oh, that's not good to know. TaskbarEx is pretty good, possibly the best in it's job.
I still have the program's installer (zip), for anyone interested.

I am interested jgpaiva.

CodeTRUCKER · « **Reply #24 on:** December 14, 2006, 06:14 PM »

Me too!