Explorer replacement?

[robin_joe]

I'm a new user of XYPlorer and would like to use it to fully replace Windows Explorer. When I press Windows Key-E to launch Explorer, I'd like XYPlorer to come up instead. How can I accomplish this?

Thanks!

Joe N9OK

[j_c_hallgren]

I'm a new user of XYPlorer and would like to use it to fully replace Windows Explorer.

Hi and welcome to the XY forums!

I'd point you to http://www.xyplorer.com/faq.php item #1 for a start to this...
But be aware that you just cannot fully replace WE because, being a M$ product, it has some special abilities that any non-M$ FM can't access or do...and I believe that Win+E is one of those things...there's been prior threads about this and i'd suggest/request you always attempt to do a forum search first before beginning a new thread in future.

Many of us just leave XY active all the time so the need for a special key combo to start XY is avoided.

There is a 'tweak' available that also relates:

Code: Select all

; Tweak: one char (A-Z, 0-9) used for hotkey Win+[ ] to show app
HotKeyShowApp=X

Which I've set so that Win+X = XY
See this http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3543 for 'how to tweak'.

Update; A couple of prior threads about same topic:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic. ... it=win+key
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7700
and this which says some of what i said above: http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=668

[admin]

There is a 'tweak' available that also relates:

Code: Select all

; Tweak: one char (A-Z, 0-9) used for hotkey Win+[ ] to show app
HotKeyShowApp=X

Which I've set so that Win+X = XY

Yes, but this will only show the XY window if it's minimized or in the back. It will not start XYplorer. For that (e.g. Win+E) you would have to change the registry, and I don't know in which way. Does anybody know?

[j_c_hallgren]

Yes, but this will only show the XY window if it's minimized or in the back. It will not start XYplorer.

Agreed and that's why I said it only relates and that best is to just keep XY active to avoid having to start it.

For that (e.g. Win+E) you would have to change the registry, and I don't know in which way. Does anybody know?

I'm not aware that anyone here ever solved that and thus suspect it's buried internally in Windows.

[Borut]

It will not start XYplorer. For that (e.g. Win+E) you would have to change the registry, and I don't know in which way. Does anybody know?

Here is an explanation about how a free open-source helper tool AutoHotkey could be used to achieve that (i.e. not by changing the registry but most probably by intercepting the key combination):

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window ... -want/1188

However, I have not tried that myself.

[stayer]

You can simply download AutoHotKey, create new ahk script (text file with .ahk extension), paste this code, save anr run it. I use it everyday for several applications.

Remeber to change path to your xyplorer in first line.

Code: Select all

#e::RunOrActivate("Full/relative path to your xyplorer") 

; =========================================================================== 
; Run a program or switch to it if already running. 
;    Target - Program to run. E.g. Calc.exe or C:\Progs\Bobo.exe 
;    WinTitle - Optional title of the window to activate.  Programs like 
;       MS Outlook might have multiple windows open (main window and email 
;       windows).  This parm allows activating a specific window. 
; =========================================================================== 
RunOrActivate(Target, WinTitle = "") 
{ 
   ; Get the filename without a path 
   SplitPath, Target, TargetNameOnly 

   Process, Exist, %TargetNameOnly% 
   If ErrorLevel > 0 
      PID = %ErrorLevel% 
   Else 
      Run, %Target%, , , PID 

   ; At least one app (Seapine TestTrack wouldn't always become the active 
   ; window after using Run), so we always force a window activate. 
   ; Activate by title if given, otherwise use PID. 
   If WinTitle <> 
   { 
      SetTitleMatchMode, 2 
      WinWait, %WinTitle%, , 3 
      TrayTip, , Activating Window Title "%WinTitle%" (%TargetNameOnly%) 
      WinActivate, %WinTitle% 
   } 
   Else 
   { 
      WinWait, ahk_pid %PID%, , 3 
      TrayTip, , Activating PID %PID% (%TargetNameOnly%) 
      WinActivate, ahk_pid %PID% 
   } 
} 

If You want to add other apps, duplicate first line and customize it with your shortcut and path.

Quick guide:
# - Win Key
^ - Control Key
! - Alt Key
+ - Shift Key

^+c = Ctrl+Shift+c
^#z = Ctrl+Win+z
etc...

I use few AutoHotKey scripts and many hotkeys all the time. It's as great as XYplorer


Above script may not work properly if XY help is opened but can be easily customized to your needs.

[cadu]

You can place XY in task bar. Then:

[Win+1...9=> Switch to application in position N on taskbar (or launch pinned application)]

I have XY in place 1! Also, this shortcut is useful to fast restore XY whether you are in other application.

Other tips about Windows shortcut in=> http://www.shortcutworld.com/en/win/Windows_7.html

[prino]

Right click on XY's desktop icon, click properties, and assign your own shortcut key combination. Ctrl-Shift-X (on a UK keyboard) is my shortcut.

[Twisten]

It might be worth noting that it will only work if you set the keyboard combo in the properties of a desktop or start-menu shortcut.

Edit:
Meaning it will only launch XYplorer if the shortcut is in those locations, if its already running it'll work to switch to it.
Unless the shortcut is in the quick launch toolbar.