I would like a launch bar

subnet99 · Post by **subnet99** » 31 Jan 2007 14:33

This would be a menu that you could add applications to and when you drag and drop a file on the application in the menu it would open with that app.

Post by **j_c_hallgren** » 31 Jan 2007 15:51

Why wouldn't you simply right-click (or use Context key) on the file and use the existing Windows "Open With" function?

I don't get it...

As that retains all the alternate choices that you've made for that file type...in case the default one for "Open" is not the desired one...

subnet99 · Post by **subnet99** » 31 Jan 2007 16:48

j_c_hallgren wrote:Why wouldn't you simply right-click (or use Context key) on the file and use the existing Windows "Open With" function? I don't get it...
As that retains all the alternate choices that you've made for that file type...in case the default one for "Open" is not the desired one...

Well it could be that I just don't know of a better way in Windows, so I might be the one that doesn't get it

but speed is the main reason....

Not sure what the "Context key" is so I may be missing something here. If you have a handful of favorite apps on the launch bar then you can just drag and drop any file on one of those apps. This is especially handy if the file is registered with another program but you want to open it with an alternate application.

Post by **j_c_hallgren** » 31 Jan 2007 17:06

I'd forgotten about the Context Menu key (I think that's the right name) as it's located in an odd place on my laptop...it's the special key usually located at right side of space bar...has a icon like a list with an arrow pointing into it...

Anyway, re speed...I think right-clicking and then moving pointer to selected entry is quicker than dragging file to launch as distance is much usually less, and overhead may be a bit less also...

lukescammell · Post by **lukescammell** » 31 Jan 2007 17:10

Or, buy a 2nd screen and have XY on one maximised and the other app on the other, again maxed, and drag and drop like that

jacky · Post by **jacky** » 31 Jan 2007 18:01

I'm not really in for a new "menu/launchbar", but I really see how drag&dropping onto an "application link" could have its benefit. Speed is one of them indeed, and the alternative jc mentionned is not always fast(er) for a few reasons, such as the ctxt menu can take a while to load according to file type and the associated apps that adds themself into this ctxt menu, or the "Open with" needs to have the app you wanna use inthe list, and that is: 1/ a mess to deal with, IMHO, and 2/ registry-based, aka. not portable.
Besides I'm not sure it'd work fine with more than one file at a time.

As I've said before (it's on my list

) having the ability to drop files onto Catalog items of type file:/// would be a really cool thing. So for example whatever the file (type/extension) is, I can drop in onto Editpad to open it up. Or many of them at once for that matter...

Post by **admin** » 31 Jan 2007 18:17

jacky wrote:I'm not really in for a new "menu/launchbar", but I really see how drag&dropping onto an "application link" could have its benefit. Speed is one of them indeed, and the alternative jc mentionned is not always fast(er) for a few reasons, such as the ctxt menu can take a while to load according to file type and the associated apps that adds themself into this ctxt menu, or the "Open with" needs to have the app you wanna use inthe list, and that is: 1/ a mess to deal with, IMHO, and 2/ registry-based, aka. not portable.
Besides I'm not sure it'd work fine with more than one file at a time.

As I've said before (it's on my list ) having the ability to drop files onto Catalog items of type file:/// would be a really cool thing. So for example whatever the file (type/extension) is, I can drop in onto Editpad to open it up. Or many of them at once for that matter...

What you describe here is my plan exactly. Actually any items with the extension EXE could be made to drop targets. Presupposed is that the application accepts the file(s) to open as command line parameter. I'm not sure currently if that is always the case and how to find out.

jacky · Post by **jacky** » 31 Jan 2007 18:30

admin wrote:Presupposed is that the application accepts the file(s) to open as command line parameter. I'm not sure currently if that is always the case and how to find out.

hmm... not sure what you mean. I mean, how/why would this be any different than the way XY already deals with its own "File Associations" ?

I understand one application could not support command line parameters, but I don't think you should bother with this, it's up to the user. If he wants to drop files on calc.exe so be it!

Post by **admin** » 31 Jan 2007 18:35

jacky wrote:
admin wrote:Presupposed is that the application accepts the file(s) to open as command line parameter. I'm not sure currently if that is always the case and how to find out.
hmm... not sure what you mean. I mean, how/why would this be any different than the way XY already deals with its own "File Associations" ?

rightyright! I already felt I was talking rubbish...

subnet99 · Post by **subnet99** » 31 Jan 2007 21:02

jacky wrote:I'm not really in for a new "menu/launchbar", but I really see how drag&dropping onto an "application link" could have its benefit. Speed is one of them indeed, and the alternative jc mentionned is not always fast(er) for a few reasons, such as the ctxt menu can take a while to load according to file type and the associated apps that adds themself into this ctxt menu, or the "Open with" needs to have the app you wanna use inthe list, and that is: 1/ a mess to deal with, IMHO, and 2/ registry-based, aka. not portable.
Besides I'm not sure it'd work fine with more than one file at a time.

As I've said before (it's on my list ) having the ability to drop files onto Catalog items of type file:/// would be a really cool thing. So for example whatever the file (type/extension) is, I can drop in onto Editpad to open it up. Or many of them at once for that matter...

That would work great for what I have in mind.

lukescammell · Post by **lukescammell** » 01 Feb 2007 11:39

I actually thought you could do this already - at least I assumed...

Post by **admin** » 02 Feb 2007 12:50

Well, I did it today. Good stuff... you'll see it tomorrow...

subnet99 · Post by **subnet99** » 04 Feb 2007 01:49

I have tested this briefly and I love it. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks