Productivity - Program Launchers (60)

I very quickly integrated this into the startup sequence on both of my main machines. Great to get multiple portable software up and running in a system-friendly way.

Thanks, webfork. Your comment made me realize that Splat can be used as a start-up manager... duh!

Somebody know if there will be a program update?

Gmacri: looks like the last release was the "final" one. You might try emailing the authors.

No Stealth
it creates this folder HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\StackDocklet

@thehop

Thanks, those are interesting apps. I really find ShortPopUp especially useful.

@billon
Better trust the executable. Softpedia also corrected the version number:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Launchers-Shutdown-Tools/QuickWayToFolders.shtml

The version discrepancy should be noted -- the changelog at http://jacquelin.potier.free.fr/QuickWayToFolders/history.php stops at v1.3.4 ...

I tried, unable to get captcha correct. Posted on https://sourceforge.net/projects/asuite/ instead. Tried Asuite contact again, still not able to read captcha correctly.

@PAFuser - thanks for trying. That's ... frustrating.

Hi, sorry for the delay, I am only now reading your message.

In any case, the error messages are those related to the non-execution of some asuite items ("Seems scheduler did''t run the item% s as expected by options. Do you want execute it now?")? has it happened again in recent months?

Meanwhile, I opened an issue on github: https://github.com/salvadorbs/Asuite/issues/86

Thank you!

Nice neat utility. I can keep an eye on the CPU usage and see if it seems excessive.
Needs to have a similar display for HDD activity.

New home: http://sourceforge.net/projects/winbar/

Look at Glint as an alternate, it shows CPU, disk and more

The latest update has killed it. At least on Win 11. It just crashes on start.

the same -it crashes on W7

"The latest update has killed it. It just crashes on start."

New version fixes problem of crashing on startup when you have an odd text zoom; I had 110% and now it does not crash.

If you understand the program well, you can create portable software that leaves no traces in the system.

Been using this app for a few years and it's great. I work part time at 3 different jobs and have a list created for each office. Run the appropriate command line first thing in the morning and all the programs/files I need for the day are loaded and ready to go.

A good simple alternative to Splat if you are only interested in launching programs.

You can create separate lists for programs you want to launch together, e.g. one for office work, one for graphic design, etc, etc. You can create a list of all your favorite programs and make them start with Windows. Does not remain open or resident in memory once all programs are launched.

Altogether a very useful program.

Tested and works in Windows 8.1 x64 too.

Very useful and simple tool for launching programs, opening folders, URLs, etc. with a shortcut. Launch lists use a text file so it's super easy to modify lists quickly and easily with the default txt editor.

It certainly got a lot of press as an impressive tool but I was unable to test it.

There's a "laptop mode" on this one that doesn't use the numpad but it still refuses to use anything except the F10 through F12 keys and those are currently mapped to something else.

This looked cool, but its not what I thought it was. the description is (partially) accurate, you can't move icons around via drag and drop, doesn't support custom background images, and only one window.

The download link gives an File Not Found error. There are now two separate zips, one for 32bit and one for 64.

jessharpur: updated, thanks for the note

psmstart.exe may be essential to launch 64-bit applications (psmenu.exe doesn't start with either missing), but that doesn't change the fact that psmenu.exe is a 32-bit application.

Download links go to the wrong page.

Also, on extraction, there is no {app} folder. Files are in the root.

@webfork: problem solved;
This is what happened, I had a version of PStart from 4 years ago running on my PC at the D-drive.
When I installed the newest version of PStart on my E-drive I replaced the old version of PStart on the D-drive at the same time, however only the menu of the E-drive was working.
After your last comment that I should work, I completely removed PStart from the D-drive and reinstalled it again.
Now everything works fine, I think that some remains of the old Pstart menu was interfering..does not matter anymore, I got what I want..!!
Great, thanks a lot Webfork...
_joepie_ makes a deep bow for WF.. :)

The program does indeed have minor problems on Win7: I frequently have to restart in order to get to the "Panel" view. Based on developer activity to date, we are unlikely to see an update to fix this.

The best launcher I've never used. It works very well in Windows 10, and only in 769KB.
I've love it very much.

Most recent version is 12.0.124

@AndTheWolf: Thanks. The version history however is not updated

You can find the version history here:
Windows version:
https://www.phraseexpress.com/download/changelog/

Mac version:
https://www.phraseexpress.com/mac/download/changelog/

Enjoy!

I couldn't run this on win2k; it hides in the system tray without a way to display it. I even tried using Process Explorer's Properties.Image.Bring to Front resulting in the msgbox: No visible windows found for this process

Tim I know this is an old post but I hope by now you have upgraded from Win2K after all it is the twenty first century. For me this software works as advertised!
MIKLO

I'm having the same problem with another launcher, and horst explanation seems pretty accurate to me...

I have used this program for a long time and I really like it;
I have always used it to launch programs,
but recently I have been using it to launch shortcuts to folders
and 2 out of 3 times that I do it,it crashes explorer.

Has any one else had this happen?

Note: 2020-11-12, still 100% functional, VERY nice option at its size

- v2.26 (x86) is infact 86kb, if reduced to exe, its needed ini/chw files & help/readmes combined to 1 txt file.

- only 2 programs that "still function 100% as of posting date" exist:

- VNChelper, at 80kb is SUPER NICE, its hard to pick between Qsel and VNChelper, they differ only in UI & 6kb file size... but I'm going Qsel for same function and 6kb SAVED.

- Then Popsel are smaller at 74kb, which is from same author and is funcationally the same with no "window" section, just a minimalist "fly-out" menu like Linux's "flux or black box" menus

(all reducing size with same readme method and UPX compressed via lmza)

All 3: Qsel, VNChelper and Popsil are FANTASTIC byte for byte

The PortableApps Platform has been updated (a few times) since this was last updated.
I believe the current version is 11.2 (also there is a version 12 beta, I think its Beta 2)

Please update this listing!

ihateu: checker got it

Latest version (v15.0) now supports .NET programs, the first of which appears to be KeePass Professional (or 2.x).

https://portableapps.com/news/2018-05-09--keepass-professional-portable-2.39-released

Current PortAL version is now 1.5 as of 22 Jun 2015.

Although I am not the developer, I've been doing some user testing for him and I might be able to help some of you with issues.

veyselcelik: I looked at the message you posted and that comes up when the configuration file has an error. You might try restoring the default file and see if the message goes away.

Proteanic: The app icons are appearing just fine in my configuration. You may want to go out to the Obsidev/GUIPro Issues section of GitHub and report the problem - the developer may be able to resolve your problem. Personally, I find that explicitly pointing to the icon in the config file usually takes care of any issues of that sort.

A friend of mine wanted to try PortAL but couldn't get it to run. The current version of PortAL needs the Microsoft Visual Studio Redistributable package installed to work (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784) but the developer has agreed to compile the necessary binaries into the installation package so that users should not need to install the Re-distro package in the next release.

The developer has added the ability to create user-defined variables inside the configuration file, which has been a big convenience for me. He has also created some cool new skins which can be changed within the PortAL tag in the config file, along with the ability for users to make their own skins. A local help file which explains how to configure PortAL is not included in v1.5 but will be included in the next release. Until then, you can find configuration help here: https://github.com/obsidev/guipro/wiki/PortAL-Configuration

I discovered a few issues during user testing which will be fixed in the next release. My user testing notes can be seen here: https://github.com/obsidev/guipro/issues/13. The developer is very responsive - feel free to give observations, report bugs or make comments in the obsidev / guipro issues section of GitHub.

@ Shadeclan: Thanks ... and updated ;)

Shadeclan: Thanks for the data. See response in forums.

It appears that you can't. It's a simple launcher that parses your Start Menu. Can configure some websites as well, but that appears to be it.

links broken

Site and download links have been removed by author.

Not your average program launcher.... best used with StrokeIt.

THE MOUSE THAT ROARED: https://youtu.be/-E35OMfL4A4

I wont keep reposting the same info see VNChelper and Qsel for other still functional options as of 2020-11-12.

BUT Popsel is the smallest, fastest and lightest on resources @ a mere 74kb.

It is from same author as Qsel and is functionally the same, BUT with no "window" section, just a minimalist "fly-out" menu like Linux's "flux or black box" menus.

Super speedy little guy, designed for the power user or IT tech with MANY small tools on USB looking for an ideal mobile launch platform that will run on a TOASTER as long as it has 640kb of memory to space

Can auto run apps, etc etc... I suggest a good look at the readme to get the most out of it

Now at version 2.58

Oh - forgot - with HoeKey you also get a little panel that lists all of the hotkeys you assigned. That's really handy.

This used to be one of my favorite programs back in the day! :)

It's now at version 2.0

Add string aliases, *foo=something to define, ~N=MsgBox|Some text:%{foo} to use.
Add SetBrightness command. e.g. ~N=SetBrightness||Absolute Value (0-100)|Relative Value (-100 - 100). Requires Vista or newer.
Remove RunAlias command.

Good news, this app is interesting is there a place to post features suggestions ?

Perhaps contact developer XuanYuan YuShun directly ?
Email: debuger@outlook.com

That's the best solution.
FYI, developer gives this answer related to keeping the enlargement of the window after reboot :
"I guess when the system shutdown, OS didn't give XVA enough time to save configuration files, so the windows size don't save correct, and I would optimize it in the next version.
You can use the temporary plan as follows:
1. Adjust the window size.
2. manually exit.
3. restart XVA."
It worked for me !

@Billo255: that note was implying the "Download" link. We'll have to wait and see if anyone comes up with an alternative URL...

@Midas - Thanks but still confused. I was thinking the note meant that it was being hosted by PFC but the download link goes off into limbo the same way the weblink to the authors site does. (or at least it did when I clicked on it a few days ago).

All those dead links never pointed to TPFC -- you can check the tooltip on mouse over, the explicit linking to TPFC is just a database device to launch the original URL. TPFC usually doesn't host any files...