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Productivity - Program Launchers (60)

winPenPack Net Menu v2.9.71

billon on 29 Nov 2019
  • 2MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 1 Feb 2018
  • Suggested by joby_toss

winPenPack Net Menu can launch applications collected from the winPenPack website, as well as your own portable applications. It also supports program file associations, launch arguments, search, hotkeys, auto-execute and more.

Category:
Runs on:Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10
Writes settings to: Application folder
Dependencies: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or above
Stealth: ? Yes
Unicode support: Yes
Path portability: Automatic relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: winPenPack License Agreement
How to extract:
  1. Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice
  2. Launch winPenPackNet.exe
  3. When prompted, select your language (choose "winpenpack_en.xml" for English) and click OK
Similar/alternative apps: PortableApps.com Platform
What's new?
  • Fixed some problems related to file association in Windows 10.
Latest comments
stoned on 2012-03-19 10:13

Nice one! lovely application, very useful

Add comment ›

XVA Assistant v0.10.2018.1215

billon on 17 Dec 2018
  • 8MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 15 Dec 2018
  • Suggested by smaragdus

XVA Assistant is a stylish launcher for programs, files and websites, organizing items into panels and folders. The program can reside either in task-bar next to start menu (Cool XVA-Button) or in sustem tray. The program supports skins (any BMP, JPG and PNG images) and two view modes: "View as Pad" and "View as Phone".

Other features include autostart, always on top, animation effects, minimize after launch, minimize on losing focus, hot key and more.

Category:
Runs on:Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Unicode support: Yes
License: Freeware
How to extract: Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch XVA.exe
Similar/alternative apps: Qsel
What's new? See:
https://www.softpedia.com/progChangelog/XVA-Assistant-Changelog-251045.html
Latest comments
Stroport on 2017-09-09 07:41

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

__philippe on 2017-09-09 11:28

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

Belga on 2017-09-11 16:56

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 !

See all ›

Quick Cliq v2.1.1

billon on 17 Apr 2018
  • 2MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 16 Apr 2018
  • Suggested by I am Baas

Quick Cliq is an application launcher and productivity tool that provides quick access folders, files, programs, links and command-line operations as well as window management, clipboard manipulation and text "memos". The compact menu can be displayed anywhere via keyboard shortcut or mouse gesture, even within applications.

A video preview is available.

Category:
Runs on:WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Unicode support: Yes
Path portability: Requires manual entry of relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: Freeware/Open Source
How to extract: Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch Quick Cliq.exe.
What's new?
  • Fixed many Windows 10 compatibility issues.
  • Other minor fixes/improvements.

LiberKey v5.8.1129

SYSTEM on 1 Aug 2016
  • 19MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 30 Nov 2015
  • Suggested by opendev

LiberKey is a portable launcher that serves as a gateway to prepackaged portable apps available in the LKS format (basically 7Zip archive with a particular directory structure). It works just as well for non-LKS apps, and comes with a whole suite of other functions including portable file associations, portable desktop shortcuts, and online updates of LKS applications.

The launcher itself is flexible with right-handed quick launch bar and supports tabs, categories, smart search etc. Includes a floating quick launcher that you can pin to the desktop.

Category:
Runs on:WinXP / Vista / Win7
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Path portability: Automatic compensation for dynamic drive letter in removable storage devices
License: Freeware
How to extract: Download the self-extracting EXE to a folder of your choice. Launch LiberKey.exe.
Similar/alternative apps: WinPenPack NetMenu, PortableApps Platform
What's new? 2014/11/10 - LiberKey 5.8.1104
  • Improved, Portabilizer: .NET framework detection
  • Improved, Portabilizer: Use the x86 version of an application when the x64 version is missing
  • Fixed, Menu: Various bug fixes
  • Added, LiberKey: Breton translation [br-FR] Thank you Diloar (new contributor)
  • Added, LiberKey: Macédonien translation [mk-MK] Thank you mite71 (new contributor)
  • Added, LiberKey: Serbe (cyrillique) translation [sr-Cyrl-RS] Thank you Bojan Pavlović (new contributor)
  • Added, LiberKey: Serbe (latin) translation [sr-Latn-RS] Thank you Bojan Pavlović (new contributor)
  • Updated, LiberKey: Arabic (Tunisia) translation [ar-TN] Thank you Trabelsi Youssef
  • Updated, LiberKey: German translation [de] Thank you Paul Bichler
  • Updated, LiberKey: Hungarian translation [hu-HU] Thank you Juhász Sándor
  • Updated, LiberKey: Italian translation [it] Thank you Maurizio Ballo
  • Updated, LiberKey: Dutch translation [nl-NL] Thank you Ralph Langendam (new contributor)
  • Updated, LiberKey: Russian translation [ru-RU] Thank you mrBG et askras (new contributor)

2014/11/15 - LiberKey 5.8.1114
  • Added, LiberKey: Slovak translation [sk-SK] Thank you kamilpolner (new contributor)
  • Added, LiberKey: Romanian translation [ro-RO] Thank you Adrian (new contributor)

2015/11/30 - LiberKey 5.8.1129
  • Fixed, Portabilizer: .NET framework version detection
Latest comments
rogerthedodger on 2012-07-21 02:01

guess thats an advantage, if theres any, of using adaware.

doudoudidou on 2012-08-06 10:24

I use LiberKey for years and I never had any problems. This platform is currently the best. There are jealous ...

smaragdus on 2016-07-31 23:13

I did a brief testing of LiberKey version 5.8.1129 (only the launcher, not the suite) and my first impressions are very good- it is a well-designed, flexible, solid program with a nice set of features.

See all ›

X-HotkeyP v4.8.2 [rev1]

lwc on 7 Jul 2023
  • 3MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 1 May 2016
  • Suggested by Danix

HotkeyP (archived) is a small but powerful macro and hotkey utility that enables you to create a wide range of macro commands and keyboard shortcuts that can perform common tasks such as opening files, running programs, empty the recycle bin, reboot your PC, start the screensaver and much more.

X-HotkeyP is a version of the software packaged in winPenPack format.

Category:
Runs on:WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10
Writes settings to: Application folder
Path portability: Automatic relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: GPL
How to extract: Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch X-HotkeyP.exe.
What's new?
  • Commands "Opacity +", "Opacity -"
  • Environment variables can be used in commands (e.g. %SystemRoot%).
  • Option to play sound when a hotkey is pressed.
  • Option "Wait before executing this hotkey", command will be executed after 5 second unless the user cancels it.
  • Only pressed shift keys are released before macro.
  • Command "Delete temporary files" can delete read-only files.
  • HotkeyP window is transparent when showing User Account Control dialog.
  • Large HotkeyP icon looks same as small icon.
  • All texts are Unicode, it's useful especially for the "Paste text" command.
  • Hotkeys have option "Run as administrator".
  • Commands "Maximize all", "Show HotkeyP window", "Reload hook".
  • Command "Hide window" changes tray icon to yellow.
  • %HotkeyP% in command path is replaced by installation folder.
  • Caps lock is turned off during "Macro".
  • Removed shortcut Ctrl+N which used to delete all hotkeys.
  • Path to HTK file is not stored in the registry if the file is in the HotkeyP folder.
Fixed bugs:
  • Paste text command did not work on some keyboard layouts.
  • Multi-command did not work with paste text
  • Some system hotkeys could not be redefined (Ctrl+Win+P, Ctrl+Win+F, Win+Shift+M, Win+Shift+up, Alt+Win+1, ...).
  • Key state is reset when reloading hook.
  • Hotkey Win+mouse showed the Start menu if used with macro.
  • Right-click on the small icon in the notification area showed the taskbar menu on Windows 10.
  • Could not get executable file name of universal apps on Windows 10.
  • "Information" about a window could not get full path of 64-bit processes.
  • "Paste text" with parameter %l truncated text to 1024 characters.
  • The second parameter of "Macro to active window" could not be longer than 15 characters.
  • "Minimize to tray" did not work for the Explorer.
  • "Magnifier" lost focus after quick mouse movement.
  • The Spy application worked only with 32-bit processes.
  • Some minimized applications could not be restored to foreground when hotkey was pressed.
  • Active window lost focus after waiting before executing a hotkey.
  • "Maximize all" randomly activated another window.
  • Icon was not yellow if asking before executing "Hide application" or "Hide window".
  • "Send keys to window" was too quick and sometimes missed shift keys.
  • Start automatically at Windows startup.

Hoekey v1.22

webfork on 22 Dec 2015
  • 51KB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 9 Nov 2015
  • Suggested by nevemark

HoeKey lets you assign most keys on your keyboard to various different actions. You can use it to run programs, control window actions, create and run aliases, hide/unhide windows, or even use it as a portable launcher.

Configuration is done in a text file access by Edit Config.

Category:
Runs on:WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Path portability: Requires manual entry of relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: Freeware
How to extract:
  1. Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice
  2. Download the the latest version of HoeKey from the homepage and overwrite the existing HoeKey.exe file
  3. Launch HoeKey.exe
Similar/alternative apps: Clavier+, X-HotkeyP, Slickrun, TyperTask, HotKeyz
What's new?
  • Added %z in strings to get current directory of first selected file (%Z for url-encoded).
  • Fixed not copying first char of define.
Latest comments
BGM on 2015-11-02 15:54

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

freakazoid on 2015-11-02 18:11

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

webb on 2015-11-03 04:01

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.

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Splat v1.1.8

Midas on 4 Mar 2018
  • 2MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 10 Aug 2015
  • Suggested by Checker

Splat (Simple Program Launching and Termination) allows you to build profiles that can launch or close programs and services. Supports drag-and-drop, hotkeys, process priority, and includes the ability to open specific files, folders, URLs, and even other Splat profiles. The program can aggressively close (kill) applications that may not shut down normally or add delays of time, CPU usage, or whether the previous program has closed yet.

Great for a computer startup sequence that won't slow down your computer or for switching between different separate program groups (such switching from a view all your financial programs, data, and files to all your photo/video editing tools)

Category:
Runs on:Win7
Writes settings to: Application folder
Dependencies: Administrator rights
Stealth: ? Yes
License: Freeware
How to extract: Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch Splat.exe.
Similar/alternative apps: Lacuna Launcher
What's new?
  • Added the ability to create a profile shortcut in your startup folder. Right-click a profile and choose the option from the menu.
  • Fixed: Context menu did not work for reordering profiles.

a023.gif Applause for "Best new portable freeware of 2015" !
Latest comments
webfork on 2015-01-18 22:43

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.

Midas on 2015-01-19 13:16

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

Add comment ›

GUIPro PortAL v1.5.0

I am Baas on 8 Dec 2015
  • 166KB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 21 Jun 2015
  • Suggested by I am Baas

PortAL is lightweight launcher based on hotkeys, menus, and system tray icons. Note that all of PortAL configuration is based on a single XML file which contains the list and the organization of applications.

Category:
Runs on:Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8
Writes settings to: Application folder
Dependencies: MSVCR90.DLL MSVCP90.DLL
Stealth: ? Yes
Path portability: Automatic relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: GPL
How to extract:
  1. Download the installer and extract / (un)7-Zip to a folder of your choice
  2. Move img folder from $_OUTDIR to doc folder
  3. Delete $PLUGINSDIR and $_OUTDIR folders
  4. Launch PortAL.exe

Note: To extract the 64-bit version too, choose "Auto Rename" (u) when prompted. The 32-bit executable is smaller in size.
What's new?
  • Addition of a skin system.
  • Addition of the event attribute.
  • Addition of the variables section to define internal variables.
  • Addition of the clipboard variables.
  • Addition of the %config% variable.
  • Improvement of the file notification system.
  • Fix memory leak when reloading the configuration.
  • Avoid error when a percent character is not forming a variable.
  • Avoir error when loading a config file with an empty group.

Full changelog at https://github.com/obsidev/guipro/releases.
Latest comments
Shadeclan on 2015-07-03 17:22

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.

Checker on 2015-07-03 18:33

@ Shadeclan: Thanks ... and updated ;)

webfork on 2015-07-03 19:34

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

See all ›

Pretty Run v8.2.0.6

lwc on 7 Jul 2023
  • 7MB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 14 Jan 2015
  • Suggested by lautrepay

Pretty Run is a powerful keystroke-based program launcher and search tool. It searches the start menu, desktop or any other folder for the shortcuts or files that meet your query. More than that, Pretty Run allows searching Internet Explorer favorites, Firefox and Chrome bookmarks, Control Panel items, Printers, mp3 files (by tags), jpg files (by exif data), databases, clipboard and on the internet (more search engines can be added to those already included).

Program also includes screen capture tool, Magic Words, a note manager, etc.

Note: To help compensate for drive letter changes that happens with removable drives, use the %PrettyRunDrive% environment variable.

Category:
Runs on:WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8
Writes settings to: Application folder
Stealth: ? Yes
Unicode support: Partial
Path portability: Requires manual entry of relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc)
License: Freeware
How to extract:
  1. Download the ZIP package and extract the file prettyrunsetup.exe
  2. Use Universal Extractor on this file, saving to a temporary folder
  3. Move the contents of {app} to a folder of your choice
  4. Open PrettyRun.ini in a text editor
  5. Under [Options], add the following line:

    Portable=1

  6. Launch PrettyRun.exe
Similar/alternative apps: Executor Launchy
What's new?
  • Added engine to search GDrive.
  • Added engine to search OneDrive.
Latest comments
oblivion on 2014-03-12 11:45

Interesting, effective, but slow.

An option to limit folder recursion might help (you can say %PrettyRunDrive%\portableapps -- for instance -- but the scan subfolders option is going to make PrettyRun go to a lot of unhelpful places, whereas if you could restrict it to just one subfolder down, it might be faster.

The MP3 tag search is also quite slow.

It's not the most intuitive to set up, either.

FindAndRunRobot (from www.donationcoder.com) has a similar philosophy to this but is much, much faster (despite also taking a similarly non-indexed approach) and has a lot more functionality, too.

Midas on 2014-06-02 11:13

Pretty Run changelog hasn't been updated since v6.1.0.17 (http://www.pretty-software.com/prettyrunhistory.txt)...

Ganamyde on 2014-06-04 04:15

Avoid-ware.
Installs adware and spyware in background.

Add comment ›

AutoStart v1.0.0.59

lwc on 7 Jul 2023
  • 80KB (uncompressed)
  • Released on 24 Jul 2008
  • Suggested by Liberta Press

AutoStart creates an icon in the system tray for each external memory device connected to the system. Right-clicking on this icon opens a context menu that allows you to conveniently perform various related functions (explore, search, eject, properties).

Left-clicking opens the drive in Explorer by default but the default application can be specified in the "shell" parameter of AUTORUN.INF. AutoStart also comes with a rudimentary launcher that is functional if you have a small number of applications stored on your memory stick.

Note: Main download site is offline, download link pointing to Softpedia.

Category:
Runs on:Win2K / WinXP
Writes settings to: None
Unicode support: No
License: Freeware/Open Source
How to extract:
  1. Download the single EXE file to a folder of your choice
  2. Launch AutoStart.exe

    Optionally, right-click on the icon in the system tray to bring up the content menu, and you will be given the option to copy AutoStart (and an autorun file) to your PC or USB memory stick.
Latest comments
Ryan McCue on 2006-11-30 01:35

I wouldn't call the the launcher "rudimentary". It works great and I actually find it better than other menus.
It is only supposed to be the underlying code though, with the Launchpad extension coming soon.

Sugeng Wigiyantoro on 2008-02-15 20:57

I like to try and download free software. In this site i can take many free software. Thank you...

Midas on 2014-03-18 16:18

Still available from Softpedia. Tested, works as expected. Shame about the lack of Unicode support, but still extremely handy.

Add comment ›

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