FreeShow - presentations

[webfork]

Electron-based presentation software, program first mentioned in our list of freeware presentation software.

FreeShow is a free and open-source presentation program that makes it easy to show text on a big screen. It supports stage display, remote control, media, and many other advanced features. It is open-sourced meaning anyone can contribute.

Steps:
1. Download an decompress the setup file using 7zip.
2. Copy the contents of \$PLUGINSDIR\app-64.7z to a folder of your choice.
3. Launch FreeShow.exe

Status: Not portable, writes to C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\freeshow\ ... tested v.0.9.4

Homepage: https://freeshow.app/
Download and version info: https://freeshow.app/downloads
Softpedia: https://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-to ... Show.shtml

[FileHandler]

Not a big fan of Electron, but for this I may make an exception. First impression is great and it even runs on my outdated Win7.

Thanks also for the portable instruction. I would have missed the 7z-file inside the zipped exe.

[hamasaki]

You can use the '--user-data-dir' parameter to store the electron files in the same location as the app.

[FileHandler]

Thanks. But it does not work here, it still puts 51 files into AppData\Roaming\freeshow\

[Midas]

IMHO, possibly a similar issue to the one affecting Chrome, whose underlying engine also powers Electron...

For details, see the discussion at viewtopic.php?t=23496.

[hamasaki]

I'm really not sure what you are doing, but it works fine. I just tried it. All electron files stored in the app folder, nothing in appData.

[FileHandler]

All electron files stored in the app folder, nothing in appData.

Interesting. What Windows are you on? And what Freeshow version? And where is your app-folder located? On a portable drive?
Maybe I misunderstood. I applied the '--user-data-dir' parameter when starting up freeshow. Am I supposed to add it elsewhere?

[hamasaki]

Yes, all my software is on a portable drive. I'm using the latest version of FreeShow and Windows 11 Pro.

So, FreeShow is located for me at:
Q:\Portable-Software\FreeShow

I created a Data folder inside that folder:
Q:\Portable-Software\FreeShow\Data

I use Quick Access Popup to launch programs, so on the advanced settings tab in QAP for 'Parameters' I set the following:
--user-data-dir=Q:\Portable-Software\FreeShow\Data

Then launch. Here is a screenshot of the Data folder after launch.

Hope that helps?

[FileHandler]

Thank you hamasaki. I followed your detailed instruction, and it works exactly like you said it would.

I was not aware that I must provide a hard-wired path. With assigned drive letters always changing on my portable drive, this means I cannot pre-define the call-up. When reading your tip

You can use the '--user-data-dir' parameter to store the electron files in the same location as the app.

I thought it would store user data in the application folder, wherever that maybe, without having to explicitly specify that location.

[hamasaki]

--user-data-dir=./Data...

That doesn't work?

[FileHandler]

--user-data-dir=./Data...

Eureka! This does work indeed. Thanks a ton!

[hamasaki]

lol. Excellent, glad it helped.