Finderbar

Landvermesser ( landvermesser@felsenstein.org )

Finderbar -  Add Mac OS X Style drop-down menus to your Windows Taskbar 

Version 1.5 (2.06.2007)

Download:    

• • Version 1.5 2090 Kb

Notes to the version 1.5:

1. This version have new command "SendHotkey" - it sends custom keys ans strings. You can send to the active window, as examples, Ctrl+Ali+Shift+r or the string "Hello world!". The strings and letters can be automatically localised, see detailed info in the help file.

2. Commands "SelectMenuItem" and "SelectMenuItemNumber" gets access to standard menus of target window. Note, that some "toolbars" menus are not accessable. Use the command "SendHotkey" for those menus.

3. Command "RunPath" starts any executable, shortcut or document. Use it with full path to the target file as "hotkey" (parameter).

Notes to the version 1.4:

1. This version have new command "SetPreferences" that calls Preferences window. Find it in menu "Titler".

2. Version 1.3+ have new command "AboutCurrentApp" that calls the "About" window for active application. In the file menu.ini was added:

Item1Name=About <CurrentApp>

Item1Command=AboutCurrentApp

The icons for this window are in the subfolder \images\Applications, are 56x56 pixels PNG files, and must have names as it described in the files Titler.txt and Shortcuts.txt (or as it is showed in "Titler"). If the PNG not found, the first icon from exe-file will be showed (normally 32x32 pixels). Please rename the pictures.

3. To see authentic Mac symbols in menus install the font Finderbar.ttf first. Set it as font of menus in Display Properties. Then select in Preferences window "Show Hotkeys by Menu Items" and deselect "Use Custom Menu Font":

If you select "Use Custom Menu Font", all Mac symbols will be displayed as Ctrl+ and Alt+ :

If you deselect "Show Hotkeys by Menu Items" too, menu items will be showed without hotkeys:

Now you can use any font as Finderbar menu font without editing of meni.ini files:

F.A.Q.

Q:     I get the error message: "q" is not valid key name within a hotkey label." right after start.

A:     Set "NotUseHotkeys=1" in the section "General" in the file "Finderbar_Engine.ini". This blocks support of hotkeys in menus.

Q:     I not see the Mac symbols in menus.

A:     Install the font "Finderbar.ttf" and select this font as font of menus in "Display Properties" of Windows.

Q:     I made a shortcut to my favorite application and have set it in the key LaunchCustomApp1=MyFavApp.lnk, but it not work.

A:     1. You must write a full path to this shortcut: LaunchCustomApp1=C:\MyFolder\MyFavApp.lnk

        2. Some shortcuts (as example, with parameters) can not be launched. Try to use the path direct to the application.

Q:     I use Total Commander as file manager and don't want to see the "Folders Tree" Pane in Explorers Sidebar.

A:     Delete /e, from the key Explorer Switches=/e, in the section "General" in the file "Finderbar_Engine.ini". Don't forget the last comma.

Q:     I have check "Hide Task Toolbar" but it not work -- I see task buttons in Taskbar anyway.

A:     Probably you use non-english version of Windows XP. Start "AU3_Spy.exe" from Finderbars main folder, click onto Taskbar in the right top corner of the screen and note the name of your "Task Buttons Toolbar" in the section "Visible Window Text". It must be the translation of words "Runned Applications" onto your language. Add this in the key TaskPanelLocalName= in the section "General" in the file "Finderbar_Engine.ini".

Q:     I have assigned the hotkeys combination, as example, Alt+Ctrl+R, to menu item; it work only if I select this item from the menu, but it not work from the keyboard.

A:     Be sure, that you press buttons in right order, Alt and Ctrl and R, not Ctrl and Alt and R. Be sure, that in file "menu.ini" wrote: Item11Hotkey=Ctrl+Alt+r (low case).

Q:     I use the hotkey Ctrl+N to open new Internet Explorers window and don't want to get new Windows Explorers window with Finderbars standart hotkey Ctrl+N. And I use hotkey Ctrl+G to group items in Adobe Illustrator and don't want to get "Go to Folder" dialog window with Finderbars standart hotkey Ctrl+G.

A:     Simply set the other hotkey to Finderbars menu item, as example, Ctrl+Alt+N to open new Windows Explorers window. Or add the Illustrators windows class to "Excluded Applications" to autosuspend all hotkeys by active Illustrators window.

Q:     Menu item "Show Original" and many others are disabled. Why?

A:     Enable it youself, but with which command?! There isn't "Original" in Windows XP.

Q:     I can use only "Finderbar" font as menu font?!! And that's ALL???!!!! 8-(

A:     Not all. See info abowe.

Q:     Help! I can't see buttons of runned applications on my Taskbar!

A:     You have the full list of runned applications in the menu "Window". Or select "Show View Options" in Finderbars menu "View", and switch off "Hide Task Toolbar". Than make your QuickLaunch toolbar so long as main Finderbar window.

Q:     Where is now my old good Windows Start Menu?!

A:     Please left click in top left screen corner, it is here. Or use "Windows" key of keyboard.

Q:     The Finderbar don't full support Mozilla Firefox, hotkeys for "Copy" or "Paste" not always works.

A:     I have this problem too. Add the window class of the Firefox to Autosuspend, or switch "Suspend" on/off manually, it helps.

Links:

• • AutoHotKey (get BIG FUN !!! ;-)

Some limitations:

• • Only Windows XP and greater are supported. The programm will work on Windows 98 and 2000 too, but many features will impossible. Use old 0.96 version for old Windows versions.

  • Menu font must be "Finderbar.ttf" to see autentic mac symbols.

  • Please exit Finderbar by defragmentation of disks (Norton Speed Disk or any others).