I will be ready to release v3 of Folders Popup in the next weeks. There are many funny improvements that I would like to test with beta users before going live with it. I already have a dozen of testers but there is an opportunity now to grow this nice team :-) Please, send me an email if you are interested.
Popup Folders menu in v3
What's new in v3 beta:
- support favorite documents as popup menu items (most wanted item in the wish-list)
- add a "Document" radio button in the "Add favorite" and "Edit favorite" dialog boxes
- add icons to favorites menus and submenus
- add a menu icon size option in "Settings, Options", default size to 24 pixels (except 16 pixels on Windows XP)
- reorder menu items in the Tray menu
- validation that favorite folders and documents exist before launching it with proper error message
- choice of color themes for Settings interface and menus
- mouse or keyboard hotkey to open directly the recent folders list
- various small improvements and small bug fixes
Also in this beta version, I removed the notion of "supported dialog boxes". Please read this post about supported dialog boxes if you want to know more about this change.
UPDATE
The version v3 BETA is now ready for beta test. Even if it has been well tested, you must understand that some bugs may still be present in the app. The goal of the beta testing is to uncover these last bugs. If you would like to join the beta test, please see the download link in the comments below.
Please report bugs by email at ahk@jeanlalonde.ca or on this web page.
Thanks in advance!
UPDATE #2 (2014-08-29)
The beta test for Folders Popup v3 is now over.
Thank you ALL for your cooperation during this beta phase!
Please go to the official page for download and support.
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I just released v3.0.1 today. It is sent only to FP translators to give them a head start. The first release for the beta testers (v3.0.2) should be ready in the next days.
hi-
count me in if you need another beta site.
Hello Steve,
Thanks you for offering your help. I add to the list your name and the email address you left in the comment. I should release the next beta version during the week-end.
Hello dear beta testers,
The version v3.0.3 BETA is now ready for beta test. Even if it has been well tested, you must understand that some bugs may still be present in the app. The goal of the beta testing is to uncover these last bugs. If you would like to join the beta test, please download the app here:
(see updated version below)
Thanks in advance!
Thanks for bug reports and comments from early beta testers!
Fixed in v3.0.4:
* fix a bug when adding a menu and numeric shortcuts are active
* lighter tray tip message after menu is updated in settings
* fix a bug when retrieving icons for documents
* change cursor for an hand for all buttons in Gui
* support icons for document being executable files
Download link:
(see updated version below)
Thanks for new bug reports.
Fixed and new in v3.0.5:
* fix a v2 bug allowing editing in Settings with no item selected
* fix a v3.0.2 bug when adding an item to a menu other than the current menu in Settings
* change cursor to hand for all buttons in Settings
* refactor (merge) Add and Edit favorites GUI and Save commands (no change visible to users)
New in v3.0.6:
* Redesign of buttons in Settings
* Addition to ini file of themes with colors for dialog boxes and menu
* Implementation of colors in menus and dialog boxes
* Add option in Settings/Options to select theme
Download link:
(see updated link below)
Please report bugs by email at ahk@jeanlalonde.ca or on this web page.
ABOUT THEMES
Here are the instructions if you want to edit or add themes.
1) Add or edit the theme in the folderspopup.ini file following this syntax:
[Gui-NewTheme]WindowColor=E0E0E0
TextColor=000000
ListviewBackground=FFFFFF
ListviewText=000000
MenuBackgroundColor=FFFFFF
Enter the colors of your choice and replace "NewTheme" with the name of the new theme.
2) Under the [Global] ini file section, update the list of themes offered in the Options window:
AvailableThemes=Grey|Yellow|Light Blue|Light Red|Light Green|NewThemeReplace "NewTheme" with the name of the new theme.
3) Under the [Global] ini file section, enter the current theme (this could also be changed using the Options window):
Theme=NewThemeABOUT MENU COLORS
Color management capabilities are limited by FP's development framework. Especially for menu background color, note that the color of menu text cannot be changed. Since the text must stay black, menus could not have black or other dark color background. Also, the background color behind menu icons cannot be changed.
Doing this would require a complete redraw of menus. In addition to taking much programming time, this would also make the app bigger. Since small footprint is one of the reasons why FP is appreciated, I want to preserve this. But, this being said, suggestions are always welcomed and wee'll see what can be done.
Hello,
great you develop a worthy successor to Foldermenu! Using the beta version and found a possible bug. When a path to a network share contains a underscore(_) as first character in a path FP opens the documents folder.
And i have an feature request. Is it possible to get the folder icon to show in FP. I use foldercolors to differentiate my projects.
Zhanks for thid graet tool,
Frank
Thank you Frank for reporting this. I'm out of town actually. I'll work on this when I'll be back at my programming work mid-August.
Jean
> And i have an feature request. Is it possible to get the folder icon to show in FP. I use foldercolors to differentiate my projects.
This is done! Please, see http://code.jeanlalonde.ca/folderspopup/#comment-9533
Hello!
It´s me again!
It has not possibly only to do with the underscore...
Another network pathes doesn´t work to. Mainly with spaces and another special signs.....
Greetings,
Frank
Until I'm back, if you had a chance to check how these paths work using FP v2?
Hello Frank,
I could not reproduce this issue on my system. Path in the format "\\host\share\path" including space, underscore, apostrophe and accentuated chars work well.
Please give specific examples that do not work on your system.
Thanks.
New in v3.0.7:
* make display icons optional, refactor Add Menu commands in a centralized function
* allow to select no mouse trigger for popup menu, add None to the dropdown list in Change hotkey window
* add mouse or keyboard hotkey to open the recent folders list
* fix error when icon location contains %1
* fix error when assigning color to an empty submenu
* fix a v2 bug with shortcuts numbers increment in Switch menus
Download link:
(see updated link below)
Please report bugs by email at ahk@jeanlalonde.ca or on this web page.
I don't know if this is a bug, limitation or desired behavior...
I am using Directory Opus 11.5, when I "activate" Folders Popup within DO, it will change to the desired directory. However, if I right click and select a folder on the desktop, it launches a Explorer window instead of DO.
DO is configured to replace Explorer. If I push +, I get a DO window.
I was using "Direct Folders", though it does not properly change folders within DO in v11. However, with DF, right clicking on the desktop and selecting a shortcut launches DO.
Is there a way to get Folders Popup to launch DO when right clicking the desktop? I don't want a regular Explorer window.
I hope this makes sense.
Otherwise this looks like a nice replacement. Thanks.
Hi Lou,
Yes, this makes sense. First, in your 2nd paragraph, I assume you meant "middle click" instead of "right click.
To make FP open folders in DOpus, you have to enter the DOpus path in the folderspopup.ini file. See instructions here:
http://code.jeanlalonde.ca/folders-popup-now-compatible-with-directory-opus/
And, please, download v3.0.8 that fixes some bugs related to Opus (see below this comment).
New in v3.0.8:
* add the favorites type "Link (URL)" to the Add Favorite dialog box, display the system default browser icon for the links favorites and open them in the default browser
* fix bug with DOpus when path includes AHK reserved chars
* better support of DOpus when in dual listers
Download link:
(see updated link below)
Please report bugs by email at ahk@jeanlalonde.ca or on this web page.
Having added favorite files and now adding "Link (URL)", don't you navigate away from the core business of FoldersPopup by making it also a launcher instead of a "select you favorite FOLDERS" application?
I use/have 1) an application launcher to launch applications/URLS and 2) I use/have FoldersPopup to select (my favorite) folders.
I don't see the use of launching anything in a dialog where you're supposed to choose a folder...
I find the URL's extremely useful. While Training, trainee's are extremely critical. Using this tool gets me to the destination without opening another application and makes effortless transitions. Our training program uses HTML in folders and works perfectly while directing toward different sections of the training and reference material.
This is great work and use it daily. There will never be a software that makes everyone happy for all scenarios - if you don't like a specific feature, feel free to not use it.
I'm a huge fan! Thank you Jean for all of your time, efforts and willingness to develop and share!
I think Geert is a big fan too! In any case, his help was of great value in testing and refining the app.
I understand his point of view in keeping the app focused to the "folders" things. I was of this opinion myself for some time. But, since the first release I think, users requested the option to add documents to their popup menu. In the end, I found some uses to it for myself and I succumbed to "documents temptation" :-)
Now, about links, I added this feature after I saw beta users adding URL instead of file paths in the "Add Document" dialog box. Since URL require different handling (mostly for icons and, eventually, launching), I decided to create this new type just to make sure the app would hadle correctly in both types of favorites.
Thank you to both of you for your interest into making and keeping FP a good app :)
>> I think Geert is a big fan too!
You bet! :-) No offense was meant.
Fortunately, you understood that, Jean.
I wouldn't even think about discouraging you. ;-) On the contrary.
And yes, I'm interested in making/keeping FP even better whenever I (think I) can help.
I'm just concerned that FP would become bloated with all kind of 'sub'features.
But at last that's completely to the author to decide of course. ;-)
>>...if you don’t like a specific feature, feel free to not use it.
...or try to learn from others how, when and what they use it for. Maybe I just don't see it yet and miss a scope.
So Todd, you use FP to jump to your different HTML files.
So then, you'll probably use FP from within Windows Explorer, right?
In Windows Exporer you click with the middle mouse, choose a menu item and your browser opens the chosen HTML file. Then, when you want to jump to another, you switch to Windows Explorer back, click the middle mouse button again and choose the menu item corresponding with the next HTML file you want your browser to open. Is that how you use it?
I will let Todd reply about his own use.
I just want to say that FP will always open "Link (URL)" type of favorites in a new window (or tab) of the default web browser (IE, Chrome, etc.). Even if you select this favorite using the Middle Mouse Button. In other words, FP does not support (yet) navigation in the "current" browser. This could come... or not. I don't know yet.
Also, HTML files on the web (having an http://... address) MUST be of type "Link (URL)". HTML files stored on a local drive or an authenticated network drive having a path starting with a drive letter (C:\...) or a server name (\\server\...) can be of type "Document" or "Link (URL)", indifferently. They will always be opened in a new browser or browser's tab.
Hi Geert.
Yes, for the most part I use Windows Explorer or from the desktop due to the way FP works - minimize screens and middle click on desktop to navigate. I always have many apps/windows open at the same time - Excel, Minitab, Adobe Acrobat, Powerpoint, HTML files/web pages local on our servers and hard drives.
I personally would love the basic ability to also switch between active app's with middle mouse button without minimizing or Alt-Tab. I understand it isn't in the design/functionality of FP as well as having to deal with all the different program types/functionalities.
The best quick workaround for me is hitting Win-D to get to desktop, then middle click to get to the FP menu to then get to the destination files quicker with the cleanest transition. Especially when training, the cleaner and faster the transition, the better the presentation for the participants as they get distracted on transitions and derails the thinking patterns and creates sidebar questioning.
I didn't mean to offend anyone and was defending Jean and FP in this case as I did not understand your position. I'm very appreciative of the work Jean's doing as well as sharing programs as well as source code. There are so many critics out there to jump on something that doesn't fit their usage and sometimes just to say something but unwilling to assist or contribute in any way. I wasn't meaning to change it into an App Launcher but I could see enjoying a feature allowing switching between open app's as being very useful. Especially for those that have many windows/apps open or being able to launch a link with FP and understand this creates 'scope creep' very quickly.
I hope that answers your question regarding how I use. Thanks! Todd
Thank you Jean & Todd for your kind explanations.
>> I personally would love the basic ability to also switch between active app’s
>> with middle mouse button without minimizing or Alt-Tab.
That would really make it another application launcher then.
>> I understand it isn’t in the design/functionality of FP
Right.
>> There are so many critics out there to jump on something
>> that doesn’t fit their usage and sometimes just to say something
>> but unwilling to assist or contribute in any way.
I agree (but I don't want to be one of those ;-)
New in v3.0.9:
* replaces Send command with SendInput (PLEASE TEST IF "ADD THIS FOLDER" STILL WORKS WELL)
* fix bug with None mouse hotkey for English US keyboard layout (0409)
* fix bug when navigating to network folder in DOpus
* add popup menu and color to tray menu
Download link:
(see updated link below)
Please report bugs by email at ahk@jeanlalonde.ca or on this web page.
Thanks Jean.
This version is candidate as final beta release before public release of v3 !
New in v3.0.10:
* fix bug when selecting a mouse hotkey after None was selected for that hotkey
* in Change Hotkey, unselect modifiers when None is selected as mouse trigger
* additional text to clarify triggers in Settings, Options
* new menu icon for submenus
* (since v3.0.9) replaces Send command with SendInput (PLEASE TEST IF “ADD THIS FOLDER” STILL WORKS WELL)
Download link:
(see updated link below)
Please report bugs by email at ahk@jeanlalonde.ca or on this web page.
>> * additional text to clarify triggers in Settings, Options
That's a good thing! This way I understand (just now) that it IS possible to trigger the popup menu in ANY window. Todd, I think you will be very happy ;-) (since no more Win+D needed)
Bug fix in v3.0.11:
* fix icon bug under WIndows XP (no need to update if you run Win 7)
Download link:
http://code.jeanlalonde.ca/ahk/folderspopup/folderspopup-v3011-beta.zip
Please report bugs by email at ahk@jeanlalonde.ca or on this web page.
This is the FINAL CANDIDATE RELEASE for Folders Popup v3. German and Dutch translations... and one last-minute addition as always just before important releases ;-)
New in v3.0.12:
* German and Dutch translation update (Thanks to Edgar "Fast Edi" Hoffmann and Pieter Dejonghe)
* Left click on Tray icon to show favorites menu
Download link:
(link removed)
Last comments or bug reports are still welcomed here or at ahk@jeanlalonde.ca.
The beta test for Folders Popup v3 is now over.
Thank you ALL for your cooperation during this beta phase!
Please go to the official page for download and support.
Beta testers of Folders Popup v3, you are invited to enroll the v3.2 beta test phase:
http://code.jeanlalonde.ca/beta-testers-wanted-for-folders-popup-v3-2/
Release v3.2 of FP includes mainly additions that improve integration of FP with for Directory Opus (DOpus) version 11. But some basic functions has been redesigned along the way and I would really appreciate if non-Directory Opus users would take some time to check if everything still works well.
Apart Directory Opus integration, the following changes will impact all users:
- New option to show the popup menu near the mouse pointer, in the active window or at a fix position
- Prevent intermittent Windows bug showing an error message when building the Recent folders menu if an external drive has been removed.
- Setting the Images and Recent folders special folders reading the Windows Registry to support Windows in any languages.
- Fix a bug when showing special folders names in Switch menus.
- Fix a bug when duplicate folders were found in Switch menus.
- Prevent paths longer than 260 chars in Switch menus from causing an error.
- Limit favorite menus name to 250 chars maximum in add/edit favorite dialog box.
Find out more here:
http://code.jeanlalonde.ca/beta-testers-wanted-for-folders-popup-v3-2/
Previous beta testers: if you find a line LatestVersionSkipped=9.9.9 in the folderspopup.ini file, please delete it in order to be informed when there is a newer beta versions.