Options
New user / convert
- New user / convert
-
New user / convert
studeimus > 2023-08-11 00:39
Hey Jean & co... Just wanted to flag your latest convert for the start-menu-replacement challenge... I spent much time in the Win7 -and-earlier days using TrueLaunchBar... loved the visually immediate nature of that product (souped-up quicklaunch), but then for some reason I had trouble finding it once onto win10/11... Eventually found and tried QAP... wow, what a refreshing step back in time to when UI apps were light, unobtrusive, and most importantly, fully featured! Clearly this tool has evolved over a long time - Having set it up a few weeks back, I am still finding admin tasks are typically not catered for, but sure enough, its right there where I expect it to be. Perhaps this has more appeal to those not into dumbed-down interfaces (Apple, win8/10/11 etc... (custom X11 window manager controls anyone?!
), but it resonates with me. 
Still trying to kill that reflex of reaching for the start menu to type names of tools I need though 
Note that unlike some others in these forums (seemingly), my config is pretty light... browsers, system tools, Office tools, folders for key functional areas (net, comms, multimeida, etc), and a bunch of files I routinely use (xlsx's etc). No scripting etc
I guess if there were a few minor shortcomings:
- the mechanism to move entries up and down the list could be less sluggish.
- sometimes I don't see where the QAP menu appears - have to look around for it.
- finding the "Windows Apps" on the list of metro app names can be painful. I presume there is no deeper level of app names that can be extracted that sorts more naturally.
- It can be annoying that in some cases, one can't drag start menu items into the menu list editor. I guess that is a restriction imposed by Win11 itself. :|
- I have numerous items in my menu list (esp those metro apps) that got default icons. I've yet to look into where to get new icons from, but do find that finding where the exe is located can be a bit troublesome.
- Like some others, I experienced the problem with Onedrive saying it was unable to sync a QAP config file since it was open for writing (?) by QAP. I've relocated the QAP config folder to be outside of the Onedrive tree, but do note that QAP decided on that onedrive location by itself, so maybe it could be smartened up in this regard.
- I find that if trying to invoke the QAP menu on initial system boot... before the QAP has loaded, I get that godawful mess of a rubbish/advertising banner from Win11 instead (Win-W key combo). That is a bit of a shock when it occurs (almost a reflexive mashing of the keyboard (ok, Esc-key) to make it go away. Perhaps QAP can more aggressively take over that key combo.
I guess one feature that would be handy would be the option to temporarily pin the QAP menu where it currently sits - in case where needing to make multiple selections.
Anyway, Love the tool, glad I finally found it, and looking forward to learning more of the other features I've yet to discover. Donation made.
Stu. -
RE: New user / convert
Jean Lalonde > 2023-08-28 14:57
Hi Stu.
Thank you for your general comments and for your remarks. I'll take them one by one.
> the mechanism to move entries up and down the list could be less sluggish.
Do you mean using the buttons in the left column, the Ctrl-Up/Down hotkeys or the mouse drag and drop?
> sometimes I don't see where the QAP menu appears - have to look around for it.
In "Options, Popup Menu", you can:
- pin it at a fix location
- open it near the mouse location (good if you open the QAP menu with the mouse button)
- or near the top-left of the active window (good if you open the QAP menu with the keyboard hotkey).
> finding the "Windows Apps" on the list of metro app names can be painful. I presume there is no deeper level of app names that can be extracted that sorts more naturally.
Yes, unfortunately.
> It can be annoying that in some cases, one can't drag start menu items into the menu list editor. I guess that is a restriction imposed by Win11 itself. :|
Never tried it before. It works when you drag a file shortcut from the Start menu to an Explorer window. It may also work in QAP. I'll check this at some point. Added to the wishlist:
https://forum.quickaccesspopup.com/showt...p?tid=2579
- I have numerous items in my menu list (esp those metro apps) that got default icons. I've yet to look into where to get new icons from, but do find that finding where the exe is located can be a bit troublesome.
Do you mean the .EXE of the Metro app? I don't know...
- Like some others, I experienced the problem with Onedrive saying it was unable to sync a QAP config file since it was open for writing (?) by QAP. I've relocated the QAP config folder to be outside of the Onedrive tree, but do note that QAP decided on that onedrive location by itself, so maybe it could be smartened up in this regard.
QAP sets its default folder under the "My Document" (or "Document") folder, not considering if it is under OneDrive. Maybe it should? And then suggest to choose another location?
> I find that if trying to invoke the QAP menu on initial system boot... before the QAP has loaded, I get that godawful mess of a rubbish/advertising banner from Win11 instead (Win-W key combo). That is a bit of a shock when it occurs (almost a reflexive mashing of the keyboard (ok, Esc-key) to make it go away. Perhaps QAP can more aggressively take over that key combo.
I don't know of a way to make QAP launch quicker than it is now. Let me know if you have a trick for this.
And, finally, I thank you again for your contribution! Appreciated :-)
Jean -
RE: New user / convert
studeimus > 2023-08-28 17:39
(2023-08-28 14:57)Jean Lalonde Wrote: Hi Stu.
Thanks, stu.
Thank you for your general comments and for your remarks. I'll take them one by one.
> the mechanism to move entries up and down the list could be less sluggish.
Do you mean using the buttons in the left column, the Ctrl-Up/Down hotkeys or the mouse drag and drop?
SS: Just the up-down buttons.
- I have numerous items in my menu list (esp those metro apps) that got default icons. I've yet to look into where to get new icons from, but do find that finding where the exe is located can be a bit troublesome.
Do you mean the .EXE of the Metro app? I don't know...
SS: Yes, but I'm still a bit surprised that QAP didn't automatically find icons for them.
- Like some others, I experienced the problem with Onedrive saying it was unable to sync a QAP config file since it was open for writing (?) by QAP. I've relocated the QAP config folder to be outside of the Onedrive tree, but do note that QAP decided on that onedrive location by itself, so maybe it could be smartened up in this regard.
QAP sets its default folder under the "My Document" (or "Document") folder, not considering if it is under OneDrive. Maybe it should? And then suggest to choose another location?
SS: Either recongnise the onedrive connection, or perhaps just not hold the file open so long... or in r+w mode, or whatever. I consider this "ondrive interoperability", even if onedrive is the one being silly. -
RE: New user / convert
Jean Lalonde > 2023-08-28 18:12
> Do you mean using the buttons in the left column, the Ctrl-Up/Down hotkeys or the mouse drag and drop?
> SS: Just the up-down buttons.
Try the other techniques to see if you prefer them.
> Do you mean the .EXE of the Metro app? I don't know...
> SS: Yes, but I'm still a bit surprised that QAP didn't automatically find icons for them.
Metro apps architecture is very-very different from regular .exe files. In some case, Metro apps icons are stored in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\{app identifier}\Assets. QAP cannot retrieve them automatically as it can for regular .exe files. But you can browse to these icons manually if you wish.
> QAP sets its default folder under the "My Document" (or "Document") folder, not considering if it is under OneDrive. Maybe it should? And then suggest to choose another location?
> SS: Either recongnise the onedrive connection, or perhaps just not hold the file open so long... or in r+w mode, or whatever. I consider this "ondrive interoperability", even if onedrive is the one being silly.
I'll investigate this.