[Utility] 7Stacks

[zeke009]

Very handy little utility here (I thought). Current release (as of posting) is 1.2 which is built for Win7 beta and RC. So there are the occasional hiccups with the RTM build.

http://www.alastria.com/index.php?p=software-7s

7stacks is an easy to use, free app that lets Windows 7 (and Vista and XP) users have "stacks" of icons in their Taskbar (in 7) or QuickLaunch Toolbar (in Vista and XP). By using stacks, users can reduce icon clutter, and combine a group of related icons into a single icon. For instance, if you use application suites such as Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or Adobe CS4, you can have all the suite's icons combined into one icon!

***EDIT***

Here's the icon I mentioned for Office below, edit button wasn't available in that post so I'd added it here.

office.ico

It looks like this:

Edited September 9, 2009 by zeke009

[-KJ]

Although integrated with the Aero look better, I think StandaloneStack 2 feels tidier and more customizable.

Actually, that might've been another program. I'll check this out, thanks.

[zeke009]

One tip I do have for those who try it out, find an icon ahead of time. I created a stack for Office 2007 and when I tried to replace the icon (using 7Stacks 1.2) I had a heck of time and ended up recreating the stack.

So... either find or create an icon ahead of time. I'm sure customizing or editing a stack will improve with future releases, it's just one issue I saw the other night and how I got around it.

I used the free IcoFX to create my icon for Office. If I remember to when I get home, I'll attach it here to save some others the time or hassle of finding an icon for Office.

For those interested, the other issue I saw was the stack wouldn't open. This happened once to me since loading this a few days ago and worked a short time later. Since Win7 isn't publicly available, I'm not too concerned as the author is preparing version 1.5 according to his blog.

[Rudy]

If I get around installing Win7 I want to try this app, it's been on my radar for a while

[asim0]

No sure about the way the text looks ... is that customisable? I know it's not aero, but if there was an option to make it look like a jump-list that would be cool.

[zeke009]

No sure about the way the text looks ... is that customisable? I know it's not aero, but if there was an option to make it look like a jump-list that would be cool.

You can select white text with a black glow or what you see in the SS. Another option is to have the stack window completely transparent.

I'll take some screenshots when I can of each option in 7Stacks and post them here.

Here's the link to the screenshots on the author's site: http://www.alastria.com/index.php?p=software-7s-scrshots

[Unconnected]

I like the app a lot i use the "menu" styled stack, since it simple and small.. Although the thing is quite slow to appear but author says its fixed in next version.

[A.Gabri]

Great app , but i think it has a bug when i click on any icon inside the stack sometimes it doesn`t open the application and i have to open the stack again and try again

[CrashG]

This looks like a perfect solution for the Quicklaunch function I miss in 7 and still keeps the Superbar clean and tidy. :yes: I'll keep an eye on this thread and on the author's site.

[ilike2burnthing]

This looks like a perfect solution for the Quicklaunch function I miss in 7 and still keeps the Superbar clean and tidy. :yes: I'll keep an eye on this thread and on the author's site.

You want quicklaunch back?

Right-click taskbar, Toolbars, New toolbar..., "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch".

If you want it to look like the old quicklaunch, right-click taskbar, uncheck Lock the taskbar, drag quicklaunch to beside start orb, right-click quicklaunch, uncheck Show Text and Show title, then lock the taskbar again.

Et voil?, enjoy;))

[CrashG]

I how to get it back already, but this may work out as a better solution and keep the icons down to a minimal number.

[zeke009]

I how to get it back already, but this may work out as a better solution and keep the icons down to a minimal number.

That's the same reason I loaded this utility. I currently have an App Launcher item in my sidebar, but I'll get rid of that once 7Stacks 1.5 is out. 1.2 still has this little quirk of not opening from time to time, but I only have an Office stack created at the moment.

On a side note, that's why I never posted a screenshot... it was having a fit and wouldn't open, I'll try to do that tonight.

[IndyLateNite]

This looks like a perfect solution for the Quicklaunch function I miss in 7 and still keeps the Superbar clean and tidy. :yes: I'll keep an eye on this thread and on the author's site.

Check out TrueLaunchbar. It works great in 7 and is both 32 and 64 bit. It's a great replacement for QuickLaunch and has popup menus and shortcuts as well as some nice plugins that give drive space, battery, etc.

[zeke009]

A beta release of 1.5 is available, while it is a little faster I have still had the issue of nothing opening. So, if you're having issues with 1.2 on the RTM release of Win7. You may have better luck with 1.5 beta.

[Salty Wagyu]

I'm not too keen on the look of that, I've been using Jumplist Launcher so it looks native in the OS and doesn't even need the launcher running, although it increases size of start menu if you decide to have a lot of jumplist items on it unfortunately.

[zeke009]

I'm not too keen on the look of that, I've been using Jumplist Launcher so it looks native in the OS and doesn't even need the launcher running, although it increases size of start menu if you decide to have a lot of jumplist items on it unfortunately.

Thanks for the tip aarste, I'll take a look at this when I get home.

http://en.www.ali.dj/jumplist-launcher/

[michealm]

7stacks is awesome thanks for posting this I'ne tried the others but this one kicks ass