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[Development Request] Gadget Launcher


Question

First, I'm not sure if I'm placing this in the appropriate place; so forgive me moderators if this is in the wrong section. Now, with that out of the way...

I'm not much of a developer, by any means of the imagination, I'm simply a user with a meager request for a program to be developed. I would like an application / program to take advantage of Vista's Sidebar and 7's Gadgets capabilities. I'm wanting something that will launch/start/run a specific user defined gadget to be placed on the desktop (Not Simply Installing It). It would be a simple executable with some way to run a user defined gadget; with settings to allow specifying of the gadget to be run from the application and it's path. The application would also allow defining of a suitable icon to be represented in the taskbar on execution. Also it would be nice to have an option to disable/hide the gadget while not in use.

Basically the whole purpose of this, is to allow me to "pin" a gadget to the taskbar/powerbar to be started at will, and not be shown all the time; and to eliminate the need and hassle of digging through menus to start the gadget again.

I've used google to search high and low for a simple execution string I could place in a shortcut path to accomplish the the same feat. i.e. "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe" {parameters} like a "RunGadget" switch etc. ... with no such luck... :( I did however come across this: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd378390(VS.85).aspx and this: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd370867(VS.85).aspx Perhaps one of you finely gifted developers could use such information to make such a program a reality. How cool would it be to run the Weather Gadget or a Pandora Gadget at will and be able to have it pined to the taskbar? :cool: Thank you for taking the time to read all of this gibberish. I hope my wishes are actualized. If you are able to come up with any type of solution/remedy please let me know. Thank You

Please bump this if you too would also like to see this Program as a reality, or simply give us your thoughts.

Edited by keuka
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So would it be correct to say that the program or application would be a cataylist with taskbar and system tray control for gadgets? Also, how do I encourage more interest in this being developed?

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i like the idea as well. would make it a less cluttered desktop. i have also looked into a possibility of atleast adding a button on the superbar which would simply hide/show gadgets but havent been able to find a solution. this would be taking it a step further. not a programmer either but would be really interested intrying if someone were to come up with something.

in order to get a little cleaner look. i have currently reduced the opacity of the gadgets to 20 percent. i know its not the same thing but to me it looks better this way

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So would it be correct to say that the program or application would be a cataylist with taskbar and system tray control for gadgets? Also, how do I encourage more interest in this being developed?

I'm looking into it. I currently have an application launcher made for Windows 7 here and the functionality you describe would be a neat feature to integrate into my app. The toggle mode and task bar preview functionality of my app would go perfect with it.

The only thing I can think of right now is just to simply have an app open the sidebar or close it to show/hide gadgets but I know that isn't what your looking for (though my app is capable of that).

I'd be interested as well to know if anyone has any solutions.

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I'm looking into it. I currently have an application launcher made for Windows 7 here and the functionality you describe would be a neat feature to integrate into my app. The toggle mode and task bar preview functionality of my app would go perfect with it.

The only thing I can think of right now is just to simply have an app open the sidebar or close it to show/hide gadgets but I know that isn't what your looking for (though my app is capable of that).

I'd be interested as well to know if anyone has any solutions.

Thank you for your response. I must admit I took a look at your application launcher a few days ago when I read something about it elseware and it certainly is a cool little program. I was wondering if you can configure it to not launch groups of programs but rather just single URLs or single applications, like Pandora or something? I also think the functionality described before would make a great addition to your current project.

I already had thought about an app opening sidebar.exe or perhaps even passing parameters, but I don't really wish to togle all gadgets on and off or control all or even groups but rather just wish to control one gadget at a time from the taskbar; a gadget that runs like an application.

I think this idea would bring all those nifty web widgets and gadgets to a personalized platform for practality.

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Thank you for your response. I must admit I took a look at your application launcher a few days ago when I read something about it elseware and it certainly is a cool little program. I was wondering if you can configure it to not launch groups of programs but rather just single URLs or single applications, like Pandora or something?

Yeah 7APL can be configured to launch single apps. When creating a profile you just add one app then create another profile. In the case that you prefer launching apps through the JumpList (right click menu from superbar), you can create a "category"-based profile and add as many apps to that as you want. When you click on a category in the JumpList, the JumpList menu will be updated to display all the apps from that category which you can then launch individually. .url and .lnk files as well as websites should work fine as well as passing arguments to the apps.

I also think the functionality described before would make a great addition to your current project.

I already had thought about an app opening sidebar.exe or perhaps even passing parameters, but I don't really wish to togle all gadgets on and off or control all or even groups but rather just wish to control one gadget at a time from the taskbar; a gadget that runs like an application.

I think this idea would bring all those nifty web widgets and gadgets to a personalized platform for practality.

Agreed. I'll keep looking into it and see if I can come up with a solution.

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Alright, so I've found a workable solution :). While this won't actually close/open the gadget itself, it'll hide/show it instead (which I believe should suffice). The thing about this solution is you'll need to have the gadgets running from the get-go and my app will be able to hide/show it on demand. I may be able to implement features that will allow you to choose to hide/show certain gadgets when the app loads at system start up until you've toggled them (individually or grouped).

However, I'll need some time to implement this into my app as I only have a working proof-of-concept at the moment.

Edit: If you'd rather not have it just hide/show the gadget but actually close/run it I'll have to keep looking. Using the same concept to hide/show it I'm 99% positive I can close any individual gadget (though haven't tested it) but I'd still need to find a way to open them.

Edited by Se7enVII
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Alright, so I've found a workable solution :). While this won't actually close/open the gadget itself, it'll hide/show it instead (which I believe should suffice). The thing about this solution is you'll need to have the gadgets running from the get-go and my app will be able to hide/show it on demand. I may be able to implement features that will allow you to choose to hide/show certain gadgets when the app loads at system start up until you've toggled them (individually or grouped).

However, I'll need some time to implement this into my app as I only have a working proof-of-concept at the moment.

Edit: If you'd rather not have it just hide/show the gadget but actually close/run it I'll have to keep looking. Using the same concept to hide/show it I'm 99% positive I can close any individual gadget (though haven't tested it) but I'd still need to find a way to open them.

Yes! show/hide does indeed suffice; although I don't know how this will apply to streaming gadgets such as Pandora (Will the music still be playing in the background when the gadget is hidden?) Thank you so much for looking into this and even applying some research and developent. I am hopeful these endevours will actulize into something spectacular. Kudos x100 :cool: You rock man! Please keep me advised on your progress.

Your exsisting launcher is a wonderful addition to my system. {They need a gem or jewl emoticon. To illustrate praise/bonus/enchantment, like when you score on Bejewled or even like the purpose of confetty! :woot: :laugh: }

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To the developers out there:

Couldn't you just get the hWnd of the gadget and use ShowWindow() to show and hide it? I'd try it myself but I'm already busy with other projects...

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To the developers out there:

Couldn't you just get the hWnd of the gadget and use ShowWindow() to show and hide it? I'd try it myself but I'm already busy with other projects...

Yeah this is what I did. I got the class name of the gadgets and by inputting the name of the gadget you can get the handle of it. Putting that functionality into a neat interface (with the ability to have specific gadgets hidden on startup) takes some time though. But like I said once I have time to update 7APL, this functionality will be added to it.

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Se7enVII, I took a look at your latest (or what apeared to be your latest) YouTube video. I think you may have misconstrue the intent of this thread. I was wanting something to launch "Gadgets" as in desktop gadgets like in Microsoft's Desktop Gadget Gallery from an application/program that can be pinned to the taskbar. So for example the weather gadget could be shown when clicking the icon on the taskbar and hidden or closed when you click it again or when your right click and select a context menu selection or when the user normally closes the gadget with it's "x" button. I'm sorry for the confusion. Your application is really neat though and I look forward to testing it out and using it more once it's gotten out of a beta stage and has stabilized a little bit. Thank you for all your endevours, your works are truely an inspiration to me, not just on a technical side but on a humanity side as well. You are a prime example of what people can achieve or succeed at when they put forth the extra efort. Great Job, keep it rocking.

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I think you may have misconstrue the intent of this thread.

I'm pretty sure I've got the idea right. Like I said in previous posts I'll try and implement the feature as a part of the app launcher I'm working on now. Although its technically not an app (but a gadget) and it wouldn't actually be launched/closed but hidden/shown, the feature set would work nicely in an app launcher.

Anyhow, like I said, it'll be a little while before I can include such a feature.

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I'm pretty sure I've got the idea right. Like I said in previous posts I'll try and implement the feature as a part of the app launcher I'm working on now. Although its technically not an app (but a gadget) and it wouldn't actually be launched/closed but hidden/shown, the feature set would work nicely in an app launcher.

Anyhow, like I said, it'll be a little while before I can include such a feature.

still not getting it, don't want your program to be a gadget or to show hide your "gadget/app", I want something to launch preexsisting Gadgets! like as far as I know your program isn't a Weather gadget, is it?

I want something to be able to show and hide the weather gadget and show or hide the clock gadget, or show and hide the calendar gadget.... Get it?

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still not getting it, don't want your program to be a gadget or to show hide your "gadget/app", I want something to launch preexsisting Gadgets! like as far as I know your program isn't a Weather gadget, is it?

I want something to be able to show and hide the weather gadget and show or hide the clock gadget, or show and hide the calendar gadget.... Get it?

Which I'll be able to add to my app like I said before. The way it'll work is you have all your gadgets running from the get-go. I can code my app to hide specific ones that you don't want shown at start up. Using the profile launcher/hot keys you'll be able to show/hide any of the gadgets (as long as they are defined in a profile). If you don't understand what I'm trying to say that's fine.

Edit: If you thought the "Gadget Mode" in my latest version of my app is somehow related to this topic it isn't. "Gadget Mode" is a feature I came up with before I saw this thread and I know that what you are talking about is different from it.

Just have some faith and wait until I start working on my app again.

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Which I'll be able to add to my app like I said before. The way it'll work is you have all your gadgets running from the get-go. I can code my app to hide specific ones that you don't want shown at start up. Using the profile launcher/hot keys you'll be able to show/hide any of the gadgets (as long as they are defined in a profile). If you don't understand what I'm trying to say that's fine.

Edit: If you thought the "Gadget Mode" in my latest version of my app is somehow related to this topic it isn't. "Gadget Mode" is a feature I came up with before I saw this thread and I know that what you are talking about is different from it.

Just have some faith and wait until I start working on my app again.

Thank you for the reply and thank you for the clarification. I apologize as it was my misunderstanding. Thank you for your efforts and I am excited for things to come but I'll patiently wait.

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