Launchy 2.

5
PLEASE READ THIS!
When Launchy runs it disappears to the background. You have to press
alt+space (control+space in Linux) in order to see Launchy. I Launchy is ne!
or you please read the rest o this short "anual.
Welcome
Launchy !as irst created or "y o!n use# but as "y riends and I began to
heavily rely upon it and its lack o cost# I decided to distribute it. $he oicial
ho"epage or Launchy is http%&&!!!.launchy.net. I you need help using
Launchy or !ould like to leave any co""ents&suggestions please eel ree to
post on the oru"s.
'' (osh )arlin
What is Launchy?
Launchy is the "ost eicient !ay to open iles# olders# !ebsites# and
progra"s on your co"puter. *obody likes to hunt through the start "enu to
ind an application# +ust to ind that the application is hidden under so"e
obscure older na"ed ater a co"pany you have never heard o, Instead#
Launchy is a s"art search progra" !hich tries to guess !hich progra" or ile
you are looking or and !ill launch it !hen you hit the enter key. It is only
visible !hen you hit the alt+space key co"bination- other!ise it hides in the
background. .nce you have used it or a e! days# it beco"es an indispensable
utility or your co"puter. /nd its ree,
How to use Launchy
Launchy installs itsel into your 0tartup older (its buried in your start "enu)
and !ill auto"atically run every ti"e you log into your co"puter. Yet# !here
is it1 Launchy hides in the background until you need it. $o bring it to the
oreground type alt+space (hold do!n the alt key and tap the space bar). /t
this point si"ply begin typing the na"e o the progra" you are looking or. 2o
not !orry about capitali3ation# punctuation# or even spelling in general.
4hances are# Launchy kno!s !hat you are looking or. Launchy !ill sho! you
!hat it thinks you are looking or in the right hand box# and i it has ound
!hat you !ant# hit enter to launch that progra". I it has not ound !hat you
are looking or stop typing or a second and Launchy !ill sho! you a list o
alternative suggestions to choose ro". $hen hit enter to launch that progra".
I you strike the enter key# Launchy !ill launch the re5uested progra" and
then disappear again until you need it next. I you have changed your "ind
and do not !ish to launch a progra"# you can hit alt+space to "ake it
disappear again or you can si"ply hit the escape key.
I you !ould like to change the skin# add ne! directories and ile types or
Launchy to scan# or change the hotkey# right click on Launchy any!here
outside o the text areas and select 6.ptions7. 0o"e skins have an options
button on the".
omman! Line Pa"amete"s
Launchy allo!s you to add additional co""and line para"eters onto your
5ueries. 0i"ply hit tab once you have ound the application you are interested
in and then enter the".
8or instance# type in 6ire7 or 8ireox and once 8ireox is selected# hit tab and
then enter !!!.launchy.net ollo!ed by the enter key.
omman! Histo"y
When the input text area is e"pty# press the do!n arro! and Launchy !ill
display a history o the co""ands youve entered. You can scroll up and do!n
the list and press enter to repeat the co""and. 9ressing 0hit+2elete !ill
re"ove the ite" ro" the history.
#"owsin$ the %ile System
A!!in$ Di"ecto"ies an! Ty&es
I you !ould like Launchy to index "ore than the progra"s in your start "enu#
such as olders# "p:s# docs# pds# avis# then select the 4atalog tab.
A!!in$ Di"ecto"ies
;ight click on Launchy and select options and then go to the 4atalog tab. /dd
the directories you !ould like Launchy to scan by hitting the 6+7 button (< on
the picture). You can also drag and drop olders ro" Windo!s =xplorer onto
the older list.
A!!in$ %ile Ty&es
You can speciy !hich ile types to search or in each directory# such as >."p:
in your "usic directory and >.+pg in your pictures older.
$o add a ile type to a directory# select the directory# click the 6+7 button (?)
and enter the ile type (such as >."p:) in the edit box that appears in the ile
types list (:).
$o add all o the iles in a directory# add >.> as a type.
$o index all progra"s in a directory# check the 6Include executables7
Launchy can also index the na"es o sub'directories. 4heck the 62irectories7
box to add sub'directories as a type to index.
You can rescan your index at any ti"e by going to the options "enu# going to
the 64atalog7 tab and clicking the 6;escan 4atalog7 button at the botto".

How to han$e the Hot'ey
;ight click on Launchy any!here outside o the text areas and choose .ptions
and then go to the 6@eneral7 tab. 8ro" !ithin# choose !hichever hotkey suits
you. $he original is /lt + 0pace in case you !ould like to return to it later.
S'ins
It is possible to skin Launchy. $o create a skin# look in the 60kins7 directory
under your installation directory and copy the 62eault7 skin into a ne!
directory. =dit the skin.5ss and "isc.txt iles to your liking and replace the
i"ages. You can also ind ne! skins ro" the "ain !ebsite%
http%&&!!!.launchy.net&
Plu$ins
Launchy is very extensible due to its plugin architecture. 0ee the Official
Plugins section to see !hat plugins are provided !ith Launchy. I you !ould
like to turn plugins on or o# right click on Launchy and go to the 9lugins
"enu. 0i"ply uncheck each plugin that you !ould like to disable.
0o"e plugins have custo"i3able options# such as ;unny. $o conigure a
custo"i3able plugin# select the plugin and click on the 69lugin .ptions7
button. I the plugin is not custo"i3able the button !ill be grayed out.
How to close Launchy
;ight click on Launchy any!here outside o the text areas and select =xit.
0o"e skins have an exit button on the".
())icial Plu$ins
Launchy supports plugins. In the 69lugin7 directory in your Launchy installation
older you !ill ind plugins. $hey are .dll iles that can be added or re"oved
as you like.
9lugins can be conigured in the options screen. @o to the 6plugins7 tab and
select the plugin that you are interested in. $o disable a plugin# uncheck it.
$o conigure a plugin# select it and i any conigurable options are available a
set o options !ill appear.
Runne" Plu$in
Run ustom omman!s
4reate aliases or your avorite co""ands# even those that re5uire user input.
8or instance# create the co""and 6"ailto% A<7 !ith the alias o 6e"ail7 .
$hen# !hen you type 6e"ail7 into Launchy# hit tab# and then type the e"ail
address the e"ail address !ill replace the A< and your e"ail client !ill launch.
/nother exa"ple "ight be http%&&!!!.google.co"&search15BAA. .r perhaps
6c%CbinC"yco""and.bat7
#uil! you" own comman!s
;ight click on Launchy# go to 9lugins# select ;unny# and hit the plugin options
button. Dere you can add your o!n co""ands. 8or co""and na"e enter the
alias that you !ould like to use or your co""and. In the execute entry place
your co""and line progra". You can place A<#A?#A: etc.. in your path !here
you !ould like to have user input or +ust AA or all user input.
alcy Plu$in
alculate
$ype in so"e si"ple "ath. Launchy !ill calculate the ans!er. $he calculator is
li"ited to +#&#'#> and parenthesis.
ont"oly Plu$in
In!e* ont"ol Panel A&&lications
$his plugin inds the control panel applications in your syste" and lists the" in
Launchy.
+alc Plu$in ,$calc.!ll-
alculate . on/e"t
@4alc 5ueries @oogle or ans!ers. 0o i you type 6gcalc EtabF G+G7 and !ait a
split second# @oogle !ill respond !ith 6H7. ItIs very s"art ho!ever# and you
can ask things like 6gcalc EtabF G dollars in euros7 or 6gcalc EtabF : tsp in
tbsp7
0e"1y Plu$in
(&en containin$ )ol!e"s an! mo"e
Jerby adds additional co""ands to ite"s in the index. 8or exa"ple# typing
6notepad7 EtabF !ill allo! you to open the containing older# vie! the ile
properties# or copy the path to the progra" to the clipboard. I you +ust !ant
to run the progra"# choose run.
We1y Plu$in
Pe")o"m We1 Sea"ches
Launchy supports the ollo!ing search key!ords% google# bing# yahoo# !eather#
a"a3on# !ikipedia# dictionary# thesaurus# i"db# netlix# and "sdn !ebsearch.
$ype in any o these key!ords# hit tab# type in your search 5uery# and hit
enter.
Set a !e)ault sea"ch en$ine
With this option# i Launchy cannot ind a solution to your 5uery# it !ill oer to
search or it !ith your avorite !ebsite (deaults to google). $o select a
dierent deault search site# select your avorite site ro" the !eby plugin
coniguration dialog and hit the 60et 2eault7 button. $o disable this eature#
si"ply hit the 64lear 2eault7 button.
Launch We1&a$es
$ype in the url such as !!!.launchy.net or http%&&!!!.launchy.net and
hit enter
%i"e)o* 2
8ireox : stores book"arks in a locked database that Launchy canIt access. $o
enable Launchy to scan your 8ireox book"arks# please type 6about%conig7 in
your 8ireox url bar# ind the entry 6bro!ser.book"arks.auto=xportD$KL7 and
double click on it to set it to 6true7. 4lose the tab and rebuild your Launchy
catalog# and you should have your book"arks.
+ene"al (&tions
3se" Inte")ace
Always !is&lay Launchy win!ow
;ather than hiding ater you run a progra"# Launchy !ill al!ays re"ain visible
and pressing the hotkey !ill not hide Launchy !hen it has keyboard ocus.
Hi!e Launchy when it loses )ocus
Dides Launchy !hen keyboard ocus is lost to another application.
Always on to&
)eeps Launchy visually on top o all other progra"s.
Always cente" Launchy
=ach ti"e you press the Launchy hotkey# Launchy !ill appear in the center o
the screen in the selected axes.
(nly allow !"a$$in$ whilst Shi)t is &"esse!
4heck this option to prevent accidentally "oving Launchy !ith the "ouse.
Hot'ey
/llo!s you to choose another Launchy hotkey (alt+space is the deault).
Su$$estions List
3n!e"line matche! te*t
Dighlights the characters that Launchy has used to choose the ite"s it has
"atched.
Su$$estions !is&lay
/llo!s you to choose !hat inor"ation to display about each ite" in the
suggestions list.
Auto o&en !elay
2eter"ines ho! long Launchy !aits ater you stop typing beore it sho!s the
suggestion list.
Simultaneously /isi1le alte"nate su$$estions
In the dropdo!n box o suggestions# ho! "any !ould you like to see at once1
4a*imum num1e" o) alte"nate su$$estions
$his is ignored !hen bro!sing the ile syste".
4a*imum num1e" o) histo"y items
2eter"ines ho! "any previously entered co""ands to re"e"ber.
0isual E))ects
(&a5ueness
0ets the level o Launchys transparency.
%a!e in time
0ets the duration or Launchys ade in ani"ation
%a!e out time
0ets the duration or Launchys ade out ani"ation
Inte"net P"o*y
I youre stuck behind a corporate proxy server# enter its details here to enable
@4alc and any other plugins that need a connection to the internet.
System (&tions
4inutes 1etween catalo$ u&!ates
0ets ho! oten Launchys index is rebuilt. =very <L "inutes is the deault# but
you can custo"i3e this. 0et it to L i you only !ant to scan "anually.
Show hi!!en )iles in 1"owse mo!e
When bro!sing iles# (e.g. by typing c%C in !indo!s)# should hidden iles be
"ade visible1
Show netwo"' )iles in 1"owse mo!e
When bro!sing iles# this setting deter"ines !hether Launchy atte"pts to
sho! iles on the net!ork.
Allow wil!ca"!s in 1"owse mo!e
When bro!sing iles# this setting allo!s you to enter bash style !ildcards( ># 1
and Ma'3N). I you need to bro!se iles containing s5uare brackets# uncheck this
setting.
hec' )o" new /e"sions o) Launchy on sta"tu&
Launchy !ill check to see i a ne! version o Launchy is available each ti"e
Launchy starts running.
Po"ta1le mo!e ,3S# stic'-
Launchy stores its coniguration iles in user'speciic locations. When in
portable "ode# Launchy !ill store its coniguration iles in the directory that it
is run ro". $o run Launchy in portable "ode# ollo! this procedure%
Install Launchy 6o"mally
4opy the Launchy directory to your usb stick
;un Launchy ro" the usb stick
4heck the 69ortable Kode7 box in the @eneral options tab
=xit Launchy
*ote% Launchy periodically rebuilds the index. I you "ove ro" co"puter to
co"puter the index "ight not be relective o the "achine it is currently
residing on. It !ould be a good idea to right click and 6;ebuild Index7 !hen
you plug into a ne! co"puter.
7ey1oa"! Sho"tcuts
=scape Dide alternatives list then hide Launchy
=nter Launch selected ite"
0hit+4trl+=nter Launch selected ite" elevated (Windo!s only)
$ab =nter additional co""and para"eters
0hit+$ab
0hit+Oackspace
2elete back to the previous $ab position
4trl+# 0ho! the options dialog
8P ;escan the catalog
0hit+8P ;eload the current skin
omman! Line Switches
Launchy understands the ollo!ing co""and line s!itches
exit /tte"pt to close any running instances o Launchy
"ultiple /llo!s "ore than one instance o Launchy to run.
options 0ho!s the options dialog
rescan ;escan the catalog
rescue ;esets Launchys position to the center o the screen and selects
the deault skin
sho! 0ho!s Launchys !indo! (deault is to launch hidden in "ost
cases). 4an be used as a !ay to active Launchy ro" a shortcut.
I &"ultiple is not used and Launchy is already running# then the co""and !ill
be sent to the running instance o Launchy.
=xa"ples
Launchy.exe &sho!
Launchy.exe 'rescan
)no!n Linux Issues%
*ot all skins !ill !ork !ith Linux Launchy. I youIre running a co"positing
"anager (co"pi3&beryl) then the skins should look the sa"e as in Windo!s.
.ther!ise# you !ill have to settle or the skins that look good !ithout alpha
transparency (e.g. 2eault and Olack @lass). I the black area o "ask.png is
perectly rectangular then or so"e reason co"pi3 !onIt "ask it correctly and
you !ill have a strange black section around the skin.
0e"sion In)o"mation
?.P.L
/dded 0i"on 4ape!ell as a developer. $his release o!es 5uite a lot to hi".
$hanks 0i"on,
8aster peror"ance
Oetter behavior on Linux Q $hanks Kike, (dRbP)
.0 S no! supported
Icons displayed correctly
=nviron"ent variables updated correctly !hen syste" changes
4ontroly includes "ore ite"s# thanks 8abian,
*e! shortcut keys
*e! controls%
0hit+tab or 0hit+bkspc deletes previous tab
0hit+4trl+=nter launches in elevated "ode (Jista and WinT)
2o!n arro! sho!s history (!hen there is no current search text)
2eault skin built into executable in case no other skin is ound
Launchy no! has an icon in the syste" tray
0kins are si"pliied and easier to create
2irectory bro!sing auto'co"pletes correctly
?.<.L
/dded Linux support, ()2= and @no"e both !ork# possibly others)
/dded @oogle 4alculator plugin (gcalc)
/dded conigurable deault search to !eby (all searches !ith no results deault
to google)
6&7 and 6C7 no! tab co"plete !hile ile bro!sing
/dded rescue "ode to recover lost !indo!s or orgotten hotkeys (in Linux run
6launchy rescue7 or use the start "enu in !indo!s)
Kini"u" transparency set to <PU
0earches are even aster and the catalog uses slightly less "e"ory
Oug 8ixes%
8ixed the database update ti"er
8ixed centering proble" !hen "ultiple "onitors in use
8ixed the url encoding proble"# e.g. googling or 6cV7 no! !orks
?.L.L
Launchy has been completely re!ritten !ith W$
Your old plugins&skins !ill no longer !ork
Your old coniguration !ill be !iped
/ ne! look, *e! icons and skin thanks to $yler 0ticka
Kuch better skinning support
.ptions "erged into a single# tabbed dialog
0kin selection no! sho!s previe!s
9lugins "uch "ore conigurable
Launchy can hide !hen it loses ocus
8ade in&out eects
4usto"i3able transparency
.ptional shallo! scan o directories
Xnicode support or 8ireox book"arks
Jista support
Its +ust better.
<.?.P
*e! control panel plugin (indexes control panel apps)
;unny plugin (custo"i3able co""ands)
*otiication o ne! Launchy ;eleases (can be turned o)
4o""and line argu"ent support (hit tab and type the argu"ents)
4an use .> as a iletype or directories
9lugins can be enabled&disabled (right click on launchy# go to plugins)
9lugins can no! have conigurable options
/l!ays on top is no! conigurable
Oug 8ixes%
;e"oved startup crash bug
8ixed Weby bug (it !as hard to select @oogle)
8ixed "ouse disappearance in dropdo!n "enu
Launchy no longer +u"ps !hen you change skins
Launchy no longer lashes on startup
4alcy took priority over iles !ith nu"bers# ixed
Launchy can no! be placed in the corner o the screen
<.L.L
Launchy no! supports plugins, 4heck out the 69lugins7 older inside your
Launchy directory# you can add and re"ove plugins ro" there !hen Launchy is
not running. 8ollo!ing are the plugins that co"e !ith Launchy by deault# I
expect "any others to be developed by "ysel and the co""unity.
E*&lo"y Plu$in% / ile explorer or Launchy, *o! you can use launchy to
navigate your ilesyste". $ry typing 6c%7 then hitting tab# keep on typing and
hitting tab,
We1y Plu$in% 0upports launching o urls and adds 5uick launches or 6@oogle7
6K0*7 6/"a3on7 and "any others# try typing 6google7 then hit tab then type
in a search 5uery
%o*y Plu$in8 With oxy your 8ireox book"arks !ill be added to the Launchy
index. =ven better# your ireox key!ords are added to Launchy and behave
like 5uick launches do or Weby. *ot sure !hat ireox key!ords are1 @o here%
http%&&!!!."o3illa.org&products&ireox&s"art'key!ords.ht"l (*ote so"e
ireox 5uick searches are currently inco"patible and !ill not be indexed)
alcy Plu$in8 *ever have a calculator handy1 With 4alcy# Launchy kno!s
!hen youre trying to do "ath and !ill display the result in the suggestions
box. 8or instance# try typing in 6(G + :) > <?7 and HG !ill result in the
suggestions box. 0upport or + ' > & ()s currently exists.
*o! 4trl+Oackspace deletes a !ord at a ti"e and /lt+Oackspace clears the text
$oo "any bug ixes to count or re"e"ber# good riddance,
0pecial thanks to 0ean 9oon http%&&gakuseisean.deviantart.co" or the use o
his !onderul icons or the plugins
<.L.L Oeta
Launchy displays the ull path and icon to iles in the dropdo!n suggestions
box.
8iletypes can no! be speciically set or each directory to index
/l!ays on top "ode added
X0O Kode added
4onigurable index scan interval
4oniguration iles "oved to docs and settingsCuserna"eC/pplicationsCLaunchyC
!hich is riendlier to users !ith li"ited access accounts.
Oug 8ixes%
$he Launchy startup on auto'login crash should be gone
*o longer presu"es icon index is located in 4%C
Dotkey !indo! no! initiali3es !ith current hotkey
4oniguration iles no! less likely to be corrupted due to restart during saving
L.R.Y
Launchy can no! index directory na"es as !ell as iles,
/ utilities older !ith useul shortcuts is no! included# it adds standard control
panel progra"s# syste" shutdo!n & logo& reboot# and special olders such as
Ky 2ocu"ents# and Ky Kusic.
Xnicode no! ully supported. /ll character sets should !ork.
$he old style o "atching by association is co"pletely re"oved# its no!
entirely based upon re5uency o use
*o! has a 6please donate7 dialog that appears only once# sorry but Ive got to
"ake a living,
Oug 8ixes%
8ixed up&do!n keys causing a dropdo!n !hen there are no "atches
0aves settings to ini directly ater changes are "ade in case o syste" crash
0paces are no! ignored in user input# "aking it possible to search or
6(ohnnyZcash."p:7 !ith 6+ohn cash7
L.R.:
.nce again# Launchy is prettier. $he co"bobox has vanished.
*e! skins, 9lease see the /uthor.txt ile in each skins directory to give credit
!here credit is due.
Oug 8ixes%
0o"eti"es !indo!s shutdo!n prevented the database ro" being saved. *o!
it saves "ore re5uently +ust in case.
/rbitrarily long ile extensions are no! allo!ed# so you can ilter on ."peg or
instance and not +ust ."pg
/ couple o "inor graphical glitches have been ixed
2evelop"ent =nviron"ent%
$he Ooost library is no longer needed to co"pile Launchy# Ive copied the
necessary Ooost header iles or s"art pointers into the pro+ect.
L.R.?
8re5uency sorting took priority over exact "atches# ixed.
L.R.<
0earch results sorted by re5uency o use no!.
4oniguration iles "oved to the Xsers subdirectory o your installation. $his
"eans that your coniguration ile !ill start resh.. sorry, It also "eans that
Launchy can be run ro" a "e"ory stick.
You can no! re"ove the start "enu ro" the directories you scan i you so
desire.
Oug ixes# hooray,
L.R
/lpha channel support, Launchy is sexier no!.
*e! skinning options.
Lots o skins,
Kinor bug ixes.
/bility to rescan index on de"and.
$his is a eature co"plete version o Launchy <.L 8ro" no! until then I !ill
only post bug ixes.
L.H<
*e! installer# ater this release upgrades should be "uch better.
/dded icon support. *o! icons are sho!n as !ell as the ile na"e. $he visual
cue o the icon "akes or aster launching. (Its also prettier)
$he co"bobox is no! a bit "ore sane. It !ont steal your ocus a!ay !hen it
drops do!n.
Launchy !ill rescan directories on startup as opposed to !aiting a couple o
"inutes.
Launchy no! scans user speciied directories and stores the results in a
co"pressed ile to "ake startup aster.
You can no! change the hotkey that activates Launchy
You can no! create&select skins or Launchy
Launchy searches >"uch> aster than beore# enabling indexing o thousands o
iles
9.: Launchy has "e"ory, It !ill associate your input !ith applications.
9.;< Launchy no longer opens all progra"s "axi"i3ed.
$his is the irst 4++ release. /s I beca"e rustrated !ith 4Vs large .*=$
ra"e!ork re5uire"ents and users lack o desire to install it# I decided to
s!itch back to the aster language. $his release is unctionally and visually
e5uivalent to the L.P 4V release. $he 4V 4J0 version had so"e ne! eatures
that I !ill soon add to the 4++ branch.
9.5 $his !as the irst public release.