Pirates Launcher

[elC]

Hi friends
Have a happy new year 2025.

The attachment is an alpha release of my tiny Pirates Launcher.
Today without the source code, because it is an alpha version.
Maybe, you like to test it,
Please don't spread the file, wait for the final version. Thank you.

I wish to know if everthing is working okay, particularly under Windows 11, which isn't my OS!
Any bug reports are welcome.
Also suggestions or small(!) ideas to enhance the application are welcome.

Sure, there will some big options to enhance the program, but i like it small and simple.
It should be only a launcher... with some pirate features ;-)

The source code will be available with the first stable release, in January 2025.

Credit flies to Ernest Murphy and his win32 com solution, found in the:
A S S E M B L Y  P R O G R A M M I N G  J O U R N A L - Issue 8
That was a brain flash for me, remembering the old times, in the year 2000...

elC


Hi
The description is included, hit the Information button in the app.
This is a new alpha, with some new features.
It would be nice to get any response...

Short:
You can add a directory with prefered files.
You can save that diretory list and load it after next restart, selecting the directory you wish to dispay in the list.
You can extract icons of a file in the list, if you like to get that icon.
You can create shortcut files (*.lnk) to your favorite files in a "links" directory.
Add that "links" directory to the application diretory list.
Saving the directory list the prefered (*.lnk) files are available to execute, selecting the directory and double clicking the (*.lnk) item.
Checked items are include if the app will be minimized, for quick access from the taskbar.

It is a launcher, your desktop must not contain a bunch of icons.

At the end of the day it is another win32 assembler example!
Anyway, i think currently missing is an option to restore the settings, after restarting the app.

elC





Pirates Launcher - Second Beta

[zedd151]

Would be great if you posted a description of what the program does, or is supposed to do... 

Some sort of file manager?, by looking at the screenshot would be a guess at best.

[elC]

Hi
The first beta version of Pirates Launcher.
One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. :-)

The Blacklist isn't working until now and the information screen isn't up to date.

I encounter problems if scanning huge directories containig 100.000 or more files without a filter.
In that case the listview control, espacially in icon mode, could be disrupted (Win10, i5-4670, Radeon 6400, SSD, 16GB RAM).
Bug reports are welcome...

elC

[elC]

Hi
The second beta of Pirates Launcher.

Main updates:
- Auto scan on startup removed
- Only one button, the red one, to execute a new scan
- Faster response to abort scanning <ESC>
- At least one file filter must be applied
- Exact user search string is full working
- Doubleclick to open a file or folder from the favourite list
- Build in blacklist now working
- Blacklist and Favlist are limited to 255 entries, should be enough
- Button to open the shortcut folder, to edit, copy, delete or rename shortcuts
- Service dropdown control removed and replaced with buttons, for faster access
- Enhanced status bar messages, to provide more information
- Fixed: Option to open the URL, changing cursor to hand on mouseover
- Toggle the main window size if clicking the author area in the title
- Shortcut creation moved to a thread
- Code cosmetic
- Minor bug fix

Updated screenshot and download link in the first post.

elC