Database Users

Changing "Programs" link in Start Menu

Hi All,
I was wondering of there's a way to change the Start menu or the "Programs" Link in the Start Menu to open another application. I want to develop something like gStart, but for PocketPC (on smartphone u can change the a registry key to set another application as the default app when u click "Start" button). Mio A700 screenshots has a gr8 MioMenu very nice and sexy so i want o do something like that.
thanks for your help

On PPCs the start menu works like in regular windows – there is a folder ("start menu") under windows with all the shortcuts. You can change the files there, create subdirectories etc.
You can also catch the taskbar window (class "SS_TASKBAR I think…) and just cover the start button with your own window.
Hope this helps.

you must edit the shellres.dll file , in this file has the path to the "programs folder"

I think he was pertaining to a custom "programs menu" like calling for example folderview.exe and not the Path or not where the folder is being called.
A programs menu replacement instead of using the defualt one.

I actually saw an app like that some time ago, it was very small like a few kb and just lied in the background waiting for you press the start and when you did it launched an app of your choice instead of showing the start menu...
Don't remember the name though : / think it was based on something called green button or something which is basically the same thing but for the call button... maybe you should around some, or hopefully someone knows what i am talking about and can give you a link

Leonick said:
I actually saw an app like that some time ago, it was very small like a few kb and just lied in the background waiting for you press the start and when you did it launched an app of your choice instead of showing the start menu...
Don't remember the name though : / think it was based on something called green button or something which is basically the same thing but for the call button... maybe you should around some, or hopefully someone knows what i am talking about and can give you a link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=486712

You could add a shortcut to any other folder and then hide the programs link. To do this, set the Programs folder to hidden.

allelimo said:
This one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=486712
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup pretty much like that, but except for the Start or Windows Start, the "Programs" with in the start menu is being intercepted and launching an alternative "Programs Menu"
I guess the only way is to make an ordinary Start Menu replacement (same as the defualt Start Menu) with the exception of having the "Programs" launch another program.
This way, looks and feels of WM is still the same.

Editing the Start Button

I use SPB Mobile Shell and I would like to make it so "SPB Menu" comes up when I press the Start button on the top left hand corner.
Is there a way to do this?

I dont think this is possible, but why would you want to do that, a pop up menu is great in my opinion.
I recommend you to assign the spb menu to one of your hardware keys, like the camera key or something like that,
cu

It is possible - for example QuickMenu can replace the start menu with itself. HTC EnlargeStart Menu does the same. Maybe it needs some kind of registry hack.

tomazez said:
I dont think this is possible, but why would you want to do that, a pop up menu is great in my opinion.
I recommend you to assign the spb menu to one of your hardware keys, like the camera key or something like that,
cu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I LOVE the SPB Menu and since I use my fingers 99% of the time on my Touch I don't really have a use for the built in Start menu.
I know there has to be a way to do this, I just hope it is a easy one.

I looked through my registry a bit but I didn't see anything that would change this.
It has to be possible.
Is there a way to do a registry dump, perform the HTC Start Menu Tweak and then perform another dump and somehow compare them to see what has changed?

With Wisbar Advance 3 you can map the start button to anything you want.

I installed Wisbar Advance Desktop to play around with when I first got my Touch. I uninstalled it because I didn't like the functionality. After the uninstall I still have Wisbar icons showing up in some of my menu's. There is no way I am going to install one of their bloated products just to do one simple function.

Hi, i am looking for the same Startbutton tweak.
I want to remove the Startbutton AND the word "Start" right to the button.
Wisbar Lite Taskmanager does remove the word "Start".
I'd like to know how this works, and somehow it must be possible to remove or reassign the Startbutton without installing WAD or WA3, a megapackage for only one function.

If someone has the skills to do this and/or write a simple program to make this happen I wouldn't mind compensating them. Either in $$ or Webhosting!

Nothing is being removed in most of these cases, the start button and or title bar is being covered up.

JudgeDredd67 said:
Nothing is being removed in most of these cases, the start button and or title bar is being covered up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want anything removed, I just want to change the link on the Start menu to point to something else.

bump it up!

I compared the registry with the large menu on and off and this is all I found. Not much help (for me anyway).
BIG START MENU
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\HTC\EnlargeMenu]
"DropDown"=dword:00000000
"Enable"=dword:00000001
LITTLE START MENU
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\HTC\EnlargeMenu]
"Enable"=dword:00000000
"DropDown"=dword:00000000

fowen said:
I don't want anything removed, I just want to change the link on the Start menu to point to something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He says that it's not a registry tweak... maybe those programs relocate the title bar and put themselves in that positions looking similar with different functions... That is the way that evb used to work fullscreen (relocating the title bar, sip and taskbar)...

I finally gave in and reinstalled Wisbar Advance. I would rather accomplish this without using Wisbar but for now it will work.

RKeyScroll v0.4b - my gift to you - scroll any window with the keys

Hi !
Here's an utility to scroll the current window. And i do mean SCROLL, not jump page by page.
Since i got my first PPC, i didn't like the way you're supposed to read stuff, i wanted to scroll down, but pressing the down key jumped one page down. I wanted a smooth scroll, so i made one myself.
How it works:
1. Run the app
2. Minimize it (either with your favourite task manager or tap Start/Today) - DON'T CLOSE IT
3. From now on, the UP/DOWN keys scroll the content of the current window - smooth scroll
Volume Up / Volume Down also scroll (a bit faster) - this won't work on some devices that have custom use for the volume keys.
4. You can disable/enable when needed by mapping a button to RKeyScroll Switch (each tap switches between scroll mode / normal mode.
5. When you're finished with it, run it again, or activate it in your task manager and press ok in it (left softkey)
Limitations:
2. It doesn't work in Start/Programs and in Word/Excel (maybe Powerpoint) - I don't know why
If you find other programs (MAJOR PROGRAMS - WHICH MANY PEOPLE USE) that don't work, post here - please don't spam and don't post a program that doesn't need the scroll anyway.
I tested this on my Toshiba G900 (if scrolling with Volume keys, don't hold them pressed) and my wife's HTC Touch.
PS: thanks to Nagakubo Tomohiro (creator of PQz and PQzII) for trying to help.
Change Log:
Code:
0.04b - 26 June 2008
- command line options (by default the app has scroll enabled):
ss - switch scroll mode - only used if app is already running
son - turn scroll mode on - can also be used on startup
soff - turn scroll mode off - can also be used on startup
only use one command line option at a time
this is useful like this:
- In Windows/StartUp copy RKeyScroll Off.lnk to start the app every time the system starts with scrolling disabled
- In Windows/Start Menu/Programs there's RKeyScroll Switch.lnk -map this to a hardware button of your choice (thanks to fisch3009 for the idea)
- made the install easier - packed as a CAB - creates all shortcuts, for automatic startup you must copy manually
- G900 version has scroll switch mapped to camera tap (it cannot be remapped with windows anyway)
0.03b - 25 June 2008
- separate version for Toshiba G900 - this i can test on ;)
- fixed OK button on Toshiba G900
- when no scroll is possible, buttons do what they normally do
- added smoother scrolling on volume up/volume down
- changed the code to avoid future bugs ;)
- still a bug: when start menu/quick menu is opened, it still scrolls the window beneath
0.02b - 24 June 2008
- first release
Hope you like it !
RPG

reserved for future updates

reserved for more future updates

great idée, thanks man

hi rpg
is it possible to use fingers ? instead of up/down buttons
is it a problem using TouchFlo ?
salut monpsy , toujours à fouiner LOL

brunoisa10 said:
hi rpg
is it possible to use fingers ? instead of up/down buttons
is it a problem using TouchFlo ?
salut monpsy , toujours à fouiner LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to get your finger in the way while reading something AND get your screen dirty, use TouchFLO or SPB Plus for finger scrolling

Great Idea! I'm looking for a automated "timer" type scroller? Where you put like 10 seconds in the setup, and it would automatically scroll a page every 10 (or whatever seconds). No need to touch screen or dpad...

This is very cool. I sometimes have trouble reading through my thumb
I notice it still tries to scroll in the application that it can control even when it is not the current focus application.
Could you make it deactivate when the focus program is something it doesn't work in?
Also make it run in the background so I don't have to run it everytime I want to use it.
E.g. when I am in IE and I activate QuickMenu it still scrolls IE and ignores QuickMenu. Also you mention it doesn't work in File Explorer, likewise in Total Commander you can see the scroll bar move but the screen doesn't scroll.
Possibly have an exemptions list similar to FTouchFlo (I can see you don't like this) so we can add programs that we prefer the D pad to work natively in. Also any chance of kinetic scrolling?
Keep it up!

evojulz said:
I notice it still tries to scroll in the application that it can control even when it is not the current focus application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed in 0.3b, i will post it later today.
evojulz said:
Could you make it deactivate when the focus program is something it doesn't work in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In 0.3b, if it can't scroll, the buttons resume their normal functions, so yes.
evojulz said:
Also make it run in the background so I don't have to run it everytime I want to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's already like this - you just run it once, minimize it, and change windows, it will scroll the active one (unless there are bugs )
evojulz said:
E.g. when I am in IE and I activate QuickMenu it still scrolls IE and ignores QuickMenu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed in 0.3b
evojulz said:
Also you mention it doesn't work in File Explorer, likewise in Total Commander you can see the scroll bar move but the screen doesn't scroll.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me it works in Total Commander. When i have more time, i will try to see why it doesn't work (how to make it work) in the others.
evojulz said:
Possibly have an exemptions list similar to FTouchFlo (I can see you don't like this) so we can add programs that we prefer the D pad to work natively in. Also any chance of kinetic scrolling?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't like the idea of an exception list - i want to keep this as simple as possible. On my Toshiba G900 i can disable the scrolling with the camera button - so this would solve the problem of using the DPad as a DPad when needed. I will see how I could add this functionality to other phones (i just need the camera button code)
evojulz said:
Keep it up!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I will. And thanks for the very good feedback.

This program is a great idea, i missed this feature long time.
I don't like the idea of an exception list - i want to keep this as simple as possible. On my Toshiba G900 i can disable the scrolling with the camera button - so this would solve the problem of using the DPad as a DPad when needed. I will see how I could add this functionality to other phones (i just need the camera button code)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhpas you can add an command line option to switch on and off the dpad scroll function, so everybody can map the software to his or her preferred hardwarebutton.

fisch3009 said:
This program is a great idea, i missed this feature long time.
Perhpas you can add an command line option to switch on and off the dpad scroll function, so everybody can map the software to his or her preferred hardwarebutton.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a great idea !
I thought i would make the button configurable in the registry, but the user should know the code of the button. Your way is a lot simpler. I will add it in 0.3b tonight before posting it.
You saved me a lot of time.
Thanks !

Cool, will link to it in my next misc news article.

nice nice idea...

Maybe this is already known, but I cannot change the volume with the scroll-wheel during a call.
Perhaps you also fixed it in your new version. Tnx anyway.

johanromijn said:
Maybe this is already known, but I cannot change the volume with the scroll-wheel during a call.
Perhaps you also fixed it in your new version. Tnx anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed in 0.3b.

0.03b released
still to do - enable/disable scroll with a button
still to fix - when start menu is opened, the up/down keys scroll the window beneath instead of selecting items in start menu

0.04b released - now has enable disable mappable to HW button

RPG0 said:
0.04b released - now has enable disable mappable to HW button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, fast development
Installs from CAB and maps to my camera button great.
The switch command doesn't turn it on and off, just opens the RKeyScroll dialogue the same as the RKeyScroll On command. Is this supposed to happen?
I would like it to start and run silently and not even show up in the running programs list and then stop when the switch command is run again.
BTW, still doesn't work in Total Commander for me.

evojulz said:
Wow, fast development
Installs from CAB and maps to my camera button great.
The switch command doesn't turn it on and off, just opens the RKeyScroll dialogue the same as the RKeyScroll On command. Is this supposed to happen?
I would like it to start and run silently and not even show up in the running programs list and then stop when the switch command is run again.
BTW, still doesn't work in Total Commander for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weird, for me the RKeyScroll Switch disables/enables the scroll and the window doesn't get activated(just like i programmed it to do).
Oh, I know. You're closing the app and then running RKeyScroll Switch. Don't click "OK" - this closes the app. Just minimize it, and then press the button mapped to "Switch" - it will work. It will not activate the window again.
About the silent start: That's how I want it to behave, but i got sleepy, so... 0.5b will probably do that.

Just a shameless bump

Here's the trick to assign panel button to other exe

Only works for exe (shortcut ".lnk" won't work)
Code:
1. HKLM\Software\SonyEricsson\PanelManager\ApplicationName
2. e.g. Change it to "\..\Windows\Pie.exe"

thats just linking to another application. but its not released for windows mobile use.

jackleung said:
Only works for exe (shortcut ".lnk" won't work)
1. HKLM\Software\SonyEricsson\PanelManager\ApplicationName
2. e.g. Change it to "\..\Windows\Pie.exe"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NICE find ! Thx alot !!!!!
It works flawlessly with Quickmenu !
So.. I got my Startmenu-Button back !
Btw: I also installed the Blackstone FM Radio Cab so no functionality is gone from my X1. The Mediapanel is nice but.... Who cares...?
DocMAX said:
thats just linking to another application. but its not released for windows mobile use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
???
Of course it is a registry tweak and not an application ?

What am i doing wrong?
i changed the reg key to: \Windows\CommManager.exe
but it still tells me that there is no panel manager instead of opening the communication manager.

anheuer said:
What am i doing wrong?
i changed the reg key to: \Windows\CommManager.exe
but it still tells me that there is no panel manager instead of opening the communication manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I made this mistake as well, it's because you've missed the most important part.
1. HKLM\Software\SonyEricsson\PanelManager\ApplicationName
2. e.g. Change it to "\..\Windows\Pie.exe"
"\..\"
You must put that at the start. I did my comm manager and has to do:
"\..\Windows\CommManagerLink.exe"
Thanks for finding this to the OP as well, been looking to get this changed for a while!

i installed one of the roms that do not have panel manager installed. this trick doesnt seem to work on the rom

im confused
cansomeone pls explain what u can achieve by changing this buttoins function other than losing acces to the panel function :S or does this simply mean u can save cpu usage
pls reply with some insight
thnx

Uh... but if you assign your panel button to something else.... then how you gonna access the panels still?

This is incase you dont use the panels.
Like me... i have had the original rom, and 2 roms here on this forum (custom)
And with every rom i had the same thing.
Having tf3d and panels will crash my phone (when i use e.g. google panel and then hit the x for panel change, then i often need to remove battery and place it again)
i rather have the tf3d then panels if i have to choose.
so thats why i use the X for a different app.

AE Button Plus
Or you could use 'AE Button Plus' it works for me flawlessly. I can assign the Panel Button to just about anything I choose.

how did you asign something to the AE button?

how do i reassign another button to run panel manager? I tried to execute /Program Files/Panel Manager/PanelManager.exe but that does not bring up the panel manager

anheuer said:
how did you asign something to the AE button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In AE Button Plus main screen, select FILE menu and choose ADD BUTTON and the dialog box that pops up is waiting for you to press a hardware button...
Press the X-PANEL button (which will probably launch panel manager if it's installed, no matter close that down) it will then allow you to press in the dialog box 'ADD KEY' and also shows you the Key code...
The key code will be next to the newly created button in the list for you to assign to whateve you like.

fotoingo said:
NICE find ! Thx alot !!!!!
It works flawlessly with Quickmenu !
So.. I got my Startmenu-Button back !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how did you do this? i want panel button remapped to start menu but i cant seem to figure it out there is no startmenu.exe in windows file??? what is the file called?
thanks

he uses QuickMenu 2.7 as a replacement start menu.

patterns said:
how did you do this? i want panel button remapped to start menu but i cant seem to figure it out there is no startmenu.exe in windows file??? what is the file called?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, assign Quickmenu.exe to the panel button and you get a "startmenu" button. Search for Quickmenu 2.7 around the forum....

doesnt work
I followed your directions and can't get the x-panel button to run quickmenu. It still runs the panel manager. There's something else that needs to be done, and I haven't' a clue what that is.
At least I was able to load the cab file that makes panels work on the touch HD. So when I eventually get the x-panel button reassigned, I can still access panels (which I infrequently do as it is). I have yet to see the value of panels. I like running things in the background concurrently, i.e. listening to streaming radio or mp3, txt'ing, using GPS, or exploring on the web. Panel switching seems to halt other tasks.

Kinda works
Finally got quickmenu to work with the x-panel key. Another important tidbit of info is that quickmenu must already be running for the x-button to invoke it. Otherwise it loads panelmanager.
Another bit of info, as soon as you run panel for the first time (in programs, the touch HD cab adds it on install), the behavior reverts back to the x-panel key invoking panelmanager and not quickmenu. I checked, quickmenu is still running. Figure that one out. Very confusing.

i installed panel as a seperate cab, i dont have the panel manager in my programs and i cant seem to invoke it any other way besides pressing the hardware button

apprentice said:
Or you could use 'AE Button Plus' it works for me flawlessly. I can assign the Panel Button to just about anything I choose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard AEbutton plus cannot grab the OK button. Is this true?

[REQ] HTC Taskmanager improvement

Hi There,
If you ever used the "Close Button" plug-in from Spb Mobile Plus you prolly know what I mean...
The HTC Taskmanager looks all nice, I like it, but its only accessible on the Today Screen. Is there a way to make it accessible even when you're not on the today screen?
Sometimes when you're doing stuff you want to "alt-tab" to another program and this is an easy way to do it, or when you want to close another/all other programs.
I hope there's a solution because it really is an improvement to the taskmanager.

me too
sorry, no help here. I can only say "me too". I was actually just thinking about this today. I've had this phone for a few months, and it just today occurred to mr today that you can't close other open programs without going back to the today screen, only option is to "x" button back to today screen or hope that what you seek to close is in your start menu under 'recent items'.
any help or development would be super appreciated, thanks all.

There is a shortcut in the Settings folder in the Systems tab. However, I expect you don't want to go through all of that when you want to use it. As an alternative, you could use file explorer and go into the Windows folder, find the Task Manager program in there, copy it and past a shortcut in the Windows/Start Menu folder. Then it would be on your Start Menu. You would need to remove one other item if you were then over the allowed maximum number of items in there.
Is that accessible enough?

I'd rather not put it in my start menu cus there are other "important" shortcuts in there...
I'd rather have it in the upper right corner...

You could use WkTask
the best free taskmanager there is (not working on wm6.5)

whiskeybro said:
You could use WkTask
the best free taskmanager there is (not working on wm6.5)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried it and I like it, Is there a way to make a backup of my settings?

It seems the program doesnt work as i wished it would. I worked with it for a while and I like the concept alot, but there's a major flaw. Sometimes when I make adjustments to, lets say, my alarm settings (winmo clock/alarms setings), and when I press [ok] the window minimizes (I set the one click to minimize), there's no way you can apply the changes because it will keep on running on the background. If I choose to close it then the changes wont apply. This occurs to many other programs I use in simular occasions when you need to press [ok] to apply settings.
I would still have a solution to the HTC taskbar though. I think I would prefer it over the WkTask taskmanager.