Database Users

Small tip!

Heres how you can organise your programs view (Start->Programs)...
1. Use your normal file explorer and move all your shortcuts into separate folders (stuff like Media, Utils, Connectivity, Office etc.)
2. You can assign an icon for each folder by creating a shortcut in each folder and naming the shortcut as "icon.lnk"
You can do this easily by choosing any one of the available shortcuts and duplicating it...and then renaming the file to icon.lnk
3. I've used VJDialerSms to create a folder called speed dials with sub folders having all my important speed dial shortcuts in separate categories!
silly tips, but i just took some time out and did it....now i have a cleaner and less cluttered Programs menu which makes seaching for my apps so much easier!
Well worth the time spent imo
Cheers,
San

Please note that an extensive start menu will slow the machine down. This is because the operating system will have to search for the icons in each of the linked executables.
For example if you have Skype in your start menu (directly or as a shortcut) you will notice a long delay before the start menu opens. This is because the icon is at the end of the executable, and the Skype executable is over 5 MB big.
So the answer is to prune your start menu from all programs you don't ever need, rather than to fill it with nice to have stuff.

I personally use SmallMenu. What I did is leave everything as it is on my device and copied the shortcuts on my SD card and sort them all out there in different folders. I then use SmallMenu's function to launch them there. By doing it this way, I have the functionality of the Start Menu plus the flexibility of SmallMenu. No delays in lauching either. I was hesitant to disarranged anything in my Start Menu because some applications pops up a warning that it is needed to stay in that folder, although you can still move it and it seems to work anyway, but it still makes me paranoid that it may cause any dead shortcuts or functionality.

Why not give GSPocketMagic++ a try?
(use the english cab from the download)
Still the best around. Also works on WM2005.
Then in Option > Setting... > Program Menu point folder to \Windows\Start Menu\Programs and organize your menu structure in there. Also select "Break menu items"
Also the Control Panel applets are directly selectable from GSPocketMagic++. You can still use the original "start menu" if you tap slightly right from the GSPocketMagic++ menu button.
Cheers

map programs folder to hardkey?

In HTC home plug, I can set one of the soft buttons on the launcher to "launch programs folder". Is there a way to map this function to a hardkey? I don't want to download a third party launcher--I just want to be able to press a button and open the programs folder (and not in the file explorer view).
Any help would be wonderful.
Another folder in which I could put shortcuts in would also work. I just want the icons large and finger friendly like the programs folder.
Is it possible to use folderview.exe to do this?

Check here for the solution...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1644004&postcount=7
I used this to create a shortcut in each and every sub folder under Programs so once in a sub folder, I can easily go back to the Programs folder without having to close the window and open the Programs again from the HTC Home App.
I called the shortcut '!Back to Programs.lnk' so it appeard at the beginning of every folder and the shortcut is setup as follows...
Code:
53#\Windows\folderview.exe #?\Windows\shellres.dll,-8208
Copy the above into simple binary text editor and save to have your shortcut.
I guess you wouldn't need the '53#' and '?\Windows\shellres.dll,-8208' bits to link to hardkey. This is more to give the shortcut a nicer icon in the folder view.

Been looking for this. google search "launch programs folder" found this thread. Ought just be a 'icon view' option in file explorer dontcha think? Thanks!

Hmmm... it's not doing quite what I'm after...
As the FolderView is an application, when you click the X in the top right corner, it closes the window. If you were in the 'Start' => 'Programs' folder and were in a sub folder, pressing the OK button would simply return you to the previous folder.
I counter acted this by adding a shortcut to the FolderView app in every folder as mentioned above but for some reason this no longer works correctly. I think it has something to do with the HTC Task Manager I have upgraded to (v 2.0.30995). Works better than previous version but for this one thing, I think it's stopping multiple instances of the FolderView app.
So, this brings me to... How can you load the Programs Folder so you can go back from a sub folder?
Can anyone hack the FolderView app? A simple 'Up' button could be added to the lower left of the window, similar to the view of File Explorer. This way, the X can still be used to close the FolderView App and the 'Up' button takes you back up the Programs list.
In case your wondering, I have various apps loaded on my Pocket PC and have categorised them and placed into sub folders. I've then created an icon association to each folder so it looks a little more pleasent when viewing. However, I want to freely browse the folder. See attached Tumbnail...

the link works on sprint touch. I call it "_Up" so it always appears at first position.
I note that folderview when you close it doesn't appear in task menu like file explorer and most other app.
folderview with some options would be great because it's a fast finger friendly interface ... must faster and easier to configure than various cubes.
ps
I came across this in another thread. I haven't tried it yet but I'm gonna take a look when I get a chance.
Possibly it could be used to add some features to folderview:
http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/

I'm glad I stumbled across this thread because I think it's exactly what I want to do...I just need a little help as I'm not as savvy as some of you guys might be.
What I'm wanting to do is create sub directories in my programs folder like viglante_xix does (grouping Office, GPS Programs, Media Programs, etc.) and point to it as a shortcut in rlToday. I think I might have been able to figure this out on my own after tinkering, but I don't have the folderview.exe in my windows dir. Can someone send me a copy or know of an alternative?
Also, I'm not completely ignorant to programming; I know a little VB, Java, and C++. I understand how the code above works, but what program do I use to make this shortcut...preferably something free.
Thanks in advance.

Web shortcuts on Today screen

Is anyone aware of a method for creating shortcuts to specific websites to place either in the Start menu or on the Today screen?
I'm a converted Palm user, & there was a great application for this purpose called Sharklinks...

This can be done with Wisbar Desktop by creating a button on the desktop and making the path your url. This may be a little overkil, but it is the only way I am aware to do this. See this site for information on Wisbar Desktop (it is $10):
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/

if you want to create a shortcut to a url then the easiest way is to save the page in favourites and then use a decent file browser such as resco or gsfinder to create a shortcut to the start menu.
if you then use cLaunch as a today plugin you can also add the url frrom your favourites menu to the today screen. you can even change the icom if you wish to something more memorable - but it needs to be a bitmap.

Creating a document shortcut on launcher

I have a document that I always access and I want to be able to quickly access them via the Home launcher. Is it possible?
On the side, is their an appliaction where I can put multiple apps in different categories?
Launcher only allows quite a few, I need to add more but I dont really want to install a today plugin just for this, I will be accessing it via soft button or clicking on HTC launcher, then clicking on shortcut there which will then start that launcher ap with multiple tabs/folders (office, media etc..)
Im using Quickmenu now but I cannot seem to move the shortcuts on the progams folder (example calculator> office folder) it warns me it mite give me problems.

I kinda sovled this by using Ultimate launcher

Alternatives to cube (Idea)

I have been playing with an idea to re-use the UP gesture on the Touch to do something else since it isn't used with the new M2D interface.
I wanted a quick way to launch the Programs screen without having to open the start menu first.
Here's what I did (you could adjust to do something else like launch a media player or something):
1. Create a shortcut in the windows folder to "\windows\folderview.exe" and call it "biotouchLNK.lnk"
2. Copy Vijay's excellent VJBrisk.exe to the windows folder, renaming it to biotouch.exe
3. In Advanced Settings (I used Onyx so this is built in for me) set cube to Enabled
4. Restart
Now whenever I want to launch programs I can just use the UP swipe and it appears.
Hope this is useful to someone.