Application: Appetizer
Category: Dock application
Description: Appetizer is an application launcher for PortableApps applications. Rather than organizing the apps as a list like the Windows Start menu, they are organized in a dock a bit similar to the Mac OS X dock bar.
Release notes: This is an early release of Appetizer v1.2. There are still several bugs to fix, but the app should be stable enough for testing. The two main new features in this release are:
* Plugins
The app now embeds a lightweight plugin system based on Lua. This will mainly allows adding new features without having to bloat the core executable. For now, there's just one plugin: "Add to group on right-click", which allows adding an icon to a group from the context menu. In this release, there's also a "test unit" plugin, which can be used for testing. Creating plugins is relatively easy as there's only one script file to create. It's possible to hook into the app by creating event listeners, and to create new Appetizer objects (shortcuts, popup menus, option buttons, etc.). I'll post the API doc on the website later on.
* Killing applications
There is now an option to kill the applications that are locking the drive before ejecting it (in "Configuration" - "Operations"). I'd appreciate if you could give it a try to see if it's working on your system and if it manages to kill all the apps. Obviously, the functionality uses some low level system calls so I don't know how well it would work on different systems.
12/07/2008: Updated to version 1.2.2 (Beta)
12/10/2008: Updated to version 1.2.3 (Final)
The full list of changes and download links are below:
Features:
- Support for plugins
- Support for multiple skins
- Resizable dock, which allows displaying the icons both horizontally or vertically.
- Three sizes of icons: Small and large
- Organize the icons by drag & dropping them
- 'Multi-launch' functionality
- Regroup multiple shortcuts within one menu
- Support for multiple languages
- Minimize to tray icon functionality
Known bugs
- On Vista, some icons may appear with a red border in the popup menu
- 2-bits icons don't show up at 16x16 pixels
- Some special icons are displayed with a pink border (rare)
Change log:
Version 1.2.2.606 Beta (2008-12-07):
- New: "Reveal target" plugin
- Fixed Windows 2000 crash (missing "SetDllDirectory" function)
- Updated German translation and help file (wk)
- Updated Polish translation (Michal Trzebiatowski)
- Updated French translation and help file
- Added Danish translation (Henrik Agersted)
- Fixed: plugin manager was dispatching events to disabled plugins
- Fixed: Appetizer could crash if two plugins were using the same global object
- Fixed: Appetizer can crash if a plugin tries to use an object that has been deleted
- Fixed: Shortcut Editor Dialog gives focus to "name" field on creation
- Fixed: update detection code didn't run the first time the app was launched
- Fixed: The option panel layout wasn't done correctly if a button was added to it while it was closed.
- Improved: Optimzation for special item icons and folder icons
- Improved: App now tries to detect the system locale the first time the app is launched
- Lua: Better error messages if a script fails to load or if there is an syntax error
- Lua: Exported many new functions
Version 1.2.1.91 Alpha (2008-12-02):
- - New: Support for plugins
- - New: Option to close the applications that are locking the drive before ejection
- - New: Shortcut "Add to group" menu item (Plugin)
- - New: "Close button minimizes to System Tray" option
- - New: Contextual help in config dialog and main window
- - New: Context menu when right-clicking on an item in TreeView dialog ("Remove" and "Properties" items)
- - New: New switch: "/l" to show a log window (useful to debug plugins)
- - Improved: items in "Add special item" menu now have icons
- - Improved: Added support for wildcards in import exclusion list
- - Improved: Added white frame around application icon in tray icon to make it more visible
- - Improved: Added some default patterns to exclusion list (uninstall.exe, setup.exe, etc.)
- - Changed: Removed "Portable" from application name in PAF version
- - Changed: Replaced %VARIABLE_NAME% by $(VariableName) so that it's not confused with environment variables
- - Fixed: "Show desktop" special item is now done using a vbs script to go around the issue when .scf file association is broken
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It doesn't run when I start it.....is this a similar problem to the one I had the last time - meaning it has some issue with running on windows2000 unless you wace some magic wand??
"No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices." - Edward R. Murrow
I guess it must be broken again on Win2000. Are you getting any error message?
Ok I think I've fixed it. I've updated the links in the main post - please give it another try and let me know how it goes.
yup Appetizer_1.2.1.93.paf.exe works on windows2000
at least it starts up and doesn't seem to have any issues I can see.....will be messing about
"No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices." - Edward R. Murrow
I´ve sent you the updated help and locale, check your emails.
Yet some strings are missing:
1. the tooltip and context menu for "my plugin buttons"
2. the context menu line "add to group"
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisici elit, sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis .." Friday Next -
"May The Schwartz be with You!" Yogurt the Yoda
Thanks for the quick update! The two missing strings come from the plugin and can't be translated (yet).
I would just like to thank you so very much for contributing this awesome piece of software to the open source community. There is some software the open source community has been lacking, and an object dock is just that. This software is amazing, and while it's perhaps no Rocket Dock at the moment, I can see if getting there at some point and it certainly suits my needs. This was a very well done project, in terms of a clean, polished application, a lovely site for the app (and quite a neat domain), an easy installer, etc, etc. This project is (in a way), quite similar to PNotes. It started off small, and now it constantly maintained and has an accessibly and lovely site and installer for users, which in my opinion is a significantly large part of a software project.
I just wanted to thank you for this awesome application, and the amazing execution of the entire project. Hopefully we can release it hear soon to help boost its popularity.
Thanks! I appreciate, and glad that the app is useful to you! I'm quite enjoying working on this project and I intend to keep on going.
The feedback here on PortableApps, since the beginning of the project, has always been great and it has certainly helped improving and making the app more stable, so thanks a lot for that. Right now, I think the most important is to get the plugin engine right, so that new features can be added to the dock easily.
You removed the exit button... why? I realize we can now program the x button, but still... fortunately, installing the new version over the previous one preserved the eject button.
Any chance you can make the PAM document folders groups by default? Then they'd be browsable via menu. It worked for your test group, which is why I even came up with this idea.
Add to Group is a great new feature. It wasn't too cumbersome to add to groups via the Organize dialogue, but this is much nicer. Thank you.
You removed the exit button... why? I realize we can now program the x button, but still... fortunately, installing the new version over the previous one preserved the eject button.
You mean the "x" button in the top right corner of the window? Actually I didn't remove it, so that's probabaly a bug
If it happens again, please let me know.
Any chance you can make the PAM document folders groups by default?
I see what you mean but I'm not completely sure if this feature would be a good idea. It would mean that the app has to import the whole content of the documents folder, which might take a very long time. Also if the user deletes a file in the documents folder, the dead link should probably be deleted too, which would be tricky to implement. I've added it to the todo list though - it could be an idea for a plugin.
well, I see "x" button and that's in several skins...seems to work as usual
"No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices." - Edward R. Murrow
Sorry, my mistake - I meant to say that it was the "Eject" button that was missing from a clean installation of Appetizer, not the "Close/Minimize" button (the "x"), which I understand can now be made to work in either role.
To me it is more convenient to have both buttons, especially with all this testing, because most of the time I'll just want to close the application; yet at the end of the day I also want to eject the drive, so now I have to go to Settings to re-program the "Close" button for that, which is certainly no hardship, just not as easy as it was with 2 buttons.
I meant to say that it was the "Eject" button that was missing from a clean installation of Appetizer
Where did you run Appetizer from? The button is normally missing if you run Appetizer from a non-removable drive.
To me it is more convenient to have both buttons
Yes I need to find some way to display both buttons. Right now the minimize button is commented out purely for cosmetic reason (which is never a good reason).
So the program is too smart for me...
Yes, I first tried it from the hd, and only then installed it on the flash drive.
Any chance you can make the PAM document folders groups by default?
Maybe an option in the preferences to open folders as groups, or in the folder's shorcut's properties?
or in the folder's shorcut's properties?
Yes I was just thinking about a similar solution. There are currently two types of icons: shortcuts and groups. Maybe there could be a third type: "mirror", which would simply displays a folder and subfolders "as is" and will update itself as the target folder is changed. Then we could import the Documents, Videos and Music folder as mirrors by default.
Wow. thanks! works great
i am unable to select portableapps applications. i dont know why this is
-leogx
I'm not sure what you mean? Could you give a bit more details (what happened and what did you expect)? Also are you getting any error message?
I'm not sure if he means this, but I when I press on get "import shortcuts" you get a window that says "this tool will help you import your shortcuts... please select below where you ... your shortcuts from" and then you get three options but "portableApps applications" is disable.
yes the portable apps box was disabled but i got it to work but thank you any ways
It's disabled when the app doesn't find a "PortableApps" folder at the root of the drive.
in my case that only works with a flash drive....when I use portable programs on my hard drive that option isn't open.
"No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices." - Edward R. Murrow
I submitted Appetizer to OpenCandy, which is a software recommendation service. You can read all about it easily on there little 'What We Do' page. If for some reason you don't it in there, I'll ask them to remove it, but I don't see why you wouldn't, he said a lot of the other developers would dig it as well. Already, large companies like the PCF are using OpenCandy in their installers (Miro). I'll also try to get it up on OpenSourceWindows.org, I'm going to finally try to start on the site update today.
Great, thanks! I didn't know about OpenCandy but that sounds like an easy way to promote an app.
i think you should go a little further with this and make it compatible with U3 Compatible flash drives
I'm not too familiar with the U3 format, but I believe it's not open, is it? Also is it free to port an app to U3?
We stopped packaging U3 apps a long time ago.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
yes its free to make the apps in the u3 format but if you can find a way to program your appetizer so the u3 app icons show up in the appetizer (if this is possible). if you want i made a package with a program called package factory. you can download it here: http://www.eure.ca/. but if you get the free version when you put your mouse over the application in the u3 launchpad says [Package Built With Eura.ca].
-You can port the apps you make to u3 by using package factory.
The package that i made you can download it here(its the u3 version of appetizer):
http://www.box.net/shared/4o52mslr52
to install the .u3p (u3 package)launch the u3 menu and click add programs, then click install from my computer, then find the file, after click open, when the u3 install pops up just click next.
If you have portable apps stored on the root of your u3 drive it will load the portable apps shortcuts into the appetizer.
if you have any questions comment back.
Thanks, I don't intend to directly support the U3 format, however if you want to provide a U3 version, I have no problem with it. One question though: I found this post from John where he basically says that building a U3 version of a GNU/GPL app violates the license. Is that still the case?
i dont know if it violates the GNU/GPL license. I will ask john. do you know how to contact him via email?
it shouldn't violate it because you gave me the right to package it and package factory is a free program. the person that built keepass portable for u3 used u3Action which is not free
If anyone else knows anything about this email me at: trifarno@yahoo.com
trifarno@yahoo.comU3 it the devil!
why is it the devil?
check your emails
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisici elit, sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis .." Friday Next -
"May The Schwartz be with You!" Yogurt the Yoda
Version 1.2.2 is available for download in the main post (probably the last one before the official release). Many changes and fixes in this release although nearly all of them are unnoticable. They mainly concern the plugin system, which is now much more stable.
Most languages are now also up-to-date. Thanks to the translators!
Anyway I´ve sent you the files again
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisici elit, sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis .." Friday Next -
"May The Schwartz be with You!" Yogurt the Yoda
I´ve updated the locale.. So, check your Email.
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisici elit, sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis .." Friday Next -
"May The Schwartz be with You!" Yogurt the Yoda
Just wanted to throw a note out there that the site and company / software name is PortableApps.com. So, I'd suggest you change that throughout the program.
=> Done
Ok version 1.2 is now available for download on the website. The only change in this release is that the various translations have been updated, and the TestUnit plugin has been removed. Download link: http://app.etizer.org/download
Seems to work for me....
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisici elit, sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis .." Friday Next -
"May The Schwartz be with You!" Yogurt the Yoda
Any chance of having Appetizer scroll through rows/columns of shortcuts? I mean if you have it sized to display one row, instead of clicking the drop down arrow could we just hit the scroll wheel or page down key to display the next row?
Also on a skinning note is there any way to get it to tile the center section of the icon panel image? If yes, is there also a way to set the gap between icons?
edit: 01.02.09
Also could you have it check to see if the images for the option buttons exist? If they do then don't show the built in ones.
Do you think Groups could be skinned as well instead of being standard a popup menu?
I'll do a mock up when I get home, and upload it in a day or two.
Any chance of having Appetizer scroll through rows/columns of shortcuts? I mean if you have it sized to display one row, instead of clicking the drop down arrow could we just hit the scroll wheel or page down key to display the next row?
Well it would be quite hard to integrate this kind of feature because of the way the dock is currently implemented. Also it is not really made to support pages of icons. If you have more than one row, you actually have many options:
- resize the dock to change the number of rows
- change the size of the icons
- use groups of icons
So most likely there won't be a paging system any time soon.
Also on a skinning note is there any way to get it to tile the center section of the icon panel image?
Not at the moment, but that would indeed be useful. I add it to the todo list. Do you have some example of skin that would work with a tiled background?
is there also a way to set the gap between icons?
Yes, in Skin.xml, change Icon/Padding. This is going to increase the border around each icon.
Also could you have it check to see if the images for the option buttons exist? If they do then don't show the built in ones.
I believe this is how it works in the latest (unreleased) version. In the meantime, you can make it work by copying and pasting the default buttons from the "Default" skin folder.
Do you think Groups could be skinned as well instead of being standard a popup menu?
This is already on the todo list as several users asked for it, so I'll try to implement that at some point.
I'll do a mock up when I get home, and upload it in a day or two.
Looking forwards to it
By the way, feel free to post it directly on the Appetizer forum (no need for registration):
http://app.etizer.org/forum/1
Hello,
A new version of Appetizer is now available here:
http://app.etizer.org/forum/version-131126-beta-available-download
This is only a preview version and there will be more changes for the final version 1.3, but I think this version is already stable for a release.
If you come across any bugs, please let me know.
I just installed 1.3, and it overwrites all previous data, I believe. It treats the install as a new one, anyway. Is there a way to change this? If anyone didn't copy their settings they would lose that information.
I am not my signature.
That's right, it's a bug in the latest release. Your shortcuts are still there but Appetizer is looking for them in the wrong folder. To fix this, follow the instructions on this post: Appetizer forum
but I also like how RocketDock enlarges the shortcuts when you put the mouse over it. AND I like how RocketDock has a clear skin. Do you think you could put these on Appetizer. If you don't though, I will still use it. Maybe, if you put it in PA format, it could be the new "PA Suite"! I think anyone who doesn't like appetizer must be blind (I'm not exagerating). Keep it up!
Thanks for the suppport! Animations, and eye-candy in general, are something that I wanted to include in Appetizer, but it's rather difficult. Especially because wxWidgets support for images (let alone animations) is very poor. There's for example no built in way to zoom an image. Other open source libraries like CxImage didn't convince me either as they are not designed for sprite animations but for Photoshop-like image treatments. Well anyway, if I ever find a good open source image library, I may implement this kind features