New: DesktopSnowOK (Jan 6, 2025), Platform 29.5.3 (Jun 27, 2024)
1,100+ portable packages, 1.1 billion downloads
No Ads Nov/Dec/Jan!, Please donate today

You are here

Can I add a shortcut to the launch menu for a program NOT in the "PortableApps" Folder?

10 posts / 0 new

Log in or register to post comments

Last post

January 24, 2012 - 10:07am

#1

Cynyster

Offline

Last seen: 2 years 3 days ago

Joined: 2010-08-28 15:27

Can I add a shortcut to the launch menu for a program NOT in the "PortableApps" Folder?

I have a few paid portable programs Such as Goodsync and Roboform that simply will not install in any folder other than the root of the drive.

Is there a way for me to create a shortcut in the launch menu that can point to these executables?
Thanks

January 24, 2012 - 2:38pm

#2

dboki89

Offline

Last seen: 9 years 12 months ago

Joined: 2009-11-30 20:44

Yup,

but it requires user intervention at the moment. Check out solanus' Folderz MiniApp for PA Menu --> http://paskins.sourceforge.net/miniapps.html#Folderz

Even though it was designed for opening folders, you can very easily modify it to open your programs. It doesn't have a graphical user interface, so you'll need to edit /App/AppInfo/appinfo.ini manually as a text file.

If you need any help with the setup, just post the path(s) of your needed program(s) and we'll try to assist you.

My posts are old and likely no longer relevant.

January 25, 2012 - 7:24am

(Reply to #2) #3

Cynyster

Offline

Last seen: 2 years 3 days ago

Joined: 2010-08-28 15:27

Awesome!!!

Thank you! That is exactly what I was looking for! I just need to track down the appropriate icons and specify them in the INI file and it will be perfect!

Thank you again.

January 25, 2012 - 9:51am

(Reply to #3) #4

solanus

solanus's picture

Offline

Last seen: 10 years 3 months ago

Joined: 2006-01-21 19:12

Thanks

Thanks for the recommendation.

I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.

February 8, 2012 - 2:57pm

(Reply to #4) #5

sl23

Offline

Last seen: 5 months 2 weeks ago

Joined: 2009-03-30 05:56

I've used that too good app

I've used that too good app

Live for an ideal and leave no place in the mind for anything else.

February 8, 2012 - 4:07pm

(Reply to #5) #6

dboki89

Offline

Last seen: 9 years 12 months ago

Joined: 2009-11-30 20:44

You're welcome

Seems to be getting popular now, too.

My posts are old and likely no longer relevant.

January 30, 2012 - 2:29pm

#7

OldGreySteve

Offline

Last seen: 8 months 1 week ago

Joined: 2007-12-16 17:03

goodsync

Actually, you can just move the whole Goodsync directory structure down to the portableapps directory and it will work fine.

Not so with Roboform - I also will try Folderz.

March 29, 2012 - 6:20pm

#8

iamhammer

Offline

Last seen: 10 years 2 months ago

Joined: 2010-10-27 18:32

RoboForm DOES work within PA

Move

PortableRoboForm.exe
Portable.Ini
RoboForm (dir)
My RoboForm Data (dir)

(all the files RoboForm places on your drive when you install it)
to x:\PortableApps\RoboForm and it will show up and function within the PA menu.
It no longer prompts you to run Roboform from Autoplay, but you can add the following line to x:\PortableApps\PortableApps.com\Data\PortableAppsMenu.ini to launch RoboForm automatically when PA starts
[AppsAutoStart] roboform\portableroboform.exe=1

In roboform you just update the path under options to reflect the new path. When you want to update roboform, install it to the drive as normal and again move the files to nest within PA.

I've been doing this for a couple of years now. Works great.

Kevin Scharnhorst

May 29, 2012 - 7:17am

#9

Albotross

Offline

Last seen: 1 month 3 weeks ago

Joined: 2012-05-26 10:16

Some help would be awesome

Ok, so I need some help.

I need to put a program into the portableapps menu that is in the root of the drive.

\securelock.exe

I also want to see if there is a way to create a dynamic shortcut. Specifically, I want a folder shortcut (in portableapps) that points to a specific folder on the next drive. The thumb drive driveletter is alwasy changing, but I have 2 partitions, and I want to create a shortcut to a folder on the 2nd partition, which is ALWAYS the next drive letter. So, if usb drive is E: the 2nd partition is always f:, if d:, then e:, etc. I have portableapps installed on the unsecure partition of an encrypted thumbdrive, and I'd love to have a working shortcut to a documents folder on the secure partition.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

May 29, 2012 - 7:13pm

(Reply to #9) #10

solanus

solanus's picture

Offline

Last seen: 10 years 3 months ago

Joined: 2006-01-21 19:12

Does it need to stay in the root of the drive?

If you can move it to a different folder, it's very easy to get it to appear in the Platform. Just put it here:
x:\PortableApps\Securelock\securelock.exe

If you can't move it, you can force the platform to launch it in its current location, but you need to make some folders, an ini file, and an icon.
Create the following folder:
x:\PortableApps\Securelock\App\AppInfo\
Make a text file with the following:

[Format]
Type=PortableApps.comFormat
Version=3.0

[Details]
Name=Securelock

[Control]
Icons=1
Start=..\..\securelock.exe

Save it as appinfo.ini in that folder.

If you want an icon, make a 32x32 pixel bitmap image. Save as appicon.ico in that same folder.

The trick with this is to force the Start command to follow the relative path up to the root to find the executable. This assumes that you have the platform installed to the root (the default install).

I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.

Log in or register to post comments