Application: RocketDock
Category: Utilities
Description: from website RocketDock is a smoothly animated, alpha blended application launcher. It provides a nice clean interface to drop shortcuts on for easy access and organization. With each item completely customizable there is no end to what you can add and launch from the dock. Now with added Taskbar support your minimized windows can appear as icons on the dock. This allows for better productivity and accessibility.
Download RocketDock Portable Development Test 6
6 MB Download, 10 MB Installed.
MD5: cdcdd2b461f8bad706b7f173b9c06167
Release Notes
March 7, 2012: Took care of INI file (which should never be activated, by the way). PackagePartialDir replacement also implemented. Language switching is not supported through the INI options in RocketDock.
July 30, 2011: Proper language switching implemented. Shortcuts across drive letters now supported (thanks kAlug).
January 16, 2011: Data now includes skins.
January 9, 2011: Language switching via PAM now supported.
January 2, 2011: Added appicon_128.png, added DirectoryMoveOK=yes, recompiled with PAL 2.0b2
December 21, 2010: Initial Release
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When looking at the launcher, I noticed that it only saves the registry entries and deletes the Settings.ini with custom code. Personally I don't think this is the best way to do this. You should handle both to ensure portability.
At least for me, I have a couple different ini's saved that I use depending on which computer I am using, so if you delete Settings.ini, I lose all my settings. I'm not saying that using the ini is better than using the registry for settings, all I'm saying is that it would be nice to be able to use either one.
I double and tripled checked. Even if you choose to save settings as an INI, it will still create the registry entries, so I just used that.
see release notes for changes
MD5 sum is still the Dev Test 1 value
Edit: Topic title should use "RocketDock 1.3.5" not "RocketDock 1.5.3"
See release notes for changes.
skins/themes=right click on RD's a blank area^Dock Settings...^Style(@left)^Theme
PREview help documention re skins here http://rocketdock.com/Help/English ...@this page Ctrl+F (in browser) for
Theme: Choose the theme you would like RocketDock to use. You can add more themes by dropping them in the RocketDock Skins folder located at: C:\Program Files\RocketDock\Skins (default location)
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.
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where to get more skins http://rocketdock.com/addons/skins
most importantly i'm wondering if I (can presently with current PAF version) add skins, would it break portability? or for that matter, other customization options for ex http://rocketdock.com/Help/English#docklets ...break portability?
You know, I have no idea. I haven't checked that out.
I think RocketDock just checks a sub directory of the base executable (rocketdock.exe) for themes but I'm not 100% sure.
I didn't include the skins folder inside Data (like Data\skins) because they're at least 3 MB and would significantly increase startup time. So you'll have to go into RocketDockPortable\App\RocketDock\Skins to add skins.
If you'd like to, you can try it out. I can try and get back to you (all) but that might not be for a while.
OT but can u implement this https://portableapps.com/node/26055#comment-167305
i know u r busy with school and everything so good luck w that and ur life's priorities. Ace everything aight!
re RD let's see if i got this: u mean I create that path myself ( RocketDockPortable\App\RocketDock\Skins ) then (i'm guessing since haven't really done it) add skins but actually a DL process...of the skins and put them in that newly created path? AND PUT THEM IN THE App subdirectory and not the Data subdirectory as bolded here:
I just checked again and it looks like I was wrong. The skins folder is only 338 KB. I'm not sure where I got my last figure. I'll put the skins in the Data folder (Data\Skins) in DT4.
For now, though, you can put the skins inside App\RocketDock\Skins. You don't need to create it--it's already there. Just download the skin you want and put it in the folder.
it's not life and death here
see release notes if you dare.
see settings preserved but don't see new folder u said
so do/can i manually create Data\Skins then put DL'ed then extracted skin/ZIP files/folder in there?
sorry for being such a blockhead
these links might help u creating PAF and both of us in where to install skins http://rocketdock.com/addon/skins/32810
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JY4Hb8jz6YE
Running RocketDock will copy over the Skins folder from App\RocketDock\Skins. Don't create the skins folder because bad things will happen if you do. (you'll lose all the default skins).
If you get lost, just delete everything inside the Data folder and start RocketDock again.
over prev RD vers, I did run it (BTW, this RD is installed on my local C: drive)...and here's the add'l disclosure part: it's too late, i guess these steps already got rid of all the default skins cuz i don't see ANY skin-thing in dropdown menu...oh well
so now what do i do: go ahead create path C:\PortableApps\RocketDockPortable\Data\Skins , nothing to lose now? or delete Data folder contents then run RD again? I think the 1st option cuz i see a settings folder ( C:\PortableApps\RocketDockPortable\Data\settings ) inside the Data folder where i'm guessing my shortcuts to apps/files/folders are customized/dragged onto RD by me already (yes/no???) SOOOOO don't want to lose those (other than the lost default skins)?!?!
EDIT: BUT just found out there's a Skin subdirectory here:
C:\PortableApps\RocketDockPortable\App\RocketDock\Skins so what does all this mean? C: drive got Windows Vista
[ http://rocketdock.com/addon/skins/34111 more info/tutS on skin installs]
just delete the whole RocketDock Portable folder and reinstalling should do it.
(and it's not in the ''Data'' folder!) like Pyro originally said C:\PortableApps\RocketDockPortable\Data\Skins
WORK=path in the post ''EDIT'' 2 posts above! In other words: C:\PortableApps\RocketDockPortable\App\RocketDock\Skins
\URextractedSkinFOLDERhereWithUSUALLY4filesINsideNAMED1background2NAMEofSkin3separator4separator ...
...BUT even BEFORE doing all the stuffs above, I copied over C:\PortableApps\RocketDockPortable\Data\settings (THE settings FOLDER...AND ONLY THIS ONE ITEM in C:\PortableApps\RocketDockPortable\Data need to be copied over) SOOOOO THAT ANY shortcuts to apps/files/folders I (AND YOU and YOURS) customized/dragged onto RD already won't be lost!!!
Good luck! YMMV!
NOW just hope/any way future revision u can do it so the skins are kept in THE ''Data'' folder, Pyro...and RD still able to work/won't break portability??? U can see the obvious reason why this suggestion...
Thanks for ur hard work!
EDIT: BTW, in THIS DT4, when right click BETWEEN the Recycle Bin and Dock Settings, I see 2 items I don't recall seeing on other/previous revisions: Open CCleaner... AND Run CCleaner. Are they something of urs, PYRO? If in base app, I guess one's PC also has to have CCleaner installed to invoke that function/command??? (I just never seen them b4...until now.)
EDIT 2: i guess it's just RD, but http://stardock.com/products/ObjectDock (tho NO PAF format therefore local C: install), if I set the dock's position to BOTTOM, for ObjectDock, it's able to sit just right A-BOVE my Windows Vista TASKBAR (in other words, NO prob @ ALL w/ ObjectDock--it's perfect!)...BUUUT this RD Portable over/under-foot with THE TASKBAR (meaning between RD and THE Taskbar, one is ''in the way'' of the other...or vice versa, depending on luck of the draw)...OR is this something u overlooked, Pyro? (My workaround for now is position RD anywhere else but bottom OR Auto-hide the taskbar. Latter NOT FUNCTIONAL AND PRODUCTIVE!!!) Or address this to the RD people?
here are my grafx attempts to illus the points:
RtOaCsKkEbTaDrOCK
The CCleaner commands come from a locally installed copy of CCleaner. It writes stuff to the registry (which can be removed in CCleaner's settings) that tells Windows to display "Open CCleaner" and/or "Run CCleaner." I do have a local install of CCleaner, and I did test RocketDock on my PC, but I don't think RocketDock remembers what apps I have/don't have installed on my PC.
I don't like ObjectDock because the developers over-complicated everything. I have RocketDock set up so that it shows on top and hides when my mouse goes away from it. I can't modify RocketDock to show above the taskbar because it's closed source, and I'd probably be lost trying to work with the code even if it were open source (unless it was somehow written in NSIS
).
great keep on going dude your doing great
great! I've been using it for a while now and hasn't found any problem.
Who Dares,Wins - S.A.S
Here is an updated launcher that updates the drive letter and has proper automatic language switching (using
[Language]and[LanguageFile]):Previously known as kAlug.
Thank you kAlug for your work (you didn't need to, though :P)
See release notes for changes.
If you do not properly exit RocketDock before leaving the Windows, the key is still remain in the registry. So when you restart a Windows and attempt to run RoketDock ─ nothing happens.
Error:
RocketDock portable did not close properly last time it was run and will now clean up. Please then start RocketDock Portable again manually.
http://i28.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0229/1c/2d581d85005e30597c5c756af48b591c.png
This is not supported behaviour for any application, especially not anything from Portable Apps.
You should always shut down apps properly before shutting down or restarting your computer.
The launcher works by adding the registry keys and then starting RocketDock, and when you properly exit RocketDock, the launcher will copy the key to your Data folder, then delete it from the machine. If you accidentally shut down your computer, or there's some sort of power failure, they key will remain, and you'll get that error message.
The same goes for just about every other portable app here as well.
Wrote a VBS script CodySafe pre-run. The key is removed, but after starting RocketDotck.
reinstalled twice and still user settings and icons do not get saved wether in registry or ini.
reinstalled twice and still user settings and icons do not get saved wether in registry or ini.
I just ran it, and everything is working perfectly. I created icons, edited them, changed lots of settings, and everything was saved as it was supposed to.
Try deleting your RocketDockPortable\Data folder and try again.
If that doesn't work, could you tell me what OS your on, whether you have admin rights, where your installing to, and what settings your changing, because I honestly can't reproduce the issue.
Vista, installed to PAM App directory
when activating the Store settings in ini file option
it creates Settings.ini in the App\RocketDock folder
then upon exit it removes the file, when restarting,
the Settings.ini file is no where to be found again.
only settings and icons prior to activating this option are saved, it does not write data to the ini file instantaneously upon new changes, one has to reactivate the option(which deletes the ini and creates a new one)
i made a copy of the settings.ini and
before i restart RD i paste the copy
into the directory and it works fine
but RD keeps deleting it.
the problem seems to be that RD is not moving the Settings.ini file back into the directory which means that it is just creating an ini file and then deleting it
I'll have a fix up shortly...
settings.ini is now working properly
but why does RD have to create
a registry entry on every start
up when it has the ini file to
work with?
i see it is possible to disable the registry input when one edits the Launcher ini, but shouldn't the program know to disable it on its own when one has activated the Settings.ini.
It takes like a quarter of a second or less to load and unload the registry entries. It's not really an issue considering that you won't notice much of a difference whether it does or doesn't add the registry entries before starting RocketDock.
If you elect to use the INI option in RocketDock, language switching will not work via PAM, due to the fact that PAL doesn't support multiple [LanguageFiles].
the popup on mouse over doesnt seem to work
i have mine set to auto hide and have it set
to popup at 1000ms but it pops up instantly
when i mouse over
You need to have AutoHide Delay enabled and set greater than or equal to PopUp on mouseover delay for the popup to work. I don't know if this was intentional on the part of the developers, but that's what seems to work.
after restart of computer I get "Another instace... please wait to finish..."
What should I do?
If you have RocketDock Portable open and you shut down Windows without exiting RocketDock, you'll get this error.
You can fix this issue by deleting the ...\RocketDockPortable\Data\PortableApps.comLauncherRuntimeData.ini file and then starting RocketDock again.
In the future, be sure to exit RocketDock before shutting down Windows, and RocketDock will work just fine
Now it works. thanks.
1. But I think it is a bug. isn't it? If there is a need to close it manually there is need to put a box dialog in closing (like while we closig a Word Document).
2. If I want to keep settings for case this folder (...\RocketDockPortable) deleted - which files I need to keep? there is an option to save INI file in Dock Settings --> General, but it is not open ths "Save as.." dialog for the location desired?
Thank You
it id no different than running Word and shutting off computer via power switch there is n o option to save the file...
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss
I went and messed around with it and I think I fixed it. That file will still come up but the rocketDock will as well and shouldn't have a problem. You can try it out for your self if you like.
Here's the link: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?rhckymr7dqw0dda
As indicated above, all that's required is deleting the runtime file. That's it. no messing around with anything else, as you may break functionality or portability.
If you close the rocketDock, that file will go away. Then if you give the pc a few sec's, to realize the portableapps program has closed, you can start it back up with no problem (about 95% sure of that). And it does not appear to break functionality or portability. I've tested it around 30+ times to make sure & no problem/s seem to appear/surface.
It looks like all you did was get rid of [RegistryValueBackupDelete] in the INI and tried to make an official-looking splash screen (which you shouldn't do in the first place), as well as added some values which don't appear to be of any use in Other\Source\RocketDockPortable.ini (you spelled false wrong the last line btw).
Unless you added something in a custom.nsh file and deleted prior to compiling, I don't think you've done anything at all but make it slightly larger and slightly less portable.
Thanks for trying to search for a solution, but as I (and Gord) mentioned before, the issue was the INI file, which only causes problems when RocketDock is closed improperly. I think some of the PAL devs are working on a way for PAL to detect a Windows shutdown so that in the future this kinda problem won't happen.
That file I got from another portableapps app. I just quick renamed it then forgot about it. I didn't see any difference either so I just moved on to that other file and forgot to delete this one.
Well here's hoping you find a real solution.
there is really no need to delete the LauncherRuntimeData-RocketDockPortable.ini file. With many problems in start ups and shut downs, i painstakingly found out that just quickly opening the LauncherRuntimeData-RocketDockPortable.ini file and deleting the status input instead of deleting the whole file itself the app will run just fine the next time you launch it.
example:
(delete the bold input)
[PortableApps.comLauncher]
Status=running
PluginsDir=X:\AppData\Local\Temp\nst1A0D.tmp
depending on when the crash took place, the Status input will say either running or stopping therefore the app was in the process of exiting but crashed.
As indicated, the only time you should ever touch the runtime file is if you improperly shut down RocketDock and can't get it to start again. In that case, you -should- delete the file, not edit it.
why does the whole file need to be deleted when only one value needs to be changed?
It's because that file is designed to be deleted when the application closes successfully as it is, so it should be deleted when you've closed it improperly as well.
either one will work and since it does not exclusively say "Do not edit or alter this file" ill stick with it.
but maybe there should be a warning/notification given to the user on what to do when it does happen
What is the best way to deal with this issue.
Is this app going to be updated? I'll be wait...
exit program properly before removing usb drive
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss
there is no official way
but according to Gord the proper way is to delete the Runtime.ini file
that is also the easier solution
seeing that this problem will always occur
i hope PAM will exclusively let users know what to do when it does
https://portableapps.com/node/25965#comment-193843
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss
this was a perfect world
The next update of PAL is changing how runtime handling is done, so this issue shouldn't occour once the PAL update is released and RocketDock portable gets updated to it.
1. Why the need for LauncherRuntimeData-RocketDockPortable.ini file?
2. I don't want to have to close RocketDock when I want to shut down Windows.
3. So why LauncherRuntimeData-RocketDockPortable.ini file when all it does really is to stop RocketDock from startup next time if you don't close/exit it before shutting down Windows.
4. It is so so simple for the program to have the optional option to save settings every X mins(like MemPad) or have the program say "Stuff it if RocketDock is not exit properly first before your PC shit itself but hey, RocketDock will still start up nicely like previous known good startup".
5. So why the need for LauncherRuntimeData-RocketDockPortable.ini file???
6. I tried to made this file Read-Only but RocketDock still delete it when I exit the program...
7. Ok, I have had an idea, created a delete this stupid file batch file to auto run when Windows start up. Problem solved.
-------- Batch File Begin----------------
If exist "file path\LauncherRuntimeData-RocketDockPortable.ini" del "file path\LauncherRuntimeData-RocketDockPortable.ini"
---------Batch File End-----------
Replace "file path" with your actual Drive and path.
The batch file text is one unbroken sentence, not two.
I dumped my rocket.bat file in Windows Startup folder. Works like a charm.
enjoy.
is there a forum or email that i can send suggestions to Rocketdock. i cant find any email or forum in their website.
Thanks
http://punklabs.com/press
thanks thought i doubt i will hear from them anytime soon
What is better for me - install version or portable version?
Is there any advantage to use the portable version?
If your only going to be using RocketDock on one computer, your better off using the normal, install version. But if you want to use RocketDock on more computers in the future, and keep the same settings, I'd suggest the portable version.
There is an INI file saving option. Isn't it a solution for using another computers?
Registry keys are created regardless of whether or not the INI file saving option is ticked or not. But if the INI file is detected, RocketDock will read those settings instead of defaults. But you shouldn't worry about it, as this launcher takes care of everything regardless of whether you tick that option or not.
Thank You.
I decided to download the install version.
How do I import the settings of the portable version to the install version?
What is the right way to do that?
Go to ...\RocketDockPortable\Data\settings and open double-click on Settings.reg. Then click yes on the message box that pops up, and your done.
EDIT: Oh and make sure before you do what I said above that "Store settings in portable INI" is unchecked in your version of RocketDock. Otherwise adding registry settings will do nothing.
I underdtand all my settings saved in Settings.reg ?
I don't like to deal with the Registry. I'd prefer a INI file.
Can't I Export all my settings to INI file and place it somewhere?
AFAIK, yes you can.
If you select the "Store settings in portable INI", it'll save it in a ini file inside RocketDockPortable\App\RocketDock\settings.ini. (not sure about the filename)
In this way, you can also use the 'portable version' of rocketdock instead of 'RocketDockPortable'.
I've got to admit: I did this myself for a while. But then I switched to the version Pyromaniac made
But there ain't nu use in having RocketDockPortable, and then store the settings in an ini file, since Pyromaniac chose to use the registry, the ini file won't get copied into the Data directory, like with normal PortableApps.
tl;dr:
normal portable version + ini file
OR
RocketDockPortable + reg file
@Pyromaniac : I added
StackDocklet=HKCU\Software\StackDockletto the[RegistryKeys]section, it left some reg settings behind about a docklet I installed. It's not necessary to include in another dev test, since most people here don't even know about these docklets. Most docklets and stuff there don't work anyways...Yes, I set the working directory!
I don't find any ini file inside :
RocketDockPortable\App\RocketDock\
"you can also use the 'portable version' of rocketdock instead of 'RocketDockPortable'"
I don't know about this 'portable version' of rocketdock...
Regardless of using INI or registry to save settings, registry settings are always created. Dev Test 6 includes an update that will handle the INI settings file, and move it between the App and Data folder, but language switching will not be preserved, so if you like the language switching functionality, keep the registry settings, otherwise it doesn't matter which way you choose to store settings.
I only mentioned the registry method because it was easier to explain than the INI method, which may have involved more steps.
And as for the StackDocklet key, I'll check that out. I was never aware it existed. I'll see about releasing an update tomorrow as I'm really tired atm.
The key will only be there if you have that specific docklet, so maybe you can release it as an addon? Just so you have the best version, take the one with the most downloads.
Yes, I set the working directory!
I'll support the main app, but not the addons, because not all addons are portable, and it'd take an incredible amount of time to check all of these "docklet" addons.
I'm ok with that, I don't think that this will ever need another dev test, since the original program isn't developped anymore and the portable version works perfectly
Yes, I set the working directory!
So will a final built of this app be officially released on Apps section?