Thought I'd pin PortableAppsPlatform.exe to the status bar so I wouldn't have to open the USB drive each time and run it. What happens, though, is a new instance is started each time you click it.
I've seen programs have the option "allow only one instance", but didn't see this in PortableApps anywhere...
For instance, running Objectdock, that hides the status bar, you have no access to PortableApps, so pinning it would allow you to bring it up as needed.
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The PortableApps.com Platform is automatically set to check for running instances and bring them back up. I'm doing that now with it running on my P: drive in the default install location. Running either Start.exe or PortableAppsPlatform.exe just brings the already-running menu back up. If it isn't in your case, something else is going on and interfering. What OS are you on, where are you running it from, etc? ObjectDock can be pretty flaky and mess with a lot of programs, so it could be that, but I'd like to narrow it down.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Thanks for the quick response.
I just now pinned PortableAppsPlatform.exe to Windows 7 (64) status bar (not Objectdock). PA is already running. I click on PA's pinned icon and I get an hour glass on the cursor and then PA pops up. I go to Windows Task Manager and I now have two instances of PortableAppsPlatform.exe.
Each successive time I click the pinned PA icon I get the hour glass for a couple seconds and another PortableAppsPlatform.exe shows up in Task Manager (There's now 4 of them in there).
It definitely seems to be starting a new instance of PA...
I'm confused. When I have the platform running on Windows 7 x64 and pin it to the task bar, it's associated with the running instance. So, when it's running, it just shows up. In other words, when not running, clicking on the icon in the task bar and it starts up. When running, the box is around the said pinned icon in the task bar and it shows and hides the PA.c Menu. How exactly are you pinning it? No matter what I do, I can't start a second instance. There is always only one PortableAppsPlatform.exe in task manager.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Hmmm. I right click on ProtableAppsPlatform.exe and select "pin to taskbar".
When PA first shows up, the taskbar icon has a box around it like it should. As soon as PA goes to the tray (by clicking elsewhere), the box around the icon fades away. All subsequent clicks produce another instance in taskmanager. (for the record, object dock nor any other utility is running)
Here's my task manager:
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff396/cristoboX/WindowsTaskManager.jpg
It will add as many instances of PA as I can click on the icon... strange.
If there's any other info I can supply, just let me know...
The exact same procedure works as expected here. Where are you running it from (full install location)? What other apps are running? Have you manually changed any settings in PortableAppsMenu.ini like setting it not to show in the task bar? Do you have any weird directory or folder mapping to the location it is running from? Is there anything that would prevent RegisterWindowMessage from working properly on your system?
Is there anything else you can think of as you're the only one I've ever heard having this issue, so there must be something specific going on. And I'd like to figure it out.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
All install directories are default with no custom settings. I just tried doing the same thing on my home machine (W7 32) and I get the same behavior: right click portableapps > pin to start menu. Here, too, I get an additional instance each time I click the icon on the start bar.
I'll do some digging and see what I may have going on, on both machines and post back... (PA 10.1.2 by the way)
I'll also try it on someone else's machine.
Just to be sure, what's the full path to the Start.exe? Is it in the root of your portable drive? And how are you pinning it? Right-clicking on the icon in the task bar while it is running? Or right-clicking on the PortableAppsPlatform.EXE and selecting pin? Are you pinning it to the task bar or start menu (you've said both)? I've tried combinations of all of these and can't reproduce it, still. Anything else running that may be interfering?
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Here's the path to what I right-click and "Pin to taskbar": "E:\PortableApps\PortableApps.com\PortableAppsPlatform.exe"
Here's the path to Start.exe: "E:\Start.exe"
I pin PortableAppsPlatform when it's not running. It shows on the taskbar with a border around it when I run PortableAppsPlatform and it's on the screen. As soon as I click elsewhere and PortableAppsPlatform hides, the icon border fades away. All subsequent clicks produces an hour-glass and another instance in task manager.
Same result with I pin Start.exe to taskbar.
I'll try this on a couple different machines today and report back...
Update: Just happened to install a new hard drive at home and fresh install of Windows 7. PortableApps pinned to taskbar works as it should: One instance no matter how many times I click it.
I'll continue to poke around at work so see what may be running to cause the trouble... I'll report back, when/if...