UPDATE: Feature added to PortableApps.com Platform in 2018
I have this problem where i pin the launcher in taskbar on win 8 but i get another icon running as well, since processes and launcers have different filenames. If i launch the process directly, it doesn't seem to load correct profile (chrome,firefox) and it launches a clean profile with no personal settings. What can i do so that the active window is the one on taskbar so i dont have 2 separate icons there?
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Windows doesn't understand apps that use multiple EXEs. Pinning only pins the running EXE. So, by pinning, you're running the app in local mode.
We're working on a way around this with the platform though.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I just spent the last several hours trying to find a solution to this same problem.
I found a solution posted somewhere on this site, but unfortunately I can't find the post right now.
This is what worked for me in Windows 7:
I created a new Firefox profile by searching for firefox.exe -p and clicking it to run it.
(By the way, it won't work if FF is open, although you can get around that by adding -no-remote to firefox.exe -p as follows: firefox.exe -p -no-remote)
Okay...the profile wizard should be open... so give your new profile a name. I called mine FFsync
Then you need to change the default location and point it at the profile folder in your portable app:
portablefirefox\data\profile
Just browse to that folder, highlight and save it, then click Finish.
Now go to your PortableFirefox folder and startPortableFirefox.exe
Now when it's running in the taskbar, just right click the taskbar FF icon and choose "pin to taskbar".
That's it.
I did the same for my Portable Thunderbird program, and that too now runs with out an extra icon in my taskbar.
I hope this helps for Windows 8 too.
There seem to be a couple of ways for Windows 7 - None of which appear to work on 8.1 which is a shame.
There is this app:
http://windows.appstorm.net/reviews/pin-almost-anything-to-the-taskbar-w...
And there is this "howto" on here:
https://portableapps.com/node/31515
But yep... On Windows 8.1 we are stuck with the 2 icons, plus, I don't seem to be able to make any portableapp a default-opener either.
that you want to do something that's completely contrary to the entire purpose for which portable applications exist. Permanent fixtures--such as pinning to the taskbar--are for "installed" applications.
Use a launcher.
I don't really agree that this is the only reason why portable apps exist - It's a very short-sighted view.
Personally, I never move my portable apps on a USB key or whatever at all - I use them so that when I do a system upgrade, or lose a system disk or move permanently to another machine it is a lot less hassle than moving installed apps.
I am perfectly happy to put a little bit of work into having some permanence in my portable apps. Just because they are portable, doesn't mean that they should only ever be used that way.
The ability to pin portable apps to the taskbar was added in the PortableApps.com Platform in 2018 and refined further in subsequent releases, including special handling for Windows 11. This old thread never had notice of it before. In the PA.c Platform, right-click an app and select Pin to Taskbar.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
It just doesn't work though. Clicking on "Pin to Taskbar" is not adding the Notepad++ icon does nothing. Tried restarting my computer, restarting the portable apps platform.. nothing happens.
And as stated previously, if I run the app first then right-click "Pin to taskbar" on the taskbar itself makes the app open in regular mode instead of portable mode (same happens with Thunderbird)
Try a fresh platform installation on a different computer.
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Sounds like you are having a different issue. Please make a post in the PortableApps.com Platform Support Forum and include details like your OS version, 32 or 64-bit, install path, etc: https://portableapps.com/forums/support/portableapps_menu
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!