Convey Portable v0.91b Portable Send To Manager
Newest version has "The Conveyor" which makes it easier to add new shortcuts, support for command-line parameters, and more customization options.
I created this little app to run when I insert my USB Drive. It basically takes a subfolder of shortcuts to portable apps on the drive and copies them to the current user's Send To folder. It changes the shortcuts' parameters on the host computer so that they point to the USB drive's current drive letter. Finally, it monitors the USB drive so that when it is removed it will automatically delete the shortcuts it created from the user's Send To folder and exits gracefully.
version 0.91b
-FIXED- Send To folder calculation improved greatly. (thanks Wences)
-ADDED- Started work on some additional options. Not available yet.
-ADDED- Illegal input in the character prepend and append boxes will change color of text to red.
This is a self-extracting archive. Just extract and then run the ConveyPortable.exe. It will create the shortcuts folder and you can start adding new shortcuts. Then, use the tray icon to control.
[Moved topic to Beta Testing forum as per owner's request - RM]
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Can you please post the source here, as links to closed-source programs will be removed as per the Forum Guidelines.
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Ryan McCue
Cube Games
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"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
The source is now included in the zip file.
http://www.noir3d.com/files/pConvey.zip
Pretty.
Maybe I'll try it now.
Edit:
Ok, I did. But, it's not working, I'm pretty sure it's just me, I copied a file, was that wrong? I thot it make shortcuts for my apps? Something else? What do I do...? I re-read, I don't get it...
Can you include a read me file for idiots like me?
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I added a readme.txt to the zip file. Here is what it says:
How to use pConvey
This is awesome. It's such a simple idea but so handy! Thank you!
Awesome, it works for files on the hosts computer too! This is sweet!
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Not only does the Send To-> do the open with thing for your applications, it does the regular Send To->so you can put the portableapps "Documents" folder on their and send files to there instead of only having the option of sending to your USB drive in general.
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I'm glad you like it.
Let me know if you have any other ideas for it or you see any wacky behavior.
One thing I want to do is create a simple installer for it.
- ede
Do you think you could rename the *middle* line of text in the file name to "Convey Portable", so it goes along with the rest of everyone's apps? Cause nobody wants
"pConvey - Portable Send To Manager"
Across there PAM.
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I'll work on this. Give me a bit to fidget with it.
- ede
Looks great, works great...one question though, using @iconsushi i found several embedded icons, and from the looks of it, it is 2 sets that repeat 3 times....the first is your application's icon, and the other resembles a disk drive or something. Why are there these repeating sets, and when are these icons used by the app?
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
The disk drive icon was an idea I was toying with. Sadly it was pretty much a blob once it sized down to the tray icon size.
The two sets for the regular icon are for when it is working (blue line) and when it is paused because there are no links in the Link folder (red line).
I'll take the disk drive one out and it should decrease the file size a fair bit. Thanks for catching that.
No prob...After taking a closer look, the icon set with the blue line, is repeated twice, and the one with the red line is in there once
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
I haven't tried this out yet but it sounds like an outstanding idea. One thing I thought of... Would it be possible to use subfolders in your shortcuts folder so that you could organize them into groups?
A good idea. But for that, the context menu would have to have another sub-menu one off of it.
Which to me, seems a little hard.
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There is a new version: Convey Portable
Changes:
1. I changed the name. It is now called Convey Portable. I hope this helps with the PAM issue, Patience.
2. Fixed the icons. This knocked the size of the program in half. There are still 6-ish sets in there representing different possible states (running, paused, suspended. These icons are much better optimized though. Thanks ZGit
3. I also added tray option to explore the Send To folder.
4. It will now create shortcuts pre-pending a "P-" if a shortcut of the same name exists in the Send To folder.
5. I think it should work with Vista now, someone will have to let me know.
newdragonmage,
I love the subfolder idea. I'll have to toy with that. Patience may be right, it could get a little hard to manage, but we can always try it.
- ede
If nobody does before tomorrow afternoon, I'll go try it out on my moms or dads comps with Vista. Actually, you know what, I'll give it a shot on my dads right now.
Edit: MUCH SMALLER. Nice.
Edit 2:Hmm, program won't execute...
Oh, maybe cause I replaced it. Works now.
Edit 3:Oh don't get the "P Appname" thing. It create one for every single one of my apps...
Oh, it's because it was on my desktop. And I get what it does now.
Edit 4:This application has been tested and works on Windows Vista with no errors.
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It is quite a bit smaller, adding a "P-" was a great idea and it works with no issues, however, I'm now noticing with the icons that there are 2 blue sets and 4 red sets. is the 6 set combination necessary to the functionality of your app, because in the older version it was a 6 set combo as well?
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
I actually have subfolders in my sendto menu folder, but the results aren't always the same. For instance I have a folder called My Documents in there with shortcuts to the subfolders in My Documents, when I use send to it displays My Documents as submenu with the subfolders listed. Selecting one of the subfolders usually works correctly and sends the file to that folder, but occasionally it will send the file to My Documents instead of the subfolder. It's a problem with Windows as far as I can tell.
It should work fine for sending to an app, but I haven't tested the theory.
I think I have addressed this folder issue. Let me know.
Click on your link, for me it says page not found. Can you fix that please?
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Sorry, you are too fast for me. Try it again.
Trying it now. Icons are much prettier.
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deleted this double-post.
my apologies
Link works fine for me...?
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Works great as always. This app is seriously so useful, I vote is be integrated with the PortableApps from this site, or made availible on the applications page. It's seriously awesome.
Like maybe, from the PAM, have a right click option to "Add to Link's Folder".
It's be sweet, and good for people who don't wanna open up the program, THEN go find the file again, or go to, right click, Open With, wait for the window to appear, and then spend 5 minutes going all the way to the app.exe file on your portable device.
John, if you get I chance, I highly suggest you try this out.
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That is high praise indeed, Patience.
Thanks.
Thank you.
And I'm extremely serious when I say I think this should be integrated with the PortableApps Menu.
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Does the Convey folder have to be in the root of the drive to work? I can't seem to get it to work from inside the PortableApps folder.
Have the PortableApps Menu? If so, just put it under X:PortableApps in a folder called Convey or whatever you want. If not, it should still work, just put it in its own folder and run.
Check the readme too if you haven't already.
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the "working directory" bug of PAM beta3.
Does it work with beta2 of the Menu?
"There is a computer disease that anybody who works with computers knows about. It's a very serious disease and it interferes completely with the work. The trouble with computers is that you 'play' with them!" - Richard P. Feynman
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
Ok, the actual problem is if I start Convey Portable with PAM it doesn't seem to copy the links to the SendTo folder, but if I navigate to the Convey folder and start it from there it works correctly.
Have you tried starting the executable from the PAM, and then going to the System Tray and selecting "ReConvey". But that's weird, it should work.
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Yes I tried doing a ReConvey
A lot of what ConveyPortable uses for its functionality is what is called a working directory. PAM is not setting the working directory for ConveyPortable.exe to the ConveyPortable folder.
I have a possible solution for this on my end, but I believe they added the working directory option in a PAM beta.
I'll still probably fix this on my end as you can never guarantee what program is launching ConveyPortable.
Nice catch.
Only beta3 has the "working directory" bug.
Try beta2 and it should work.
"There is a computer disease that anybody who works with computers knows about. It's a very serious disease and it interferes completely with the work. The trouble with computers is that you 'play' with them!" - Richard P. Feynman
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
It shouldn't have to be in the root. Let me try to create the same directory structure you have and test it.
Is your folder structure like this:
X:\PortableApps\ConveyPortable\ConveyPortable.exe
or like this
X:\PortableApps\ConveyPortable.exe
X:\PortableApps\ConveyPortable\ConveyPortable.exe
I've put fixes into the .9b version for this. Thanks for finding it. Let me know if you still see issues.
When I have my documents as a shortcut in the link folder, and I click
Send to->Shortcut to Documents
It will obviously send it to Documents, cause it's a shortcut for it, and it wil send it to Shortcut to Documents. I'm wondering, I know it's purpose is it Send To, but is there any way to have the option for it only to send to the actualy folder, not the shortcut? Or is that not even possible?
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Patience,
I think I am confused. Would the end result be that you want to store documents in the link folder?
Maybe explain it to me again.
The Send To manager is to "send a file to somewhere". But in the case of this program, it is more or less an "Open With Manager" in the Send To menu. I understand you are still sending the file somewhere, but it is to a program. (To open it with that program).
What I want to do, which I already can, is use PortableCovney as a regular send to manager to send files to the Documents folder on my flash drive. So simple enough, I created a shortcut for Documents, and placed it in my Links folder. The problem is, when I click Send to->Shortcut to Documents, it send the file to my Documents folder on my flash drive, like I want it to, but it also sends a copy to the shortcut folder, which is obvious enough that is would. So I wanna know is there any way to make it so it will delete copys of files in the Shortcut to Documents folder? So they'll send to my regular Documents folder, but automaticially delete from the Shortcut to Documents folder after sending, or shut-down? It could be an option maybe. But I don't know if it's possible. Just a thought.
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Let me recreate what your doing on my end and see if there is any solution. It might just be a limitation of the Windows Send To functionality.
What did you use to write this program?
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It is written in AutoHotKey.
http://www.autohotkey.com/
cool utility, I just added it to ASuite.
I'm using ASuite along side PAM for the on start ability.
I have one suggestion, add an -exit command line argument.
This way I can have ASuite close it when it closes.
I'm still hoping PAM will eventually an the on start and on exit options.
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For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)
With the closing thing. And yes, isn't it a sick utility?!?!
That's sick in a good way.
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I'll add the -exit in the next version.
In the new version .9b there is now a parameter for exit. At the prompt just type: ConveyPortable -exit
Thanks for the suggestion. Keep 'em coming.
-ede
cool, I just downloaded the update.
ASuite now opens and closes ConveyPortable with the menu.
Thanks alot, great little util.
I've already added shortcuts to CyberShredder, UltraEdit, NSIS, Universal Extractor, and DirList.bat
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For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)
This can't be good.
C:Documents and Settings\[CURRENTUSER]\SendTo...
They stay there after the drive is ejected to...
P.S. SendTo is a hidden folder.
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HSP it doesn't send a copy to my shortcut folder. It also deletes all the shortcuts.
I tried it a few times. I'll check it again.
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sorry for wrong postlink
ignore this reply please
*I want a delete button here, eeheheh*
If you stop convey before ejecting your drive, it can't monitor your drive so it can't delete the shortcuts if the drive is ejected
[Moderator RM: Deleted duplicate post]
If your not, here is how the program works:
It never deletes anything from the thumbdrive, only from the computer the drive is plugged into. Since the script is still in memory even though the drive has been ejected, it will delete the shortcuts that it created in the computer's Send To folder and then shut itself down.
I guess you are technically right. If ConveyPortable is stopped before you eject the drive, then it can't monitor it. However, stopping ConveyPortable also causes it to delete the shortcuts it created. The only way it breaks is if you kill the process or it crashes and I'm working on a fix for that as well.
-ede
@Ede I saw this post from Have Some Patience:
This can't be good.
C:Documents and Settings\[CURRENTUSER]\SendTo...
They stay there after the drive is ejected to...
P.S. SendTo is a hidden folder.
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I had the same problem and I figured out that if you stop Convey for ejecting it won't delete the shortcuts :S
For me, it was just some kind of screw-up, it nevers leaves anything there now, for me at least.
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The Conveyor, brilliant!
I just downloaded this and thought. I wonder if there's some way to make it automaticially send shortcut to the links folder using the Send To manager. And then I realized it already does! Man, this keep getting better and better. John Haller, I recommend this app even more to be integrated with the PAM.
P.S. I love the html file, it's great. It desribes perfectly everything, I don't think it would leave anybody with any questions at all. Good work.
Oh, and the command line thing sounds sweet, specially the adding links through the command line. But I've never used the command line in Windows, I opened up accesories->Command Prompt. Was that right? Cause it didn't work for me?
Ahahahahah! SICK! Awesome, I thought, I wonder if it changes the name of the links folder under the ConveyPortable menu when you change the shortcuts destination, and it does!
You should get an amazing app award! Ok, John, I know the PAM is SWEETLY amzing, but little things like this make me so happy.
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Patience,
You are very kind. Users like you make it easy to spend time working on a little program like this.
The adding shortcuts with command prompt requires that you be in the ConveyPortable folder or point to the full path of ConveyPortable.exe. For instance,"X:\ConveyPortable\ConveyPortable C:\Windows" would create a shortcut to the windows folder. I don't really recommend it. It is mainly used by the program for The Conveyor functionality, but I figured that some hardcore command-prompt junkies might like it. And yes, you were using the right program.
- ede
For the reply, so if I download Microsoft's "Open Command Window Here" PowerToy, it should work even easier? I'll give it a shot. Oh it does. Deal, just whoever wants, download that and right click on the folder you have ConveyPortable.exe in, and select "Open Command Window Here" from the context menu, then type in the command.
As well, I think you should link this post in the "Beta Testing" forum. Just so more people know about it, and can "test" it. And then fall in love with it.
Oh, one more idea, in the ConveyPortable menu from the system tray icon, maybe include a link to the help file, just call it help, and it culd automaticially open the help file. This way, the help is easier to find. Oh, and I don't wanna sound picky, and I know this is, I don't care, but in the about box, "windows shortcuts..."-Windows does not have a capital. I know that's extremely picky, but I just wanna help make this app the best it can be with whatever I can do. (Suggestions, bug reporting)
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Or maybe a mod could move it to the "Beta Testing" forum...This really is a great app, very useful and works flawlessly
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
Good idea.
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Good eye. Thanks for catching the typo.
I am working on making a better help file with some pictures, and maybe adding some more customization options to the settings dialog. Once I finish, then I'll link the help file up from either the tray or from the settings.
I think you're right about linking this post in the "Beta Testing".
Ryan, how do I go about this? I don't want to be accused of "double-posting."
-ede
Ask Ryan when I get a chance if he doesn't see this before then.
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I moved it to the Beta Testing forum and left a shadow copy.
Sorry about missing your post the first time round
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Ryan McCue.
Blog.
So all that Airbus-delay trouble over here in Europe is because of YOU!
Simeon.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
Sorry, but I have to pile-on the lovefest.
This is a great little app that I consider a "structural" improvement. That is, it helps a bunch of different things in a small way (or not so small).
Great job!
Now I just have to figure out which portapps handle the file being sent to them!
Maybe a new thread for a list.
For example, sending a file to 7zip portable just opens 7zip, but doesn't automagically have you archive it. And Clamwin portable doesn't scan the file, it just opens clamwin.
That's absolutely no knock on your app, though.
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Sic semper tyrannosauro.
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Sic semper tyrannosauro.
You can probably edit the shortcut command line to get that to work. Don't ask me how , I'm just guessing.
This is another suggestion, but probally another Windows restricment, but I'm sure there's some work-around, but I understnad you have a life, so don't try it if you don't think it's worth it. Just when you make a new shortcut manually, or send to The Conveyer, it calls it "Shortcut to [name of file/app]. If there anyway, not manually, but with The Conveyor, to make it automaticially delete the "Shortcut to" in the title of the shortcut? Or no?
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Forget the command line.
Just add a shortcut to Convey.exe to the convey Links folder.
Also once you do this, if you use Send To ConveyPortable, the shortcuts do not have the "Shortcut To"
Might I suggest that the shortcut be included with the zip package by default?
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For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)
Yea, nevermind, it does remove the shortcut too. Wow, fantastic app. It was just the first couple shortcuts I copied by hand that had the shortcut too.
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If you really want the "Command Line Here"
You can add it to ConveyPortable.
Create a batch file in the conveyportable folder (or any where on your usb drive)
Call it Command Here.bat edit the batch file and add this
Add a shortcut to batchfile in the ConveyPortable Links folder
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For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)
I followed your instructions above then did ReConvey but I don't get a "Command Line Here" but a "Command Line in C:\Documents and Settings\Roger" wherever I happen to be when I select Send To | Command Here.
What am I doing wrong?
Thats the point of Command Line Here, to open a command line in what ever directory you are selecting it from.
Unless I misunderstood your question.
Ok, well I went to test it again, and now its not working for me at all, the command window will not stay open. I think its an issue with creating a shortcut to a batch file that uses %1. Seems this may not work consistently.
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For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)
Since I posted my Command Here batch for convey, I thought someone might find this one useful as well.
Again create a batch file somewhere on your flash drive (I would put it in the convey portable folder)
Name the batch File Dir List.bat edit to include this
create a shortcut to the batch file in the Convey Portable Links folder.
If you click on Send To | DirList.bat it will open a list of all directories in the directory you right clicked on. Useful for things like the "Whats on your Drive Forum" among other things.
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For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)
Hi, everybody; hi, ede.
This App is GREAT!!! IMHO, Have Some Patience is right, it should be added to the main distribution. Or perhaps be cloned into PAM to save a bit of screen space in the system tray (Don't know about you, but mine is pretty crowded) and perhaps even in total size. I'm sure that re-writing it in Delphi would take some KB's off it, and then integrating it into PAM would sure produce an .exe that is lighter than the sum of both.
Now a question: I'm trying to build an icon to Thunderbird Portable that will act like the Send To | Mail Recipient option (Open Thunderbird, hit compose, attach the file). Does anybody know how to do this???
And two ideas for features:
1) It might be interesting to have an option for The Conveyor to move all the icons already in the Send To folder somewhere else when it starts, and then back there again when it ends, to keep the original shortcuts out of the way. (I reckon one might stumble into some permission issues with this...)
2) All the same stuff (including even the previous suggestion) but for the Quick Lauch.
Thanks a lot for this great app.
Regards:
Wences
Not as good as moving the existing shortcuts, but if you set in the options to prepend all shortcuts with something like ! or # it will put all your portable shortcuts at the top of the list as is sorts them alphabetically.
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For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)
Thanks for the suggestion. I had already done it with a "_" prefix. "Great minds think alike"
But it still tastes like a work-around, as opposed to a feature.
I'm glad someone agrees with me. Cause it'd be so handy.
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I doubt that he'll be able to move the existing ones, the Window's default ones anyways. As I mentioned in an earlier post I have a folder with links to all My Documents subfolders in my local Sendto. If I move or delete the original My Documents shortcut, Windows replaces it automatically.
As far as the ordering goes you can add numbers to the beginning of the names to put them in the order you want. I haven't found any other way to organize them.
Wences,
I like the way your thinking. Especially about the QuickLaunch.
NewDragonMage is probably right about the built-in Send To shortcuts. These default shortcuts are in the registry and will recreate unless the registry is changed.
But I'll still look at it.
-----------------------------------------
NewDragonMage,
Question: When you move the My Documents does it immediately put it back, or is it after your next reboot?
I've customized my system to such a degree that I don't have any of the default shortcuts in my Send To. This makes testing some of these things a bit difficult.
It puts it back within a few minutes if I remember correctly.
Glad to be useful.
tested it with 0.9b this morning. unfortunatly I get only an error message on "Open Send To". see attached screenshot.
click here for screenshot
cu & hf
Dijaboro
That's a new one. I'm looking into what might be causing this.
Let me ask you- Where is the Send To on your computer located? To find out open the run dialog and type "sendto". Maybe it is in a non-standard location or something.
-ede
(first post was buried back on page 1.)
Your download link for your newest version gives 404-file not found.
Hope you can fix it, the app sounds great !
You should be able to download it here:
ConveyPortable
nice effect. on running sendto via run i get an error message ("sendto can't be find blablabla") mayde a few more sys details would be helpful
os windows xp sp2 german, user is in group administrators on the computer
path to SendTo folder -> C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\XXXX\SendTo
I didn't take the German users into account when I made this. I can definitely make a localized version, but I'm not sure if I can take into account all the different languages in one version. I'll do some research.
-ede
Hi, ede,
never jump heads first to any of the standard dirs in Windows, not even the Windows or winnt dirs, not My Documents, not SendTo, not the desktop.
If, for instance, Windows has been intalled to the second partition of the disk, or a second disk (I've seen it) every single one of those is changed to start with D:
And then you have different languages... to many of them...
And different versions of Windows, so in Win NT 4 it's C:\Winnt\profiles\\.... and there's no C:\Documents and settings.
You always have to read the names of all those directories from the registry. In the specific case of sendto, it's stored in:
I wish I could help you to read that key in AutoKey, but I don't know the language (yet).
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