You are here

Home » Forums » Support Forums » PortableApps.com Platform

[Closed] How to avoid having PortableApps Platform showing up in Alt+Tab ?

14 posts / 0 new
Log in or register to post comments
Last post
June 18, 2022 - 10:15am
#1
chrisfox
Offline
Last seen: 1 month 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2015-06-01 10:03
[Closed] How to avoid having PortableApps Platform showing up in Alt+Tab ?

Hi,

I am really annoying having PortableApps Platform showing up in Windows Alt-Tab:
https://imgur.com/a/IAciqcL (I have added a smiley on the item I want to get removed)

Windows never included its Windows start menu in the Alt-Tab so why does PortableApps does that ?
I do not understand the concept behind? why do you need this ?

How to stop having PortableApps Platform in the Alt-Tab ?
I just want the PortableApps Platform to show up when I want to launch a portable app, I do not need it to stay open all the time as it is doing.

Top
June 18, 2022 - 12:28pm
John T. Haller
John T. Haller's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 hour 20 min ago
AdminDeveloperModeratorTranslator
Joined: 2005-11-28 22:21
App

While it is shaped as and works like a menu, it is a standard windows app, so it shows in task manager. The only way to get it not to show would be to alter the form handling. As I can't recall being asked this previously and it has been this way for the past 16 years, I don't currently have any plans to change it.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Top
June 18, 2022 - 2:07pm
(Reply to #2)
chrisfox
Offline
Last seen: 1 month 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2015-06-01 10:03
This a strange decision,

This a strange decision, especially as PortableApps Platform already has a system tray icon. Most tools use the system tray icon as a menu, this is also how PortableApps Platform should work.
In the current situation, you have to do Alt-Tab to launch a new application: I have never seen something like this.

Can I at least automatically close the PortableApps Platform once I have launched an app within PortableApps ?
Which option can I modify for this?

Top
June 18, 2022 - 2:28pm
(Reply to #3)
John T. Haller
John T. Haller's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 hour 20 min ago
AdminDeveloperModeratorTranslator
Joined: 2005-11-28 22:21
Close?

When you say close, what are you referring to? The menu window closes automatically when it loses focus. Were you wanting to hide it from the taskbar? You can do this with a setting in Options - Advanced.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Top
June 19, 2022 - 3:43pm
(Reply to #4)
chrisfox
Offline
Last seen: 1 month 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2015-06-01 10:03
After starting the portable

After starting the portable apps I want, I want PortableApps platform to close so that:
- it is no longer in Alt-Tab
- And it is no longer in the taskbar

Top
June 20, 2022 - 2:59pm
(Reply to #5)
depp.jones
Offline
Last seen: 13 hours 48 min ago
DeveloperTranslator
Joined: 2010-06-05 17:19
Did you try the option in

Did you try the option in Advanced to hide the taskbar icon? That setting prevents the PAc Menu from showing up in the list when minimized.
On both of my systems (Win10 and Win11) I don't have the PortableApps platform in my open apps list (Alt-Tab) any other time than when it is purposely opened. I have to click the icon in the info area or the menu's shortcut and than hit Alt-Tab to see it there. I don't do this normally, it was the first time in the last 10 years and just to check.
When a portable app is lauchend, the menu is closed and does not show up in the open apps list. The same happens, when I hit Alt-Tab twice, because the menu auto closes.

Can you verify, if "Keep menu visible after atarting apps" is unchecked? That should be the only official setting, that prevents the menu from closing.

Top
June 19, 2022 - 4:42am
(Reply to #6)
ANTICHRISTUS REX
ANTICHRISTUS REX's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 hours 2 min ago
Translator
Joined: 2019-07-19 07:09
Alternative..

If you're using few apps, you may pin them to your taskbar and avoid using the platform at all (except for updates etc.).
There is another way to pin to Start Menu (that I've tested once), maybe it will solve your problem.
https://i.imgur.com/ORr6alN.png

Illusions are an infinite paradise.

Top
June 19, 2022 - 3:45pm
(Reply to #7)
chrisfox
Offline
Last seen: 1 month 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2015-06-01 10:03
Pin to task is not feasible

"Pin to task" is not feasible given the number of Portable apps I have, for "Pin to start", how do you notice in the start menu that this app is actually a portable apps?

Top
June 20, 2022 - 4:52am
(Reply to #8)
ANTICHRISTUS REX
ANTICHRISTUS REX's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 hours 2 min ago
Translator
Joined: 2019-07-19 07:09
Organization

You may organize all your portable apps within a unique folder (or several subfolders) inside your Start Menu¹.. Also Portable apps look different since they should be named Thingy Portable.

¹ I don't remember how does it look or work, because I've tested it once, while translating the new feature.

Illusions are an infinite paradise.

Top
June 20, 2022 - 9:06am
(Reply to #9)
chrisfox
Offline
Last seen: 1 month 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2015-06-01 10:03
C:\Users\chris\AppData

> C:\Users\chris\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu> ¹ I don't remember how does it look or work, because I've tested it once, while translating the new feature.

I have looked how it works: when you add it to Start menu, PortableApps is adding a shortcut into "C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" instead. The thing is that all portable are in the same folder this helps for maintenance.

I am suprised it is not inside "C:\Users\chris\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"

Top
June 20, 2022 - 12:04pm
(Reply to #10)
ANTICHRISTUS REX
ANTICHRISTUS REX's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 hours 2 min ago
Translator
Joined: 2019-07-19 07:09
Lazy testing

I've tested pinning (to Start Menu) shortcuts of two different apps: LibreOffice and MKVToolnix. Then I've moved them to a subfolder, still working like a charm!

I am suprised it is not inside ""

What do you mean?

Illusions are an infinite paradise.

Top
July 3, 2022 - 5:21am
(Reply to #11)
chrisfox
Offline
Last seen: 1 month 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2015-06-01 10:03
Sorry, I have seen that pas

Sorry, I have seen that pas paste was not properly done. I have corrected my previous post.

All programs are usually inside "C:\Users\chris\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs", in 'Programs' are all the application.

Top
July 3, 2022 - 9:58am
(Reply to #12)
ANTICHRISTUS REX
ANTICHRISTUS REX's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 hours 2 min ago
Translator
Joined: 2019-07-19 07:09
Solved, just look above ↑↑

Anyway, just reread the Depp.Jones's answer. It looks like what you're exactly asking for.

PS. Don't forget to add [Solved] to the threaad's titlee.

Illusions are an infinite paradise.

Top
July 8, 2022 - 9:44am
chrisfox
Offline
Last seen: 1 month 3 weeks ago
Joined: 2015-06-01 10:03
It is actually possible to

It is actually possible to avoid being in Alt+Tab, Ditto, which is another opensource project is doing this for its clipboard history.

Top
Log in or register to post comments