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d4n93rm0u53 Posts: 4
11/03/2010
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As much as I love Windows 7 (and I really do) this issue with UAC getting in the way of everything is very irritating; a handful of the day to day programs I use require elevated privileges and as a consequence fall over when launched from within SyMenu.
While I appreciate this issue could be circumvented by specifying application credentials, I run into problems when I use these apps in a portable environment since usernames & passwords tend to differ (as they should).
Microsoft offer the ability to specify a program parameter (within the file properties dialog) of “Run as administrator”, might it be possible to implement a similar facility within this app?
Many Thanks
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
11/03/2010
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Hi d4n93rm0u53.
This feature is already present in SyMenu.
Simply read the manual here http://www.ugmfree.it/SyMenuManual.aspx#Executor_Modifier
Gianluca
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d4n93rm0u53 Posts: 4
11/03/2010
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Thank you for the prompt response!
The downside with this approach is that I must on each occasion select an alternative launch method along with account login credentials.
Microsoft’s approach however doesn’t require the re-entering of these values.
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
11/03/2010
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Well.
I think that if you always need to run every SyMenu linked program with different credential (on certain PCs) maybe you have to RunAs SyMenu first with alternative credential.
In this way any linked program runs through SyMenu will inherit the credential.
Naturally if this is a need shared among many users I can implement a Microsoft like mechanism to temporarily store alternative credential in memory.
But before I need some feedback from users.
Gianluca
<em>edited by Gianluca on 3/11/2010</em>
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SyMan Posts: 7
24/03/2010
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Hi Gianluca,
I think d4n93rm0u53 is right. The point is, that even if you are logged in as an administrator, you don't have the full administrator rights for certain programs. (I have a few tools of this kind as well, which I can't run with SyMenu.)
For such programs there is the Run As Administrator option. From my point of view, this is a feature for your todo list ;-)
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Coastie Posts: 26
25/03/2010
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Would be useful for me as well
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
25/03/2010
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Ok.
I have to think about a feature for this.
It could be something like this:
- SyMenu can't in any way store credential among different work sessions because of security need.
- First time you access a program with RunAs modifier, you'll be prompted to provide alternative credential.
- When you try to RunAs the same program another time, in the same session, you'll be prompted again to provide credential but SyMenu propose the previous one. Focus is set on Confirm button.
- In this way you can cancel and replace credential without resetting SyMenu or accept old one with a simple click.
Is in your opinion this proposal suitable for you needs?
Thank you for your precious suggestion!!
Gianluca
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SyMan Posts: 7
25/03/2010
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Hi Gianluca,
I don't think it's necessary to store any credentials. Many Win7 users are logged in as adminstrators but don't disable UAC completely. If you call a programm needing full administrator rights you are prompted (on the lowest level of UAC) if you really want to allow this program to start and maybe do something harmful to your system. If you agree, the programm will start, otherwise it won't. The respective behaviour depends on the UAC settings and this is what Microsoft wants.
But if I start the same program from SyMenu, the system just says "You need higher rights to do that" (in german, don't know the english message) and nothing else happens - and yes, I'm already logged in as an administrator.
So I guess, something is lacking in the SyMenu call of programs that need to be "Run As Administrator". I know there are some howtos on the internet about how to "elevate UAC rights" e.g. for scripts in Vista and Win7.
Hope this helps.
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
31/03/2010
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Hi guys.
I think that the situation is not so clear.
Alternative credential allows to run a program with another user.
Elevation required by UAC allows a program to run with the same credential but with more powers.
Certain users have some privileges among UAC but, correctly, you don't have to change user to bypass the elevation required by UAC.
SyMenu manages alternative users but doesn't support UAC elevation.
The reason is that if your SyMenu reside on USB drive, Windows doesn't require elevation to execute SyMenu and usually not even to execute programs called by SyMenu.
But if your SyMenu is installed on an internal hd (I discover that some users use SyMenu as Windows Start Menu replacer :-) great!!) or if the linked program wants to deeply access to Windows resources (it is that the reason for UAC to require elevation, isn't it?) UAC is not correctly manage by SyMenu.
In first case SyMenu can't write is configuration files if changed, in second programs can't execute.
I have implemented a workaround in SyMenu that could resolve both the issues. It'll be available on next release.
You'll be able to:
- execute programs that require elevation
- elevate SyMenu the same to allow it to write on its configuration files, if it's installed on local drive.
But since the various behaviors in different PCs are hundreds, I can't test any situation and I need help.
If anyone of you would like to help testing this new feature, please send me a private message (in forum or from web site, Contacts section) with your email. I send you a SyMenu test version to check if anything works well.
Thank you
Gianluca
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d4n93rm0u53 Posts: 4
06/04/2010
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I have a workaround!
Please refer to the following article: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.06.elevation.aspx
Download the article source code (http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/d/0/fd05def7-68a1-4f71-8546-25c359cc0842/Elevation2008_06.exe) extract and copy the files "elevate.vbs" and "elevate.cmd" into your SyMenu "ProgramFiles" folder.
Finally replicate the attached screen shot (modifying as necessary!)
Enjoy
Chris
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
06/04/2010
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Hello Cris.
The article is very interesting and I'll go to study it ASAP but, as I posted, I think that I've already solved this issue. The new feature will be available with SyMenu 1.10.
If you are interested in testing it please send me a private message or use the contact tool in web site.
Thank you very much for help.
Gianluca
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Coastie Posts: 26
17/04/2010
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Can you tell us what new features/updates 1.10 has in store?
SyMenu is without a doubt my most used/useful application on my computer.
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
17/04/2010
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Sure!
These are new features for 1.10 version:
- customizable tooltip on every item on context menu. Tooltip elements available to add are: path, description, url, shell command, keyboard shortcut. Selected tooltip appears on every item according to type of item (i.e. SyPrograms don't have url attribute but path attribute). You can customize which tooltip to show;
- SyMenu could be executed with elevation in Windows Vista and Windows 7;
- Since this version Windows notifies user if a program, launched from SyMenu, needs elevation;
- Credentials supplied for runAs execution are stored in memory for entire SyMenu session;
- Bug fixes to run SyMenu with low permissions during interaction with File System.
Hope you like it!
Gianluca
<em>edited by Gianluca on 5/7/2010</em>
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Gianluca Administrator Posts: 1274
07/05/2010
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Here we are.
New 1.10 version is out with all promised feaures.
Gianluca
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Coastie Posts: 26
11/05/2010
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Great, thank you!
SyMenu is the most used and appreciated app on my computer !
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