SyMenu Forum

Gianluca

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27/01/2021 Topic: SyMenu and Apple devices (iPhone) Gianluca Administrator	Hi Aphrodite and welcome to the forum. You are referring to an interesting thing that deserves an in-depth answer. The topic of the SyMenu portability to others OS has always been in my mind, but it's the first time that Apple comes into it. My thoughts were always for a possible porting to Linux not to Apple. My opinion is that SyMenu perfectly fits in the Windows world for two reasons: 1) the SyMenu suites are 90% Windows software; 2) the best menu features, the most complex and interesting ones, are tied to the Windows API, not the .NET framework that'd allow the direct porting. Therefore if I port SyMenu to Linux I would have a suite with very few programs and a menu with few and really basic functions. These are bad premises to decide to embark in a huge work and for these reasons the SyMenu porting outside Windows OS is not planned. Regarding Apple are there really anyone who is willing to spend twice the real value of an hardware, getting stuck in an expensive cloud ecosystem, in an expending peripherals ecosystem, and then searching for freeware software??? It's like a Porsche or Ferrari owner going to the supermarket to buy economic windscreen wipers and seat covers... edited by Gianluca on 27/01/2021
10/02/2021 Topic: A suggestion about some APP Gianluca Administrator	Hi Tom, Welcome to the community. There are two simple rules to be part of the suite: - the program has to be portable at least at the base level i.e. it has to work with no installation; - the program has to be freeware. If a community edition means it is "free" even if with certain limitations it's OK, otherwise it's not. I don't know the programs you suggest except for Visual Studio. Visual Studio is not a portable program, it must be installed in your host computer to work and, for this reason, it can't be a member of the SyMenu Suite. Regarding the other two proposals, let's assume they perfectly fit our rules. Unfortunately I'm full of programs to manage, I'm currently managing more than 600, so my personal reply to your request is: thanks, but no thanks. Anyway the suite is opened for external contribution. If you want to help us with some additions and your intention is to offer a loooooong term help, you are welcome. Contact me in private and I will explain you how you can add your programs.
07/04/2021 Topic: Feature Request: Bigger Icons Gianluca Administrator	Hi pmem and welcome. It's not possible to increase the icons size. You can scale your Display settings (Windows allows to zoom to whatever percentage you like) and everything will be scaled even the SyMenu icons. Naturally they remain 16x16 sized even if they are zoomed (blurred). I know that .ico format can contain several icons with different sizes and color depth, but SyMenu is not able to manage it. Second problem is that the program definitions will become bigger and bigger and I don't want to force everyone to download MB of useless data every day.
07/04/2021 Topic: Feature Request: Bigger Icons Gianluca Administrator	Well it's more difficult than you can think. In SyMenu we have two icon set. You can find all the icons for your logical items inside your local folder [SyMenu]\Icons. Why these icons have only a 16x16/32bit image inside? Because I'm lazy! Well it's truly different to read the first and unique icon available in an .ico file and use it, and to take the icon with the right size/depth accordingly with the user preferences. Then we have the second icon set. If you go to [SyMenu]\ProgramFiles\SPSSuite\SyMenuSuite\_Cache you'll find a .zip file with the fresh definitions of the thousand apps available in the SyMenu suite. Every apps, as you can see in the Get new apps form, comes with its own icon. Where is this icon? Unzip the file, open one of the .sps with a text editor and you'll find that the icon is coded as a base64 field inside the xml. The biggest field BTW. Can you imagine what means to fill every sps file a certain number of icons? We will have an huge definitions file to download every day. If you understand about coding and you are skilled enough, you should find dozens solutions to these little problems but, really, I'm not interested in spend the time I devote to this project to improve the icons. I know how the problem could be fixed but I literally have not time to fix it.
07/04/2021 Topic: Feature Request: Bigger Icons Gianluca Administrator	My friend.... where were you when I was forced to solve this problem all alone??? Well if I can cut time off to think about this, I'll ring a bell for you. Thank you for you support.
19/04/2021 Topic: Symenu gets stuck while unpackung Gianluca Administrator	...Or in you AV software? When a program managed by SyMenu is installing and your AV thinks it's dangerous, it puts the program in quarantine and SyMenu hangs with no understanding on what's is happening. If you trust NirSoft software (please trust it, it's safe), disable your AV, install your preferred NirSoft programs, re-enable your AV. And please tell me if this workaround solves your issue.
15/05/2021 Topic: Extending Desktop Shortcuts Gianluca Administrator	Hi sl23, pleased to have you here again!! I hope things are eventually normalizing for everyone.
18/05/2021 Topic: floating icon and newbie question Gianluca Administrator	Hi phoenix. I'm so happy seeing you are so happy about SyMenu! Let's start from the easiest one: the floating icon. Go to the Options, tab General, flag the checkbox Start menu button if it is currently unchecked, and, above all, press the button Reset. This way if the floating icon is currently off screen it'll be forced to the center of it. https://www.ugmfree.it/SyMenuManual.aspx#Advanced_menu_Options_General How to backup the SyMenu folder. Time ago there was a tool to backup SyMenu. Nowaday we have nothing and the operation needs to be done by hand, sorry. SyMenu is completely based on the file system and the file system files are entirely located under the SyMenu root folder. This is because SyMenu is completely portable. The easiest way to backup SyMenu folders (BTW I think you are interested in the suite programs but the configuration is needed too...) is to backup the entire SyMenu, the main program and every other folders. This way you are saving SyMenu own configuration, the programs (suite) configuration, and the program suite themselves. This backup will be independent and could be launched as a separete program, i.e. it'll be completed and able to restore everything by scratch.
30/05/2021 Topic: Installing apps at root level warning Gianluca Administrator	Read here: https://www.ugmfree.it/SyMenuManual.aspx#SyContainer and start to organize your programs putting them inside these logical folders otherwise SyMenu will need to render all your programs every time you open the menu and it can take a long time (long time considering the SyMenu standard). If your programs are splitted inside several logical folder the rendering process is faster. If you want SyMenu does the work for you (from now on) read here and use the Item locators: https://www.ugmfree.it/SyMenuManual.aspx#SPSItemLocators And if anything is still not clear please let me know.
31/05/2021 Topic: A More Flexible Way of "Installing" Apps like PA Gianluca Administrator	Hi kj and welcome to the community! Let's try to solve some of your issues. 1. Easier installation by way of copy paste Apps folder What you tried to do (move SyMenu from a folder to another) is perfectly possible but, since SyMenu is strictly tied to the FS, you have to move everything. In particular you lack the configuration of your installed apps. If SyMenu finds the apps but not the configuration file, it trashes them all. The configuration file is located inside the folder [SyMenu]\Config but, I repeat, you can move SyMenu from a folder to another only if you move everything as a whole starting from the SyMenu root. 2a. To able have different user rights access to specific Apps / Containers Yes definitely. I can't understand what your intention is precisely but you can do anything. For example you can: - use it with different users in different PCs in the same way you can use a simple file in different PCs. It's a Windows problem not a SyMenu problem. - cherry picking single apps for certain users and others for other users. Again it's on Windows permissions not on SyMenu. Please try to reason in terms of authorization on the FS and everything will become possible. 2b. running SyApps as a Google Synching service Sure you can. Again SyMenu is based on the FS, if the FS is local or synchronized or available on a network share or on a junction point, it's not a SyMenu problem. Configure in the right way Google B&S app and everything will work. 3. A separate download/install window. I don't understand this one. You want to manually configure a program and, at the same time, download an app? It's not a good thing because, after SyMenu downloads an app, it needs to play a bit with the program configuration... exactly the same file you are playing with. You risk data losing. I know that when you need to configure an entire menu this seems a strong limitation, but trust me, when you menu is fully configured you'll do one operation or the other. 4. Some guideline on how to set Java path for non-SPSapps Well every scenario is a world on its own but I often spoke about Java configuration on this forum. Here for example: https://www.ugmfree.it/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=616#post2082 5. Easier method of Auto-Update for SPSapps Less techie setup. I know what you intend... an update that do everything by itself with a single button. It's on the list... Well the list is huge... I don't even remember this topic priority... And now the bonus tracks. Created MyCustomSuite within and it appears in NEW TAB in Add New Program. I believe I would still need to do manual update for each software? Yes. The SyMenu auto update (not so auto as you like anyway but still auto) is possible because every single SPS program is published and authored by an editor, a human one. Yes it's a manual, software-aided activity. I'm currently maintaining half of the entire suite and this is the reason for which the SyMenu release rate is so low in recent times. I'm always searching for new SPS editors... do the math! Unfortunately I still have to install PortableApps for easy apps update maintenance. De gustibus non disputandum est Hence my example [...] this the only plausible way i could think of to chain all my apps together within single launcher menu Ehm... please satisfy my curiosity. Which are the programs that you only found in PA and not in SyMenu? Because you seem to me like those guys that want to dive from the high cliff to show off and continuously make a step forward and one back... and never dive. edited by Gianluca on 03/06/2021
01/06/2021 Topic: Request for a future version Gianluca Administrator	Well Sir_X, I'm usually don't like to implement features that are so peculiar because they are useful only for a little bunch of users. Above all if you already can do the same thing with your already available tools. The first one that jump in my head is this one: instead of creating a SyWebLink, try to create a SyWinCommand and write this simple command line: start microsoft-edge:https://www.ugmfree.it or whatever else. There are tons of way to accomplish this task.
05/06/2021 Topic: A More Flexible Way of "Installing" Apps like PA Gianluca Administrator	Well... next time it's better to separate the questions in more than one thread. Read the title and read the questions.... 1. The program configuration file is one for all the programs in SyMenu: [SyMenuRoot]/Config/SyMenuItem.zip. It's not under the suite folder but under the SyMenu root. The 20210605.sps.zip (not 210605) contains the definitions files (SPS) that give SyMenu all the information about the programs of the suite. There is no "offline packages" concept in SyMenu. 2. FS -> File System. The best practice to locate AppData, ProgramData, UserData, Temp/Others for a certain program is to put the folder/s inside the program folder itself, possibly under the root folder and not deeper. >> Good to have feature: Drop a Ticket/Feedback to Developer of Apps As an app distributor I don't care to take care for this activity but you can drop a message to the SPS editor, the person that packages the program for SyMenu. Click on Contact reviewer, the link is available among the program information. Naturally your report must be relative to the packaging not to the program developing activity (we don't care about bug report, feature requests and so on). Wishlist Probably you haven't fully understood that SyMenu is wide open to users contributions. You already built your custom suite but if you think a program is lacking in the official suite you can add it by yourself sharing it with everyone else. The game is opened to everyone. Every new editors works are examined by me and then published. Think about it, it could be the fastest solution to fix the holes in the suite you found To accomplish this start reading this page https://www.ugmfree.it/SyMenuSPSBuilder.aspx
08/06/2021 Topic: Initial screens pop up frequently Gianluca Administrator	It's the first time someone report this issue. In my opinion the problem can be caused by one of these three problems: it could be related to Windows permissions on the configuration. I'm speaking about the file C:\programs\_SyMenu]\Config\SyMenuConfig.zip Try to check the Windows permissions on this file, SyMenu or better the user you are using to start SyMenu, must be able to read the file; are you launching SyMenu with different command line options? In this case we should analyze which options are you using and why the outcome is those one; are you or a program in you PC tampering with the configuration file? This can cause the problem as well. Please report your discoveries, I'm really interested.
13/06/2021 Topic: Suggestion: B/G theme colour with few hues Gianluca Administrator	Hi kj. SyMenu duplication I perfectly agree with your solution. It seems good and fast enough. One only submenu Well I don't agree with you but SyMenu is a free animal, so be my guest your two levels solution is perfect if you like it. As my 3 and 4 levels solution is perfect for me Different colors shades Please remember that your solution with two only levels is just yours. If someone else needs three levels should I offer three shades? Currently you can create a two colors shade in every single menu level playing with the theme. The basic themes instead are all solid colors. Try to create a black shade, probably your need to discern the two levels is satisfied the same. Tooltip The tooltips are already standardized. You can choose what to include in the tooltip (it's in the options). Naturally if a program lacks an element, that element doesn't appear in the tooltip.Can you explain better what you intend here? Description If a publisher changes a program description the only way to get that particular description in an already configured program is removing and adding the program itself. You can see the updated description only in the Manage SPS Apps form. Why this behavior? It's because a user like me, like you, needs to customize the description of his own configured programs and needs to have the description untouched even after a program update. Tooltip character limit I don't like this solution. The tooltip is not an invasive object and you can disable it at all. Plus it disappears by itself and if you don't want to see it you can move the mouse pointer faster. So why you hate the poor tooltip so much? Separate launcher in linked folder When I implemented it I checked if the separate launcher was feasible but unfortunately it wasn't. Anyway... if you check the Show as a link checkbox you will have your separate folder... in Explorer or in any other launcher with the proper plugin.
14/06/2021 Topic: launch script silently Gianluca Administrator	Hi kj, Next time please open a new thread for every argument otherwise is difficult to find the various topics for all the users. Parameters and working dir These are Windows concept not SyMenu ones. SyMenu allows you to add them but it's Windows that manages them. Parameters: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/understanding-command-line-arguments-and-how-to-use-them/ The working directory is the directory where your program is working. If for example your program needs a file inside the relative folder .\resource this folder is resolved according with your working dir. Should I specify the working dir? Nope. Usually in SyMenu you don't have to specify the program's working dir because it's quite always .\, i.e. the program root folder. One of the several exception is if you want to execute a .jar executable without Java installed. In this case your executable is [...]\jre\bin\javaw.exe but your working dir is not [...]\jre\bin\ but the program one. Naturally executing javaw.exe alone doesn't start your program, so you have to pass it through the parameter. This is an example for yEd Graph Editor: working dir: .\ Arguments: -jar [SyMenu]\ProgramFiles\SPSSuite\SyMenuSuite\yEd_Graph_Editor_sps\yed.jar or you can execute it this way: working dir: [SyMenu]\ProgramFiles\SPSSuite\SyMenuSuite\yEd_Graph_Editor_sps\ Arguments: -jar yed.jar Does working dir works for other apps which are portable in nature due to no other dependencies not present in the OS? The portability of a program and the working dir are two different concepts. Well you are a bit confused on the various topics. My advise is to try to progress step by step and not pretending to create a complex system by scratch. I think your first target is accomplished (the custom menu creation). Why not trying to play with the working dir of one single program now? You have the double example of yEd that's really interesting and didactic.
25/06/2021 Topic: Thank you! Gianluca Administrator	Thank you for your support. Really appreciated. And BTW you beat me hands-down with your monster configuration!!!
28/06/2021 Topic: Shouldn't SyMenu Suite be listed in Wikipedia? Gianluca Administrator	Thank you gggirlgeek but, with your post, you remind me a very sad story about SyMenu. Long ago I created a page on Wikipedia for SyMenu. The page was updated every time I updated the program and was a useful page to explain SyMenu to the new users. For the same reason I added SyMenu to other wiki pages because it fit perfectly on several other categories. After a while the SyMenu page was tagged as an advertise page. Plus they told me the page was poorly built and that the external links I supplied were not legitimate (?????). I tried to explain that SyMenu is a freeware tool and that they are allowing the publication to several other similar programs (Liberkey, PortableApps, and so on) but, you know how it works, the wikiers are not democratic beasts... when they think a thing, that is the true. So the SyMenu page was deleted, the reference in the other wikipedia pages were deleted as well... SyMenu was totally eclipsed from wikipedia. Well I don't believe in conspiracy theories but guys, five years later I still don't have a clear explanation. If you want this is an interesting reading on how things works on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/SyMenu Regarding your edit some data are not perfect. "SyMenu Suite" should be "SyMenu". The suite is one of its feature. "Software license" is "Freeware" (the license is not taken from the most used freeware ones but it's certainly freeware). "Open Source" is "No" (at least for now). "Programming language" is "C#". Thank you!
30/06/2021 Topic: Shouldn't SyMenu Suite be listed in Wikipedia? Gianluca Administrator	gggirlgeek wrote: Wow that discussion on Wikipedia was strange. Basically, you were too excited about your software? So, without actual evidence of anything against the rules they can just say, "No, the public should not have this information because you like it too much"? It's amazing that there is any information at all in Wikipedia. This is the dark side of Wikipedia. It's a collaborative encyclopedia but you can't collaborate if the moderators decide you are out. gggirlgeek wrote: Anyway, I corrected the information you mentioned. One thing though. Are you sure I should put "Freeware" in the License column? I don't think they were asking the pricing model. I think they want the type of copyrights license it has (if that makes sense. I don't know much about this subject.) Maybe it should say "Proprietary" You are right. Proprietary is better than Freeware. And probably it's better to change the creator column with ugmfree.it to give all the users a clue on where to find it (the footnote on the version column is less evident). Thank you for your help and let's see if this time the information remains.
06/07/2021 Topic: A new approach to the installation of apps Gianluca Administrator	Hi guys, I'm developing a new feature for SyMenu and I'd like to share a first implementation picture to have some feedback from you. As you can see the new area in the middle allows to track all the programs I need to process. This way I can use the search without losing the previous selections. In this case I wanted to Install 12-Ants, Mozilla FF, and Autoruns and, to find the latter, I used the search instead of scrolling with the mouse. You can see that my last search returned only two programs but the previously selected ones are still there. The availability of a new area where the planned programs to add/update/remove are stored, allows me to move the "Apply all" button inside it. BTW this area appears only when you select at least a program with a checkbox otherwise it completely disappears taking away the "Apply all" button too... well it is useless with no checkbox flagged. It seems to me a good solution even if the form is starting to crowd a lot more... What do you think about it? edited by Gianluca on 19/07/2021
26/07/2021 Topic: .CMD script shortcuts & properties Gianluca Administrator	Hi JPB46, Welcome to the community. It's the first time I see such as sort of customization. The Windows cmd.exe doesn't support this kind of customization, as well as the single .cmd files, but the shortcuts to cmd files do. It's a really strange behaviour in a Windows environment where the shorcuts to any other kind of files doesn't allow any customization unless the shortcut icon and other compatibility parameters... I never stop learning The problem here is that SyMenu resolves every shortcut you give to it because it needs to verify it the target exists, this way all the shortcut customization is cut out I can suggest a workaround and I hope it can work for you. Since the shortcut resolution takes place when you add a new item, you can go to the configuration form and replace the resolved path with the shortcut path. To be clear: - you add the shortcut C:\TestPing.lnk and SyMenu resolves it C:\TestPing.cmd - go to the configuration form and replace the path back from C:\TestPing.cmd to C:\TestPing.lnk Problem solved. edited by Gianluca on 26/07/2021