SyMenu Forum

sl23

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13/09/2015 Topic: X-Software sl23	X-Calibre is outdated so I retried using the calibre-portable-setup. I managed to install it but on installation an error came up about the filepath being too long. Then it requested to assign a new path. I placed Calibre into E:/SyMenu/ProgramFiles/Calibre Portable/ and this worked out ok. Maybe there could be a way to define relative paths in the SPS Builder to accommodate for apps like this?
13/09/2015 Topic: SPS Builder Template sl23	As I've been creating many SPS files, I wondered if perhaps our login details could contain the information for a template so as to reduce retyping every field? Or simply allow to save our own local template using an incomplete SPS file in read only mode?
13/09/2015 Topic: SPS Builder Template sl23	Ok I see, didn't think about editing the files directly, thanks. But, yes, however it needs resolving, it would help to have templates.
16/09/2015 Topic: .paf sl23	I have tried damn hard to rid myself of the whole paf suite, but certain apps are simply better done with paf. I tried using using the symenu paf plugin but as it doesn't include all paf apps I find myself still needing the paf menu. Also, as the plugin doesn't seem to be kept us to date and is probably likely to be phased out, I have moved all paf apps back into their menu. But some are natively portable, like cherrytree, but you didn't add it despite it being natively portable, I'm curious why? If you plan on leaving the plugin, then best thing is to remove it and move those apps to sps versions?
16/09/2015 Topic: SPS Builder Template sl23	Wow! Thanks Gian do adding this, looking forward to the update
16/09/2015 Topic: Menu customization sl23	Excellent! Thank you again
16/09/2015 Topic: .paf sl23	Hmmm... I didn't notice the startup bug in Cherrytree, I'm on Win10, upgraded from Win8.1, does that make a difference? EDIT: I just reinstalled Cherrytree and I see where the problem is. It's because the config.ini is empty. Previously, on testing I added my existing file before first start which obviously works fine. This is an instance where SPS Builder needs the ability to add text when creating a file. Unless you leave this to the user? But would need a warning note to state what is necessary. .NET Version Detector - nice app, needs a bit of work graphically but great alternative, thanks. The only cons is that you can't test it in SPS Builder but you can do it in SPS Manager. Not quite sure why you say it can't be tested in SPS Builder? In what way? I setup a few .paf apps and they download, install and run fine. Unless you mean the $PLUGINSDIR folder that's left behind? .paf plugin - Is it really necessary? I mean, I have simply installed the PA platform into SyMenu/ProgramFiles/PA.c/ and then use it as an auto updater rather than a menu! It has little to offer me other than that. It's far too restrictive and development has taken several years just to add categories!!! It's very well done, but takes too long to add features. I requested FileAssociations around 5 years ago and it still hasn't happened despite all the talk! Now it apparently can't be done due to the way Win10 handles file associations! I know it's free and you get what you're given, understood, but when news is given about anything, it doesn't happen and that's frustrating, and I wasn't the only one. When I tried to point out to John, why others were getting impatient, he started getting really angry with me just for pointing out what the problem was! So I have given up on PAF now. Anyway, that's just my opinion of things, and how I have it setup, not sure if you really want the PA Platform as an SPS? Probably not the way to go, but it's useful until SyMenu covers all the bases One app I'm curious about, 7zip. You only have the 32bit version, is there a reason you don't have the 64bit version? Would it be worth adding the paf version instead so as to have both in one? edited by sl23 on 16/09/2015 edited by sl23 on 18/09/2015
16/09/2015 Topic: Necessary folder structure? sl23	I'm just curious if the path could be shortened either by you or by the user. I'm specifically looking at the folder SPSSuite. The current three suite's within this folder could simply be placed in the SyMenu/ProgramFiles folder. Would this be easy for you to change? I'm just thinking that things like Calibre would benefit from this slightly shorter path, but also the constant navigating to and from folders would be easier with this slight change. Though not essential, I would hope it's possible.
20/09/2015 Topic: .paf sl23	Cherrytree: I read the thread and though I don't understand fully what is going on I at least get part of it. But at least it's being worked on. PAF Plugin: I'm not really that advanced! Just fluent in the basics more than anything ;-) I'll add the apps I find useful from their repertoire, which will help reduce the need for the paf plugin. Personally I think I'll delete the plugin as the menu does a better job and contains all the apps. It got confusing using the plugin and the menu as to which version was being used and what platform it was under! PAMenu: There isn't any configuration needed as such just a need to add the menu to SyMenu for easy startup. Then it can either be set to auto update or not. I'll make an SPS file for the PAMenu, if you decide to use it, great, if not that's ok it's simple enough to add it. I will create a thread to instruct others, or rather show how I did it, at least that should help the less computer savvy get it running. 7Zip: Ah, I see, I'll look into adding the 64bit version when I get round to it. Thanks for all your hard work Gian, very much appreciated SyMenu/SPSBuilder is seriously a brilliant idea and although still needs some things added, it's fantasticly easy to pick up and get started.
20/09/2015 Topic: Adding PortableApps.com Menu to SyMenu sl23	I've added the PA.c Menu to SyMenu as it's easier to use and contains all the apps distributed by PA.com. Rather than using the outdated SyMenu .paf Plugin. Here's how I did it: 1. First you need to download the PortableAppsMenu: http://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/PortableApps.com%20Platform/PortableApps.com_Platform_Setup_12.1.paf.exe/download 2. Next, Install it wherever is convenient for you. I already had it installed in E:/MyApps/Start.exe and then I moved it from here to E:/SyMenu/ProgramFiles/SPSSuite/PA.c/Start.exe 3. Once you've installed the menu here, or to your chosen location, you need to open the PAMenu and then open the Options. Click the Advanced tab on the Options window and check the box(es) to auto check for updates. All other settings are optional and really relevant if using the PAMenu seperately from SYMenu. I simply use it as an auto updater and have added the PA.c apps to SyMenu so all apps are available in one place. 4. Now add your apps to the PAMenu. edited by sl23 on 20/09/2015
20/09/2015 Topic: Necessary folder structure? sl23	I see the difficulty, just that the folder seems a bit pointless! ProgramFiles is as far as is needed to go for the apps. Ok if you plan on keeping it that way it's no big deal I suppose I'll just move my other app 'suites' here. I don't fully understand symbolic links, I did read a page on HowToGeeks about it but no warnings were given, so I'll stick to the easier method! ;-)
20/09/2015 Topic: Auto starting apps... sl23	In most menus, it's simply a matter of checking a box to auto start an app. SyMenu however seems to require further info in the box underneath, would you mind giving an example of how to use this please? Thanks
20/09/2015 Topic: Auto starting apps... sl23	Ah, I did see that before but overlooked it as it wasn't needed at the time!!! Thank you
20/09/2015 Topic: SyMenu Metro App Manager sl23	I recently upgraded from 8.1 to 10 but I gave it a go and... nothing! I never use the windows metro apps but thought I'd try it out.
24/09/2015 Topic: SPS Builder Requests... sl23	A list of some new and previously discussed, via email, requests: Double unpack. Unzip then unpack exe for example. Add text to files. ie, create an .INI file then add text to it. Cherrytree is an example where this is necessary. Rename files after unpacking. two apps spring to mind here. WordWeb needs a .DLL file renaming after unpacking. PartitionWizard requires you to remove, ',1' and ',2' from many of it's files before it can run after unpacking. Delete function. Allows folders/files to be specified for deletion after installing apps. Only necessary for certain apps like .paf.exe's that leave $PLUGINSDIR behind. Also useful if using UniExtract, see below... Add option to select location of unpacker to use instead of SyMenu/SPS system. ie, select location of UniExtract folder and use that to unpack .EXE's, for double extractions, use SyMenu system then UniExtract. Many apps are still fine with the SPS system but UniExtract would better suit those that don't correctly unpack with SPS. ie RocketDock, LMMS 64, Handbrake. These apps install into the system despite being portable. Hence UniExtract would be better suited at unpacking these then renaming, moving and deleting certain files to facilitate correct portable install. Using UniExtract creates other issues that need resolution. Delete and Move would need adding to the SPS Builder to facilitate correct installation of certain apps. Perhaps allow use of, at WinPenPack's discretion of course, X-Launcher to allow more advanced users to fully portablise their apps and their settings. Allowing paths to be specified for installation. I have tried this but it doesn't seem to work, is it meant to? Or is it just for locating the correct path to the .exe? I will add more to this post as they crop up and remove those that get added... Add ability to download more than one app. An example of this would be ePSXe, which isn't natively portable, it uses the registry for it's settings. 1. Download the paf devtest version, which is out of date. 2. That will install the version associated with it. 3. Then, using the requests above, download the latest ePSXe version and install to ePSXEPortable/App/ePSXE/ folder. 4. The paf launcher portablises ePSXe's settings. OR: Again using the above requests: 1. Download and install X-Launcher. 2. Download and install latest ePSXe to SyMenuSuite/X-Launcher/Bin/ folder. 3. Configure the X-Launcher.ini file by adding necessary code. 4. Rename the launcher and INI to the app name, eg, X-ePSXe.exe and X-ePSXe.ini. 5. Job Done! This would solve many problems with other apps that aren't natively portable, and would allow SPS Builders to create completely portable apps using X-Launcher, but this does depend a lot on the licensing and whether the WinPenPack team would allow this sort of control of their creation?! Further requests... Would it be possible to make links clickable in the sps builder? That would make it even quicker to get to a web site to check for updates. Simply load each sps and click the homepage link. Also, as a minor improvement, it would negate the need for the Download Package button to streamline the interface a little. Thanks edited by sl23 on 07/11/2015
17/10/2015 Topic: New SyMenu version 4.13 sl23	Massive thanks for all your hard work and help, thank you so much for this marvellous application Gian
12/11/2015 Topic: Custom folder for downloaded SPS sl23	Nice addition, hopefully this does what I wanted, simply to remove one folder from the path. The SPSsuite folder seems pointless and causes extra needless navigating, only a minor issue though ;-) edited by sl23 on 12/11/2015
12/11/2015 Topic: Custom folder for downloaded SPS sl23	I forgot to add: Would this affect my current setup if I changed the default path now? Does it mean that symenu and it's component apps, just work as normal including the whole update process?
12/11/2015 Topic: Custom folder for downloaded SPS sl23	Ah!ok I'll wait for the next installment then... ;-)
03/12/2015 Topic: Request - search improvements / menu contents sl23	Not sure if it's what you are looking for, but I added an app that shows StartMenu when clicked. If that's not waht you want, then maybe KkMenu will do more. It can be set to show any number of predefined folders dynamically. ie it can show start menu folders and will show any changes made to them. You can also click on the folders within KkMenu to open that folder. It's tricky to configure til you get the hang of it though. If you need help feel free to ask.