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Gianluca

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13/09/2024 Topic: SyMenu 8.04 Gianluca Administrator	And a new version is finally deployed. What I implemented with it is described as usual in the changelog (https://www.ugmfree.it/symenudownload#changelog). A special mention to a new feature I introduced and tagged as experimental. Disclaimer! The next part is boring and technical so you go on at your risk. Some users asked to allow SyMenu to be pinned in the taskbar. It's because someone uses this Window feature instead of the Start menu to launch her frequently used programs. Windows pinning is a feature I never understood since its inception but anyway I can understand there's a certain usefulness in it. To pin a program Windows needs it to appear in the taskbar and SyMenu doesn't have this behaviour. Why? Because if it activates a button in the taskbar, that button must have a function (apart from the pinning one). Because when you see a button, you click on it and something has to happen. But what can happen in the SyMenu world? The most intuitive behaviour should be the appearance of the menu. Unfortunately the menu is a component that needs the focus to appear, otherwise it disappears. But the button you click on the taskbar wants the focus too because that f***ing component is not able to notify you when the click is finished but only when the click starts... Come on Microsoft... another incomprensible behaviour that makes my life miserable... So I found myself in a sort of hell trying to steal the focus to the taskbar at the right moment, or trying to make the menu appear with a certain delay, and trying not to break the normal behaviour. All this dissertation to say what? When you activate your button, you can use it to pin SyMenu in the taskbar, but if you click nothing happens.... poor design! What I can do to improve this design is to make something else appear such as the Configuration form or the Get new app form, or the About form, or the Options one. What do you think about this?
14/09/2024 Topic: SyMenu 8.04 Gianluca Administrator	ero35 wrote: 1-I know your negative thoughts about paf support. However, if symenu has paf support, it can be an added value. SyMenu does support the PAF. You misunderstood the real issue: I have nothing against the PAF format. It's the PAF format that is built to be used exclusively with the PortableApp platform. The PA platform is the only launcher with the permission to use the silent installation of the PAF packages so that every other launcher needs to operate at a lower level (unpacking them as a zip file and rebuilding the right files and folders structure). And when you operate that way, the first time you launch the program, you get a scary message that the package could be tampered. For a while the nice man John Haller, puts a code in every PAF to prevent the execution when launched by SyMenu or Lupo pen suite. So if I avoid the PAF it is not because I don't like it. ero35 wrote: 2-It would be great to have a version that can run in WinPE environment. Have you tried to run SyMenu in WinPE? I haven't but there's a chance it could work quite well. If you do the test, please let me know how the outcome is.
16/09/2024 Topic: Run Powershell command Gianluca Administrator	Sorry... I read your post three times but I can't understand if it's an issue report, a suggestion for other users, or whatever... Can you explain better what's it on?
16/09/2024 Topic: Run Powershell command Gianluca Administrator	It works. You don't have to use a Windows command item because the shell recognizes only Windows command. You have to use a normal Program item configured like this: - in the path field set "powershell.exe" (it works only if you have ps folder in the Path environment variable otherwise put the entire path to powershell.exe); - in program arguments set -command "your command here". For example you can set "-command get-process. Please report the outcome for other users.
18/09/2024 Topic: Completely off topic Gianluca Administrator	Dear friends, I've just opened a personal channel on youtube with my DIY (do it yourself) passion... Yes, SyMenu is not my only passion, I have another, I'm a sort of handyman at home. If you are interested in this topic too or simply want to know me better, you can watch my first (and unique for now) video and tell me what you think about it. https://www.youtube.com/@makerforpassion Sorry for this auto-promotion post, I promise it'll be the only one edited by Gianluca on 18/09/2024
26/09/2024 Topic: Windows Command problem Gianluca Administrator	Hello timrray, Wow... I think this is the first time I receive a bug report so detailed. Thank you for this. You are right, with the last version I changed the escaping command system. Before that version escaping a forbidden char was done with the ^ char. So for example: C:\(MeAndYou) that's a perfectly allowed name in Windows but created some problems if executed in a process, was changed in: C:\^(MeAndYou^) But this method had some drawbacks for example with the & character. The solution with the double quotes seems a good one with a minimum impact and instead... some commands fail because of this one. So a command like: "ipconfig" works well regardless the double quotes but: "ipconfig /all" won't work at all.... Windows mysteries... So what can we do now? I think I could try to recognize when the command contains a path and only in that case I can escape it. This solution should fix any problem. What do you think about it? BTW how are you able to sniff the command send to the shell? I'm asking because it could be a useful technique for me too.
13/10/2024 Topic: Do command line arguments still work? Gianluca Administrator	Hi kerosama. The command args still work. Every redefined path must end with no slash so, for example SyMenu.exe -fc"D:\misc\temp\config\" won't work while SyMenu.exe -fc"D:\misc\temp\config" will. I discourage you from defining an alternative folder the way you are trying to do. My advice is to define a separate folder for every redefined path. So instead of defining symenu.exe -ft"T:\SyMenu\" please define symenu.exe -ft"T:\SyMenu\temp" with no final backslash and with an exclusive path. When you test the alternative path, you should create the root folder (T:\SyMenu) but not the pointed folder (temp) so you will have a clear counterproof that SyMenu is really redefining that folder, because if SyMenu doesn't find its folders, it creates them. In the same way, rename the normal folder it uses (not the temp one, please, because it's a system folder, but the log one or the config one). This way you can check for real if SyMenu is still pointing in the default location or in a redefined one. Don't expect that SyMenu can create the entire full path. So in the previous example the folder T:\SyMenu must exist. There's no need to change the target in a shortcut to get the redefinition. Are you sure SyMenu has the right to access the alternative path? Because this could be the real problem.
29/10/2024 Topic: Dragging&dropping a shortcut doesn't seem to work Gianluca Administrator	Indeed the solved problem was not related to Unicode character but with special characters I escaped because of the Windows shell needs. If I well remember you had a problem with ampersand (&) character but the problem affected even other chars like parentesis ( and ). Now we have a different problem but, as usual, it's strange. Why other items work well and that particular one doesn't? For example I guess that ".Skapa * Anteckningar" works well, doesn't it? Is it something tied with the shortcut rather than SyMenu?
30/10/2024 Topic: Dragging&dropping a shortcut doesn't seem to work Gianluca Administrator	Everything seems so strange to me. I created a shortcut to a program. Then I renamed it as ".Skapa⭐ Anteckningar". Then I drop the shortcut on SyMenu. As expected SyMenu takes the shortcut and tries to understand what's that thing. It opens the shortcut (the shortcut properties indeed), finds the target (the program full path), and creates a logical item inside its menu representing the target program not the shortcut. The only remnant of the old shortcut is its name because that name is used to name the SyMenu item. In your case instead it seems that SyMenu creates its item linking the shortcut. This is the problem. The problem is not the error during the item execution but the lacking resolution during the creation of the item. When you d&d a shortcut to SyMenu you should see in the Path field the program path, not the shortcut's. Since I'm not able to reproduce the problem I have to ask you for some help. You should d&d a shortcut in SyMenu and check the Path. If the path is the shortcut's, you should change something on the shortcut and try again, until you find what is breaking the system. You can try to change the shortcut location, name, attributes... whatever. When you know for sure what's the problem I can fix it.
30/10/2024 Topic: Dragging&dropping a shortcut doesn't seem to work Gianluca Administrator	Well... not a clear idea as I previously told you but, when I have no idea on how the bug is, I proceed step by step. Let's make an example. I have a program like this: D:\\.xy⭐ zk - 00\.xy⭐ zk - 00.exe and the related shortcut: C:\Users[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\.xy⭐ zk - 00.lnk If I'm sure the shortcut works on Windows, my first attempt would be to add that shortcut to SyMenu and check the path SyMenu gets doesn't point to the shortcut but to the program. If it doesn't I have my bugged case. 1) attempt: - rename the folder using only ANSI chars getting D:\\.xy zk - 00\.xy⭐ zk - 00.exe - create a new shortcut - try to import in SyMenu and check the path If I still have the problem.. 2) attempt: - rename the file using only ANSI chars getting D:\\.xy zk - 00\.xy zk - 00.exe - create a new shortcut - try to import in SyMenu and check the path If I still have the problem it means the UTF8 has nothing to do with the bug. So rename path and program as they were before and go ahead 3) attempt: - check the Windows permissions on the shortcut and the program - compare the permissions with another item working on SyMenu - as before if the permissions are different try to change them and check if it works And so on. In other words you have to fix the problem by trial and error to understand what the problem is. The problem with the system32 folder is a well known one. It depends on the Windows permissions on those folders and files. If an executable is not working or not showing in SyMenu try to make its permissions more loose. I'm very sorry for not being able to help you more but everything works on my PC even with the strangest cases I tested.
31/10/2024 Topic: All my apps show "discontinued" now Gianluca Administrator	You've probably not really updated SyMenu. The SPS suite is now supported only by the last program version (8.04). When you correctly update SyMenu everything will return ad it was. If you already are on the last SyMenu version simply force the update of program definitions to fix everything.
11/11/2024 Topic: SyMenu Published App Track Gianluca Administrator	Hi mrx. For SyMenu and SPS Builder I use an old FF user agent and a recent Wget user agent. Usually there's no problem downloading anything with any kind of user agent unless it's too old but effectively you can have problems even with a recent user agent using SyMenu Published App Track (PAT) that presents itself as a sort of browser. Plus the part where you hacked PAT is interesting but quite useless. If I was in your shoes I'd try to ask the author the source code. If he still has it, I guess he will give it to you with zero problems. When you have the source code it's easier to make any modification and it could be a good thing to implement new features too. What about a rolling user agent? So when you don't succeed in downloading a page with the first one you can try the second and third ones. And even if VVV_Easy_Symenu has no more the source code, under his permission, you can decompile the exe and have the source again. I'm quite an expert with this kind of thing and I can help you. It's only my two cents.
12/11/2024 Topic: SyMenu Published App Track Gianluca Administrator	So I try to contact VVV_Easy_Symenu by myself and after that let's see if you can be a good replacement for the PAT maintainance.
20/11/2024 Topic: "Search Items" from Nirsoft suite Gianluca Administrator	jimlad68 wrote: When I "Search Items" from the main menu (pop up from taskbar) it does not show items from the Nirsoft Suite. It does indeed. If a NirSoft program is installed it has no peculiar status, it is a simple item, so you will find it among the other searched items. Remember the search works on the item names (if you leave the default options). So if you install "NirCmd x64" and search for "nirc" the item pops up but if you search for "nir cmd", well the name is not the right one, so nothing will be found. Read here for the other search options:https://www.ugmfree.it/manual#Advanced_menu_Options_Search I don't think it's your case but there are further search settings you should be aware of described here: https://www.ugmfree.it/manual#SearchItems4 jimlad68 wrote: Although the search works from the "configuration" menu, that does not include Host programs. It's normal behaviour. The host programs are dynamically discovered because they can change from day to day. It will be pointless to configure them. SyMenu can configure only what's under its control.
20/11/2024 Topic: Update for dnspy Gianluca Administrator	It's not dnSpy. dnSpy is stuck. You are referring to dnSpyEx that is a branched version. Anyway I added dnSpyEx as a new SPS and you'll find it tomorrow.
27/11/2024 Topic: How to add more 'portable programs' to SyMenu Gianluca Administrator	taf66 wrote: Hi, Gian I want also to add more portable programs to SyMenu and create a new folder in ''SPSSuite\MyPortableApps\Capture2Text_portable'' Hi taf66. I hope you know the difference between making a program available in SyMenu and publishing a program as an SPS App. If you want a program in your SyMenu collection, the easiest way is to drag the executable and drop it on SyMenu. SyMemu configures it and adds it to your contextual menu automatically. But, if you want to have a program as SPS, as you attempted to do, it means you want a program that notifies you when there is an update and helps you with that update, downloading the program, dezipping, and updating the local version. The problem here is that with a custom SPS suite you are in charge to notify for the new update and guide SyMenu with the process. How? you probably ask... With an SPS file that you have not yet added and that needs to be located inside _Cache folder. I'm sure this second option is not what you desire but, if I'm wrong, go here to read this https://www.ugmfree.it/spsbuilder and enter into the magical world of the SPS.
16/12/2024 Topic: öneri; Gianluca Administrator	What?? Please, can you explain a bit better what you are speaking for? Give a context at least because I can not even understand if it's a suggestion, a question, or whatever. Thank you.
16/12/2024 Topic: öneri; Gianluca Administrator	Ok the third one is clear now. Unfortunately, with the technology I'm using to develop SyMenu, it is not possible to move all the files except SyMenu.exe in a subfolder. Indeed SyMenu.exe is not really a win32 executable but it's a .NET Core IL file. .NET Core needs to have all the files you are seeing to execute it. Well I could move the files README.LICENSE.TXT and README.PRIVACY.TXT in a subfolder but IMO it won't be a big improvement. To make a comparison try to download Paint.NET that is developed with the same technology as SyMenu and see what .NET Core really would expect to find on the root folder. In SyMenu I succeeded to move practically everything in the subfolder Lib but to do that I had to rewrite the mapping files SyMenu.Admin.deps.json and SyMenu.deps.json and it was a big thing, so much so, Paint.NET author choose to not do that.
16/12/2024 Topic: öneri; Gianluca Administrator	Ok now I understand the 1) too. Yes, it was a thing I was working on a while ago. My intention wasn't exactly to create a package for newbies and one for experterts but to create thematic packages. For example a package for musicians, one for the students, one for video gamers. Further my idea was to offer the opportunity to create these kinds of packages directly to the users. So if a user builds an interesting package for a designer he could have shared it with the community. Unfortunately, the effort to create this kind structure is too much. If you follow this community or at least read the forum you know for sure that I'm maintaining the project and not much more because the return I got from SyMenu in terms of money, satisfaction, and gratitude has been too little to justify this kind of work and dedication on my part. Sorry for this.
17/12/2024 Topic: öneri; Gianluca Administrator	I know it's possible. The PAF launcher or the FCPortable launcher you used for Paint.NET, are often used to convert non-portable programs to portable. SyMenu is already portable so the only reason to use a launcher like those is to have no other files on the root. It's the classical killing of a fly with a cannon. If I do that, I would use something different, a more lightweight solution as an executable with a SyMenu icon and some information details on it with the only task to execute the real SyMenu.exe inside a subfolder. It should be a solution but there are some drawbacks: - SyMenu already has a deep folder structure... Some programs, for example Calibre, suffer from this depth and sometimes they don't work at all. Creating another folder level is not so wise; - I want some files to stay in the root. The license and privacy files must always be visible to the users; - the SyMenu autoupdate process has to be rewritten because I could have needed to update the launcher too. It's not a big task but it's another task; - but, above all, as I told you, I'm not willing to use my time for hardly useful tasks in this project, because the project is in maintenance mode. Not dead but almost.