Run Application could use variants

[Lores]

I propose adding such variants to the drop-down list

Run Application in minimized window
Run Application in maximized window
Run Application as Administrator

and their mixtures. And because this would extend the already vertically long list by additional 5 entries, maybe the Run Application pop-up window could be reworked to include check boxes, leaving the current list as it is now? By default the chosen would be normal, as in the case of shortcuts pinned to Taskbar of Windows


A workaround to this is for users to write e.g. a BAT file with proper commands - but this requires a basic programming knowledge and most people have no intention and / or energy to learn it

[phil]

You do have some valid points, but you have to understand, that I'm not going to get a chance to do a lot of this stuff quickly.

I haven't released a version ox XMBC since 2019, yes that's almost 4 years. I have been making little fixes here and there (see 2.20 beta) and I do need to release that ASAP but it will be without any further features, its mostly just bug fixes etc. Following that, it could well be several more years before the subsequent release. XMBC is a HOBBY. I don't have much time for hobbies these days. Chances are eventually it will become open source so anyone can do what they want with it - but to be fully effective, it does need to be signed with a code signing certificate (and these are not free) so it does introduce barriers to development (especially for hobbyists).

but this requires a basic programming knowledge and most people have no intention and / or energy to learn it

"most people" will never use a tool such as XMBC either! XMBC is generally a "power" tool - people who use it (generally speaking) are well above your average user level and I think most can be capable of a batch script/AHK script here or there!

[phil]

OK I was tempted...

You might want to try 2.20 Beta 9 (just released).
I have added extra simulated keystroke tags:

• {RUNH:<path args>}
• {RUNM:<path args>}
• {RUNN:<path args>}
• {RUNI:<path args>}
• {KILL:<executablename>}

I have not changed the "RUN APPLICATION" choose window yet (thats more work)...

But the new simulated key tags might be of benefit to you.

[Lores]

Thank you

I have just tested them out I they seem to work A-OK


But might I suggest changing syntax / nomenclature from

RUNH to RUNHID
RUNM to RUNMAX
RUNN to RUNMIN
RUNI to RUNINA

while reserving

RUNADM for Run as Administrator [instead of, I guess, RUNA]

and also maybe adding alternative for

KILL in form of RUNKIL and RUNKILL

?


And will Simulated Keys allow for mixing Administrator with e.g. Maximized - or will such combination be possible only for the maybe implemented in the future check-boxes within the pop-up window of Run Application?

[phil]

Yes. I can do that, for the RUN commands. The good thing about this feedback during the beta process, is its much easier to update before it gets released (for example, less translations affected as they haven't been updated yet ).

However I do not like RUNKILL - because that's a complete oxymoron! it is not running kill, it is simply killing the process (it is not simply running taskkill behind the scenes) - so I don't think it should say "run" in it!

I don't know if you can mix the "show" methods on shell execute (the MS API that it uses). If you can then fair enough (I'll have to try it), but not currently in simkeys... Also I'm not sure run as admin will actually work from XMBC (which is why I didn't bother adding it - I will have a play and if it does work, I will add it).

[Lores]

Yes, it is an oxymoron. I just threw s wacky idea out to the public

I see the version 2.20 Beta 11 already has its syntax / nomenclature changed, in regards to the remaining ones. And I can confirm, that the newly added

RUNADMIN

also seems to be working A-OK

[phil]

Great - its {RUNADM:...} though all good!