November 2023
App Window Switcher for Windows in Development
11/15/2023 Filed in: App Window Switcher
I started work on a new Windows app called "App Window Switcher". The purpose of the app is to assign shortcut keys to apps. This app was suggested from a frequent customer from Germany who I have been corresponding with for a while now.
The app is being developed on Microsoft's WInUI framework, using Visual Studio 2022.
I anticipate the app taking a few weeks to develop.
The app is being developed on Microsoft's WInUI framework, using Visual Studio 2022.
I anticipate the app taking a few weeks to develop.
How To Create Custom Taskbar Menus Using Ace - Jump Lists for Windows
11/14/2023 Filed in: Ace - Jump Lists
I finished development for Ace - Jump Lists for Windows.
Ace - Jump Lists gives users the power to create awesome easily accessible and FAST Jump Lists! Everyone agrees, Jump Lists is the fastest way to access content on Windows systems, because the Taskbar is always there. Typical Taskbar Jump Lists are dependent on recent files and folders that serve the app ONLY. Ace - Jump Lists changes that by allowing for customizable Taskbar Jump Lists! Users can now place whatever Files, Folders, or even website URLs they want in the Taskbar Jump Lists. This changes everything!
Click the '+' button to add a new Jump Item. Jump Items can be a Group, File/Folder, or a URL. If adding a Group, click Group, enter in a Group Name, then click Add button. If adding a File/Folder, click File/Folder. If you have already created a Group, you can select a 'Parent' (Group). This will nest your new File/Folder under that Group. If you've selected a Parent and change your mind, click on 'Clear Parent' button to clear the parent combobox. To browse to a File/Folder, select either 'Add Files' or 'Add Folder', then click 'Add' button. This will launch the Windows Explorer chooser. Choose whatever items needed. For Files, you can select multiple. For Folders, you can select a single Folder. When complete, click 'Open' for Files or 'Select Folder' for Folder. New items are added to the main view list. If you had selected a Parent, new items will be nested under the appropriate Parent (Group).
Ace - Jump Lists supports drag/drop for Files and Folders from Windows Explorer. Locate desired Files/Folders, then drag to Ace - Jump Lists. Drop either over the toolbar area, or drop on top of a Group. Dropping over toolbar area will place the content at the root level of the list. Dropping over a Group will nest the content under that Group.
Ace's primary function is the Taskbar Jump List. Any content built out (Groups, Files/Folders, URLs) will be ported automatically over to the Taskbar and appear under Ace - Jump Lists' right-click context menu, referred to as 'Jump Lists'. Access the Jump List by right-clicking the Ace - Jump List app icon. There, all items mirroring the Ace main UI list will be present. You can click on whatever item you want to 'launch' the content.
In Ace's main view list, double-click a File/Folder/URL 'name' to launch the content. From the Taskbar menu right-click content, click any item to launch the content.
From the main view list, right-click any item and choose 'Edit' menu item. This will launch the item's appropriate type editing view. For Groups, there will be the 'name' field. Type in an appropriate name and click 'Edit' button. If you want to revert to original value, use CTRL-Z shortcuT. For editing File/Folder parents', the Editing view will show a list of available Groups. Select a Group or click the 'Clear Parent' to not nest item in a Group. URLs can be edited in the same manner, enter in a label and URL. Be sure to enter in valid website URLs.
Click the Delete Button (trash can icon) to remove a Jump Item. To bypass the Delete confirmation prompt - hold down the ‘alt’ key and click Delete Button. Delete is also available from each Jump Items' right-click menu. Hold ‘alt’ key while clicking that Delete menu will also bypass the Delete Confirmation prompt.
*ADVANCED STEPS* - Built into Windows is a hard-coded maximum Jump List value. By default this value is around 15 items. That means that if you create more than 15 Jump Items in Ace - Jump Lists, some of the items may not appear in the Ace jump list menu. To modify the Windows maximum value for Jump Lists. Click Start menu, type in 'run', then launch the Run app. In the 'Open' field, type in 'regedit'. This will launch the Windows Registry editor. Using the left navigation, drill down into 'Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced'. After clicking on 'Advanced' in left navigation, the right main view will list out a lot of items. Look for an item called 'JumpListItems_Maximum'. Once found, double-click it. Change the 'Base' option to 'decimal', then enter in a desired Jump List maximum number in the 'Value data' field. Click 'OK' and close. Changes should take effect immediately. If not, restart computer. If the 'JumpListItems_Maximum' parameter isn't in the main view list', right-click in the available white-space and choose 'New', 'DWORD (32-bit) Value'. Name the new item 'JumpListItems_Maximum'. Double-click the new item, set the 'Base' to 'Decimal', then enter in a number into 'Value data'. Instructions on how to do these steps can be found online as well.
Ace - Jump Lists gives users the power to create awesome easily accessible and FAST Jump Lists! Everyone agrees, Jump Lists is the fastest way to access content on Windows systems, because the Taskbar is always there. Typical Taskbar Jump Lists are dependent on recent files and folders that serve the app ONLY. Ace - Jump Lists changes that by allowing for customizable Taskbar Jump Lists! Users can now place whatever Files, Folders, or even website URLs they want in the Taskbar Jump Lists. This changes everything!
Click the '+' button to add a new Jump Item. Jump Items can be a Group, File/Folder, or a URL. If adding a Group, click Group, enter in a Group Name, then click Add button. If adding a File/Folder, click File/Folder. If you have already created a Group, you can select a 'Parent' (Group). This will nest your new File/Folder under that Group. If you've selected a Parent and change your mind, click on 'Clear Parent' button to clear the parent combobox. To browse to a File/Folder, select either 'Add Files' or 'Add Folder', then click 'Add' button. This will launch the Windows Explorer chooser. Choose whatever items needed. For Files, you can select multiple. For Folders, you can select a single Folder. When complete, click 'Open' for Files or 'Select Folder' for Folder. New items are added to the main view list. If you had selected a Parent, new items will be nested under the appropriate Parent (Group).
Ace - Jump Lists supports drag/drop for Files and Folders from Windows Explorer. Locate desired Files/Folders, then drag to Ace - Jump Lists. Drop either over the toolbar area, or drop on top of a Group. Dropping over toolbar area will place the content at the root level of the list. Dropping over a Group will nest the content under that Group.
Ace's primary function is the Taskbar Jump List. Any content built out (Groups, Files/Folders, URLs) will be ported automatically over to the Taskbar and appear under Ace - Jump Lists' right-click context menu, referred to as 'Jump Lists'. Access the Jump List by right-clicking the Ace - Jump List app icon. There, all items mirroring the Ace main UI list will be present. You can click on whatever item you want to 'launch' the content.
In Ace's main view list, double-click a File/Folder/URL 'name' to launch the content. From the Taskbar menu right-click content, click any item to launch the content.
From the main view list, right-click any item and choose 'Edit' menu item. This will launch the item's appropriate type editing view. For Groups, there will be the 'name' field. Type in an appropriate name and click 'Edit' button. If you want to revert to original value, use CTRL-Z shortcuT. For editing File/Folder parents', the Editing view will show a list of available Groups. Select a Group or click the 'Clear Parent' to not nest item in a Group. URLs can be edited in the same manner, enter in a label and URL. Be sure to enter in valid website URLs.
Click the Delete Button (trash can icon) to remove a Jump Item. To bypass the Delete confirmation prompt - hold down the ‘alt’ key and click Delete Button. Delete is also available from each Jump Items' right-click menu. Hold ‘alt’ key while clicking that Delete menu will also bypass the Delete Confirmation prompt.
*ADVANCED STEPS* - Built into Windows is a hard-coded maximum Jump List value. By default this value is around 15 items. That means that if you create more than 15 Jump Items in Ace - Jump Lists, some of the items may not appear in the Ace jump list menu. To modify the Windows maximum value for Jump Lists. Click Start menu, type in 'run', then launch the Run app. In the 'Open' field, type in 'regedit'. This will launch the Windows Registry editor. Using the left navigation, drill down into 'Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced'. After clicking on 'Advanced' in left navigation, the right main view will list out a lot of items. Look for an item called 'JumpListItems_Maximum'. Once found, double-click it. Change the 'Base' option to 'decimal', then enter in a desired Jump List maximum number in the 'Value data' field. Click 'OK' and close. Changes should take effect immediately. If not, restart computer. If the 'JumpListItems_Maximum' parameter isn't in the main view list', right-click in the available white-space and choose 'New', 'DWORD (32-bit) Value'. Name the new item 'JumpListItems_Maximum'. Double-click the new item, set the 'Base' to 'Decimal', then enter in a number into 'Value data'. Instructions on how to do these steps can be found online as well.
Simple Week Routine for iOS- Now Available!
11/12/2023 Filed in: Simple Week Routine
Wakeup and accomplish more with Simple Week Routine. An app designed specifically to quickly track your "Routine" progress throughout the week. Simple Week Routine allows for fast creation of routines and powerful tools for accomplishing your routine goals.
Sign-in to iCloud account for data to store to iCloud.
Instructions for App Operation:
1.) Click the + at the top of navigation to add a new Group.
2.) Enter in a Group Item Name.
3.) Select a color. The furthest left color (white/black) is the system primary color. Depending on light/dark mode, this color may appear different.
4.) Click Add button to create the new Group.
5.) Click the newly created Group. The main view will load with days of the week.
6.) In the Toolbar, toggle the S, M, etc… buttons to hide/show days of the week. This can be useful for focusing on specific days of the week. For iPhone, rotate to landscape to see buttons.
7.) Click the + button in the main view’s toolbar to add a new Routine.
8.) Enter in a Routine Item Name.
9.) Toggle the S, M, etc… days of the week toggle buttons. When creating a new Routine, it’ll be listed under whatever days of the week are toggle active (blue).
10.) Use the M-F link button to automatically activate the Monday-Friday toggle buttons.
11.) Set an appropriate Routine Start Time for when your Routine is to be accomplished.
12.) Click Add button to create the new Routine.
13.) New Routines are added to the main view’s days of the week.
14.) To mark a Routine as complete, check the Routine’s checkbox (square).
15.) To edit Routines, double-tap any Routine. This will load the editor, which is similar to the Add Routine prompt. For example if Tuesday was toggled on, toggling it again will turn it off and remove the Routine from that day of the week in the main view.
16.) Clicking the Delete Routine button in the editor will remove the Routine from all days of the week and from the app.
17.) In the main view toolbar, clicking the Clear Checkboxes button will uncheck all Routine’s checkboxes. This can be useful when starting a new week and you want to clear previous week’s progress.
18.) In the main view, swiping downward will reveal the Search field. Type in desired text content to filter the days of the week for Routines matching similar text by Routine Name.
19.) In the main view, double-tap a day of the week to toggle a UI focus on that day’s Routines. This can be helpful to further focus on content. Double-tap it again to return UI to normal.
20.) Tap-hold (force-touch) a day of the week’s name to see additional functions. Check All will check all Routines for that day of the week. Uncheck All works the same. Delete All Routines will remove Routines for that day of the week.
21.) Tap-hold (force-touch) options for a day of the week when using “All Groups” work a bit differently. The Check All function will apply to all Groups for that day of the week. Same for Uncheck All. Additionally when using All Groups and performing Tap-hold (force-touch) option Delete All Routines, it will remove all Routines for all Groups on that day of the week. Care should be taken when using these global functions as they can impact multiple items in one operation.
22.) Tap-hold (force-touch) a Group to Edit or Delete the Group. Editing allows for name and color change. Deleting a Group will also delete all of it’s Routines, so care should be taken when using.
