FastLaunch 0.05 beta for Treos

[pruss]

This is a simple utility that I think provides the simplest way of launching apps quickly on a Treo. There is no configuration required. Just hold down an alphabetic key to get a list of all the apps and DAs starting with that key. You can then launch one of the apps on the list. (Hold down period for apps that don't start with an alphabetic character.)

If you have Accessorizer installed, option + hold-alphabetic will ensure that the app is launched "on top", i.e., accessorized.

After holding down the alphabetic key, you can continue typing the name of the app as soon as the list appears. (E.g., if you want "Khroma", you hold k, and then type h.)

This will be shareware. The beta expires in ten days.

http://pruss.homeip.net/alex/FastLaunch.zip

The idea isn't mine. A kind user not only gave me both a Treo for testing this on AND gave me the idea.

[Adam Helberg]

Hi Alex,
Will this work in a non Treo by entering characters with graffiti into the built-in launcher?

Adam

[Adam Helberg]

I just tried it in my iQue 3600 and it does not work. Any chance you can write one for non Treos for use with graffiti characters and the built-in launcher?

Adam

[pruss]

This requires key-hold, and one can't hold down a graffiti "key". :-(

[rossarnie]

It's not working very well on my T680. It doesn't work from the default Launcher, from my Calendar, from Messages... before FastLaunch's list of programs opens, other programs intercept the pressed button and do their thing...

[Pent]

I was just thinking of launching with letters and a popup yesterday, and then this 'pops up'.

Today I will think of 200 bottles of 20 year old whisky in the cupboard under the kitchen sink :-)

Pent

[pruss]

What other programs are intercepting the key?

[Greek]

I found that it doesn't work with KeyCaps600 enabled on my 650. If I disable it, then FastLaunch works fine. I guess it will be tough to solve this as KeyCaps works by pressing and holding to Capitalize or double tap to display numbers and special characters :)

Regards,

[rossarnie]

I found that it doesn't work with KeyCaps600 enabled on my 650. If I disable it, then FastLaunch works fine. I guess it will be tough to solve this as KeyCaps works by pressing and holding to Capitalize or double tap to display numbers and special characters :)

Regards,

I also disabled KeyCaps on my T680 and it is working fine... but I really need KeyCaps!

[pruss]

I uploaded 0.06.

What is KeyCaps?

[pruss]

By the way, another feature is that in dialogs that don't have a use for the keyboard, you can press a letter to tap the first button that starts with that letter.

[Greek]

Alex: http://www.geekandproud.net/software/keycaps600.php

KeyCaps600
KeyCaps600 allows you to easily capitalize letters or use punctuation without using the shift or option keys on a Handspring Treo 600.

Have a Treo 650? Go here!

Download newest, modified version here. Feel free to donate money to him instead of me, as I'm no longer using a Treo or maintaining KeyCaps.

Edit:
Sorry, but I am confused: this new FastLaunch tells me it is an 8 day trial of OnTop, which I don't have installed, nor need on my Treo. Can't I only use FastLaunch and will it keep working? Thanks!.

Hope this helps. :)

Regards,

[Adam Helberg]

Hello Alex,
In my iQue (and other non Treos) when I enter a Graffiti character in the built-in launcher I get all the apps that start with that character. But I would like to continue typing to home in on an application, like I can home in to a name in Address Book.

For instance if I enter "ma" I would like to go to apps that start with "ma"; and "mat" would take me to apps that start with "mat". Is it possible to get such a utility?

Adam

[pruss]

Alex: http://www.geekandproud.net/software/keycaps600.php



Edit:
Sorry, but I am confused: this new FastLaunch tells me it is an 8 day trial of OnTop, which I don't have installed, nor need on my Treo. Can't I only use FastLaunch and will it keep working? Thanks!.

Hope this helps. :)

Regards,

It's shareware, so it will expire. But I took code from OnTop and so it has OnTop's message strings.

[pruss]

It need a little more time between keypress after the first if you wait too long it doesnt take the second or even the third key.

Could you explain? I don't follow.

[pruss]

I uploaded FastLaunch 0.07. There are a few options in advanced mode.

[Ohappydaye]

This app sounds sweet! And just what I needed! Thanks so much!

[pruss]

I had few problems with 0.6:
1-Zlauncher dont recognize keys anymore when fastlaunch enable

How does ZLauncher normally recognize keys?

Edited: Oh, I see. I just uploaded a version that works better with ZL.

[pruss]

I had few problems with 0.6:
1-Zlauncher dont recognize keys anymore when fastlaunch enable
2-Prefs is not on the list for key P
I will try 0.7

tkz

Edit:same 2 problems with 0.7
BTW:Settings are great!

You sure you aren't IN Prefs by any chance?

(FastLaunch doesn't show the app you're in.)

[pruss]

Still not seing "Prefs" in list & I am not in preferences
Strange!

Could you go to another application that starts with p, and then tell me (a) the name of that application, and (b) all the applications that are showing up.

[pruss]

Sorry for the late reply!

(a) PhoneLog
(b)
Paint*
PalmInsiderPro
PalmDosBox*
PalmFiction
PalmHide
PalmInfo
PerAppPrefs
Phone
Piaf
Pics & Videos
Power Hero
PowerMan
PpTreoRingtone
Preference Remover
PrefExport
PrefViewer
Proviewer*
pTunes

Still no Preferences
Hope that help

(1) Where did you get PalmDosBox from?
(2) Are there any other apps missing?
(3) What is the asterisk?
(4) What is "Preference Remover"?

Thanks!

[pruss]

Panels are not present any of these
I checked with Cleanstart & they are checked maybe I didnt check something in cleanstart?But what?

Panels aren't the issue--FastLaunch always omits them. (Maybe that should be an option.)

[pruss]

0.09 is up. It allows you to include panels.

[rossarnie]

Have you found and/or corrected the problem with KeyCaps? Can it be fixed?

[pruss]

Enotar:

What language is the phone set to? I'll assume US English.

Can you use FileZ, select the ROM Preferences_enUS (or whatever your locale is) file. Choose Menu | Edit. Then look at the tAIN 1000 resource, and tell me what is inside it. Repeat for the main Preferences file (which may not have a tAIN 1000 resource).

Also, could you check what databases you have with creator ID "pref" (you can sort by creator ID in FileZ?

Thanks!

[pruss]

I can't really see how to make it compatible with KeyCaps, unless maybe opt + hold will do the job.

[pruss]

In found the culpid one or two !!!!

I suspected something else was here so I check the Ram with McFile for P & I find Palmasaurus listed but it doesnt appear on list so I check & it was hiden (I really dont know why) so I unhide it & it appears on the list so I delete it but still nothing so I try to delete one by one & find that deleting PalmInsider Pro & I see Prefs on list.
I restore Palmasaurus & one more time problems with no seing Prefs so I conclude I had to delete Palmasaurus & Palm Insider Pro !
Strange to have 2 apps linked & dont have the same creator name!

I really dont understand that but maybe you do?

Thanks! I'm still puzzled. I downloaded the latest versions of both apps, and Prefs still shows up. Could you try downloading the latest versions of these apps?

Also, could you email me for a test version of FL?

[pruss]

I posted 0.10. It has a slightly faster response time, and has an icon.

[pruss]

I download new versions & still same issue

Sure I PM you!

Is this after a hard reset, with only these two apps installed?

[pruss]

I'm giving up on this particular issue, unless someone else has it, too.

I've uploaded FastLaunch RC1. The first five people to find a bug in RC1 get free copies (email me for your reg code).

[willg]

Just loaded rc1 onto my centro. This release causes the centro to lock up and require a cold reset any time I have to press on a pop-up confirmation screen. Went back to FL .10 and the problem disappears.

will

[ricktt3]

I can't really see how to make it compatible with KeyCaps, unless maybe opt + hold will do the job.
Hey, Alex. I'm intrigued by your app, but I need keycaps. How much trouble would it be to include an option for an opt + hold activation?

[pruss]

I uploaded 0.11 which might fix some problems with RC1.

[pruss]

Hey, Alex. I'm intrigued by your app, but I need keycaps. How much trouble would it be to include an option for an opt + hold activation?

Opt + hold already works. Just tap on "Advanced", and turn off hold options, and then set up opt + hold as you wish.

[pruss]

RC2 (now up) should fix the bug WillG posted.

I'm thinking of adding a box of system information with the popup, kind of like TypeRight has. What should I include? Date and time, battery status?

[pruss]

I posted RC3. New feature: When a form doesn't use enter/backspace for its own purposes, enter will now press confirmation buttons (yes/done/ok/etc.) and backspace will press cancel buttons (no/back/etc.)

[pruss]

What does "Key-based button tap" mean ?

Thanks.

Press "O" to tap the first on-screen button whose label starts with "O", etc.

[pruss]

There is a problem with the down key when list is more that 14 items allow by the Treo680 screen;it act chaoticaly as jumping the first 16 items or & sometimes not showing the selected one when going down trough the list.
The second key press does the same thing ;sometimes work sometimes not!

Do you have a font substitution utility? If so, try again with a standard size font.

[pruss]

I can't see a difference either, which is why I asked :)

And by Tap do you mean launch? If so it's not working for me.

Let's say you're in a screen which at the bottom has buttons like:
"Back" "Save" "New" "Help"

Pressing b, s, n or h will then tap these buttons, unless the app has some other use for keystrokes. Also, pressing backspace will tap a cancel-type button (in this case "Back") and pressing enter will tap an accept-type button (none here).

[pruss]

nope

Second key dont work when list bigger than screen high & down jump down to second page of the list
Interesting. I think that's probably a PalmOS bug.

[pruss]

RC4 is now up. Shows a clock in upper right corner of screen.

[pruss]

I now posted RC5. Could testers please do me a favor and test option + hold-p activation, both in text fields and outside text fields?

[nepacsman]

installed and activated rc6 on treo 755 but now no buttons work. so when I press the Home button nothing happens or when I press the Phone button nothing happens.

[nepacsman]

alas - disabling keycaps600 allows the app to work however I have come to rely heavily on keycaps too much to discontinue using it. if the two apps could work together I would happily pay for fast launch.

[nepacsman]

using rc6 - treo 755 the option to use the option button + hold the letter will not save...it defaults back to hold letter only. is there another step?

[pruss]

using rc6 - treo 755 the option to use the option button + hold the letter will not save...it defaults back to hold letter only. is there another step?

There are separate settings that control what will come up when you hold the letter and when you press the option button and then hold the letter. If you uncheck all the settings for one of the two control options, then that control option will do nothing.

Is it still the case that the home button doesn't work for you?

[pruss]

alas - disabling keycaps600 allows the app to work however I have come to rely heavily on keycaps too much to discontinue using it. if the two apps could work together I would happily pay for fast launch.

KeyCaps600 works fine with FastLaunch as long as you only use FL's option + hold activation, AND you hold down the option key all the time while holding the alphabetic key.

[nepacsman]

There are separate settings that control what will come up when you hold the letter and when you press the option button and then hold the letter. If you uncheck all the settings for one of the two control options, then that control option will do nothing.

Is it still the case that the home button doesn't work for you?


The home button worked after disabling KeyCaps and a soft reset.