How to use Everything 1.5 as a Launcher?

Discussion related to "Everything" 1.5 Alpha.
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kazw
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2023 6:44 am

How to use Everything 1.5 as a Launcher?

Post by kazw »

Hi,

I'm looking for some guidance, whether Everything 1.5 can be configured to behave as a Launcher. For example, to replace Launchy or Executor?
I know Everything can find everything! :) What I mean is to reduce the scope of Everything to mimic a Launcher more closely.

I currently use Executor in a narrow manner:

1. Run commands like reboot, hibernate
2. Only return results from 4 indexed locations.
3. Two of these locations only return folders, and only till specific depths (3 and 4)
4. Other two locations return folders and only .exe and .lnk extensions, till a specific depth.

Any way to mimic this with Everything 1.5 please? I'd appreciate any help.
void
Developer
Posts: 15464
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: How to use Everything 1.5 as a Launcher?

Post by void »

Everything is not really designed to be a launcher.


Run commands like reboot, hibernate
Create a shortcut file to the command to reboot/hibernate.

For example:
Create a shortcut named reboot under C:\shortcuts with the following command:
shutdown -r

Find this shortcut file with:
\short reboot

-or-

Right click this shortcut and set the Run count really high (for example: 10000)
Now you only need to search for reboot and press ENTER in the search box to highlight this shortcut and ENTER again to run it..


2. Only return results from 4 indexed locations.
Include the paths of your indexed locations in your search.

For example:

d:\folder1\ | e:\folder2\ | "f:\another folder\" | "g:\and another folder\"

| = OR
Use double quotes to escape spaces
Use a trailing backslash (\) for the best results.

Use filters to setup shorter macros. (Search -> Add to filters...)


3. Two of these locations only return folders, and only till specific depths (3 and 4)
To match folders only, include the following in your search:

folder:



To limit the results to a specific depth, include the following in your search:

depth:3

where 3 is the required depth.



Combine these together as desired:

< d:\folder1\ folder: depth:3> | <e:\folder2\ folder: depth:4> | <"f:\another folder\"> | <"g:\and another folder\">

< > = grouping


4. Other two locations return folders and only .exe and .lnk extensions, till a specific depth.
Please try the ext: search function.

To match exe and lnk extensions, include the following in your search:

ext:exe;lnk

For example:

< d:\folder1\ folder: depth:3> | <e:\folder2\ folder: depth:4> | <"f:\another folder\" ext:exe;lnk depth:3> | <"g:\and another folder\" ext:exe;lnk depth:4>
kazw
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2023 6:44 am

Re: How to use Everything 1.5 as a Launcher?

Post by kazw »

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply; I really appreciate it.

I do understand that Everything is not a launcher :)

Just to clarify, so is not possible to add your previous suggestions to the Configuration itself? Such that I only enter the search term (file name or folder name), and it returns results based on the configured criteria?

---------------
And if that's the case, can I place a humble request for possible consideration:
Have a config section to make Everything act as sort of a Launcher. Specifically, two things.

1. Allow the user to set something like this:
Image
(The second row with \ means, only return folders)

2. Allow the user to further navigate the file system manually, by selecting a folder in the search results and pressing TAB
Stamimail
Posts: 1122
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 9:05 pm

Re: How to use Everything 1.5 as a Launcher?

Post by Stamimail »

Also can help here:
Menu | Bookmarks
Home tab in Options.

Suggestion for development:
viewtopic.php?p=46583#p46583
Last edited by Stamimail on Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Stamimail
Posts: 1122
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 9:05 pm

Re: How to use Everything 1.5 as a Launcher?

Post by Stamimail »

Another option (for development) is to add to all thumbnails views, another view - a desktop view, where the user will be able to arrange items in each folder as he arrange in Desktop.
void
Developer
Posts: 15464
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: How to use Everything 1.5 as a Launcher?

Post by void »

1. Allow the user to set something like this:
Please try creating the following Everything 1.5 filter:
  • In Everything 1.5, from the Search menu, click Add to Filters....
  • Change the Name to: Launcher
  • Change the Search to:

    Code: Select all

    <<"c:\users\my user name\documents\onedrive\shortcuts\*" | "c:\users\my user name\documents\onedrive\shortcuts\*\*"> ext:lnk;rdp;url> | <<"c:\users\my user name\documents\*" | "c:\users\my user name\documents\*\*" | "c:\users\my user name\documents\*\*\*"> folder:> | 
    <"c:\users\my user name\documents\apps\" ext:exe;lnk>
    
    (where my user name is your username)
Active the Launcher filter from the Search menu.

I'll consider a UI option to make this easier.


2. Allow the user to further navigate the file system manually, by selecting a folder in the search results and pressing TAB
I'll consider an option to do this.
For now, you can drag-drop the folder onto the search box
-or-
Hold down Shift and right click the folder and click Explore in Everything.

Thank you for the suggestions.
kazw
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2023 6:44 am

Re: How to use Everything 1.5 as a Launcher?

Post by kazw »

Really amazing!! So nice of you to provide guidance on this, much appreciated :)

Yes, if you can please consider these options, that would be immensely helpful :)

And thanks again for making this awesome program. Take care
void wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2023 1:47 am
1. Allow the user to set something like this:
Please try creating the following Everything 1.5 filter:
  • In Everything 1.5, from the Search menu, click Add to Filters....
  • Change the Name to: Launcher
  • Change the Search to:

    Code: Select all

    <<"c:\users\my user name\documents\onedrive\shortcuts\*" | "c:\users\my user name\documents\onedrive\shortcuts\*\*"> ext:lnk;rdp;url> | <<"c:\users\my user name\documents\*" | "c:\users\my user name\documents\*\*" | "c:\users\my user name\documents\*\*\*"> folder:> | 
    <"c:\users\my user name\documents\apps\" ext:exe;lnk>
    
    (where my user name is your username)
Active the Launcher filter from the Search menu.

I'll consider a UI option to make this easier.


2. Allow the user to further navigate the file system manually, by selecting a folder in the search results and pressing TAB
I'll consider an option to do this.
For now, you can drag-drop the folder onto the search box
-or-
Hold down Shift and right click the folder and click Explore in Everything.

Thank you for the suggestions.
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