Shortcut Explorer v2.2





SHCUTXPL.EXE - from Slashback Software - www.SlashbackSoftware.com

Introduction Purpose Use Configuring Options
Types of Shortcuts Credits Changes
Contact Slashback Software



Introduction

Shortcut Explorer looks a lot like Windows Explorer and is intended for shortcut file management. Navigation through the file system should be familiar. The columns in the right pane show, for each shortcut file, the information available through the Shortcut tab of the Property page.

Shortcut Explorer is shareware (see license.txt). You may evaluate it for 30 days. If you decide to keep it, you must register it.

Register Shortcut Explorer on-line!


Or send $12 US check or money order to:

John Homerstad
460 E. Bryan Avenue
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 84115




Purpose

It seems that every time you look at your Desktop or Start Menu you see more icons. When Windows start, it has to read all those shortcut files. As time passes, it gets harder and harder to find the item you want.

Shortcut files can be managed with tools that come with the system, but all you get to see is the filename, which may- or may not- give you an idea of what happens if you double-click it. To get more information, you have to right-click the file, select properties, then you may still have to click the Shortcut tab, which has buttons to get more info...



Use

Probably you have already expanded the distribution file. You should see SHCUTXPL.EXE in the same folder as this file. Double-click it to start the program. The first time you run it, you are asked to agree to the license. Sorry about that. Then you should see the folders and files of your Start Menu.

The title bar shows which folder is selected. The first column in the right pane (the list view) shows the names of subfolders and shortcut files in the selected folder. The associated shortcut information for each file appears in the remaining columns.

MENUS
Right-clicking any item will bring up the system context menu associated with that item. Right-clicking any empty portion (non-filename) of the right pane (the list view) brings up its context menu. This menu contains most of the menu items from the main menu and is generally more useful than the main menu.

The main menu can be hidden and shown by pressing F10 or choosing "Menu" or "Main Menu" on the menus. (Strange to explain but easy to use- try it.) The default or start up behavior can be configured (see Configuring Options).

PROGRAM HOT KEYS
The "hot keys" or keyboard shortcut available can easily be found to the right of most menu items. Here is a list of them:
Arrow keys, Page Up, Page Down, Delete, Alt-F4, Escape, and Enter have familiar effects.

NEW SHORTCUTS AND FOLDERS
It didn't seem to make sense to create more shortcuts for you, since the whole point of Shortcut Explorer is to keep them organized the way you want. Of course, it's easy to create your own with Shortcut Explorer! Just drag one or more icons from Windows Explorer or the Desktop and drop them on the right pane of Shortcut Explorer. New shortcuts will appear in that folder.

New shortcuts can also be created by copying a file in Windows Explorer and then selecting "Paste Shortcut" from either menu. You can also use the system New Shortcut Wizard by selecting "New Shortcut..." from the menus or by simply double-clicking on an empty portion of the list view.

Create a new folder by choosing "New Folder" from either menu.

MOVING AND COPYING
Multiple items can be selected in the right pane by the usual methods: drag a box around multiple items, select a sequence by using the Shift key, or select items one at a time while holding the Control key. Files and folders in the right pane can be moved by dragging them to a different folder in either pane. Holding the Control key while dragging will copy instead of move.



Configuring Options

Pressing F8 or choosing "Options..." in the menus brings up the Options screen. The upper portion configures which information columns will be visible (you can't remove the name column). The next section controls whether Shortcut Explorer appears in the context menu for file folders (actual disk directories) which includes the Start Menu button itself. If Shortcut Explorer is started by this method, it will open showing that folder (e.g., C:\WINDOWS\START MENU if done from the Start button).

The System Default/Properties option controls what happens when you double-click or press Enter on a shortcut in the list view. If Properties is selected, you will see the system file properties page rather than run the program (or whatever the shortcut makes happen). In any case, double-clicking or pressing Enter on a folder will move to that folder.

The final option concerns the main menu. You can always turn it on or off by pressing F10, but here you can control whether it appears each time you start Shortcut Explorer. It can be set to always show, always hide, or be the same as when you last exited Shortcut Explorer.



Types of shortcuts

Windows actually has several types of shortcuts. The most familiar are shortcuts to real Windows programs, and end with the extension ".lnk". However, this type of file is also used for shortcuts to folders, control panels, and other "special" Windows items (virtual folders like My Computer and Dial-Up Networking).

Another type have the extension ".pif" and contain additional information for starting DOS programs. Internet shortcuts end in ".url" and are used, among other places, in the Favorites menu of Internet Explorer (usually located in C:\WINDOWS\FAVORITES).

A few other types that Shortcut Explorer does not yet handle are: ".asx", "wax", "wvx" (streaming media; these can have multiple targets); ".ccr" (Microsoft Chat); ".xnk" (Microsoft Exchange);".cnf" (conference link); and ".shb" (shortcut into a document). These and others may be added in future versions of Shortcut Explorer.



Credits

Shortcut Explorer was developed using Borland Delphi 3. Several additional components from Brad Stowers at Delphi Free Stuff (www.delphifreestuff.com) were used; also, ideas and tips from the whole Delphi community on the internet, especially The Unofficial Delphi Developers FAQ (www.gnomehome.demon.nl/uddf) and The Unofficial Newsletter of Delphi Users (www.undu.com). A million thanks to Brad and everyone else!

Distribution package created with EZ Zip (used to be (?) at members.xoom.com/ipsoft).



Changes

To Do:
Don't like the way treeview refreshes (collapses subbranches).
Allow rearranging information columns.
Editing capabilities for shortcut files (probably not).
Additional information columns for .pif files (maybe).
Additional column(s) for date and time changed or accessed (maybe).

8/8/00
Version 2.2
Main Menu can now be hidden.
"Normalized" program hot-keys.
Double-click/Enter can show Properties or do system default action.
Reworked options screen for new options.
Added "Paste Shortcut" to menus.
Added Rename hotkey (F2).
Chose F8 to be Options hotkey.

7/3/00
Version 2.1
Added on-line registration through SoftShop. (yay!)
Added Shortcut Explorer to Start Menu (file folders) context menu.
Added Main Menu (but don't like it).
Changed help file to (this) HTML file.

5/19/00
Version 2.0
Rewrote most code for shortcut list view.
Added context menu for new shortcuts and new folders.
Added drag-n-drop shortcut creation from Windows Explorer.
Added F5 to refresh.
Added application key for context menus.
Added handling of URL (internet) shortcuts.
Improved hotkey reporting.
Fixed bug of occasional incorrect target reporting.
Removed status bar (useless).
Removed Caption Button.

11/6/99
Version 1.0.1
Can close help/configure window with escape.
Saves active tab in help/configure window.
Corrected version information.

9/6/99
Version 1.0
Put all options in help/configure window.
Removed context menu.
Removed dialog boxes.

August 1999
Testing versions
Using final components.

July 1999
Begin development.
Going insane from Start Menu.




Contact Slashback Software

Go to our home page at www.SlashbackSoftware.com
and click on "Send us Feedback!" to use our web-based feedback form,
or email us directly at shortcut@SlashbackSoftware.com