Group Programs Into One(1) Group!

[syk1k]

I have searched Google and here and every time this is answered its the original poster figuring it out himself and never posting how they actually did it.

Anyway i have a program that i run and now i suddenly need to run it more than once.
The software does NOT allow more than one instance so i am forced to copy/paste the folder and run another copy of the software. Now i have this program running 3 times. I would like to group the 3 copy's running from different locations into one icon on the task bar. i have simply copy / pasted the main folder directly into program files twice so its now in there 3 times in 3 diff folders [EG: folder-1, folder-2, folder-3 ]

Please DO NOT reply with stuff like "change taskbar buttons to always combine and hide labels" these comments will not help.

Thanks

*edit* taskbar looks like this, i have given the app a seperate icon so i know what one is doing what, but i want the end 3 icons into 1.

 

[Dwarf]

Hi syk1k and welcome to Windows 7 Forums

What is the program?

 

[mitchell65]

I doubt this is possible but at the moment you have 3 icons all linking to different instances of the same program, so if you merged the 3 icons into one how would that one icon know which instance of the program to open. It can't be set to open all three so I don't see the point of trying to do it!

 

[syk1k]

Hi syk1k and welcome to Windows 7 Forums

What is the program?

The program is metatrader4 from axistradercomau [unsure about posting direct links] i think it depends on the broker the software comes from, but some will allow me to run multi instances and some wont, the brokers that do let multi instances expire after 30 days and require a new demo, the ones that don't let multi instances last 3+ months before expiring so you can see why i prefer the ones that don't

I doubt this is possible but at the moment you have 3 icons all linking to different instances of the same program, so if you merged the 3 icons into one how would that one icon know which instance of the program to open. It can't be set to open all three so I don't see the point of trying to do it!

i see your point, would something like winstack 7 be possible do you think?

all i want to do is wrap the icons into one larger icon, i don't care what the larger icon is i just want 1 rather than 3, to you there may be no point, to me there is a big point not having my task bar filled with crap i need to run, but not look at every time i glance down

once i load all 5, then maybe you can start to see why i want the 3 combined

 

[Jacee]

Try Win7Stack to see if it's to your liking Win7Stack - Group Number of Applications in Same Icon on Windows 7 Taskbar

 

[syk1k]

the problem i found with win stack was, it wants a directory such as c:/links which you put shortcuts in then it adds those links or shortcuts to the app grouping those, i did not find a way to make it group applications that are already open, adding the exe to win7stack simply opens the exe from within winstack, then i end up with the icon of the application as well as win stack icon making the process redundant as i am trying to decrease icons not gain.

that is why i said something like win stack 7, thanks for the suggestion anyway

*EDIT* my bad i just double checked and i was using http://sourceforge.net/projects/winstack/ not http://sourceforge.net/projects/win7stack/

links are so close i assumed it was the same application i already tried, thanks for the tip i will try that instead

 

[syk1k]

same problem, wants a folder with shortcuts, then it groups all those shortcuts into one icon on the task bar. when you open those shortcuts you then end up with a icon for the app you opened, and one for the win stack making the program a bit useless for me. Thanks for the input anyway

apparently this guy here has done it

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...i-group-non-grouped-applications-taskbar.html

 

[Jacee]

Your link just takes us to the main forums directory.

 

[syk1k]

yea i don't know why, copy paste it into the address bar and it work fine

 

[Dwarf]

Link corrected.

 

[syk1k]

thanks, what did i do wrong?

 

[Jacee]

Thanks Dwarf

syk1k, have you thought about using this? To add a hidden icon to the notification area

• Click the arrow next to the notification area, and then drag the icon you want to move to the notification area. You can drag as many hidden icons to the notification area as you want.

 

[syk1k]

when i attempt to drag anything from the desktop to the notification area i get a circle with a red line through it pretty much telling me no, when i attempt to drag from the taskbar to the notification area the notification area simply closes down and hides. If i attempt to do it without expanding the notification area then the icon seems to get stuck just before the up arrow. Am i missing something or not understanding your post correctly?

ok so i see where you got that info from but i still cant make it work for me -> Change how icons appear in the notification area

 

[syk1k]

only works for tray icons, not windows on the task bar

 

[syk1k]

ok i have found a solution, its not native to windows but it certainly works for people who are having similiar problems. download all in one tray for free using the link at the bottom. Run the exe which does not appear in the system tray but the notification area instead. Open the software you want to move from the taskbar to the notification area and make sure it is the active window then simply push the windows key + q and the icon dissapears to the notification area under the all in one tray icon.

thanks to everybody who attempted to help.

All-In-One Tray by ~curiouso9 on deviantART

 

[Jacee]

Thanks for letting us know how you solved your problem