How to start multiple programs with ONE mouseclick !

[hackerman1]

hi !

How to start multiple programs with ONE mouseclick

as we all know, you can drag a shortcut / program / file to the startup-folder, then it automatically starts when you boot.

but, what can you do if you want a similar function for other programs / files,
and you want to start them manually, NOT when you boot ?

you can of course create a batch-file, like fx:

-------------------------------
cd "c:\windows\system32\"
notepad.exe
cd "c:\program files\ABCD"
abcd.exe
-------------------------------

but if you want to start many programs, it will be a lot of work as you have to enter the path and also the name of every program.
this is because most programs require that you first change to their folder BEFORE you start them, as they need access to other files in their own folder when they start.
and if you later want to change / add files in the folder...

and if you want "drag & drop" like in the startup-folder ?

here is a simple solution:

1. create a folder
2. open it
3. drag your links to programs / files into the folder
4. create a bat-file that starts everything in the folder
5. create a link to the bat-file, fx. on your desktop / taskbar


i my EXAMPLE below the folder is named: "PROG1" and is located in "C:\Programs"

the bat-file: "PROGRAMS 1":
FOR %%X IN (C:\Programs\PROG1\*.*) DO rundll32 shell32.dll,ShellExec_RunDLL %%X

but of course you can put your "multipleprograms-folder" where you want it.


the "trick" is a FOR-loop that runs the same command:
"rundll32 shell32.dll,ShellExec_RunDLL" for every link in the folder.

the real beaty of putting LINKS in the folder is that you do NOT have to change the folder for every single program that you want to start, as the links have all the needed information.

update:

changed the bat-file above since it´s actually a bad idea to put a lot of folders on your desktop as it can slow down your computer.
the (original) bat-file was just an EXAMPLE, showing the principle.
i (temporarily) used a folder on my desktop while testing, i actually have all menu-folders & bat-files on "E:\System"....

Ztruker suggested to use "%userprofile%" in the bat-file,
but it´s smarter to use a COMMON folder like fx. "C:\Programs", instead of the desktop,
because then you can use the same bat-file & "multipleprograms-folder" on ALL accounts, both ADMIN & USER-account(s).

 

[Thorsen]

Thats clever. Then all you have to do is change the shortcuts dropped into the folder or drop a new shortcut into the folder whenever you want to add a new program to the list.

 

[hackerman1]

Thats clever.

THANKS !

Then all you have to do is change the shortcuts dropped into the folder or drop a new shortcut into the folder whenever you want to add a new program to the list.

exactly right.

it works exactly the same as the "Startup-folder, you can use normal "drag & drop", which makes it very easy to add or remove programs / links.

no "programming"...

 

[Ztruker]

That is very cool. Just tried it and it works perfectly. One small suggested change.

Instead of:

FOR %%X IN (C:\Users\HACKERMAN\Desktop\PROG1\*.*) DO rundll32 shell32.dll,ShellExec_RunDLL %%X

use

FOR %%X IN (%userprofile%\Desktop\PROG1\*.*) DO rundll32 shell32.dll,ShellExec_RunDLL %%X

That makes it universal and requires no editing. Works for W2K, XP, Vista or Win 7.

 

[hackerman1]

yes, of course you can use "%userprofile%", but you don´t have to,
that bat-file was just an example, showing the principle.

i (temporarily) used a folder on my desktop while testing,
of course you can put your "multipleprograms-folder" where you want it,
personally i have all menu-folders & bat-files on "E:\System"....

 

[tsttm]

Hi, I know this is an older thread-I've been using this batch file for quite some time now. Since upgrading to a new computers that run Windows 8.1, this solution doesn't work for me that. Is there something that is related to Windows 8.1 that problematic? is there a way to fix it? Thank you?

 

[Pyprohly]

Hi Tsttm,

I'm going to take a guess and say that it's the Rundll32 "command" in Hackerman's batch file that causes it to not work for your Windows 8.1 machine.

Rundll32 should never be called from within batch files anyway. It's not designed to be invoked that way.

Here is a better remake of Hackerman's script.

@echo off
set "target=C:\Programs\PROG1"
if not exist "%TARGET%" echo The directory "%TARGET%" does not exist. && exit /b 1
if exist "%TARGET%\*" (
	pushd "%TARGET%"
) else (
	for %%I in ( "%TARGET%" ) do (
		pushd "%%~dpI"
	)
)
for /f "delims=" %%I in (' dir /a:-d /b "%TARGET%" ') do (
	cd /d "%%~dpI"
	start "" "%%~fI"
)
popd

Before running this batch file, alter the 'target' variable value to a folder path of your choice. All files contained within this folder will be invoked. You may also specify a file-mask along with the directory to limit what file types should be started. E.g. set "target=C:\Programs\PROG1\*.txt" will tell the script to open only all txt files contained within the PROG1 folder.

 

[tsttm]

Haha! thank you Pyprohly, it works!!!