Is there a way to make one shortcut to open multiple apps in windows ?

[Strike105X]

Hi, what i want is to make one desktop shortcut which brings me to a selection of which app do i want to launch, it can even be a batch script (though the only one i know is for launching multiple apps from one batch file, not a selection).

I don't want to use a desktop launcher like rocketdock or object dock, all i want is for a very basic way or app to have an app selection from one shortcut.

 

[Anak]

Hi Strike105X, welcome to 7F!

What a coincidence! We touched on this the other day, there's a way I described by using a batch [.bat] file but that's not what you need maybe UsernameIssues suggestion of using Autoit may help.

The thread is here: Possible to Link Two items in Taskbar?

 

[gladson1976]

Hi, what i want is to make one desktop shortcut which brings me to a selection of which app do i want to launch, it can even be a batch script (though the only one i know is for launching multiple apps from one batch file, not a selection).

I don't want to use a desktop launcher like rocketdock or object dock, all i want is for a very basic way or app to have an app selection from one shortcut.

It is possible to show a menu of items to select from in a batch file.
Guess this tutorial is what you need.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/78083-batch-files-create-menu-execute-commands.html

 

[RolandJS]

In the old days of W 3.1-WFW 3.11, W95-98-98SE, batchfiles can contain a choice [if X/do X, if error input/do error message] routine, which results in the enduser seeing a brief menu of items possible, the batchfile "waits" for enduser input, enduser inputs a "legal" choice, batchfile calls the program's batchfile or the program itself. Do you want a sample of that choice routine? I do not know if such a batchfile will work within Windows 7 or not -- do you want to experiment and report back?

 

[RolandJS]

Obviously, you can modify and vastly simplify the below to suit you! Here is one example of a long ago batchfile:

::MODULAR/OBJECT-ORIENTATION BY RJ STOLLER JERRY-ROLAND USA
@ECHO OFF
ECHO CHOICES.BAT INVOKED %1
IF %1!==! C:\DOS\FIND.EXE "1!==" C:\BAT\CHOICES.BAT
IF %1!==! GOTO END
IF %1!==ASK! GOTO ASK
IF %1!==APPEND! GOTO APPEND
IF %1!==GRAPHICS! GOTO GRAPHICS
IF %1!==SHARE! GOTO SHARE
IF %1!==TSR_VIR! GOTO TSR_VIR
IF %1!==PRN2FILE! GOTO PRN2FILE
:ASK
:APPEND
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS APPEND NO DOS APPEND IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO AL_NO
LH C:\DOS\APPEND.EXE /E /X:ON
:AL_NO
IF %1!==APPEND! GOTO END
:GRAPHICS
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS GRAPHICS NO DOS GRAPHICS IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO GL_NO
LH C:\DOS\GRAPHICS.COM LASERJETII C:\DOS\GRAPHICS.PRO /PRINTBOX:STD
:GL_NO
IF %1!==GRAPHICS! GOTO END
:SHARE
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS SHARE NO DOS SHARE IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO SL_NO
LH C:\DOS\SHARE.EXE /F:2048 /L:20
COPY C:\BAT\ENTER.BAT C:\FILES\FLG\SHARE.FLG>NUL
:SL_NO
IF %1!==SHARE! GOTO END
:TSR_VIR
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS TSR_VIRs NO DOS VIRSTOP IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO VP_NO
LH C:\UTIL\VIRSTOP.EXE /BOOT /WARM /NOTRACK
C:\UTL\F-TEST.COM
:VP_NO
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS TSR_VIRs NO DOS VSHIELD IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO VS_NO
ECHO |C:\UTIL\VSHIELD.EXE /ANYACCESS /CONTACT {VIRUS(ES) FOUND}
C:\UTIL\CHKVSHLD.EXE /DISPLAY
:VS_NO
IF %1!==TSR_VIR! GOTO END
RN2FILE
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS PRN2FILE NO DOS PRN2FILE IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO PL_NO
LH C:\UTIL\PRN2FILE.COM /B04 /P1
L_NO
IF %1!==PRN2FILE! GOTO END
GOTO END

:END

Ok, we have a problem! Batchfile requires choice.com -- probably time to move onto another solution!
And, I have forgotten why I had a find.exe in the opening.

 

[gladson1976]

Obviously, you can modify and vastly simplify the below to suit you! Here is one example of a long ago batchfile:

::MODULAR/OBJECT-ORIENTATION BY RJ STOLLER JERRY-ROLAND USA
@ECHO OFF
ECHO CHOICES.BAT INVOKED %1
IF %1!==! C:\DOS\FIND.EXE "1!==" C:\BAT\CHOICES.BAT
IF %1!==! GOTO END
IF %1!==ASK! GOTO ASK
IF %1!==APPEND! GOTO APPEND
IF %1!==GRAPHICS! GOTO GRAPHICS
IF %1!==SHARE! GOTO SHARE
IF %1!==TSR_VIR! GOTO TSR_VIR
IF %1!==PRN2FILE! GOTO PRN2FILE
:ASK
:APPEND
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS APPEND NO DOS APPEND IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO AL_NO
LH C:\DOS\APPEND.EXE /E /X:ON
:AL_NO
IF %1!==APPEND! GOTO END
:GRAPHICS
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS GRAPHICS NO DOS GRAPHICS IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO GL_NO
LH C:\DOS\GRAPHICS.COM LASERJETII C:\DOS\GRAPHICS.PRO /PRINTBOX:STD
:GL_NO
IF %1!==GRAPHICS! GOTO END
:SHARE
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS SHARE NO DOS SHARE IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO SL_NO
LH C:\DOS\SHARE.EXE /F:2048 /L:20
COPY C:\BAT\ENTER.BAT C:\FILES\FLG\SHARE.FLG>NUL
:SL_NO
IF %1!==SHARE! GOTO END
:TSR_VIR
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS TSR_VIRs NO DOS VIRSTOP IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO VP_NO
LH C:\UTIL\VIRSTOP.EXE /BOOT /WARM /NOTRACK
C:\UTL\F-TEST.COM
:VP_NO
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS TSR_VIRs NO DOS VSHIELD IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO VS_NO
ECHO |C:\UTIL\VSHIELD.EXE /ANYACCESS /CONTACT {VIRUS(ES) FOUND}
C:\UTIL\CHKVSHLD.EXE /DISPLAY
:VS_NO
IF %1!==TSR_VIR! GOTO END
RN2FILE
C:\DOS\CHOICE.COM DOS PRN2FILE NO DOS PRN2FILE IF UNANSWERED IN 2 SECS /T:N,2
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO PL_NO
LH C:\UTIL\PRN2FILE.COM /B04 /P1
L_NO
IF %1!==PRN2FILE! GOTO END
GOTO END

:END

Ok, we have a problem! Batchfile requires choice.com -- probably time to move onto another solution!
And, I have forgotten why I had a find.exe in the opening.

The SET command with the /P argument does exactly what the CHOICE command does.

[FONT=Courier New]SET /P M=Type 1, 2, 3, or 4 then press ENTER:
[/FONT]

This will wait for a user input after displaying the message "Type 1, 2, 3, or 4 then press ENTER:"

 

[RolandJS]

Thanks Gladson!! Added that info to my collection!