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Off Topic: MSN Toolbar Suite

  • Artykuł

I installed the MSN Toolbar Suite today. I've never used the Google desktop equivalent, so I can't comment on how it compares - but I do like the power of searching everything from Windows Explorer, especially using my keyboard shortcuts. 

In the past I have run both Dave's Quick Start Bar and SlickRun, and although the MSN Deskbar doesn't quite match either for customization, it does seem much more stable. (Dave's Quick Start Bar has an ActiveX issue with WinXP SP2 and I always found SlickRun got confused when I changed resolutions).

To "emulate" these tools and create new shortcuts to the MSN deskbar, you simply type:

@shortcut_name, shortcut_location

For example:

@notepad, c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe

Once this is done, enter notepad in the MSN desk bar and voila... notepad opens!

You can also use a $w to indicate a parameter. For example:

@msdn2, https://msdn2.microsoft.com/library/$w

...and then you can type msdn2 System.String - for the easiest way to lookup classes in the MSDN2 library.

All of the deskbar short cuts get stored to a file called MsnDeskbarShortcuts.ini, located in the \Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data directory. This means that you can add new ones by hand, and also backup all your shortcuts in case you type @clear!

After editing this file, to reload your shortcuts simply unload and reload the MSN Deskbar. One caveat I've found is that the beta version doesn't seem to retain it's position. If you move it to another location on the taskbar, it's back to the far right when you reload...

Overall though, I've been very impressed. Although my disk has a fair bit of indexing to go, I'm definitely liking the new features this is providing...

Comments

  • Anonymous
    December 15, 2004
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    December 15, 2004
    Ok, but maybe you can help me find out how to do this...

    c:windowssystem32notepad.exe "D:WINDOWSsystem32driversetchosts"

    I want a shortcut to that...

    something like

    @hosts, c:windowssystem32notepad.exe "D:WINDOWSsystem32driversetchosts"

    It won't let me and It's being a bit fickle about the space after the notepad executable.
  • Anonymous
    December 15, 2004
    Rick, use:
    @hosts,=notepad d:windowssystem32driversetchosts
  • Anonymous
    December 15, 2004
    Godbol,

    Good point - shortcuts allow you to enter smaller items though.

    e.g. for me, "jot" is assigned to "=onenote"
  • Anonymous
    December 15, 2004
    MSN Deskbar - I love this feature !
  • Anonymous
    December 15, 2004
    Great suggestion, I like the msdn one, and have added one to get kb articles by id:

    kb=http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;$w
  • Anonymous
    January 13, 2005
    The fact that SlickRun moves to ensure it's always on your screen hardly seems like a reason to imply that it's "unstable".