Layer On 1.6
There's a long thread in the Support Forums about using a shortcut to activate a layer and launch the program associated with the layer.
Thunder-man stumbled across the thread and started noodling around the idea of rewriting his "Layer Off" tool so it could be used to turn layers on. After a few highly-caffeinated drinks, "Layer On" was born.
Layer On allows you to easily activate a layer and run the associated program -- by right-clicking a shortcut (.lnk).
But wait, there's more. If you close the program, the associated layer is automatically deactivated.
What makes Layer on?
- Activate the layer by clicking on a desktop icon.
- Run the program.
- Wait for the program to exit.
- Deactivate the layer.
You do not need to make a change to the icon.
How to use:
- Run Setup "Layer on.exe" (write entries).
- Start a layer.
Copy the layer desktop icon. (right click)
Paste it in a new place.
Delete the old layer icon. - Now you can activate the layer by right-clicking this desktop shortcut (.lnk)
If your close the program, the layer is also deactivated.
Examples
Important:
"Layer on" uses the same Registry of entries as the "WonderBar" (for activate and start a Layer). We can set these simply with the Tool "Activate and Run - Setter"
If the entries are not in the registry, the layer cannot be activated (by "Layer On").
Very Important:
Do not double-click the desktop icon if the layer is not active. If you do, Windows will look for the executable and modify the shortcut accordingly.
e.g. C:\fslrdr\18\[_B_]SYSTEMDRIVE[_E_]\Firefox\Firefox.exe
Then the Icon must again be put on.
I think this is a bug in SVS.
Update History
Version 1.6
Lets you specify the preferred application to launch (layer to activate) based on the file extension mapping. This is very useful when several applications are mapped to the same file extension. WinZip, ZipGenius, and PeaZip are all applications that can open files with a .zip extension.
Change in ini: (New ini)
Write valid entries for the FileExtension in the "Layer on.ini"
e.g.
[zip]
1="ZipGenius"
2="PeaZip"
[pdf]
1="Adobe Reader 8"
Easily add more layers:
3="......"
4="......"
Version 1.5
Activate Layer by FileExtension e.g. (pdf, zip)
If the program is closed, the Layer is deactivated.
Have fun
...
Thunder-man
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Layer on
Great tool.
Thanksss for sharing it with us.
regards
Erik
Regards
Erik
www.DinamiQs.com
Dinamiqs is the home of VirtualStorm (www.virtualstorm.org)
Layer On 1.5
THX
I have update Layer on.
Now we can activate a Layer by FileExtension.
e.g.
Klick on Test.pdf activate the Adobe Reader Layer and run the pdf File.
greeting
Frank
Google English…
SVSLoad.com
Activate on file extension
This is a great enhancement.
How does it handle when you use an extension that two or more layers are using?
Is it activating the first?
Or?
regards
Erik
Regards
Erik
www.DinamiQs.com
Dinamiqs is the home of VirtualStorm (www.virtualstorm.org)
Re: Activate on file extension
I don,t know,
can you call me an example?
greeting
Frank
Google English…
SVSLoad.com
Extension that two or more layers are using?
Do you mean that?
[rar]
1="Layer_1"
2="Layer_2"
[???]
1="Layer_1"
2="Layer_2"
3="Layer_3"
Frank
Google English…
SVSLoad.com
Two extensions
For example, when you have a file called test.zip, and you can choose for winzip or winrar.
Both can unzip the extension zip.
If I use extension activation, is it going to use winzip or winrar to extract?
Regards Erik
Regards
Erik
www.DinamiQs.com
Dinamiqs is the home of VirtualStorm (www.virtualstorm.org)
Re: Two extensions
I have an idea.
I will test and if possible to update.
greeting
Frank
Google English…
SVSLoad.com
"Layer on 1.6"
Thanks for the idea, I have this function now in "Layer on 1.6"
greeting
Frank
Google English…
SVSLoad.com
Great update
Great update. It will avoid the need to clutter the desktop with layer icons. And since I normally work on files it is right there. Your tool is very useful in combination with my hotkeys script, e.g. for layers that are not that frequently used.
Ciao
toralf
LayersOnHotkeys / Layer on
THX,
I thinks also, which is both Tools together a good combination.
Google English…
SVSLoad.com
Great tool. Very useful for
Great tool. Very useful for a layer activation/deactivation in a easy way.
Thanks
Riva11
Easy way
This is the easiest way I've seen on the Juice so far. It is really working well, and a big improvement.
Thnxsss for building this.
Regards
Erik
www.DinamiQs.com
Dinamiqs is the home of VirtualStorm (www.virtualstorm.org)
Solution to "Not a valid layer"
I just started using this, and find it great when it works - but disppointingly, for most of my layers it was giving a "Not a valid layer" dialog. After a bit of fiddling I discovered the solution to this:
In SVS Admin, make sure the layer is deactivated, then right-click on it and select Edit Advanced Layer Properties (or just double-click on the layer). Go to the Registry tab, and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion. Right-click on "CurrentVersion" and select New > Key. Rename the new key "App Paths". Now right-click on "App Paths" and select New > Key again. Rename this key with the filename of the program you want to run (this is the program linked to by the shortcut you copied in step 2 of the main article - e.g., "firefox.exe"). Then double-click on the "(Default)" string to edit it and enter the full path of that program (e.g., "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe").
Voila - now Layer On should work for that layer.
(For added portability you should use the [PROGRAMFILES] environment variable in the path, e.g., "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" becomes "[PROGRAMFILES]\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe")
Strange
For some reason you are one of the people who get this error. I do not encounter this, it works out just fine for me.
Are you using a old version of SVS?
Regards
Erik
www.svs4u.nl
Regards
Erik
www.DinamiQs.com
Dinamiqs is the home of VirtualStorm (www.virtualstorm.org)
No, I'm not using an old
No, I'm not using an old version. But I only recently updated to the latest version - is it possible it relates to the version with which the layer was created? It seems to be dependent on whether the relevant registry key is created when installing the software to a layer, but I assumed that depended on the installer for the particular application, rather than on anything to do with SVS.
Layer On 1.6
Hi, to see nicely, the Layer On is still used.
I have not had this problem thus yet.
Unfortunately, at the moment I could also offer no solution.
But I see, you have found a way...
Greetings Frank
Google English…
SVSLoad.com
Activate and Run
Actually Thunder-man, I just realized you already provided a solution, in the form of your Activate and Run Setter (http://juice.altiris.com/node/1025) that makes the appropriate changes to the registry in the layer automatically. If you have been using that, that would be why you haven't encountered the problem.
... Activate and Run for "Layer on"
lol Yes, this it is...
With some Layer the entry is written about same, unfortunately, not with all. Hence, one should use the" Activate and run - setter".
Gretting form Germany
Frank
Google English…
SVSLoad.com
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