My first thread, so here goes.
This guide was available in the General section under the 'How to make your xda look like an iphone' thread but a seperate thread on using cLaunch seemed sensible.
I also wanted to distance myself from the iPhone thread in light of such posts as this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1100271&highlight=apple#post1100271 as I had posted some ecreen shots myself which I have since removed
cLaunch is a fantastic piece of freeware. I thought I should put together a quick user guide. It is the perfect piece of software to create a custom today screen. I like it because it allows me to create custom links from my today screen using custom icons. I have added some screen shots at the bottom of the post. You can see my photo contacts at the bottom of the page as I have removed the 'contacts/calendar' softkeys using dcinobar.
Where do I get it?
Download cLaunch from here: http://www.pdagold.com/software/detail.asp?s=300
. . . and check the website here: http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~welic/claunch.html
(There are also some great example screen shots on this site - I will try and upload some example screen shots myself shortly.)
Install the cLaunch cab file by copying to your device (eg: \program files\) and then execute by tapping on it.
Activating cLaunch
The plug-in can be activated by going to Start>Settings>Personal>Today>Items and check 'cLaunch'.
Exit the personal today settings and return to your today screen where you should be able to now see cLaunch tabs and a portion of the today screen with a border around it.
Press and hold the stylus on the portion of the screen occupied by cLaunch. This will take you into the cLaunch settings (Screen shot 1). You may also access the settings via the today items menu (Start>Settings>Personal>Today>Items, highlight cLaunch and tap OPTIONS).
Options
Once in the settings select 'Options'. Options allows you to change how cLaunch appears on the today screen. It's settings affect all the individual tabs in the same manner. It is used to set the height of cLaunch within the today screen and the number of tabs in use. These are the tabs you will see:
About - Ver12.03 is the most recent version. Cai Systems 2003.
Language - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese GB
Main - Select which Tabs you wish to appear within cLaunch. You may use up to 8 selecting them by placing a tick in the box. You may also overtype the titles and change the tab names as required. (Screen shot 2)
System - Here you may set the height of cLaunch. This dictates how much of the today screen it occupies. It may take some trial and error in order to adjust the height and get the desired affect. 'Menu bar enable' makes the tabs you have selected visible on the screen. You can also tap 'Menu bar at bottom' which will shift the tabs below the cLaunch window instead of being located at the top. 'Settings icon enable' creates a small system access icon at the right hand side of your tabs. This is for quick access to the cLaunch settings. 'Arrow icons enable' adds small arrows within cLaunch in the event that you have more items added to the today screen than can be displayed at once. This icon enables you to scroll through the selected tab. You may also select 'Tap empty spaace advance to next group' which allows you to toggle through your tabs by just tapping the screen. (Screen shot 3)
Tab - These settings all relate to your chosen tabs within cLaunch. Increase tab width if the titles of your tabs are lengthy. You may also select to have a border around the plug-in if desired. The options will place a border around the whole plug-in and and around the tabs. There is also an option for 'Tab border 3D'.
Settings icon - This allows you to skin the settings icon if it was selected within the system settings.You may import your own icon using the file path field. Icon should be 18x18 bitmap.
Help - cLaunch quick tips.
Press the tick in the top right hand corner to exit Options and go back to the main cLaunch tabs page. If you have changed the names of any of the tabs you will be able to see the tabs at the top of the screen. You will see all the tabs even though you may have only selected one or two within Options/Main.
Adding items to cLaunch
In order to add items to cLaunch select 'Add'.
Click on the ... next to File Path and browse to the link of the application you wish to ad to cLaunch. Use the .lnk files within your start menu and sub menus. EG windows\start menu\programs\calculator.lnk (select OK) - to add the calculator.
If you wish to use a custom icon select 'Change icon'.Browse to the location of your icons. Store them within windows or within the storage card. You may also use icons from an .exe or .dll or .cpl. Use the appropriate icon handle or browse by tapping 'next'. You will be able to see the icon on the screen at this point. (select OK)
Repeat to add all of the require applications and documents. You can create shortcuts to .lnk, .exe as well as to documents and folders.
If you wish to create a link to your storage card use the following file path: \storage card
This will open the root directory of your storage card using the native file explorer.
Settings
The 'Options' relate to the cLaunch settings as a whole, but each tab may also be configured seperately. Make sure that the tab you wish to personalise is selected and tap 'Settings' (Screen shot 5). These settings relate only to this tab. Here you can set the icon size for the tab, enable or disable the icon name and the height of the text. The 'Margin' tab allows you to organise the icons within the tab. (Screen shot 4)
'Skin' allows you to skin the tab. Note that the skin must be a bitmap and of the correct size. cLaunch will stretch the background if it is too small. 'Skin2' allows you to skin the icons for the arrows.
'Import' allows you to import an entire menu into the selected tab. For example you can import everything from \windows\start menu\programs\. This will save time over adding each item individually.
Once you are happy with your settings you may wish to make some last minute changes to the order of the items within the tab. The main cLaunch page has the options to organise the shortcuts you have added.
Add - Used to add the link to cLaunch.
Edit - Highlight an existing shortcut and select Edit to change the file path or icon.
Delete - Highlight and select delete to remove an shortcut.
Cut - Highlight and select cut to cut a shortcut to the clip board.
Copy - Copy any selected shortcut from desired tab.
Paste - Paste the shortcut you have copied/cut.
Select All - Selects all shortcuts on the visible tab.
Up - Used to arrange the order. Highlight your shortcut and then select Up to move it up the list of shortcuts.
Down - Used to arrange the order. Highlight your shortcut and then select Down to move it down the list of shortcuts.
Select mulitple - Allows you to highlight and pick several shortcuts and deal with them together once selected.
For additonal information on creating shortcuts search http://forum.xda-developers.com/search.php using the key word 'completeness' and enter vijay555 in the username field.
Additonal Information and links . . .
Here is some further information which I shall try and elaborate on further when I have time.
Sometimes when you are using a theme with a bright colour the icon background will also display this colour when pressed. To change the colour of the background when you touch an icon use 'Base Hue Express' available on the following site:
http://www.greatbal.blogspot.com/
[Full instructions and the .zip file]
If you wish to use greyscale enter the program and select 'Menu' and the 'Use Greyscale'.
Themes:
http://www.pocketpcthemes.com/
Or make your own: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=275907
Check the cLaunch homepage. There are 5 examples of user screen shots inclding some icons . . .
Icon packs:
cLaunch Home: http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~welic/claunch.html
Available icons: http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~welic/users_screen3.html
. . . and http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~welic/users_screen4.html
****************************************************************************************
cLaunch is agreat piece of freeware and very customisable. I have found that most of my knowledge of this program has been as a result of trial and error. And if you don't like it go into the cLaunch settings select 'Options' and on the main About page there is a tab to uninstall!
Wiki-ised!
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=ClaunchGuide
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=ClaunchGuide
V
cLaunch
Any idea why I get "cLaunch is not a valid Pocket PC application" when I try to install on Cingular 8525?
sdw443 said:
Any idea why I get "cLaunch is not a valid Pocket PC application" when I try to install on Cingular 8525?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the cab file from http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~welic/claunch.html and copy it to your device, for example place it in \windows\program files\ and then browse to that folder using your file explorer and tap on the file. It will then ask you where you wish to install. Select 'Device'.
If you have downloaded an .exe you can run it on your pc without the device connected and then simply extract the cab file from within your pc's activesync folders and then copy it to the device.
I guess you are getting that error as you are attempting to run an .exe file intended to be run on a pc desktop.
HOw to make all icon display on the screen ?
I can only see 4 icons at a time , how can i make it displayed all ? Thanks
Did you read the first post? Just change icon size/spacing/caption size/spacing.
V
The problem I have is that the icons I use appear incorrectly. The odd pixel is missing and the number of missing pixels depends on the icon. They display fine in the Change Icon screen and in the Windows photo viewer, but not on the Today screen.
Edit: OK, it seems that these pixels are turning up as transparent. All of the ready-made cLaunch icons which have transparency have that pink colour. Maybe some of the colours in the icons are too close to that pink. Any way to turn transparency off?
What icons are they? Just edit them and remove transparency.
V
Does this program work for the IPAQ b/c I cannot only see the add, edit and delete buttons on the bottom.
Icon Display
Vijay555 ,
Thanks for that reply, i got it down and the only thing i am trying to do now is getting the bottom portion of the icons. I have phoneAlarm , what do i do? i played around and couldn't come up with any luck.
I also wholeheartedly recommend cLaunch if you haven't already tried it. Search for 'claunch' in my previous articles; I've published several on it (also comparative ones if you want to know how it compares to the alternatives like Spb Pocket Plus).
I've since found that white is a transparent colour. I made a completely white icon and it didn't show up at all on the Today screen. I'm exporting from Photoshop as Windows 24 bit BMP. Should I change that?
I can't see the "Settings" with my treo 700wx (240x240) screen. Is there any way for me to resize the program or work around it?
Why aren't you exporting icons with an icon app? Try Microangelo or similar.
schen08 - apologies, I don't think the config app has ever been compiled to be square screen compatible. Try using the app floatme perhaps to give control of the window and drag it around. I doubt that would work.
Anyone got time to recompile? It'd be quite easy.
Oh schen08 - you can probably do it yourself! Just load the app into a resource hacker and redefine the dialogs, if you can.
V
What exactly should I export as? ICO is unsupported by cLaunch.
Sorry, I'm turning blonde today!
Make icon in Microangelo Studio, get together a bunch of .icos, then download a resource only icon dll. That sounds like crazy talk, but download PHM Tools and you will find an icon dll in there.
Scoop out the filling like some kind of surrogate bovine egg cell, and using Microangelo Librarian drag your ico files into the now empty icon dll.
In this way, you make an "icon bank", which you can then use in claunch, and also has the convenience of keeping all your icons in one place.
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=271547#post980612&postcount=4 for more confusion.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
V
Thanks. Also, how are you taking pictures of your screen?
This program looks great but I do have a problem. I've installed it but I can't get to the options screen where you have the about menu, and the other settings.
When I hold down the stylus in the Claunch i get the settings page. but from there I only can add/delete/edit. nothing else.
I have a treo 700w
DinCahill said:
Thanks. Also, how are you taking pictures of your screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are various screen shot apps. Check XnView pocket - http://www.pdagold.com/software/detail.asp?s=1275 as it includes a function to take screen shots but is also a useful image editor. It is freeware as well.
Square screen
digitalsr2: you need to resource edit the dialogs for square screen, dialog 500.
I can't test this, I'm at work, but try this:
http://www.vijay555.com/vj/claunchguide/square/claunch.dll
- Install normal claunch
- Go to Today settings screen and UNTICK claunch.
- Download above file, and copy into \windows\
- Go to Today settings screen and TICK claunch.
Now try the options.
Like I said, untested, but follow the idea and make a new version.
V
Ok, what am I missing here - this used to work!
I've got the latest patched HTC Home plugin that correctly displays my local weather (Flint, TX) on the Home plugin.
Everything works....except:
When you click "More" from the 5-day view the Accuweather page launched is the default one where it asks you to enter your zip code or city.
If you enter this then it tells me (correctly) that this city is already in my list and THEN gives me the option to go to Accuweather Home which re-directs to my default location since this is stored as a cookie.
This is a pain!
Before it used to go directly to the "Home" page of Accuweather which then diplayed my local weather immediately.
AFAIK the only thiing I've changed recently is to load the new HTC Home customizer that allows preview of the settings. I've set this all up as before including using the custom database and setting my home city.
What am I missing? There seems no file in the HTCHome folder that controls this and no registry entry as far as I can see....
TIA.
Andy.
Up until recently there was a free application in the market that allowed you to use buzz in a 1.6 android device. I just wiped and went to download it, and is gone! I believe it was just called "buzz".
Anyone who still has it can upload it?
Thanks
I think that app was just a shortcut to the web site. The mobile web page works just fine on a 1.6 device, it is just a little limited I believe.
But it had a nice icon...
Same icon gets created when I create a shortcut to the mobile web site on my home screen.
Really? I only get an icon of a webpage...
what ROM are you running?
If I long press on the home screen and select "Shortcut" I get a menu to choose the type of shortcut. If I select "Bookmark" I then get taken to the browser's bookmark screen, where I just select my Buzz bookmark. The fancy little Buzz icon then shows up on my home screen.
The latest Cyanogen.
More things some people might just not know about, if you do, good for you, if you don't you do now! If you have more common but, not so general knowledge, post it!
1. Pull down your notification curtain and long press on one of the toggles. If you long press on WiFi it will bring you to the settings page for WiFi, if you long press on Bluetooth it will take you to Bluetooth settings page and so on.
2. On the LGHome launcher if you go to the app drawer and press the menu capacitive button and select "layout" you can choose to have your apps in categories, as seperate pages or one long vertical list.
3. If you are in category view you can "close" pinch the screen and the categories will roll up for better view. If you look at the bottom of the screen you will see two options "Manage App" and "Manage Category".
"Manage App" will let you move apps from category to category and you can easily uninstall apps from the app drawer this way.
"Manage Category" will let you add new categories and rearrange them if you would like, you can't remove the default categories though. Say you want "Games" "Utilities" and "Forum Apps" seperated, this is how you would do it without making folders.
4. While in List view you can "close" pinch the screen to collapse the alphabetical categories for another easy way to navigate apps.
5. Instead of pulling apps from the app drawer one by one, long click the homepage and select "Shortcuts" at the bottom, then select "Applications" here you can choose multiple apps at one time, a "batch" add.
6. When you go to contacts, "close" pinch on the screen to collapse alphabetical categories as well. I find this MUCH faster than scrolling down with the side bar.
7. You can change the middle two dock icons if you long press the app from the app drawer you can place it where you want to replace the existing icon. However you cannot delete icons from the dock, only over write. For example you cannot have 3 icons (including the app drawer).
8. On LGHome launcher up at the top you will see the Desktop Indicators if you press on the either side of the middle circle it will quickly take you to either the first or last Desktop. You must press on the dots themselves for this to work. This is handy for those that have a lot of Desktops all filled with stuff, if you are on the first Desktop and need something from the SECOND to last Desktop you can just click on the right side of the middle dot then scroll back one to the Desktop you need. It beats flicking across your screen 5-6 times, you can reduce that to a press and one fling.
I can't think of any more off the top of my head but, if I remember or discover anything else that's common but, not so general knowledge I will be sure to post it.
Is there any way to change the 4 static quick shortcuts at the bottom of the main screen?
Yes, (but only the middle 2) if you long press the app from the app drawer you can place it where you want to replace the existing icon. However you cannot delete icons from the dock, only over write. For example you cannot have 3 icons (including the app drawer).
Sent from my LG Thrill Faux G
Edited first post with the tip above ^^^^^ and another for the LGHome launcher.
Long press the power button together with the Home button. After the click a screendump will be available in /mnt/sdcard/CapturedImages
Hi guys,
So I was really hiped to see how amazing the S6 would be and got very dissapointed with it (no microsd, removable battery, 40% less features, not water resistant at least and much more **** things about it). But despite all the drawbacks, there are, of course, some good things about it too. So here're some features that you can get on your S5 with some simple apps and configurations
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Edge Lighting (it actually works when phone is not on a flat surface)
1. Download Edge Color Notifications.
2. Open it and select the blue options in the center top called "Select contact specific color". From there you're able to set different colors for each of your contacts. If you tap on the 3-dots at the top right and then on "PhoneCall options", you're gonna be able to change the default color for unknown calls, column width and animation type.
3. There are other extra settings as well, but you'll need to check them out by yourself as I only use the S6 Edge ones I mentioned above
4. Enjoy your Galaxy S5 Edge .
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S6 Camera Launch by double pressing the Home button whereever you are (except on lockscreen, but we have widget for that)
1. Download a very old but very handy app from 2011 called Home2 Shortcut.
2. Open it and do everything as I tell you below -->
-where it says --Step1-- select the "Choose App" button and select your camera app.
-on step2 you can change the response and while they say to leave it at normal, mine is at "very very short" and it's actually better for me. Play with this a little.
-step3, select TouchWiz launcher.
-on step4 press the close button as it's written in the app and choose Home2 Shortcut as your default launcher and click "Always".
3. Now when you double press the Home button while your phone is unlocked the camera is gonna launch just like on the S6 (Edge).
Tip : You know how the Galaxy S6's camera is always in standby mode and ready, but doesn't show up in the recent apps list so you don't clear it by hitting clear all. Well I found a ...bug? maybe.. and am able to do the same on my S5. Follow below steps to try and get it working -->
*Whenever you restart or turn your phone on you need to launch the camera from the lockscreen shortcut and then press home button and unlock your phone.
*Now double press Home to launch camera and again press Home to go to your homescreen.
*Now when you double press Home again camera is gonna launch. But when you press Home to close it, it won't show up in the recent apps list.
*Sometimes it doesn't work from the 1st time so do the TIP steps a couple of times until you get it to work.
*Sometimes toggling HDR on/off "fixes" the bug and camera shows up in recents again. Repeat TIP steps to "bug" it again
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People Edge (works with no bugs whatsoever, even on lockscreen)
1. Download Drupe.
2. When you open it it's gonna ask for notification read permissions, just grant it that and open app again (if it doesn't open by itself).
3. Inside the app there will be a quick tutorial to what everything does, check it out.
4. Now ,after the tut is gone, you're going to see some of your contacts listed on the screen. You can long hold a contact and remove it by dragging it to the bottom of the page where a little "x" will appear at the left side. Tap the "+' button to add more of your contacts to "Favourites" (starred).
5. On the bottom right there is a settings icon, click it and see below steps -->
-Default View - changes view when app is started. Can be "Favourites" or "Recents".
-Applications - tap to open menu. Hold on the 3-lines at the right and drag apps up or down. Apps which are more coloured will show up on the main screen, those below will not. You can assign E-Mail, FB, WhatsApp and so on to each of your contacts. All of those, one swipe away!
-Theme - changes colour of the transparent background of the app.
-Lock Screen - choose look on the lockscreen, "Dots" is the best, 'cause with the others if you tap on the lockscreen, app shortcut is gone. "Dots" doesn't go away, ever.
-Contacts Suggestion - this will add frequently called contacts which are not in your "Favourites" right under them.
-Vibration - guess what it does
-Email Signature - adds a "Sent via drupe" text under each email you sent using the app.
-Thumb Swipe - with this enabled, no need to swipe all the way to the app you wanna use. Just start swiping towards it and you'll see a highlighted line leading to the app which you can drag to other apps. Extremely useful when operating with just your thumb.
-Orientation - changes location of the contacts and apps. Can be left or right.
6. There's a "Search" bar on the main screen.
7. There's also a dialer on the main screen's bottom left side.
8. If you swipe right on the main screen, you'll see either "Favourites" or "Recents" (depending on which of the two you have set as your default screen when you open the app).
9. Long hold on the 3 dots, which when swiped, access the app, to place them anywhere on the screen by dragging them around.
10. Bare in mind that if you swipe to call from your lockscreen, you'll still need to unlock the phone for calling to take effect. This just saves you the trouble of going to the Phone app and calling from there.
PS : App may ask you for your email and fb account when you 1st start it. Just once though, once you're done it won't bother you anymore!