#1 2015-12-17 14:29:03

jschall

Member

Registered: 2015-11-14

Posts: 12

APWAL launcher

This is a re-post from the #! forum.

I have found an excellent way to launch applications in Bunsen.

It's called Apwal ("Advanced Powerful Window Application Launcher"), and it's in the Bunsen repository.

http://apwal.free.fr/index.html

It's been around for a while - the current version 0.4.5 dates from December 2004 - but it has not gotten much attention from Linux users.

Here is a detailed article from Linux Magazine:

READY FOR ACCESS - Linux Magazine
http://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/20 … OPia-Apwal

So, what distinguishes Apwal from other ways of launching programs in Crunchbang?

You normally add program launchers to the Openbox menu, or install some sort of dock program.

Or, you can click Alt-F2 and type in the name of the executable.

The above methods work, but require you to mouse away from your current activity and focus on another part of the screen. And ALT-F2 requires you to type several keys.

Enter Apwal.

It pops up at your cursor location when you activate it with a keyboard shortcut, and presents you with a constellation of 48x48-pixel icons for the favourite programs you have configured. So your eyes don't even have to leave the spot on the screen where you were focussed. I find that very convenient. The Apwal constellation only stays there for a short time, then disappears until it is summoned again with your keyboard shortcut.

I have set my Alt-Space key combo to launch Apwal, or you can choose whatever you find most convenient.

One nice thing about Apwal is that it completely removes itself from RAM after each summoning. That's what I call a "light" app!

The only downside I have found with Apwal is that the Editor must load all of its icons into the selection panel every time you launch it (by right-clicking on any icon in the Apwal constellation). So, if you need to add or change an app, just go make a cup of tea while you wait for the icons, and then do ALL the edits you can think of at one sitting.

I suggest you give Apwal a try, and see if it makes your Bunsen life a little smoother!

Other links for APWAL:
http://photonucleon.blogspot.ca/2014/03 … apwal.html

http://subbass.blogspot.ca/2009/10/howt … ncher.html

- Jeff Schallenberg
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec

Last edited by jschall (2015-12-17 15:31:11)

brontosaurusrex

Middle Office

Registered: 2015-09-29

Posts: 2,746

Re: APWAL launcher

Very interesting, never heard of it before, thanks for sharing.

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My website full of interesting stuff.

seppalta

Member

Registered: 2015-10-02

Posts: 43

Website

Re: APWAL launcher

More flexible to just build a sub-menu and attach a key binding.  See the "Adding Submenus" section of Lxlinux - obmenu-generator for details, which also show how to attach the same submenus to the Openbox Root Menu.  To see several such submenus, click on the appropriate items in the image at the bottom of the page in the indicated link.