Simple question, I hope. How do I add to or delete apps from the list on the Items tab (Start / Settings / Today)?
I currently have a list of 9 items, 2 of which are ticked but I can't see how to add or delete from the list.
Not checked items is NOT loaded in memory!
Items can be deleted from registry - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Today\Items. Every key under key Items represents settings for one today item - delete it and it disappears from the list in the Today applet.
Thanks. Can you point me to a suitable registry editor?
I guess I'm confused. If the app you're looking for isn't listed in the Items tab for today settings, it's 99.9% likely not to be a today plug-in, so adding it to the list won't help. Even if you did, it wouldn't run properly.
What specifically are you trying to add to Today? If it's an application (like Agenda One) that doesn't have a corresponding Today plug-in (like Pocket Plus or the HTC Home do) then you'll be adding it without much point.
Total Commander CE has good integrated registry editor. Another free PHM registry editor - http://www.phm.lu/Products/PocketPC/RegEdit/.
But - every good today plugin has uninstaller and typically there is no need to manually delete items. Be careful and good luck ...
When I installed TomTom it created an entry in the Items list. This was simply a shortcut to itself which appeared at the bottom of my Today screen.
I assumed that you could add any old app to this list and that would make it appear on the Today screen in the same way.
From what you are saying this would appear to not be the case?
PerfAlbion said:
I guess I'm confused. If the app you're looking for isn't listed in the Items tab for today settings, it's 99.9% likely not to be a today plug-in, so adding it to the list won't help. Even if you did, it wouldn't run properly.
What specifically are you trying to add to Today? If it's an application (like Agenda One) that doesn't have a corresponding Today plug-in (like Pocket Plus or the HTC Home do) then you'll be adding it without much point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On Today screen appear only very special programs ("dlls") with two exported functions. TomTom delivered mentioned special dll.
For other program You want to run from today screen make a link in some "host" Today plugin (Try Great SPB Pocket Plus - http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/pocketplus/?en)
RStein said:
On Today screen appear only very special programs ("dlls") with two exported functions. TomTom delivered mentioned special dll.
For other program You want to run from today screen make a link in some "host" Today plugin (Try Great SPB Pocket Plus - http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/pocketplus/?en)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too have that TomTom shortcut at the bottom right corner of my Today screen. I do see a TomTom registry folder under today items for Today, but under Settings --> Today --> Items, TomTom is unchecked.
So, the question is: how specifically do I remove that shortcut, and how do I add others/another in its place (if I decide to).
FYI, I am using Pocket Plus, Mobile Shell and Phone Suite.
Thx
Update: Sorry for my ignorance. I am still learning WM6. This icon shows that TT is still active and disappears when the program is closed. Palm never had this issue since it can't multi-task.
I was browsing a thread on Modaco (probably this one, maybe this one) and there was an application to remove entries from the today screen item list and it mentions that this could save memory or something (not really why I want to do it - it's mostly because there are piles on my machine and I will never use most of them and I can't uninstall them (some are plugins for an app I use, others I just can't uninstall)).
I don't really want to permanantly remove these items and would want to back them up, but it would be nice if there was a program which was able to relocate the registry keys somewhere else.
If not, I don't mind doing it manually. I assume that I shall need to mess with
HKLM > Software > Microsoft > Today > Items
but if someone can post the details of anything else I need to remember it would be appreciated.
I think that is the only way to do it. Maybe you could make a shortcut directly to "Today" applet so it is a quicker to access?
What you were reading may have been about UltimateLauncher.
It allows you to scroll through multiple tabs of desktops, each one customized with their own Today plugins. What it can do is "Deactivate" whatever plugin is not active. This causes a slight delay when moving between tabs as the plugin is reloaded. However I tried with and without this feature and it only seemed to save 2-3% of my RAM (w/ HTC Home, SPB Weather, MS Live, and one or two smaller ones).
The plugins are disabled on the today screen and I do not often use them. I therefore want to remove their listings as they mostly just get in the way.
The plugins installed include....
Stuff I actually use
SPB Phone Suite
SPB Weather
Pocket Plus
Battery Status
GPRS Monitor
Calendar +
Stuff I might conceivably use
Windows Live
Skype
The following just get in the way on the Pocket Plus "Add to tab" option and on the today item list. I just don't need them there but might eventually need to put them back if a related program complains they are missing.
Standard WM6 I don't use and probably won't ever use
Date
Calendar
Messaging
Tasks
Owner Info
Device Lock
Mobile shell plugins I don't use
SPB Mobile Shell
Home Tab (Mobile Shell)
Time Tab (Mobile Shell)
Weather Tab (Mobile Shell)
Dial Tab (Mobile Shell)
Dial Tab 2 (Mobile Shell)
Dial Tab 3 (Mobile Shell)
Other items which just came installed and I can't de-install
Shortcuts
Running Apps
Meters
Last Call
Windows Live Search
Hence the problem, and I don't think it was related to Ultimate Launcher as the program looked older than that.
So, I'm not sure where the Today applet gets its list...but it is either looking in a folder or in the registry. (I'm sure someone can chime in with the appropriate location)
So, if it is looking in a folder, simply move the items you don't want to a subfolder so it doesn't populate them in the list.
If they are in a reg entry, export the reg entry and then delete the keys. That way you can import the reg entry if you need them again.
As far as I know i have not seen any program that will remove them from showing up as choices.
Also, as far as uninstalling programs that you don't want. Sometimes, though not always you can find a cab of the application you want to remove. Then, install the cab on top of the existing one, so it shows up in add/remove programs and then remove it, thus removing the application. This trick worked on removing some apps from my PPC6700 before I knew how to unlock the ROM.
Alternatively you can open up the cab and find what files and reg entries are used and manually delete them.
I'd recommend using dot fred task manager or CeRegistryEditor to backup \HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Today\Items and go ahead and delete whatever you don't like.
If you want to go the extra step, you can also delete the .DLL file as specified in each key. -- Don't delete the DLLs used for the Mobile Shell today plug-ins, as they may be shared with other SPB applications.
FWIW, this isn't temporarily disabling your today plug-ins. It's as close as you can get to deleting them, without deleting the whole application.
Hope this helps.
You might want to give this a try too... (Just found it while answering another thread)
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-today-plugin-uninstaller-freeware-1-0.html
I have ceased development of this project because I don't use TouchFlo 3D anymore. All source code is available. If anybody wants to take over the CodePlex project, just PM me and it's yours for the taking!
Overview
TouchFlo Detacher is yet another way to simultaneously have TouchFlo 3D / 2D and the regular Today screen. Previous excellent solutions include SecondToday and ManilaControl.
CodePlex
TFD development is hosted at Microsoft CodePlex! http://www.codeplex.com/TFDetacher
Tip Jar
Like this app? Want more like it or quicker updates? Tip a buck (or Euro or Pound or whatever) or two to help the author out! Click here to make a safe donation via PayPal.
Description
So what makes mine different? Well, my app is actually very similar to MastSogo's ManilaControl. The main difference is that I plan to actively develop it now for a while, whereas ManilaControl has been a bit frozen in development for a few months. Mine is also open source, licensed under the Ms-RL. Mine is on CodePlex, so download speeds should be much better than the average rapidshare link. Finally, mine is in English and not Spanish. Other than that, it's just another solution for the same problem!
I must give a hearty thank you and bow to MastSogo for inspiring me to work on this.
I believe I am using a similar technical solution to his, but mine is written from the ground up, so it shares no source code with his!
See it in action on the YouTubes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk0xWm8PMGQ
Current features
- Free up your Today screen by hosting Manila outside of the Today screen! TouchFlo Detacher can launch/show/hide/close Manila independent of any other Today screen settings. Now you can have your TouchFlo cake and eat it too! The most obvious use is to assign a soft key to toggle between seeing TouchFlo and seeing the regular Today screen.
- Supports TouchFlo 3D and TouchFlo 2D.
- NO ANNOYING SPLASH SCREEN when application launches.
- Configuration application allows advanced customizations so that this utility can be used with non-standard or untested Manila versions.
- Configuration application can clean out the ManilaActivateToday.exe from the notification queue. (That app can interefere with TouchFlo Detacher's operation.)
- Shortcuts to start/show Manila, hide Manila, toggle (show/hide) Manila, and close Manila. These can be assigned to hardware buttons (if your device has them), to virtual hardware buttons through the use of 3rd party applications such as AE Button Plus, or to gestures using 3rd party applications such as FTouchSL.
- Configuration application can customize the softkeys in both Today and TouchFlo's Home tab. You can use it to not only assign TouchFlo Detacher operations (show/hide/close), but any other application on your device.
- Launch an application after TouchFlo launches... Such as SSMaHo. It's easy. Create an attach link in SSMaHo. Put the attach link in the config: \Windows\Start Menu\Programs\SSMaHo Attach.lnk
Known Issues
- On the Touch HD, the home hardware button does not return to the Manila "home" tab. This does not happen on the Pro or Diamond. Workaround: none. Scheduled fix: unknown.
- Sometimes the clock on the TouchFlo home page will stop and go out of sync with the real time. Workaround: hide and then show manila. I may need to create a scheduled task that can do that as an automatic workaround once per day for those experiencing the problem. Scheduled fix: unknown.
History
1.0.1.1 STABLE FINAL - Fixed bugs in 1.0.1.0; Added ability to launch an app after TouhcFlo launches.
1.0.1.0 BETA - The first version of TFD that no longer requires a pseudo-service. All functionality should be identical to 1.0.0.5, otherwise.
1.0.0.5 STABLE - The "hide then show" workaround wasn't working in some instances, so I put extra detection code in to determine the current state of Manila before issuing the hide/show commands. If this doesn't work, I can add customizable delays. Also added AppToDate support!
1.0.0.4 STABLE - First release I am considering stable! It is identical to the very tested 1.0.0.3 except for one new feature. When you start the TFDService you can now optionally have it hide and then show Manila immediately. It does this VERY quickly, so you may not even notice it happening on screen. This is done so as a workaround some users are having where they cannot access the phone until Manila is hidden at least one time. Very odd behavior. It is working perfectly in my tests, but please let me know if this workaround doesn't work for you.
1.0.0.3 Beta - TF2D support I think is finally complete! Please test! New layout for TFDConfig. Standard and advanced options are now in separate tabs. More advanced options for alternate Manila configurations. Fixed bug in config where a crash could happen when you tried removing ActivateManilaToday. Toggle TouchFlo command is now available (note: this toggles show/hide, NOT show/close).
1.0.0.2 Beta - New language-neutral detection of Manila process and window handles (no longer need to know titles!). Fixed (hopefully) bug where the softkeys sometimes didn't hide correctly. Window class "search" is no longer case sensitive. Optional delay when starting Manila at system start-up (attempting to work around issue where Manila won't launch on startup).
1.0.0.1 Beta - Confg app can now start the service. The service has better error reporting. Config app can remove TouchFlo today item. No need to soft reset! TouchFlo 2D support (maybe - I'm trying!). Some crappy icons ;-) ... Service detects if TouchFlo Today item is enabled. Link to start and stop the service. Fixed installer bugs. Bug fixes!
1.0.0.0 Beta (aka BETA1) - Initial release
Download
CAB Installer: http://www.codeplex.com/TFDetacher/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx
Source Code: http://www.codeplex.com/TFDetacher/SourceControl/ListDownloadableCommits.aspx
Installation
As explained on CodePlex...
1. Install the CAB
2. Run TFDConfig (important!!!)
3. Enable all the standard Today Items you want to use
4. Do not re-enable TouchFlo in the Today items (if you do, it will undo all your other Today plugins and your device might freeze up, requiring a soft reset)
Requirements
Windows Mobile 6.1
.Net Compact Framework 2.0
A device that runs TouchFlo3D (Manila) or TouchFlo2D (Manila2D).
FAQ
FAQ
Q: I uninstalled TouchFlo Detacher but TouchFlo did not come back!
A: Changes made with TFDConfig will not automatically be undone when you uninstall TouchFlo Detacher. To get TouchFlo back, go into your phone's settings. Go into Today. Go to the "items" tab. Check in "TouchFlo 3D" (or 2D or whatever). Exit. TouchFlo will be back.
Q: I uninstalled TouchFlo Detacher but my softkeys did not go back to the way they were before!
A: Changes made with TFDConfig will not automatically be undone when you uninstall TouchFlo Detacher. Do not worry! Fixing this is very simple. Before uninstalling TFD, it's recommended you run TFDConfig one more time and reassign the softkeys to whatever you want them to be. For TouchFlo's softkeys, all you have to do is set them both to empty (as in, nothing) to get the default softkeys (phone/programs). For Today's softkeys, you can assign them to whatever you want -- calendar, phone, contacts, your choice!
If you have already uninstalled TFD, you will need to use a registry editor to reset the values. Here are the relevant keys:
Today left softkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Today\Keys\112
[Default] = Text on softkey
Open = Path to program to run
Today right softkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Today\Keys\113
[Default] = Text on softkey
Open = Path to program to run
TouchFlo 3D left softkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\HTC\Manila
HomeLSKText = Text on softkey
HomeLSKPath = Path to program to run (or blank for default)
TouchFlo 3D right softkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\HTC\Manila
HomeRSKText = Text on softkey
HomeRSKPath = Path to program to run (or blank for default)
TouchFlo 2D left softkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\HTC\Manila2D\Home
SK1 = Text on softkey
SK1Cmd = Path to program to run (or blank for default)
TouchFlo 2D right softkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\HTC\Manila2D\Home
SK2 = Text on softkey
SK2Cmd = Path to program to run (or blank for default)
Hi,
Is this a Manila3D only switcher or will it also work with Manila2D? I have been using Mastsogo's until now, but the lack of support is a bit worrying.
motisu said:
Hi,
Is this a Manila3D only switcher or will it also work with Manila2D? I have been using Mastsogo's until now, but the lack of support is a bit worrying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may work with TF2D, I just have no way to test it since my device is TF3D. In the config, you can specify the location of the Manila EXE and the window class/titles. I'm assuming since MastSogo's did both, it's just a matter of tweaking those settings. As soon as somebody gets me that info, I can add it into the config app.
Installed on a Wizard (WM6.1 5.2.20273) running Manilla2D, set Today screen to use TodayAgenda 1.5 only. After soft reset, I get a Win32Exception with the following debugging information (see attached).
I'm checking the launch parameters in the config now (I started with the defaults).
Sheesh, I should have checked the parameters before going to the work of assembling that debugging jpeg. For Manila2D, the two references to Manila.exe need to be changed to Manila2D.exe. I still don't have it working, but at least it only throws one error message now.
I don't have any more testing time today. Good luck with your app.
thx1200 said:
It may work with TF2D, I just have no way to test it since my device is TF3D. In the config, you can specify the location of the Manila EXE and the window class/titles. I'm assuming since MastSogo's did both, it's just a matter of tweaking those settings. As soon as somebody gets me that info, I can add it into the config app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As Uracil said, the name of the executable for TF2D is Manila2D. That's why Manila control needs a config program. It asked which one you are using and sets the parameter accordingly.
Fantastic. Loaded this onto my AT&T Stock, fully bloated Fuze. Works like a champ! Great app, thanks!
I will try this for sure!
TWO THINGS!
1) anybody knows a safe way to uninstall Manila Control?
2) I am a bit affraid of this "resident" thing... this program (TFD let's call it) uses one of the very scarce 32 processes? if YES sorry it's not for me (I am already dangerously close to the limit - up to the point that some sync processes don't have where to run)
nice app! well done
Ran through the steps to set it up, on soft reset the device hangs at the startup HTC animation, Hard reset time , the manila im using has the following mods:
CFC Compression
Background 4 all tabs (mun rus)
Stocks tab
HD contacts
Will investigate further..
EDIT: Havent been able to replicate this issue after a hard reset, probably something else i installed.
Minor issue ive spotted though, set left softkey in TF3D to "Today" which hides TF3D....in the blank today screen i dont see the setting for the left softkey (Which is set to "TouchFlo 3D" and should show TF3D) i still see the softkey setting from when TF3D is visible. So the effect is i cant get back to TF3D after hiding it unless i literally run it from the start menu.
NLS said:
I will try this for sure!
TWO THINGS!
1) anybody knows a safe way to uninstall Manila Control?
2) I am a bit affraid of this "resident" thing... this program (TFD let's call it) uses one of the very scarce 32 processes? if YES sorry it's not for me (I am already dangerously close to the limit - up to the point that some sync processes don't have where to run)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WM 6.x and newer raised the process limit to 32768, so you should be fine.
EDIT: I was wrong! Don't believe me! Keep reading below. (The short of it: WM6 is based on CE 5.0, NOT CE 6.0, which is the version of CE that doesn't have the 32 process limit.)
Uracil said:
Sheesh, I should have checked the parameters before going to the work of assembling that debugging jpeg. For Manila2D, the two references to Manila.exe need to be changed to Manila2D.exe. I still don't have it working, but at least it only throws one error message now.
I don't have any more testing time today. Good luck with your app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The exception you showed is the service not finding the EXE. There are two places you need to change it. The "EXE Only" config is just the name of the EXE (for finding it in the running process list). The "full path" is where the file is located in the file system (including the EXE name!). Did you change both?
Thanks for the info. I'm going to make that "file not found" error more friendly for beta2. Also, now that I know what I'm looking for, I can add a built-in way to switch from Manila3D to Manila2D.
mrvanx said:
Ran through the steps to set it up, on soft reset the device hangs at the startup HTC animation, Hard reset time , the manila im using has the following mods:
CFC Compression
Background 4 all tabs (mun rus)
Stocks tab
HD contacts
Will investigate further..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it get to the Today screen at all? The service is in the Startup folder. All it does is try to Launch manila.exe at startup (you can actually even disable that if you want to in the config), so it would be really weird if that froze the device. Not saying it's not possible, just really really weird!
thx1200 said:
Does it get to the Today screen at all? The service is in the Startup folder. All it does is try to Launch manila.exe at startup (you can actually even disable that if you want to in the config), so it would be really weird if that froze the device. Not saying it's not possible, just really really weird!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See my edit above
thx1200 said:
WM 6.x and newer raised the process limit to 32768, so you should be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No man you are wrong (100%).
In *my* WM6.1 at least, the limit is 32. Well in fact all WM6.1.
Only new WinCE (not the builds used in WM6.X) have lifted this limit.
WM7 is supposed to not have this limit (because uses different WinCE) and a very small possibility (like 5%) that WM6.5 will have this limit lifted.
With the help of Daniel Herrero (the guy that makes CommManagerPro) we even built a simple app that we run as much as we could, to test this.
Sure enough my device after 4-5 runs started killing other apps. After 1-2 more runs, I got a pop-up that said that I cannot run more apps because I reached the process limit. My device is a loaded Touch Pro.
His much lighter X1, sure enough came to the same result, but only after more runs, about 10 or something (since he had more process "slots" free).
So you probably have to (and please do) rethink your strategy (for example use a REAL service or handle things based on triggers) as processes ARE a scarce commodity in WM.
At least add a mode or something that doesn't use a process all the time (even with some extra delay). I will certainly NOT eat more of my processes.
I installed this on my Touch HD... ran config but chaned nothing, disabled TF3d and soft reset... now don't know what to do... seem to be missing a step... for example how to toggle between Today and TF3d... running hide and close tf3d in the utilities folderdoes nothing
NLS said:
No man you are wrong (100%).
In *my* WM6.1 at least, the limit is 32. Well in fact all WM6.1.
Only new WinCE (not the builds used in WM6.X) have lifted this limit.
WM7 is supposed to not have this limit (because uses different WinCE) and a very small possibility (like 5%) that WM6.5 will have this limit lifted.
With the help of Daniel Herrero (the guy that makes CommManagerPro) we even built a simple app that we run as much as we could, to test this.
Sure enough my device after 4-5 runs started killing other apps. After 1-2 more runs, I got a pop-up that said that I cannot run more apps because I reached the process limit. My device is a loaded Touch Pro.
His much lighter X1, sure enough came to the same result, but only after more runs, about 10 or something (since he had more process "slots" free).
So you probably have to (and please do) rethink your strategy (for example use a REAL service or handle things based on triggers) as processes ARE a scarce commodity in WM.
At least add a mode or something that doesn't use a process all the time (even with some extra delay). I will certainly NOT eat more of my processes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right. I was going on what I read on another website from a while back. I just did some research and, sure enough, WM6 is based on CE 5, which has the 32 process, 32MB limit still in place.
The strategy I am using will not change as there is no way (that I know of) to write a service DLL in the Compact Framework, but if somebody knows of a way, I will certainly look into it.
EDIT: I did a check and I'm only running 24 processes with my media app, Total Commander, TFD, 3 other "service" apps (dont forget, PocketShield, VistaHide Battery Bar). That leaves me with 6 more apps until WM6 gets nervous (it seems to close after going above 30). How are you so close? I'm not judging your mobile computing habits, I'm just curious! Also, I'm thinking of rolling the "service" code into stand alone EXEs for cases like yours, but it will be very slow switching back and forth. I tested that at first before deciding on the memory resident app and it took about 5 seconds to switch each time. But maybe you'll have better luck!
abeery said:
I installed this on my Touch HD... ran config but chaned nothing, disabled TF3d and soft reset... now don't know what to do... seem to be missing a step... for example how to toggle between Today and TF3d... running hide and close tf3d in the utilities folderdoes nothing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possble the HD may have a slightly different Manila configuration than the Diamond/Pro. If you find the manila.exe and can scan the window classes and titles (such as with FDCsoft's Task manager) that will give you the info you need to configure it for the HD. If you figure it out, post it here so I can add it to the config app.
mrvanx said:
EDIT: Havent been able to replicate this issue after a hard reset, probably something else i installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GOOD! Whew!
mrvanx said:
Minor issue ive spotted though, set left softkey in TF3D to "Today" which hides TF3D....in the blank today screen i dont see the setting for the left softkey (Which is set to "TouchFlo 3D" and should show TF3D) i still see the softkey setting from when TF3D is visible. So the effect is i cant get back to TF3D after hiding it unless i literally run it from the start menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me see if I am understanding you. The left soft key on the "real" Today screen says "TouchFlo" but it isn't launching TouchFlo? If you go into the configuration and set the Today left soft key using my quick drop down (Show TouchFlo 3D) this doesn't fix the issue? If so, can you post what the app path is that it is showing?
I'm looking for a software which I can see apps that run in the backround. It should be able to close those apps.
I'm using Windows Mobile 6.5.
Do a search for 'Magic Button 2.1'. I use it on 21857 (and 23016) and the earlier builds. It closes things well, although it will also kill the start menu if you push the x-button to close it (I can tell you how to fix this if you need the help). I don't know how well it works with the com3 and later builds, where the x-button is relocated to the bottom of the screen. But, I would sure as hell love it if you would try it out and tell me how it works, lol.
Anyway, it's a great little task manager that doesn't use many resources. I've been using it since I had my 2003 device.
Try CleanRAM. Can be scheduled, programmed to ignore certain apps, run in several languages, and more.
If you wanna go that route, you can use sk tools to kill everything that you don't need/want running (if you already have it, you're golden). Just use the shortcut wizard to created the 'kill processes' shortcut, and put it somewhere convenient. You can put any processes that you don't want killed on the 'do not kill' list, and then you'll be fine.
@Farmer Ted: I assumed he wanted the process to be a background process, not something he had to do manually.
However, if you wanted to do it manually, you could kill two or three birds with one stone, by loading QuickMenu. It has, in addition to a cascading menu which replaces the cloodgy finger menu, SIP, Bluetooth, and Wifi management tools, as well as a battery meter, and built-in functionality to minimize on press, and kill on press-and-hold, or vice versa, user's preference. In fact, the whole darn app is pretty customizable, right down to the size of the buttons, which makes it pretty handy, and a helluvalot faster than the system menus.