Start programs and open websites in a flash

Launch a web browser and click once in the Address or Location bar at the top, then type in www.launchy.net and press Return. When the site appears, click the Download bar and then click the link to get the latest version from the Sourceforge website. Choose the Windows version and then click on the .exe link to start the program download. If a warning message appears from the browser ignore it, click Save and then choose a destination for the download – the Windows Desktop is always a good bet. Then click Save again.

Find the downloaded LaunchySetup file on the Windows Desktop and double-click it. Follow the prompts, ignore any security warnings, then read and accept all the default settings and the licence agreement. After a moment, Launchy will appear on the Desktop – it looks a bit like an empty box. Make it disappear by clicking on it and then hitting the Esc key. Bring it back by holding down the Alt key and pressing the space bar at the same time. To start a program with Launchy, begin typing the name and then pick it off the list.

Press Alt and Space to bring Launchy to the front again and then click in the text box. Use the Backspace key to delete what’s there and try starting another program by typing in its name. After that, have a go at something different. Type in Google, then press the tab key and then type in something to find – in this example, we’ve chosen “VW Camper”, and then press Return. Assuming there’s an available internet connection, Launchy starts the default web browser, goes to Google, enters the search word or words and displays the results.

We’ll explore other websites that Launchy knows about in a moment, but for now we’ll look at the program’s main settings. Make sure that Launchy is visible, then click the little gears button in the top right-hand corner. When the dialogue box opens, have a look at the various settings. From here it’s possible to change Launchy’s appearance, have it sit on top of other programs so it’s always visible, set where it appears on the screen or change the keystroke combination that’s used to start the program.

Let’s add a new website to Launchy’s list. With the dialogue box still open, click the Plugins tab and then click Weby in the left-hand column. Next, click the ‘+’ button in the main window to open a new row. Click once in the Name column of the new row and type in News, then click the Tab key. Next, type in the full web address – including all the http stuff – of a favourite news website (in this example, it’s the Guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk, then click the OK button.

Press Alt and Space to make Launchy visible again and this time, type in News and press the Return key. Assuming the PC is connected to the internet, the web browser will load with the chosen news source displayed in the main window. The ability to add and edit existing internet links like this makes Launchy a powerful little utility; be sure to check the PDF manual that’s included with Launchy to find out more about this feature.

It’s also possible to personalise Launchy in various ways. Open the settings dialogue box again and click the Skins tab. Skins change the overall look of a program but don’t change the way the program works. Click any of the skins in the left-hand column to see them previewed in the main window. Can’t find anything good? Go back to the Launchy website and click the Download bar again, and then select the deviantART link. This website includes lots of Launchy skins. To see more of them, click the All Time link at the top. Then find a skin that looks good and click on it once.

This page is useful because it contains the artist’s comments as well as those from other people who have downloaded this particular skin. It’s worth reading these because they’ll often pick up on features that are particularly useful (or indeed, missing) from the skin. Like the look of it? Click the Download link on the left. The deviantART site is supported by advertising so find the ‘Click here to continue’ link at the top-right and then click Save when Windows displays the File Download button.

Choose a destination for the download and click Save. Most of these skins will be downloaded as compressed zip files, which just need double-clicking to open – this one, for example, contains a folder called Sleek WIMP. Leave that where it is and open My Computer, then choose Program Files, Launchy and then Skins to open the correct folder. Then, just drag the skin’s folder (Sleek WMP in this case) into the Launchy skins folder. Display Launchy again with Alt and Space, and then right-click on it and choose Exit.

It’s necessary to restart Launchy so that it’ll find and display the new skin. Click Start then All Programs then Launchy and then start the program. Make it active by pressing Alt and Space and then click the gears button. Select the Skins tab and then pick the new skin from the list on the left. Then click the OK button to confirm the visual change and carry on using Launchy. There are dozens of skins for Launchy that can be found and downloaded in exactly the same way.