Shortcuts Grid

WPF (.NET 8.0) desktop app with transparent background that displays 'custom list' grid with links to other programs on the PC or/and run commands. With customizable app names and icons/images.

My inspiration for making this was that Windows 11 start menu doesn't have the grouping apps option. And I start thinking of better way to sort my installed apps so I can access them faster.

Basically it looks something like this:

Download this example

The idea is this exe to display user's group of apps. Copy or build new exe with different name and icon for other group of apps.

Each icon/app in the displayed grid on selection opens the selected app. But it also has context menu (right mouse click) with more options such as:

Open (selected app without closing this app)
Run as administrator
Open folder of selected app
Open folder of selected image
Open folder of this app

It supports double click and also ctrl+left click

User defined list with shortcuts

To display the shortcuts grid this app requires a text file placed next to build of it.

This text file is customizable list with programs' path or/and run commands.

In order too work - the text file should be placed in the same folder as this app's exe and have the same names. (it can be seen in the examples)

The text file can be csv or json

Guide - how should the text file look like:

Text file structure: list with objects - each object with 3 parameters:

run command or file path (it can have argument after the command/path)
name to display under the program's icon
image to display (not required) - if left black it'll try to get icon from exe's path; custom image can be assign by path or base64 string

It has custom command, the app checks for: 'run' - it displays run dialog.

Text file types supported:

csv (default choice)
json

CSV structure:

Every row is one program. The parameters is divided by '|':

app_path_OR_run_command argument|app_label|image_path_OR_base64_string_of_image

argument is optional!

image_path_OR_base64_string_of_image is optional!

C:\Windows\System32\control.exe|Control Panel
|
C:\Windows\System32\control.exe|Control Panel|iVBORw0KGgoAAAA...
control|Control Panel|C:\Images\Control-Panel-128.png
control printers|Devices & Printers|Control-Printers-128.png
//control|Control Panel|Control-Panel-128.png

If it has a row with only '|' it adds empty slot.

If row starts '//' it is ignored.

JSON structure:

ExePath is app's path or run command (it can have argument after it) AppName is app's label ImgPath is custom image to display - path or base64 string

[
	{
		"ExePath": "C:\Windows\System32\control.exe",
		"AppName": "Control Panel",
		"ImgPath": ""
	},
	{
		"ExePath": null,
		"AppName": null,
		"ImgPath": null
	},
	{
		"ExePath": "C:\Windows\System32\control.exe",
		"AppName": "Control Panel",
		"ImgPath": "iVBORw0KGgoAAAA..."
	},
	{
		"ExePath": "control",
		"AppName": "Control Panel",
		"ImgPath": "C:\Images\Control-Panel-128.png"
	},
	{
		"ExePath": "control printers",
		"AppName": "Devices & Printers",
		"ImgPath": "Control-Printers-128.png"
	}
]

If it has a object with only 'null' fields it adds empty slot.

License

minkostaev/ShortcutsGrid

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