- CAL (software)
Infobox Software
name = CAL (Command application launcher)
genre = Application launcher (utility software )
developer = [http://www.sentaxsolutions.com/ctrlaltlaunch Sentax Solutions]
latest release version = 0.0.276
latest release date =August 26 2008
platform = Windows
programming_language =VB6
license =Freeware
website = http://www.sentaxsolutions.com/ctrlaltlaunchCAL is a
freeware application launcher for Windows that sits quietly on your system until you activate it via the default keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Alt), you can also configure your own keyboard shortcut that CAL will sense. Once CAL senses this key combination you will then see the CAL launch window pop-up, which you can then type an installed program, directory structure, file, webpage, etc. When you have typed in what you want you press enter and CAL then attempts to run the command.Advanced uses
CAL allows you to setup your own custom shortcuts. For example, if you frequently use "Microsoft Word", you can easily create a custom shortcut in CAL, for example "word". Now when you activate CAL, all you have to type into the launch window is "word" then press the enter key and "Microsoft Word" will execute just as if you would run it from a desktop shortcut or your all programs in the Windows Start Menu. To simply add another installed program to a custom shortcut just run "Microsoft Excel" as you typically would with CAL but include the key combination "Ctrl+Alt+Enter" and CAL will pop-up the custom launches dialog for you to setup the newly created custom launch.
In addition to custom shortcuts for your installed programs, CAL allows custom shortcuts to have multiple keywords, for example, you would like to have "word" and another keyword "winword" assigned to the same custom shortcut. You would simply use "word;winword" in the keywords field in the custom launches dialog. This way you can either type in "word" or "winword" and you'll get the same result, which is "Microsoft Word" executing.
In addition to multiple keywords, you can assign multiple custom shortcuts with the same keyword. For example, you want to assign "Microsoft Word" and "Microsoft Outlook" to the keyword "wordoffice" for executing both programs at the same time conveniently. Go to each custom shortcut in the custom launches dialog and enter "wordoffice" in the keywords field and remember to save. Now when you enter the keyword "wordoffice" into CAL launch dialog and hit enter, CAL will execute "Microsoft Word" and "Microsoft Outlook" at the same time. This feature is convenient for automating the execution of certain applications/folders/files/websites at once. For example, if you come into the office in the morning and always open up a certain set of programs, let's say, "Microsoft Outlook", "Microsoft Excel", and "msn.com" in your default web browser.
Target audience
CAL tends to target users that would typically use the keyboard for the majority of their work during the day. For example a developer may need to run notepad quickly, do a Google Search quickly, or even run a batch job that compiles all of their software projects at once. CALs concept was designed with the developer in mind and to allow the flexibility that developers come to expect, but still designed for ease of use for a basic computer user. Designing the application to take advantage of the keyboard keeps the developers hands close to their most important computer tool, which in turn is more productive so you're not fumbling for the mouse constantly and slowly clicking around in the GUI to accomplish your repetitive tasks.
ee also
*
Comparison of application launchers Equivalent on other Operating Systems
Quicksilver The original, for MacOSGnome-do For Linux, developed mainly for the GnomeDesktop, OpenSource, and very similar to QuicksilverKatapult For Linux, developed mainly for KDE, OpenSource.External links
* [http://www.sentaxsolutions.com/ctrlaltlaunch Official Website]
* [http://itpov.com/archives/12 IT POV - Review of CAL formerly known as Ctrl+Alt+Launch]
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