DPL Desktop program Launcher

Russian version

This freeware program works as a multiscreen Windows desktop with ability to switch between screens using functional keys F1..F12 or using pop-up menu. In contarst with Windows desktop, icons never moving by itself, their positions are stored in one file - "settings.ini".

Controls:

F1...F12- switch between screens - the main control keys;
Shift+F1...F12 - Sort by List order;
Ctrl+F1...F12 - Sort by Name;
Ctrl+Shift+F1...F12 - Show Sorted Small Icons;
Ctrl+D - The Default global Hot Key;
Ctrl+R - Reload Settings (except the Hotkey);
Ctrl+Q - Exit;
ESC - move the program window to the background;

Swipe left/right with the mouse to switch screens;

Use Right Mouse Click or Shift + Right Mouse Click on empty space to popup or hide the Button Panel or Popup Menu;
Use CTRL + Left Mouse Click to open a program file folder in Explorer;
Use SHIFT + Left Mouse Click to Run As Administrator;

Multiscreen Desktop program Launcher

Programs can be added to the Launcher by dragging and dropping them on a current screen, or by editing the "settings.ini" file.

All the settings of the program are stored in the file "settings.ini", its default location is

%USER%\WIN\AppData\Roaming\ZPOSTBOXRU

If the file "settings.ini" is not found in that directory, the program will try to find it in its own directory. A settings file also can be loaded as a program parameter:



C:\DPL_Desktop>desktop.exe settings.ini


Settings:

All the changes in "settings.ini" can be done by editing it.
The section [Settings] contains all the program related settings.

[Settings]
COLOR=#A05000
FONT=Default
HOTKEY=ALT+D
MENU=1
AUTOSTART=YES
FIRST=5

Where
COLOR - a desktop background color in webcolor RGB format;
FONT - a font name, any installed font can be used here, just like FONT=MS Gothic;
HOTKEY - a hotkey, a combination like WIN+CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+65 or WIN+CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+A can be used (it takes to restart the program);

MENU - 0, 1, 2;
where
0 - popup a panel at mouse pointer;
1 - popup the panel at the top right corner of the screen;
2 - use a popup menu;

AUTOSTART - YES or NO - it adds (or removes) the program to Autostart:
(Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run)

FIRST - 1 to 12 - which screen to show at program start.

Sections [Screen1] - [Screen12] contain records for programs.

[Screen1]
F="%WINDIR%\system32\notepad.exe" "%WINDIR%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts"
N="hosts"
X=70
Y=0
W=0
#
F="C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" /k netstat -a
N="netstat"
X=140
Y=0
W=1
D="C:\Windows\System32"
#
F=http://zpostbox.ru
N="zpostbox.ru"
X=210
Y=0
#

Where
F - file location;
N - name;
X, Y - coordinates of an icon;
W - a window state (not a mandatory parameter):
      0 - normal; 1 - maximized; 2 - minimized;
D - a working directory;
# - separator.

Downloads:

dpl_desktop.exe - installer;
dpl_desktop.zip - portable archive, it contains the same files as the installer.

If there are lots of icons in the launcher, it may work slowly because of the Windows Defender which checks out any icon-related .exe file at each refresh or a screen change. The only way to fix this problem is to add the process to Windows Defender Exclusion List:
Settings --> Update and Security --> Open Windows Defender Security Center -->
Virus & threat protection --> Virus & threat protection Settings --> Exclusions --> Add or Remove Exclusions -->
Add an Exclusion --> Process. Enter there the process name: "desktop.exe"

DPL Desktop program Launcher runs on Windows XP to Windows 10.

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