What is 7APL?

7APL is an application launcher made with Windows 7 in mind. You can launch single applications or group of applications with a single hot key or by using the newest features of Microsoft’s latest OS — JumpLists and interactive thumbnails which are well-integrated into the application. This gives you 4 easy ways to launch applications:

  • Right click access to profiles/categories through JumpLists (whether the app is opened or closed)
  • Customizable hot keys for each individual profile
  • Interactive thumbnail to view/launch profiles (hover over 7APL icon in taskbar)
  • Access profiles through the Desktop Gadget and bring the gadget up at will

Feature List

  • Profiles – Group applications into profiles to launch them simultaneously.
  • Profile pictures – Associate pictures with profiles to easily identify between them.
  • Categories – Categories allow you to group apps into a single profile and launch them individually through JumpLists
  • Gadget Mode – The new gadget mode allows you to launch profiles from your desktop and bring up the gadget at will.
  • Hot keys – Specify hotkeys on a per-profile basis to launch your applications.
  • Interactive thumbnail – Launch profiles directly from the taskbar.
  • Jumplist support – Launch profiles or tasks directly using jumplists.
  • Toggle Mode – Toggle mode allows you to close the apps you launched (on a per-profile basis).
  • Exceptions – Pesky applications that won’t close can be added as an exception.
  • Pinning – The application pins just fine for those who want it constantly running.
  • Options – Run 7APL at system boot, minimize on startup, and minimize on close ensures you can keep.

Video Demonstration

Downloading 7APL

Latest build (09242009-2316) – Download 7APL + documentation (6.25MB) | Download 7APL (524KB)

Note: The exceptions feature is currently not functional in the latest beta build and several previous builds of 7APL. This problem will be addressed in the upcoming beta version.

Newer builds may be found on our forums before anywhere else. Please sign up for the forums if you haven’t already!

How can I contribute?

The best way you can contribute is by first downloading and testing out 7APL. If you encounter any bugs, have feature requests, or comments, visit our forums. Otherwise, you can contact us via email. If you actually want to help with the development, let us know!

Will you release the source code?

7APL is currently an on-going project. Once it is feature complete and optimized, the code will be released via this website.

Version Changelog

Build 09232009-2316
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BUG FIX: Semi-critical bug fixed. Aliases were not being properly detected with shortcuts.

Build 09232009-1252
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NEW: Aero glass support and integration.
NEW: Introduction of “Gadget Mode”. Gadget mode allows you to run the app on the desktop, above all windows, or even remain hidden until a hot key is pressed (4 behaviors in all).
BUG FIX: Fixed an issue with aliases being defined incorrectly.

Build 09202009-1533
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NEW: Support for launch arguments (eg. “C:\app_path\app.exe” /silent)
NEW: Drag & drop support included. Drag shortcuts and apps into the list box for quick/easy profile creation. Dragging pictures over the profile picture works as well.
NEW: Increased maximum JumpList tasks to 14.
NEW: Introduction of Profile “Categories”. Categories enable you to organize and launch individual apps with JumpLists. These categories are listed as a task with a red arrow next to them. Clicking them will update the JumpList and list each individual app of that profile (which you can launch).

Known Issues:
- Haven’t found a way to increase the number of items in the JumpList. If you have a lot of apps only the first 14 in the list will be displayed.
- Profiles with corrupt data (including links that don’t exist) may cause the application to crash. This will be addressed soon.

Additional Notes: Several bug fixes have been made but are not documented.

Build 08172009-2000
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NEW: When a profile’s associated picture has not changed from default and you add an application to that profile, that application’s icon will be set as the default profile picture.
NEW: Added the ability to launch tasks from 7APL’s JumpList without keeping the application running.
NEW: Application settings are now stored internally instead of in a .dat file. Exceptions are an exception (no pun intended).
BUG FIX: Fixed bug which prevented JumpList tasks from working when application is not running.
BUG FIX: Deleting a profile would will not unbind the profile’s hot key.
BUG FIX: Fixed bug where updating a profile would reset a hot key when the hot key was not changed.
BUG FIX: Fixed bug where JumpList tasks wouldn’t update after a profile had been renamed.

Screenshots:

Main Interface
7APL Main Interface

Application settings
7APL Application Settings

JumpList support
7APL JumpList Support

Thumbnail support
7APL Interactive Thumbnail

Gadget Mode
7APL Gadget Mode