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Adding Batch Files to Windows 7 Taskbar like the Vista/XP Quick Launch
Adding Batch Files to Windows 7 Taskbar like the Vista/XP Quick Launch
- In earlier Windows (Vista, XP) - I used the quick launch for batch files.
All I needed to do to customize the quick launch was drag and drop
the batch file (usually from the start menu) onto the quick launch and it would be added.
With the new Windows 7 task bar- I can't drag and drop the batch files
and use it like the old quick launch.
How can I do this with the Windows 7 taskbar?
thanks,
-bill
Answers
- SoonerSkeene said:You are right, I was able to do that too.
I was able to pin a shortcut to CMD to the taskbar. I just hit the start button, typed "cmd" in the search box... right-clicked the result and chose "Pin to Taskbar"
When I tried to use the same method to add parameters, /C <path to batch file>, the command line showed up in the search results. I right clicked it and selected pin to taskbar, but the pinned shortcut only opened a command prompt and did not process the rest of the command line.
I played some more and figured out how to do it.
- First, pin a shortcut for cmd.exe to the taskbar, using the method SoonerSkeene told us about above.
- Right click the shortcut on the taskbar.
- You will see a list that includes "Command Prompt" and "Unpin this program from the taskbar".
- Right click the icon for cmd and select properties.
- In the box for Target, go to the end of "%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe" and type " /C " and the path and name of the batch file.
- Proposed As Answer byBrian Borg Friday, February 13, 2009 8:24 PM
- Marked As Answer byMark L. FergusonMVP, ModeratorThursday, February 19, 2009 8:20 PM
All Replies
- That is something I've wondered about too. When you try to drop a .bat or .cmd file, it just shows the red circle with the line through it and you can't put it there like you could with the old Quick Launch in XP/Vista.
Apparently Windows 7 doesn't have this ability and instead you're stuck with creating a "New Toolbar" and then putting your stuff in the folder you used to add the new toolbar. - ted,, quick launch is availabe. I have it on my task bar and works great. look herehttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/?ltr=Q&sort=&order=
- I see what you mean.
You can't even pin a shortcut for cmd.exe on the Taskbar. - Hi
You can add bat files to taskbar, but in hard way (by using taskbar)
1. Create new folder where you want and name it as you want
2. Copy all BAT files into it
3. Right click taskbar, then toolbars - > new toolbar
4. Browse to folder with BAT files and open it
5. Do some gymnastic to adjust it as you want :)- Proposed As Answer byVentsislav Alexandriyski Friday, February 13, 2009 5:40 AM
- I was able to pin a shortcut to CMD to the taskbar. I just hit the start button, typed "cmd" in the search box... right-clicked the result and chose "Pin to Taskbar"
- SoonerSkeene said:You are right, I was able to do that too.
I was able to pin a shortcut to CMD to the taskbar. I just hit the start button, typed "cmd" in the search box... right-clicked the result and chose "Pin to Taskbar"
When I tried to use the same method to add parameters, /C <path to batch file>, the command line showed up in the search results. I right clicked it and selected pin to taskbar, but the pinned shortcut only opened a command prompt and did not process the rest of the command line.
I played some more and figured out how to do it.
- First, pin a shortcut for cmd.exe to the taskbar, using the method SoonerSkeene told us about above.
- Right click the shortcut on the taskbar.
- You will see a list that includes "Command Prompt" and "Unpin this program from the taskbar".
- Right click the icon for cmd and select properties.
- In the box for Target, go to the end of "%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe" and type " /C " and the path and name of the batch file.
- Proposed As Answer byBrian Borg Friday, February 13, 2009 8:24 PM
- Marked As Answer byMark L. FergusonMVP, ModeratorThursday, February 19, 2009 8:20 PM
- Thanks for the tip, but... the "ugh" remains that the motivation was to collapse the ultimate target program's icon *and* the cmd file onto the taskbar. In my case, the launched program reveals a 2nd taskbar icon, so I gave up and went back to the old style Add Toolbars...
- There is even better way to do it, simple as earlier for Quick launch.
- Press Start
- Type taskmgr
- In Task Manager window choose "New Task (Run...)" from "File" menu
- Type "Shell:user pinned"
- A hidden folder should pop up now
- Open the folder "TaskBar" to change, add or remove pinned icons
hint:You can grab the folder iconfrom Windows Explorer address bar and drag it to pinned Windows Explorer icon on Taskbar and drop it while it says "Pin to Windows Explorer" for easier access later. Simply right-click the Windows Explorer icon and you should see the pinned folder on top of the list.Cheers,Codeplayer - Hmm.
How is that easier than dragging it onto the quicklaunch bar again?
Windows 7 - making simple tasks deceptively complicated again.
6 steps to do what took 1 in XP. That's an UPGRADE... change you can believe in! - No, it is certainly not easier, but i noticed, that the cmd /c command is kinda long way to do it. So I found this solution. I myself prefer 7 to XP. I hope it will catch up with the all the odd things like pinning custom suff to your taskbar. I still am quite offended by the fact that it costs twice more here in Europe than in U.S. Since I bought Vista and it was frozen half the time and other half of the time it was slow. With 7 there are really no problems, but I want to see some discount for the upgrade version as a peace offer from Microsoft :D But that is offtopic, I appologize.
- I have your problem solved. You can go through all this heartache if your really stuck on it being a .bat file. What I did was just compile my batch files. The .exe's are only 20kb bigger, you can create a shortcut therefore being able to make the icon what you would like as well. And lastly the taskbar has no problem accepting .exe's or a .exe shortcut. Go to http://download.cnet.com/Bat-To-Exe-Converter/3000-2069_4-10555897.html?tag=mncol
it's 100% free comes ready to use.
open the program
on the top theirs a box to browse for your file.
press COMPILE
done.
No need to mess with any of the settings or anything works right out of the archive.- Proposed As Answer byJshmalchak Thursday, January 14, 2010 1:19 PM
- Let me make it clearer.
1. Go to http://download.cnet.com/Bat-To-Exe-Converter/3000-2069_4-10555897.html?tag=mncol
2. Download it. Open the archive you'll see...
3. Bat_To_Exe_Converter.exe (you can run it while its still in the archive if you like)
4. On the TOP RIGHT of the Bat_To_Exe_Converter.exe theirs a Browse... button. Click it and locate your .bat file.
5. (OPTIONAL) Right below that box you should see the output path. Here you can rename your file(you can do this latter and it won't cause a problem).
6. Press Compile....DONE!
Now you should have 2 files with the same name with different file extention. ex....
Mybatch.bat <- Keep in case you want to change latter
Mybatch.exe <- Create a shortcut to this and pin to Task Bar
Summary.
Download Bat_To_Exe_Converter.exe.
Open it and browse for your .bat file.
Press Compile.
Make a shortcut for your new .exe file.
Got it?
