System Tray Programs

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Guest

Can I configure any program to reside in the XP system tray, or does it
need to be written to do so?

For example, XP comes with a simple calculator applet which is not
designed for the system tray. Can that be made to reside in the system
tray anyhow?

Thanks...

Bill
 
Hi.
Good question. Programs have to be written to display in the system tray..
Some have options that allow this to be turned on/off but unless a program is
written to do that, it won't appear there. I wonder if there are any
programs that act as a go between.. i.e. monitor another program and appear
in the systray as that program? Would be interesting. Not sure how userful
it would be tho as a running program is already on the task bar.
 
The program needs to be pre-programmed for the system tray functionality.
However, it looks as though there are a number of third party applications
that allow you to "add" programs to the system tray. I have not used any
(some are free, some are not), but if you google "calculator in system tray"
or something similar, you can find some of these programs.
 
Bill said:
Can I configure any program to reside in the XP system tray,
or does it need to be written to do so?

For example, XP comes with a simple calculator applet which
is not designed for the system tray. Can that be made to
reside in the system tray anyhow?

Thanks...

Bill
Click to expand...

Place a shortcut to Calculator in Quick Launch:
Right click an open area of the Taskbar.
Click on "Lock the Taskbar" if there's a check mark next to it.
Right click the Taskbar again.
In the drop down menu select Toolbars -> Quick Launch.
On your Start Menu, right click Calculator and select "Create
Shortcut".
Drag the new shortcut from the desktop to the Quick Launch
area.
You can move the double bar left or right to display as many or
as few shortcuts as you want.
Right click the Taskbar and select "Lock Taskbar".

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
Can I configure any program to reside in the XP system tray, or does it
need to be written to do so?

For example, XP comes with a simple calculator applet which is not
designed for the system tray. Can that be made to reside in the system
tray anyhow?

Thanks...

Bill
Click to expand...

There are tray manager programs available that will let you add programs of
your choice to the tray. I've never tried any so cannot vouch for their
effectiveness.

Alternative: If you have a multimedia keyboard, one of the extra buttons is
usually assigned to Calculator. That button and the volume controls are the
ones I consistently use.
 
I guess I assumed the system tray and not quick launch. If he's looking to
start from quick launch, Nepatsfan's go the answer.
 
Can I configure any program to reside in the XP system tray, or does it
need to be written to do so?

For example, XP comes with a simple calculator applet which is not
designed for the system tray. Can that be made to reside in the system
tray anyhow?
Click to expand...

The only way to do this is if the application has this option or to use a
3rd party program such as TrayIt <http://www.teamcti.com/trayit/trayit.htm>
 
In Bill Martin -- (Remove NOSPAM from address)
Can I configure any program to reside in the XP system tray, or
does
it need to be written to do so?

For example, XP comes with a simple calculator applet which is
not
designed for the system tray. Can that be made to reside in
the
system tray anyhow?
Click to expand...


Essentiallthe application has to be written that way to allow it
to minimize to the tray. However, there are several third-party
programs that can add this functionality to programs without it.
I've never used any of them, so I won't recommend one, but if
nobody else does, googling will turn up several candidates.
 
Thanks to one and all for your suggestions. I'll have to do some
digging through the web to evaluate some of the suggested solutions.

Thanks...I appreciate it.

Bill
 
brianb said:
I guess I assumed the system tray and not quick launch. If
he's looking to start from quick launch, Nepatsfan's go the
answer.
Click to expand...

Brian,

I think you made the correct assumption. Bill wants to have
calculator show up in the notification area (XP's name for
"system tray"). My suggestion was to simply point out an option
that doesn't involve installing third party programs. It puts a
shortcut in a handy location and wouldn't result in the program
running all the time.

Nepatsfan
 
Nepatsfan said:
Brian,

I think you made the correct assumption. Bill wants to have
calculator show up in the notification area (XP's name for
"system tray"). My suggestion was to simply point out an option
that doesn't involve installing third party programs. It puts a
shortcut in a handy location and wouldn't result in the program
running all the time.

Nepatsfan
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, I did indeed mean "system tray". However your
suggestion has got me thinking in a different direction for a different
project which is always a good thing.

Thanks...

Bill
 
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