[Tutorial] Windows 7 JumpLists

[MJLover]

Hi Coders !

Windows 7 comes with a cool feature of Jump Lists.

When we right click an application on taskbar, a list appears showing the recently opened items and pinned items for this application. That list is known as Jump List.

.Net 4.0 comes with handy Classes known as JumpTask and JumpList. By using these classes we can add custom items under custom categories to our application.


Here we go:
Works only in .NET Framework 4.0 and on Microsoft Windows 7 OS

Add the reference to the following 2 .NET assemblies:

1: Presentation Framework
2: Windows Base

Then on the Main Form of the application, import the following namespace:

Imports System.Windows.Shell

Now double click the Main Form or in the loading event of your main form, add the following code:

 Dim newTask As New JumpTask

        newTask.Title = "Visual Basic .NET"
        newTask.Description= "Visit MPGH for VB.NET Tutorials."
        newTask.Arguments = "/update...or what ever you want to do on clicking..."
        newTask.CustomCategory = "MPGH"

        Dim newList As New JumpList
        newList.JumpItems.Add(newTask)
        Dim app As New System.Windows.Application
        JumpList.SetJumpList(app, newList)

Explaination:
Dim newTask As New JumpTask
Creates a new item for our list.

newTask.Title = "Visual Basic .NET"
Set the title of the item.

newTask.Description= "Visit MPGH for VB.NET Tutorials."
Set the description of the item. This will be shown when the user will move the mouse over the item.

newTask.Arguments = "/update...or what ever you want to do on clicking..."
Set the arguments for the item. Set this to perform the operation on clicking the item.

newTask.CustomCategory = "MPGH"
This will set the category for the item. By default, we see "Frequent", "Recent" and "Pinned" Items list in Windows 7. But we can have our own category and you can name it whatever you want. In this case I chose "MPGH".

Dim newList As New JumpList
Creates the list. We will add items in this list.

newList.JumpItems.Add(newTask)
Add the item to the list.

Dim app As New System.Windows.Application
We need to give a reference to our application so that Windows can recognize our application and can add the custom list and items to it. This will create a new recognizable instance of our application.

JumpList.SetJumpList(app, newList)
Finally call the JumpList method directly and add the list to the application. It takes two parameters. In the first we will refer our application instance. And in the second we will add the list.

Note: You can also turn on Frequent list and Recent list by using:
newList.ShowFrequentCategory
And
newList.ShowRecentCategory

You can now test the list by right clicking the application in the task bar.



Credits: This tutorial was originally written by Christian Mosers for WPF in C#. I converted the code to Windows Forms Application. e.g; Created the application instance and references. Also there's no original explaination of the code.

Greetz, MJLover

[Blubb1337]

thanks for sharing

[NextGen1]

A. Thanks for sharing, looks Decent

B. Posts deleted, stay on topic, and watch the cocky attitudes, "Oh Newb" was unnecessary, in a sense baiting, which this section WILL NOT have or allow it

as always sorry.

[Zoom]

Thank you for this, since I installed windows 7 yesterday I can start use this

[NextGen1]

meh, not much use for it right now, Windows 7 is still a new concept with a few good API's , don't get me wrong , it's a great share, but in releases you want them to be as productive as possible, adding this api will crash your application on non windows 7 machines, making your "Found Users" less then your "Target Users"

Windows Offers whats called a "API Code Pack" Best bet is to get the Windowx Xp Codepack , windows vista codepack and Windows 7 codepack , then compare each API looking for great API's that will enhance your project but are static throughout each of the major windows versions

(IMO)
It is bad practice to limit usability to a single OS.

yes there is code to check the version of windows which you can use to flag (on , Off) this feature which ease, but I still feel it is bad practice

[MJLover]

meh, not much use for it right now, Windows 7 is still a new concept with a few good API's , don't get me wrong , it's a great share, but in releases you want them to be as productive as possible, adding this api will crash your application on non windows 7 machines, making your "Found Users" less then your "Target Users"

Windows Offers whats called a "API Code Pack" Best bet is to get the Windowx Xp Codepack , windows vista codepack and Windows 7 codepack , then compare each API looking for great API's that will enhance your project but are static throughout each of the major windows versions.

(IMO)
It is bad practice to limit usability to a single OS.

yes there is code to check the version of windows which you can use to flag (on , Off) this feature which ease, but I still feel it is bad practice

I partially agree with you. I think we should move on to the new technology. People are still using XP (I know is most compatible OS) !! I know the response Microsoft received on Vista. BUt 7 is a powerful, and more compatible than Vista. So I think Windows users should move on now. I mean yesterday I was planning to write an introductory series of WPF. WPF is amazing, but I don't think MPGH users will use it, so in that sense its a bad idea.

I agree with you on the OS limitation.

[NextGen1]

I partially agree with you. I think we should move on to the new technology.

Agreed, as a developer it is our duty to move forward, we almost always have to, however being mindful of the user themselves, the biggest issue is while we move forward, users stand still, developers / designers are always looking for the newest and best things, because we are in the "Business" of technology, but our users don't move forward as fast as us, because they are almost not willing to move in the same direction.

I think windows users should move on now

Agreed, However we have no say over what the user does, msot consumers don't want to fork out the money for a new OS, and 7 is "reserved" for consumers purchasing new computers, so with that mindset, you want to develop and application that is "as cross windows platform" as possible, not that I suggest conforming to older OS's like 98,95,ME, but at-least within reason to the .net framework, utilizing framework 4 itself this early is even a risk in it's own, as a web application developer, most Asp.net production servers do not support it, same goes for the user, setting framework 4 as a prerequisite for design is a bad approach, because we require that the user downloads framework 4.

I mean yesterday I was planning to write an introductory series of WPF. WPF is amazing, but I don't think MPGH users will use it, so in that sense its a bad idea.

Ha Ha, I thought the same thing this morning, I was going to do a introductory article to WPF and utilizing API, but as well decided not to , same for asp.net applications.

[MJLover]

Agreed, as a developer it is our duty to move forward, we almost always have to, however being mindful of the user themselves, the biggest issue is while we move forward, users stand still, developers / designers are always looking for the newest and best things, because we are in the "Business" of technology, but our users don't move forward as fast as us, because they are almost not willing to move in the same direction.




Agreed, However we have no say over what the user does, msot consumers don't want to fork out the money for a new OS, and 7 is "reserved" for consumers purchasing new computers, so with that mindset, you want to develop and application that is "as cross windows platform" as possible, not that I suggest conforming to older OS's like 98,95,ME, but at-least within reason to the .net framework, utilizing framework 4 itself this early is even a risk in it's own, as a web application developer, most Asp.net production servers do not support it, same goes for the user, setting framework 4 as a prerequisite for design is a bad approach, because we require that the user downloads framework 4.




Ha Ha, I thought the same thing this morning, I was going to do a introductory article to WPF and utilizing API, but as well decided not to , same for asp.net applications.

The biggest issue is while we move forward, users stand till.

Agree. Why shouldn't they. What are the experts doing to urge them to convert ?? I mean we should show them some power, ease and benefits of the new tech like WPF. Benefits like 2 hours work completed in 1 hour, etc...Otherwise they will get stick to the old one !!

However we have no say over what the user does, msot consumers don't want to fork out the money for a new OS, and 7 is "reserved" for consumers purchasing new computers.

Surely we don't have but we can suggest, there's no restriction to that. When I open Youtube / any other video sharing site, I see no computer with out Vista/7. People will buy such stuff if they'll know its uses. No one comes out and tells the advantages. For example we heard that vista is resource sucker / not compatible etc... But we forgot its advantages until we used it.

Ha Ha, I thought the same thing this morning, I was going to do a introductory article to WPF and utilizing API, but as well decided not to , same for asp.net applications.

Haha, IMO you should do Next, people here follow you. I follow you. People should be aware of the new tech. It's their choice whether to use it or not. But experts here should write some new tech stuff.

If I get time, I will do the introductory series of WPF.

[NextGen1]

Your looking at all this as a "Tech Advocate" if you tried working commercially as a developer for consumers and not for your self then you would either become a quick learner day one, or fail horribly day one.

Fact is, we as developers have no say over our users, we may want to have more control, but that is not how the industry works, it is up to you the developer to keep in mind your "Target"

So step out of "Someone who loves advances in technology" (as I and anyone in this section does)
and look at things a-little differently.

Lets say you develop a application to unveil new technologies, and this may be the best software to hit the internet in the longest time, and you showcase new Api, glass effects, themes, taskbar tricks , etc. etc., and then you release.

Fact : It was recently estimated that 4% of windows users have upgraded to or use windows 7, Only 4% of your potential market and prophet has just been cut down to 4%.

Now lets say you make the same software, graphical, user friendly, easy to use and still used handy API staying away from the OS specific calls.

You now have increased your potential market and prophet to


In comparison , (XP ,Vista,7) Windows XP is almost 90% of windows users.


Marketing Results:

Windows:Mac is 10:6

Overall discussion Ubuntu Vs Mac Vs Windows 7
Ubuntu Wins by 20 points....

4% of windows users = Windows 7
11% of windows users = Vista
68% of windows users = XP
17% of windows users = other

(this does not include Server editions)


Keeping all this in mind, would it make sense to target cross windows platforms , or individual platforms , (as a developer?)

You say you see windows 7 everywhere, but in marketing research we also have to consider a few other factors, age group, legitimate copies and Shells or skins.

Lets look at something else.

From a sample of 41,000 active users It has been established the age of an average YouTube Up-loader is 27, with 20% being 35 or older.

When you watch your "How To's" However , You notice how most if not all sound about 17 or younger, or have profiles that link back to myspace and are even younger?

Reason: The information you are targeting, it is statistically more probable that if you search for VB/Programming content you will find a windows user under the age of 17 who has pirated a copy of windows 7 or is using a skin to mimic 7.

If you targeted information on Cat Websites, you will most likely only see cats on screens, but it wouldn't be "Smart" to assume that all users are using Cat Images for a background, just that those users tend to have cats, but the rest of the market unsearched, may or may not.

Final Statement, Maybe I will, I agree developers should know how, I just disagree in producing OS specific APi's

[MJLover]

Agree, but don't you think Themes are unable to copy Aero-Desktop and Flip3D effect which those users show off very proudly !! ?

To give a test try I'll try an article and the response should make the things crystal clear.

[NextGen1]

A. Windows Blinds = Flawless Aero Effect
Windows Xp(7) Comes with a flawless Windows 7 Shell
Numerous Members here have a Windows 7 Shell which mimics everything including the taskbar flawlessly

B. WPF applications have been around for along time, there is nothing New about it, but still share away

C. Don't misunderstand me, in a community of developers, sharing information is great, But if you think adding the new shiny things to your application is more important then the end user (which you have implied in every one of your posts) then you will always be Sub-Par.


Functionality Trumps Shiny new things every time. I am telling the community, those here that adding OS specific Api calls or functionality's is bad practice, and anyone with the idea of going into development needs to learn this, Your End User is always the most important thing, Marketing analyses, find out what will and what won't work, Test Test Test, don't add features that some users can;t use, that's just annoying...

Evey one has been in the situation, Downloaded something, wouldn't work because your PC wasn't compatible, or went to turn on a feature but it wasn't compatible, it's just annoying and un-professional. (IMO)

[|-|3|_][({}PT3R12]

Looks nice thanks!

But i have a request/question;

You know when you right click a file (lets say a .txt) it says open with -> or edit and all that... How do you make your program recognize what is being opened and load it into like a textbox. I have the right values in the registry, it opens my program, but how do i take the contents of the .txt and add to my textbox on my form ;D

Ty ~ a PM is fine or NG will prop tut it?

[Invidus]

Lol count on NextGen to answer every single question/query that comes up...

[NextGen1]

I don't get the question, For the sake of this thread though, let's stay on topic, and you can VM me.