Tidy Start Menu

Tidy Start Menu 2.5 released

14 Sep 2005 16:52:36 +0200

Dear users of Tidy Start Menu,

I am glad to inform you about the release of the new version. No new features have been added in the new version, but the old ones have been improved and some bugs have been fixed.

Now, when the program divides shortcuts into categories and deletes empty shortcuts, it automatically creates a system restore point. This point will allow you to roll back to the previous state of the menu in case of a failure. You should bear in mind that this feature works only in Windows XP, Me. That is why you should not avoid creating a backup copy. To open the System Restore utility, you should go to the Start menu (Start\Accessories\System Tools).

Now an easy-to-use wizard will help you create and restore a backup copy. Just specify a name for the backup copy you are creating and then just select this name from the list to restore the menu.

To search for and delete empty shortcuts, the program has a wizard that searches not only the Start menu (as before), but also the desktop and the Quick Launch Bar for empty shortcuts. After it finds such shortcuts, it shows them in a list and allows you to select which shortcuts you want to delete. To start the wizard, just start the program and click the "Delete Empty Shortcuts Wizard" button.

The Backup and Delete Empty Shortcuts Wizards are now available from the first window of the program. I would recommend that you install this latest version since it is the most stable one.

A brief list of changes:

[+] Automatically creating system restore points in Windows Me, XP
[+] Backup/Restore Wizard
[+] Delete Empty Shortcuts Wizard
[+] Searching for empty shortcuts in the Quick Launch Bar and on the desktop
[-] Fixed minor bugs Besides, now we have an RSS feed.

Tidy Start Menu 2.6 released

8 Oct 2005 13:52:23 +0200

Dear users,

I am glad to present you the new version of the program Tidy Start Menu 2.6. I would like to thank everyone who sent me bug reports and suggestions how to make the program better. I did my best to fix them and take everything into account.

http://www.tidystartmenu.com/TidyStartMenu_Setup_freeware.exe
(984 KB)

The new version of the program contains the XML Import/Export Wizard. Thus, you can save the current division of the menu into categories and quickly restore it from an XML file in case you reinstall the system. The program will offer you to choose between two import modes. If you choose the first mode, the program will just select the checkboxes of the programs in the corresponding categories and you will be able to work with the program as usual. In the second mode the program will apply the specified settings at once and sort the menu. By the way, if you open the program using the command line and specify your XML file as a parameter, the result will be the same as with the second mode and the program will be closed after the process.

Now the program supports dragging programs into categories. To do it, just use your mouse to grab the name of the program you want to sort and drag it onto the button of the category you want to move it to.

Besides, now you can quickly create categories. Just move the folder you want to use as a category onto the "Add The Category" button. It will be especially useful for those who have already created some categories on their own, but have not added them to the program yet.

Now after you start processing, you can go back and sort the items skipped during the first time. If you have a lot of items, we recommend that you do it like this. First, divide the main items into
categories and after they are processed take the second round.

Those who have moved a program to a wrong category by mistake and now want to move it back to the main list, just do the following:
1. Move to the expert mode.
2. Clear the "Show Category Folders" checkbox
3. Select the wrong category in the main list in the center of the window.
4. Right-click the program that has been moved to the category by mistake in the tree of subfolders that appears on the right.
5. Select the "Move to root" item in the popup menu.
6. Start processing.

I would also like to draw your attention to the Quick Uninstall feature that have been available for registered user for quite a while already, but could have been left unnoticed. You can use this feature to uninstall any program by just clicking its shortcut on the desktop. Actually, they should have built this feature into the system.
Details at
http://www.tidystartmenu.com/quick_uninstall.shtml

Summary:

[+] Importing/exporting to an XML file
[+] Processing XML from the command line
[+] Dragging programs onto category buttons
[+] Adding a folder as a category by dragging it onto the "Add a category" button
[+] It is possible to continue working after processing is over
[+] The "Close" button is added onto the last page
[+] Moving a program from a category to the root folder
[-] The bug with creating a backup on the first page at the first launch is fixed
[-] The bug of the Remove Empty Shortcuts Wizard, which showed folders as empty, is fixed

http://www.tidystartmenu.com/TidyStartMenu_Setup_freeware.exe
(984 KB)

Tidy Start Menu 2.7 released

15 Nov 2005 16:56:41 +0200

Hello,

Dear users, Tidy Start Menu is glad to inform you that a new program
version has been released. Some minor changes were made in this version.
- The program remembers if it was maximized before closing
- When you create a new category it becomes active.
http://www.tidystartmenu.com/TidyStartMenu_Setup_freeware.exe
(973 KB)

The changes are so few because I was working on two new projects at a time.
Here you can see the beta version of one of these projects created for movie fans
http://www.cinematheca.com

The second project is under development now. I'm working on it
together with my namesake. This project is connected with the Start
menu.
It's too early yet to reveal the details, but I think it will be a
real breakthrough in the field of interfaces. And I'm happy that out
small company leaves behind such leaders as Apple and Microsoft in
this field. I think you'll be able to get hold of the beta version in
two weeks.

I have also decided to rename the company. The new name is
OrdinarySoft. Our main objective is to create
software that does not exist today but will become ordinary with our
help tomorrow.

New release of Tidy Start Menu 2.8

18 Jan 2006 18:10:51 +0200

Dear Tidy Start Menu users,

I am glad to inform you that the new version of the program is
released. Almost nothing except minor bug fixes was changed in the
free version of the new program, but users of the registered version
get a real present.

Registered users can now use the icon wizard. It allows them to assign
icons to folders in the Start menu both manually and automatically.

The automatic mode does it like this:
Checks how many files there are in each folder and if there is only
one executable file in it, it assigns the icon of this file to this
folder. It considerably increases the speed of finding the necessary
program. Because usually we see text in the menu and we have to read
the labels to select what we need. And icons will allow you to find
what you need faster because the natural ability of the human mind to
recognize images (icons) is used.

Let me remind you the download address:
http://www.tidystartmenu.com/TidyStartMenu_Setup_freeware.exe
==========
As you know, last time I announced the release of the new program
Vista Start Menu. The program is being constantly developed and if you
are interested in its development, please subscribe to the newsletter
http://www.vistastartmenu.com/subscription.html

I will mention news about it in the newsletter for Tidy Start Menu
users, but it will be in the form of a digest and can be a bit out of
date.

And now Vista Start Menu news:

Dear users, I am glad to present you the new version of the program
Vista Start Menu 1.4. I will not deny that the previous versions had a
lot of bugs. The thing is that it is really difficult to take into
account the existing variety of systems and their variants, but thanks
to your help, we have managed to fix most bugs and the current
version runs perfectly. We have also added a lot of useful features.

http://www.vistastartmenu.com/VistaStartMenu_Setup_freeware_en.exe
1,34 MB

Besides the free version, we also offer the extended version with
additional features.
For example, the feature of highlighting recently installed programs
will help you quickly find a new program. Moreover, highlighting is
much smarter than that implemented in the system and gets lighter
each day after the installation. Thus, a new program will not differ
from other programs in 10 days.
The quick uninstall feature will allow you to uninstall programs with
a right click on any icon on the quick launch bar, on the desktop or
in the menu.

We are planning to add a lot of useful features that will be available
only in the commercial version.
At the same time, buy the program just once and get lifelong free
updates. You can buy the interface of
the future already today using this link. �
http://www.vistastartmenu.com/registration.html?new

I will be glad to here any suggestions or comments from you.

Changes:
[+] Dragging the window by its title bar and saving its position
[+] Supporting a large number of icons for which there is no place on
the screen
[+] Opening the menu using a hotkey
[+] Controlling integration with the standard menu
[+] The menu gets opened when the program is started once again. Thus,
you can place its icon on the
quick launch bar and open the menu by clicking it.

[-] Integration with the color scheme and theme is improved.
[-] Sorting alphabetically when the program is started for the first
time
[-] The system font size is taken into account
[-] Fixed some small bugs

New release of Tidy Start Menu 2.9

2 Mar 2006 15:04:00 +0200

Dear users,

The new version of Tidy Start Menu has been released. Minor bugs were
fixed in it and also the help system was completely revised. I do not
want to tell you secrets so far, but we plan to make a few pleasant
surprises in its next version 3.0.
Download link -
http://www.tidystartmenu.com/TidyStartMenu_Setup_freeware.exe
0.98 KB

And now I want to tell you about a utility that will be useful
absolutely for everyone. This utility allows you to quickly run an
Internet search by the phrase selected in any application. Suppose you
come across the unknown word "interference" in a message. You just
select this word, press the hotkey and the program opens a browser
window with the corresponding search results or encyclopedia.
More details are available at our site -

Hotkey Search Tool
http://www.ordinarysoft.com

As usual, I will be glad to hear suggestions and comments from you.

--
Best regards, Dennis Nazarenko
http://www.ordinarysoft.com

New Tidy Start Menu 3.0 released

15 Jun 2006 19:16:09 +0200

Hello,

Dear Tidy Start Menu users, I am glad to inform you that the new version of the program has been released. I completely rewrote new
version 3.0.

It has been a year since the first version of the program was released and a lot of changes have been made in it. And since these changes were not planned initially, the program became uncomfortable to work with. So I decided to completely revise the program taking into account those lots of suggestions I received from you, users of the program.

http://www.tidystartmenu.com/TidyStartMenu_Setup_freeware.exe
668 KB

That is why I want to thank everybody who sent me comments and suggestions. I tried to take them into account and I hope that you will be satisfied with it.

The interface of the program has been completely changed. I tried to make it so that fewer actions than before would allow you to quickly get the result. At the same time, I tried to make the interface clear and intuitive.

The new version has an "Explorer mode". In this mode, registered users can create any complex structure of the menu and manually manage its content as if in regular Explorer.

I would like to hear your opinions about the new version.

--
Best regards, Dennis Nazarenko
http://www.ordinarysoft.com

New Tidy Start Menu 3.2 released

23 Sep 2006 19:01:43 +0200

Greetings,

Dear Tidy Start Menu users, I am happy to announce that a new version of the program has been released. Unfortunately, I did not have time to fix the reported bugs. For instance, when you are in the explorer mode and need to move an element, rather than copy it, you still need to use the right mouse button. I am also aware of the inconveniences caused by reinstalling a program which is already included into a category (please see the solution below).

These problems have not been solved due to the lack of time. I am extremely busy preparing for the release of Vista Start Menu 2.0, of which I will notify you in due time.

The new version of Tidy Start Menu features the administration mode. Learn more about it by following this link:
http://www.tidystartmenu.com/admin_mode.shtml

I�ll appreciate any feedback and suggestions regarding possible program features.

P.S. If you have installed a program which is already in a category, do the following: select another category (standard mode) and simply drag the new program onto the button of the category where it is located.

New Menu for Tidy Start Menu users

27 Nov 2006 21:22:20 +0200

Dear users,

I am glad to introduce the new version of Vista Start Menu 2.02 has been released! It is quite different from previous versions 1.X

Screenshot-
http://www.vistastartmenu.com/VistaSE.png
100 KB

Now the site of the program is being updated so I suggest that you try the free version and learn about its advantages over the standard menu
http://www.vistastartmenu.com/VistaStartMenu_Setup_freeware_en.exe
Download (953 KB)

Support - Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista

The same as before, the program has a free version and a commercial version. The commercial version allows you to:
1. Start programs with one click
2. Customize the content of menus and tabs
3. Use the "Quick Uninstall" feature

Also, now the users of the commercial version of Tidy Start Menu can quickly export categories into Vista Start Menu (free and commercial).

Buy it now and get lifetime free updates and 10% discount-
https://www.plimus.com/jsp/buynow.jsp?contractId=1656346
17.99 USD

Note that there are changes in the licensing policy. After we update information on our site, the price of the Vista Start Menu will change and updates will be free only for minor version 2.XX. Users that are already registered will continue to get all updates free of charge.

If you like the program, do not hesitate to tell your friends and colleagues about it. The more people use Vista Start Menu, the more intensively it will be developed.

Thank you!

--
Best regards, Dennis Nazarenko
http://www.ordinarysoft.com

New Vista Start Menu 2.1 Release as gift

30 Dec 2006 19:27:32 +0200

Hi,

OrdinarySoft is happy to give you a unique free gift, please visit this link �
http://www.vistastartmenu.com/gift.php?from=OrdinarySoft

You will find Vista Start Menu PRO 2.1 if you follow this link. The program replaces the Start menu in the systems Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista and is completely different from the menu in the Windows Vista system. Only the names coincide.

This new version of the program has the following modifications:

1. The performance rate has considerably increased due to splitting into threads

2. The program has a new icon

3. Sorting is now available (leave in places, sort by name, sort by name and type). To access these features, you should right-click the folder you want to sort.

4. Now you can specify the main program in each folder manually and use the entire power of the «single-click launch» feature. Click the Customize button in the settings, select the «Single-click launch» section and enable the option. If the program fails to detect the main program in some folder, just open the folder. Then right-click the program frequently launched in this folder and select «Main in folder»

5. Update check feature. Now you can learn about the releases of new
version by just clicking the logo of Vista Start Menu.

Enjoy!

New Tidy Start Menu 3.3 released

20 May 2007 11:20:44 +0200

Dear Valued Customers,

Today, I am proud to present the newest version of Tidy Start Menu. In this latest build I haven't made any drastic changes. I've simply made things work nicely on Windows Vista.

Download -
http://www.tidystartmenu.com/TidyStartMenu_Setup_freeware.exe
(1.09 MB)

If you are looking for ways to further enhance your Windows Start menu, try Vista Start Menu!
http://www.vistastartmenu.com
This is my latest project that makes launching your everyday applications even more convenient. As a registered user of Tidy Start Menu PRO, you are eligible to integrate your categories as Vista Start Menu tabs or menu items.

As a special treat to you, the registered user, I am offering you a special discount on your purchase of Vista Start Menu. To claim your 25% discount, please use this link
https://www.plimus.com/jsp/buynow.jsp?contractId=1656346

--
Best regards, Dennis Nazarenko