8 hours ago
Topic:
New user, some questions
GianlucaAdministrator Posts: 1335
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Windows creates shortcuts only for traditional programs, and only through a setup process. The existence of these shortcuts is precisely what allows SyMenu to index installed programs on the fly.
For Metro apps, however, file system shortcuts aren't created, because their presence is tracked down exclusively through the system registry.
In my opinion, the Metro app model is the right approach... except for the use of the damn system registry, which is a senseless mess, a chaotic mix of vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, stones, wood, and garbage. A more rational solution would be a dedicated database. But even if Microsoft insists on using that dumpster as a repository (yes, I consider the Windows registry a garbage bin), the least they could do is provide a proper API to query that specific part of it.
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1 days ago
Topic:
New user, some questions
johnlgaltPosts: 2
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Got it. I do have more questions as to why such an interaction with the registry is required, while other apps make do with only interacting with the shortcut, but those are for later, when I delve deeper into how SyMenu actually works.
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3 days ago
Topic:
New user, some questions
GianlucaAdministrator Posts: 1335
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Hi johnlgalt and welcome to the community.
1) SyMenu and Metro apps
When I tried to include the apps in SyMenu, I crashed against a wall: Microsoft doesn't offer a complete API to interact with those apps.
I'm not talking about the option to create an app by scratch that is a well supported process, but to interact with already installed apps.
The only way to accomplish it was by querying the Windows Registry, which is not the most ideal method because you have to reverse-engineer it since, again, Microsoft hasn't published any documentation and it can change over time. Well, IMHO it's a sort of "protection" to prevent someone from creating a better way to interact with Metro apps than the Start menu. A really short-sighted policy.
The authors of the programs able to do that simply use the registry directly, follow its eventual future changes, and are willing to reach the target step by step, gradually discovering how it works.
Well, if in the meantime MS publishes a complete API to interact with Metro apps, please let me know and maybe I can reopen the project to include them in SyMenu.
2) The painful scaling problem
I worked on it for months, literally, and never found a catch-all solution.
Above all, on 4K monitors, my advice is to flag the checkbox for issues on HD monitors and not mess with special zoom, DPI, compatibility, or other graphical settings for SyMenu. This way, when you restart SyMenu, the program will take the normal settings for your desktop.
If you set a 150% scaling (which is probably a good choice for a 27" monitor), SyMenu will be zoomed by 50% and should be visible like any other program on your PC. The only problem with this workaround (because it's not a solution... thanks MS) is that the program will be a bit blurry because the scale is obtained with a graphical zoom, the same effect you get by doubling a picture's size. This way, the details degrade, resulting in that strange blur effect.
I hope everything is clearer now.
edited by Gianluca on 23/08/2025
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4 days ago
Topic:
New user, some questions
johnlgaltPosts: 2
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Hi, everyone, glad to be a part of the community. @Gianluca, thank you for this wonderful system that I've long overlooked. I have a whole slew of programs that I use in portable form, and I've simply, for many years, kept them in a dedicated folder in a separate drive that I could access. I've slowly but surely started integrating my collection into a SyMenu that works well.
I have a couple of questions, and in searching the forums, I've seen some answers, but I'm still a bit confused (or simply don't have enough information).
First, I'm using Version 8.09.9363 [2025.08.20] (Zip) installed on latest Windows 11 24H2 (OS Build 26100.4946). I have it extracted to its own folder in the same area where all my other portable apps are located (E:\Programs\).
First question: I saw the various posts and such regarding Windows (Microsoft) Store apps and the plugin you had developed. And I notice that I am currently unable to add Store apps, even if I use a shortcut and / or symlink. Not a big deal, as I can easily use the native start menu for any of those apps, but is this the end of any attempt to load Store apps (aka Metro apps) from SysMenu (not a criticism, genuine question - other applications I've tried to use, such as TaskBarGroups and a newer one called AppGroup, were great for allowing multiple little menus for different groups, but then resulted in 15, 20 individual icons on the taskbar that cluttered it up badly - but both worked with Metro apps without issue)
Second question - I saw another thread about how you made the beta v8 to test Windows rendering wrt scaling. My issue is that, while my SyMenu scales really, really well, the config and Option boxes are not scaling, and the text is tiny.
  
My monitors are 27 inch 4k displays, and at 0 scaling everything is entirely tiny, so I use Windows' native 150% scaling. Additionally, I have Windows *Text* scaling set to normal, but in apps like my browser, I use 125% to 150% scaling as well. The above renders make it look rather readable, but in reality, the actual size on my monitor is half what it looks like above. Here is an image of the actual options widow overlaid with the images I posted above:
As you can see, it gets quite small.
I've tried both enabling and disabling the HD monitors check box, as well as tried manipulating the DPI Scaling of the symenu.exe (from properties) to no avail.
What am I missing?
edited by johnlgalt on 22/08/2025
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18 days ago
Topic:
How to Downgrade an SPS
AllonZPosts: 13
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Thanks for the quick reply and pointing me in the right direction, Gian!
I do not recall if you already do so (ignore if you do), but it would be great to include 'esr' at the end of ThunderbirdPortable version numbers, just as Mozilla does with their file naming convention. ESR is also included in the file naming convention of the .paf files. So it should be easy enough for you to identify and add to the version number when you are updating the SPS. This would allow users like myself to easily identify whether or not we want to upgrade or wait for the ESR.
Thanks you so much for the wonderful app and the great support! Keep up the good work!
Here is a write-up on the process I took to resolve the issue:
How to Rebuild ThunderbirdPortable_sps in Order to Downgrade
- NOTE: The following steps are for ThunderbirdPortable_sps but it is possible that similar steps can be used to downgrade other SPS installations.
- Many add-ons only work with ESR versions of Thunderbird, so if you inadvertently upgrade to a non-ESR version it is possible to downgrade to an ESR version of ThunderbirdPortable using the steps below.
⚠️ WARNING: This process will delete your profile data!!!
1. Backup your Thunderbird data using 1 of 2 methods
⠀⠀a. Make a copy of your profile folder and save it to your desktop temporarily
⠀⠀⠀OR
⠀⠀b. Archive it to a backup location of your choice, outside of the ThunderbirdPortable_sps folder:
⠀⠀⠀⠀\SyMenu\ProgramFiles\SPSSuite\SyMenuSuite\ThunderbirdPortable_sps\Data\profile
2. Official Thunderbird release page
⠀⠀a. Navigate to the official releases page to compare and confirm which releases are ESR:
⠀⠀⠀⠀https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/releases/
3. Copy ESR release URL
⠀⠀a. Navigate to the source files URL:
⠀⠀⠀⠀https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Thunderbird%2C%20P.E./
⠀⠀b. Click the newest/desired ESR version that is confirmed from the URL in step 2
⠀⠀c. Right click the URL of the desired language & copy link address
⠀⠀⠀⠀1. The URL should be the same or very similar to the following format:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Thunderbird%2C%20P.E./Mozilla%20Thunderbird%20ESR%2C%20Portable%20Edition%20140.1.0/ThunderbirdPortableESR_140.1.0_English.paf.exe/download
4. Change the ThunderbirdPortable.sps Download URL
⠀⠀a. Extract ThunderbirdPortable.sps from the sps.zip file in the SyMenu Suite Cache folder:
⠀⠀⠀⠀\SyMenu\ProgramFiles\SPSSuite\SyMenuSuite\_Cache\
⠀⠀b. Edit ThunderbirdPortable.sps using 1 of 2 methods
⠀⠀⠀⠀1. Text editor: Replace the URL after <DownloadUrl> with the copied URL from step 3c and Save
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀OR
⠀⠀⠀⠀2. SPS Builder [install via SPS Manager, .NET required]
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀a. Load ThunderbirdPortable.sps
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀b. Change 'Download Url' with copied URL from step 3c
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀1. Do not change any other info
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀c. Choose working folder same as step 5
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀\SyMenu\ProgramFiles\SPSSuite\SyMenuSuite\_Cache\
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀d. Save
⠀⠀c. Add edited ThunderbirdPortable.sps back to the sps.zip file
⠀⠀⠀⠀1. This will overwrite the original ThunderbirdPortable.sps
5. Update to edited ThunderbirdPortable.sps
⠀⠀a. Exit and restart SyMenu
⠀⠀b. Run SPS Manager: SyMenu > 'Get new apps'
⠀⠀⠀⠀1. Right click ThunderbirdPortable
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀a. Be sure that ThunderbirdPortable is not running in the background
⠀⠀⠀⠀2. Click 'Force update from the web site'
6. Import saved profile
⠀⠀a. Once the installation is complete, run ThunderbirdPortable and you will see a popup warning:
⠀⠀⠀⠀"You have launched an older version of Thunderbird"
⠀⠀b. Click 'Create new profile'
⠀⠀c. Once Thunderbird has fully loaded exit the app
⠀⠀d. Cut and paste, or extract the profile folder backup from step 1 to:
⠀⠀⠀⠀\SyMenu\ProgramFiles\SPSSuite\SyMenuSuite\ThunderbirdPortable_sps\Data
⠀⠀e. Replace existing files: Yes to all
⠀⠀f. Run Thunderbird to load imported profile
edited by AllonZ on 07/08/2025
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19 days ago
Topic:
How to Downgrade an SPS
GianlucaAdministrator Posts: 1335
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Indeed it is easier than this.
The SPS doesn't contain any package but it's only a set of instructions to download, process, and install a package hosted somewhere.
So you have two options:
- change the SPS by yourself replacing the source package url with an older one;
- uninstall Thunderbird and reinstall it with an older package.
1) Change the SPS by yourself
Open the SPS with the proper button available in the SPS Manager.
Change the download URL pointing to the 141 version with the URL to an older version.
Save the SPS and replace the original one you find inside the zip file located in [SyMenu]\ProgramFiles\SPSSuite\SyMenuSuite\_Cache\.
Open SyMenu and force the program update (right click and click "Force update from the web site").
SPS will think to have installed the 141 but instead it will have installed the older version.
2) Uninstalling and reinstalling
Uninstall the Thunderbird current version (backup the Data folder that contains all your customizations before uninstalling).
Download the older version you prefer with your browser.
Install Thunderbird again using the option "Add from the local package" (right click on it and you'll find it).
When asked choose the package with the older version you just downloaded.
Now copy your Data folder backup to the newly installed program folder.
As before SPS will think to have installed the 141 but it will have installed the older version
If it's suitable for you, I found the Thunderbird 139.0.2 version URL that you can use with 1) or 2) but, with those techniques, you can install whatever version you want.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Thunderbird%2C%20P.E./Mozilla%20Thunderbird%2C%20Portable%20Edition%20139.0.2/ThunderbirdPortable_139.0.2_English.paf.exe/download
It would be useful for other users if you publish your chosen option and the outcome.
Thank you
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19 days ago
Topic:
How to Downgrade an SPS
AllonZPosts: 13
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Since I can find no way to downgrade and SPS, I am wondering if it is possible to get a copy of an older version of an SPS, specifically for Thunderbird Portable. After installing the new version, 141, some add-ons are not available and they are very important to my workflow.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could direct me on where to find the ThunderbirdPortable_sps file for install. If that is not possible, maybe you can attach the file in reply the this message.
Thanks for you time!
AllonZ
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23 days ago
Topic:
Splash screen not displayed
toddbeltPosts: 2
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Thank you very much Gianluca for your super quick reply!
I will wait for the new release 
All the best!!
Gianluca wrote:
You did everything right but there's a problem on the splash and not only on the customization.
Stay tuned for a fix on the next release.
edited by toddbelt on 03/08/2025
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23 days ago
Topic:
Splash screen not displayed
GianlucaAdministrator Posts: 1335
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You did everything right but there's a problem on the splash and not only on the customization.
Stay tuned for a fix on the next release.
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24 days ago
Topic:
Splash screen not displayed
toddbeltPosts: 2
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Hi Gianluca and everyone! First of all a big thanks for this amazing and useful project!
My problem is that I enabled the splash screen option, to visualize a custom image when starting SyMenu, but is not displayed.
I don't know if this is a bug or I'm doing something wrong... I read all the documentation and did exactly what is wrote but it's impossible to have my splash screen visualized...
Here below a list with several information:
- I have the last SyMenu version available today (v.8.08.9279)
- I put a jpg image inside the Config directory (I put also a custom Icon as suggested and this is displayed properly)
- The file name is splash.jpg
- The image size is 550 pixel width and a 350 pixel height
- The splash screen option is enabled inside the menu "Tools --> Options --> Events --> Splash Screen"
Do you have any suggestion?
Thank you in advance for your support
edited by toddbelt on 01/08/2025
edited by toddbelt on 01/08/2025
edited by toddbelt on 01/08/2025
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27 days ago
Topic:
PB with Add a windows command
Hulk91Posts: 2
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Thanks Gianluca 😁😁😁
It works perfectly !
And i modify my first message, it's more readible ☺️
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27 days ago
Topic:
PB with Add a windows command
GianlucaAdministrator Posts: 1335
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You can try adding a second command to close the CLI.
start control.exe update && exit
If it works let us know please.
And, BTW, try to clean up the previous message you posted because the (useless) things after the images are breaking the page format
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28 days ago
Topic:
PB with Add a windows command
Hulk91Posts: 2
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Hello,
I have a little problem with "adding a Windowd command element".
For exemple, launching Windows Update :
I put "start control.exe update;" in the command field and when i execute it, it works perfectly but a windows command stay open.Is there a way to close this windows after the command is executed?
Thanks for your help
A picture of the result may help
edited by Hulk91 on 30/07/2025
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01/07/2025
Topic:
[SPS Editor] x64dbg update
GianlucaAdministrator Posts: 1335
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Not sure if it's the best in absolute, but for me it is 
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01/07/2025
Topic:
[SPS Editor] x64dbg update
ronen1nPosts: 21
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Not sure what the format but I added it as [SPS Editor]
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01/07/2025
Topic:
[SPS Editor] x64dbg update
GianlucaAdministrator Posts: 1335
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You're right, plugins.
As you already know, the "Ignore on Update" option can be used to skip single files or entire folders, so yes, you can add the plugins folder.
I really like your idea of using topic categorization in the titles.
Could you please update the title of this thread by adding "SPS Editor"? That way, we can kick off this new standard together.
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01/07/2025
Topic:
[SPS Editor] x64dbg update
ronen1nPosts: 21
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If you create new discussion area for editors it will make the forum more organized but add confusion for some that used to ask in the general area and maybe make you add rules for opening new post and transfering posts that opened in the wrong place
More simple way is to add something like "SPS Editor" in the post title or just live it like it is
In this app maybe some manually installed plugins also need to preserve on clean install
Thank you for the good explanation
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01/07/2025
Topic:
[SPS Editor] x64dbg update
GianlucaAdministrator Posts: 1335
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Hi ronen1n,
Since we're on the forum here, I need to give the other users a bit of context.
-----------------------------------
Ronen1n isn't talking about the x64dbg user-side update, that one works as usual.
Since he's an SPS editor (one of the great people who make the entire SyMenu suite work!!), he's referring to the SPS update, i.e., the definitions that allow the suite's programs to auto-update.
Ok, context provided.
-----------------------------------
Yes, you can add the DelFile instruction in the "Script After Install" section of the SPS.
Don't worry about the versions after this one because DelFile won’t throw an error if the Qt5Network.dll file doesn't exist anymore.
Also, the DelFile should stay for a while, because we can’t be sure users are updating through every single version.
For example, if a breaking change occurred between version 4 and 5, a user might skip directly from 4 to 8, so SyMenu still needs to delete Qt5Network.dll even if it normally shouldn't be there anymore.
Let me take this opportunity to explain another very useful technique for SPS.
If a program tends to introduce breaking changes, you should use the "Clean Update" option.
A clean update ensures that each version only contains the files included in the current package.
However, in this case, you should preserve any configuration/data/customization files set by the user in the previous versions.
For x64dbg, it looks like the only files to preserve are:
- release\x96dbg.ini
- release\x64\x64dbg.ini
The choice is on you.
BTW, a question for everyone: do you think it would be useful to create a new technical discussion area for SPS?
I often speak privately with editors about the best practices for creating program definitions, but maybe it would be helpful to have these conversations publicly.
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30/06/2025
Topic:
[SPS Editor] x64dbg update
ronen1nPosts: 21
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I tried to update x64dbg but it looks like i need to delete Qt5Network.dll file
Change log: "Get rid of Qt5Network dependency"
I found 2, one in release\x32 and one in release\x64
do i just add the following?
DelFile release\x32\Qt5Network.dll
DelFile release\x64\Qt5Network.dll
Is it need to stay future updates?
edited by ronen1n on 01/07/2025
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06/06/2025
Topic:
SyMenu 8.08
GianlucaAdministrator Posts: 1335
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Hello guys,
Version 8.08 is out and brings some interesting new features.
Finally, we have a graphical way to check trash disk usage. Naturally, it's not the Windows trash folder (that's not SyMenu's business) but the SPS trash.
Where is it? It's in the status bar at the bottom of the form, specifically the red part of the Free space bar (see it in this image: https://www.ugmfree.it/manual#SPSForm).
Since the Free space bar refers to the entire disk usage, the trash part does too. So you can have the trash button on one suite (e.g., the SyMenu suite) and not on another (e.g., NirSoft suite), yet the red bar appears in both.
I've been forced to add this information because some users reported excessive disk usage due to an unemptied trash.
Now you have no more excuses for flooding your disk because everything is clearly under your control.
The second main feature concerns one of the ways to import items into SyMenu.
When you drag something from the file system into SyMenu (either the floating icon or the configuration form), this "thing" is analyzed and imported. If you drag an executable, it's easy to guess what happens but what if you drag a folder?
Before version 8.08, the folder was linked as a SyContainer and could be explored from SyMenu. This version introduces a breaking change: folders are no longer converted into containers but are scanned in search of programs. The scan happens at every level (folder and subfolders). When an executable is found, it is added to a new folder called "Import" (with a different icon than the regular container, too).
It's up to you to organize what SyMenu found and placed inside the Import folder. My advice is to move each item to the correct folder within your carefully structured menu, then delete the emptied Import folder. That way, you'll keep things clean and tidy.
A strong piece of advice: don't import a folder full of programs all at once unless you can let SyMenu run for a long time.
You can find more details here: https://www.ugmfree.it/manual#SyMenu_ImportFromFS
As usual, if you have any comments, questions, feedback, or simply want to chat about SyMenu and its world, I'm here.
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