Executor: Light weight but powerful keyboard app launcher

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

Executor: Light weight but powerful keyboard app launcher

by Brad Linder Aug 19th 2008

Executor is an application that lets you launch programs open URLs, or perform other actions with just a few keystrokes. At first glance, it looks a lot like Launchy. Both programs are free utilities for Windows that let you run programs without reaching for the mouse. And both will scan default and user-selected directories looking for a list of programs. But Executor wins hands down when it comes to customization options.

Probably the coolest feature in Executor is the ability to assign global hotkeys. You can add keywords for any program by dragging and dropping a shortcut or executable file into the kewyord section under the settings tab. And then you can select a global hotkey to press to bring up that application without even pulling up the Executor window. For example, I can now luanch the Irfanview image viewer either by hitting Ctrl+Z to bring up Executor and typing in "irfanview," or I can just hit Ctrl+I.

Here are a few other features that make Executor stand out:

Supports keyword "find [text]| for using Windows Vista search or Windows Desktop Search
You can configure a drop down menu to display additional results or to stay hidden
You can customize the heck out of the layout by changing the skin, fonts, dimensions, position, and transparency
Use a single keyword to start multiple programs/documents/etc
Assign properties to each keyword

[via Lifehacker]

Tags: executor, launchy, program-launcher

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

hazard said 8:20AM on 8-20-2008

I like it. It's also nice that the developer provides a standalone (no installer) version - good for portability. Another app for the USB stick.

farlin said 5:53PM on 10-28-2008

Tip: if you like the keyboard you can press Ctrl+Z pretty much anywhere in Windows to Undo. Until you've redefined it to launch Executor that is... :)

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