It becomes increasingly complicated to manage state in an efficient and seamless manner, just adding a second button when I created StrokesPlus.net was a big undertaking. Also, it's very rare that people even use two buttons, much less four!

However, with the use of modifiers, you should be able to get close. For example, if you make an action which uses the right button and the gesture L; then make another action with the right button, gesture L, and modifier X1.

Hold the right button and while you're drawing the L, you just tap the X1 button once and it executes the second action. Hold right button and draw L without tapping X1 and it is a different action.

I know it's not exactly the same, but I wanted to make sure you are aware of that functionality.

I don't generally recommend it (it's not a supported configuration), just due to having multiple hooks installed and the chances for them to interfere with each other....however, all that said, yes you can.

You'll need to run the second instance with two parameters, one to tell S+ to allow multiple instances, the other to point to a different settings file since you will need to have a different configuration.

For example:


Obviously change the path to wherever the second config file is located. Note that the config file must already be there before you start (you can use the file from the portable ZIP as a starting point), or it will fall back to the default rules and load your current config.

You don't need to run the portable and installer versions, you can make a shortcut with the parameters to run the signed installer version for the second instance.

Edited by user Wednesday, October 9, 2019 3:40:02 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Also note that there are some things which will not flow correctly, like the Update Check and installer. The installer looks for and closes the app running which obtained the mutex "StrokesPlus.net", but additional instances will not have that mutex, so the installer will fail because the app is still running and cannot overwrite the files. There may be some other oddities, I am not sure as I haven't really tested it much.

The method you proposed works well. But there is another problem. I'd like to use the portable version of Strokes+, as I use it on different computers. Because the locations of Strokes+ on different computers are different, it is inconvenient to set the shortcut everytime.

So is there anyway that the code you give: "C:\Program Files\StrokesPlus.net\StrokesPlus.net.exe" allowmultipleinstances settingsfile="C:\Temp\StrokesPlus.net.bin" can be expressed in relative path?

The shortcut of "StrokesPlus.net.exe" itself can be expressed in relative path :"%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe " "StrokesPlus.net.exe", but I don't know how to express "C:\Program Files\StrokesPlus.net\StrokesPlus.net.exe" allowmultipleinstances settingsfile="C:\Temp\StrokesPlus.net.bin" in in relative path.

OK. Not on a USB drive. But in different folders on different computers. But not much different.
I have three computers.

For some reason, on computer A, the location of StrokesPlus.net.exe is "C:\Portable Program\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\StrokesPlus.net.exe".
So the shortcut of the second instance is "C:\Portable Program\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\StrokesPlus.net.exe" allowmultipleinstances settingsfile="C:\Portable Program\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\strokesplus.net - second.bin",
as the the config file of the second instance is C:\Portable Program\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\strokesplus.net - second.bin.

And on computer B, the location of StrokesPlus.net.exe is "D:\Portable Program\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\StrokesPlus.net.exe".
So the shortcut of the second instance is "D:\Portable Program\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\StrokesPlus.net.exe" allowmultipleinstances settingsfile="D:\Portable Program\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\strokesplus.net - second.bin".

And on computer C, the location "C:\Portable Application\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\StrokesPlus.net.exe".
So the shortcut of the second instance is "C:\Portable Application\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\StrokesPlus.net.exe" allowmultipleinstances settingsfile="C:\Portable Program\StrokesPlus.net_Portable\StrokesPlus.net_Portable_0.3.5.9\strokesplus.net - second.bin".

You see, as S+ is in different folders on different computers, the shortcut of the second instance is different. I wonder if the code you give before can be written in relative path, then the shortcut of the second instance is the same even S+ in different folders. So the portable version of the S+ is truly "portable", as I can put it on a USB drive and use it on different computers. Is that possible?

Ok, I'm looking forward your next version!

Oh a little suggestion about running two S+. The trays of the two S+ are exactly the same and hard to distinguish. So I wonder if the tray icon can be changed or the hint of the tray can have the information of the stroke buttons which S+ is using.
[img=https://ibb.co/XZxFjhM]hint of the tray of S+[/img]

I prefer the latter one.

Edited by user Wednesday, November 27, 2019 12:53:20 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Ok, I tried, and everything works well.

Now S+ is a perfect software for me!!

Windows has certain rules for certain programs allowed to start with Windows automatically. S+ runs with UI Access (elevated) so it must be signed and installed to Program Files.

The installer does this so it works fine. However, I'm not sure why making your own shortcut would cause Windows to disregard it - though it's not likely something I can resolve as it is Windows who governs the rules.

You can use the portable version, just know that unless you run it as administrator it won't be able to interact with elevated applications (Task Manager for example).

What is the reason you have it running from a different configuration file location than default? There's nothing wrong with that, I'm just curious so I can understand and try to offer alternatives.
Is it for the purpose of this thread, to run two instances of S+?

I got the problem that the shotcut in the "Start Menu\Programs\Startup" is changed by some certain reason to the default, maybe the reason is the auto upgrading of S+.

Will the S+ upgrade program itself reset the shotcut in the "Start Menu\Programs\Startup" when a upgrade is going?