A few weeks ago, I installed DirecTV2PC on my main so I could watch shows that were recorded on my DVR downstairs.  The program worked great, except that it doesn’t integrate with , which forced me to get out the keyboard and leave in order to run it.  I know there are some applications that will let you add a program into , but once you launch your application, it’s usually not very easy to close the app and get back into .  After a bit of searching though, I found a handy program called Launcher that was exactly what I was looking for.

In addition to being able to launch an application from , this program will let you close the program when you’re done by clicking the BACK button on the remote, and then it will return you back to . The only shortcoming is that the Launcher doesn’t have an interface to add your applications to , so you have to put all your settings into XML and INI files, then run some command prompts to register the application.  Then if you want a specific icon, you need to go into the registry and add a new key.  After that, you need to add your program’s folder to the system path.  That’s not rocket science, but it’s definitely not the easiest approach, which is why I wrote my own application called Launcher Configurator.

Launcher Configurator is an application that makes it easy to configure as many programs as you want to be launched from , using the Launcher program.  The interface is simple to use, and even keeps track of the applications you’ve already registered.  It will also let you unregister applications or re-register them.  Here are some screenshots and instructions for using the program.

How to Use Launcher Configurator:

Run as administratorYou must run Launcher Configurator as an Administrator in order for it to work.  To do that, right-click the icon and select “Run as administrator.”

Registering a new program to run in :

  1. Check or uncheck the option to create a restore point before registering the application.
  2. Select the New Registrations tab.
  3. Complete the form by selecting the following:
  • The EXE to launch from .
  • An image to use as an icon in .  This can be a small JPG or PNG file.  I got my logo from Google Images.
  • A title and description of the application as you want them to appear in .
  • A unique ID (GUID) for the application.  (You can supply your own or let the program generate it for you.)
  • The tab strip where you want the application to appear in .

New Registration

When you’ve finished filling out the form, click the Register button and the application will be set up for you.

Now when you run you should see your new program.

Media Center

Reviewing programs that have been registered:

  1. You can review programs that have already been registered by selecting the “Existing Registrations” tab.
  2. Open the Applications drop-down to see a list of all the applications that you have registered.
  3. Select an application to display all of the parameters that were used for the registration.

Unregistering a program:

  1. Select a program that was previously registered.
  2. Click the Unregister button.
  3. The application will be removed from .

Re-registering a program:

  1. Select a program that was previously registered.
  2. Click the Re-register button.
  3. The program will be re-registered using the same parameters that were previously used.

Existing Registrations

Download

Launcher Configurator is freeware, so feel free to download it and it use it as much as you want.

Credit Where Credit is Due

I also want to thank Michael Welter for developing the Media Center Launcher application, and for allowing me to redistribute it along with my own application.

Related posts:

  1. Set Up Home Theater Demos with My Movies for Media Center
  2. SecondRun.tv Lets You Watch Hulu from Media Center