How do I "command" open programs?

OBjectDock sends commands to Windows . . not to TC.

Can you do what you are tryign to do from the command prompt?  That might provide a clue

It might work if you have the top box under Miscellaneous Options checked and you're using a standard dock (not tabbed).

Total Commander allows you to create customized toolbars.....put a shortcut(s) the the appropriate folder(s) on a custom toolbar in TC

I can't think of a good reson to run TC from the dock.....just means you have to switch focus to change your path....adds an extra step.

Thanks for the answers so far.

@Zubaz
I don't hink that it is possible to command Total Commander by Windows Command Prompt. It has it's own, built in Command Prompt from where I can execute Windows Commands, I don't think it's working the other way around though.
It would be nice to have the option inside ObjectDock to send commands to programs directly. I don't know if this is a big thing or quite easy to accomplish, I am just saying it would be nice ...

@Lantec:
I believe mentioned box is checked and it is not tabbed. I still can't see how this changes things, can you explain please?

For clarificatiion: Yes, Total Commander has these nifty customized toolbars and I am using them already. But the toolbar gets cluttered fast and for working on short projects I'd like to jump to different directories fast via Object Dock. Might sound complicated to you but it would be areal timesaver for me

Stone

"When shortcut is run, if program is already running bring it to the foreground only" ................It's the only way Object Dock will not bring up another instance of the program. I'm not sure if it will change the path for you however.

I can no longer test it......I moved to Directory Opus when I went x64. I had to retire Total Commander........due to the programming language used there will never be a native x64 version. I have seen a couple posts where he states he intends to do a re-write.

Dopus allows for "floating toobars" which can dock along the screen edge just like Object Dock.....something to think about.

@Lantec:
OK, I found the option you mentioned, it's the second to top box though

Now if I give "totalcmd.exe" for a link it will bring Total Commander to the front when clicked (focus). Very well!

But the given Argeuments seem to be ignored. I've put something like "cd c:\directory\anotherdirectory\" there. If I put the same thing into Total Commander's Commandbox it works perfectly. The same thing (or other commands as well) does nothing when I click Object Dock.

Still, I fell I am wee bit further than before. I can now obviously "contact" Total Commander from Object Dock. But why does ist not understand the Command ??

Do I miss something?

Thanks!

Stone

Edit: I searched first the TotalCommander Help and found Command Parameters like "LW:\c:\directory\anotherdirectory\" that are specifically made for sending commands to TotalCommander. However, this did not work at all...

Then I searched the TotalCommander Forums and found this article in which the same thing obviously works. I tried the same code they used at this page, but for me it does not do anything.
Once again, am I missing something ??

I think this limits what OD can do itself. I imagine that you can write a docklet that would interact with TC the way you need to. You might want to go thru the OD gallery and check out some of the docklets out maybe contact one of the developers.

fyi... i JUST installed this software for the first time like 3 days ago and i probably have no idea what i am talking about, but i think we may have had a similar issue...

I'm in an online class where i have to use either IE or Safari to sign in to the site, but i have chrome as my default browser. and i do not want my school site as my home page on IE... i'm picky like that. but i wanted a button on my dock that linked me straight to their page in IE.. generally you would have to type:

"c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe" http://yoururlhere

into the the target box in a new shortcut as the command line argument to accomplish that from the desktop (with the quotes and all), but it wouldn't work when i typed that directly into the link box in the dock entry properties for a new shortcut on the dock..

sounds to me like it may be the same technical issue you're having with your command line arguments...

anyway. You could try making a link on your desktop that runs your file managing program with the arguments and then browsing to that link from the dock entry properties box..  it worked for me like just an hour ago..

actually, now that i've gone back and looked at it since i've started writing this..  turns out that OD has an option that tells it to point to the target of a link when that link is added to the dock.. it that took my argument of "http://myschool" and put it in the argument box of in the properties dialog [go figure, right? it's only been three days with this thing, give me a break :)] and cut off the quotation marks.. try:

c:\path\totalcmd.exe              as your link target and your

LW:\c:\directory\anotherdirectory\  (or whatever) "parameter" in the argument box..

hopefully this will help you out..

@9hurm
Your code at the bottom of your post is exactly what I tried (amongst a lot of other things).

Still, it does not work.

Just as an example, I tried starting a graphics program with a file as an argument. And it opened itself (was not open before) and the the file given as an argument. However: As soon as the program was open already, it would not open the file anymore when I click on the respective OD icon?

Like I wrote abobe, in the TotalCommander forums I found a guy who had it working for him that way too?

Any new ideas are appreciated, meanwhile I will ask at the TC forums as well ...

Stone

maybe a stupid question here.. but did you look to see that you weren't opening multiple instances and they were just popping open in a minimized state?

I can open multiple instances of IE with my school's page using that same type of argument...  do you have OD setup to show your open windows on the dock? 

I use a similar setup for my photo viewing softare

in the link box I put the path to the program  

C:\Program Files (x86)\appdir\appname.exe

in the arguments box I just put path i want it to open to for that icon without any other parameter info

G:\Photo Gallery\jan25

and when I hit the icon it opens that folder specifically for browsing

I use this same setup for changing directories when the app is already open.