Add working folder and minimized launch options

MainWindow.xaml

@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@
                                 <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
                                 <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
                                 <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+                                <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
                             </Grid.RowDefinitions>
 
                             <TextBlock Text="Title" VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,8,8"/>
@@ -203,27 +204,42 @@
                             <TextBlock Text="Arguments" Grid.Row="3" VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,8,8"/>
                             <TextBox x:Name="ArgumentsBox" Grid.Row="3" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Margin="0,0,0,8"/>
 
-                            <TextBlock Text="Icon Path" Grid.Row="4" VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,8,0"/>
+                            <TextBlock Text="Working Folder" Grid.Row="4" VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,8,8"/>
-                            <TextBox x:Name="IconPathBox" Grid.Row="4" Grid.Column="1" Margin="0,0,8,8"
+                            <TextBox x:Name="WorkingFolderBox" Grid.Row="4" Grid.Column="1" Margin="0,0,8,8"/>
+                            <Button x:Name="WorkingFolderBrowseButton"
+                                    Grid.Row="4" Grid.Column="2"
+                                    Content="Folder"
+                                    Click="BrowseWorkingFolder_Click"
+                                    Padding="8,4"
+                                    Margin="0,0,0,8"/>
+
+                            <TextBlock Text="Icon Path" Grid.Row="5" VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,8,0"/>
+                            <TextBox x:Name="IconPathBox" Grid.Row="5" Grid.Column="1" Margin="0,0,8,8"
                                      TextChanged="PreviewField_Changed"/>
-                            <StackPanel Grid.Row="4" Grid.Column="2" Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,0,0,8">
+                            <StackPanel Grid.Row="5" Grid.Column="2" Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,0,0,8">
                                 <Button Content="Icon" Click="BrowseIcon_Click" Padding="8,4" Margin="0,0,6,0"/>
                                 <Button Content="Reset" Click="ResetIcon_Click" Padding="8,4"/>
                             </StackPanel>
 
-                            <TextBlock Text="Selected Item Display" Grid.Row="5" VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,8,8"/>
+                            <TextBlock Text="Selected Item Display" Grid.Row="6" VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,8,8"/>
-                            <ComboBox x:Name="ItemDisplayModeBox" Grid.Row="5" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
+                            <ComboBox x:Name="ItemDisplayModeBox" Grid.Row="6" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
                                       Margin="0,0,0,8" SelectionChanged="ItemDisplayModeBox_SelectionChanged"/>
 
-                            <TextBlock Text="Launch Options" Grid.Row="6" VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,8,8"/>
+                            <TextBlock Text="Launch Options" Grid.Row="7" VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="0,2,8,8"/>
-                            <CheckBox x:Name="RunAsAdminBox" Grid.Row="6" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
+                            <StackPanel Grid.Row="7" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Margin="0,0,0,8">
-                                      Content="Run as administrator"
+                                <CheckBox x:Name="RunAsAdminBox"
-                                      Margin="0,0,0,8"
+                                          Content="Run as administrator"
-                                      Checked="RunAsAdminBox_Changed"
+                                          Margin="0,0,0,6"
-                                      Unchecked="RunAsAdminBox_Changed"/>
+                                          Checked="LaunchOptionBox_Changed"
+                                          Unchecked="LaunchOptionBox_Changed"/>
+                                <CheckBox x:Name="StartMinimizedBox"
+                                          Content="Start minimized"
+                                          Checked="LaunchOptionBox_Changed"
+                                          Unchecked="LaunchOptionBox_Changed"/>
+                            </StackPanel>
 
-                            <TextBlock Text="Preview" Grid.Row="7" VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="0,4,8,0"/>
+                            <TextBlock Text="Preview" Grid.Row="8" VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="0,4,8,0"/>
-                            <Border Grid.Row="7" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
+                            <Border Grid.Row="8" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
                                     BorderThickness="1"
                                     BorderBrush="{DynamicResource AppBorderBrush}"
                                     Background="{DynamicResource AppSurfaceBrush}"

MainWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -613,10 +613,12 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         TypeBox.SelectedItem = item.Type;
         TargetBox.Text = item.Target;
         ArgumentsBox.Text = item.Arguments ?? "";
+        WorkingFolderBox.Text = item.WorkingFolder ?? "";
         IconPathBox.Text = item.IconPath ?? "";
         loadedAutoIconPath = GetAutomaticIconPath(item);
         ItemDisplayModeBox.SelectedItem = item.DisplayMode;
         RunAsAdminBox.IsChecked = item.RunAsAdmin;
+        StartMinimizedBox.IsChecked = item.StartMinimized;
         UpdateTargetAvailability();
         isLoadingSelection = false;
         UpdatePreview();
@@ -631,10 +633,12 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         TypeBox.SelectedIndex = -1;
         TargetBox.Text = "";
         ArgumentsBox.Text = "";
+        WorkingFolderBox.Text = "";
         IconPathBox.Text = "";
         loadedAutoIconPath = null;
         ItemDisplayModeBox.SelectedItem = controller?.Config.DisplayMode;
         RunAsAdminBox.IsChecked = false;
+        StartMinimizedBox.IsChecked = false;
         UpdateTargetAvailability();
         isLoadingSelection = false;
         UpdatePreview();
@@ -653,6 +657,9 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         selectedItem.Arguments = selectedItem.Type == LauncherItemType.Menu || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(ArgumentsBox.Text)
             ? null
             : ArgumentsBox.Text.Trim();
+        selectedItem.WorkingFolder = LauncherController.CanUseLaunchOptions(selectedItem.Type) && !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(WorkingFolderBox.Text)
+            ? WorkingFolderBox.Text.Trim()
+            : null;
         EnsureAutomaticIconPath();
         selectedItem.IconPath = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(IconPathBox.Text) ? null : IconPathBox.Text.Trim();
         if (ItemDisplayModeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherDisplayMode itemMode)
@@ -660,6 +667,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
             selectedItem.DisplayMode = itemMode;
         }
         selectedItem.RunAsAdmin = LauncherController.CanRunAsAdmin(selectedItem.Type) && RunAsAdminBox.IsChecked == true;
+        selectedItem.StartMinimized = LauncherController.CanUseLaunchOptions(selectedItem.Type) && StartMinimizedBox.IsChecked == true;
 
         if (selectedItem.Type != LauncherItemType.Menu)
         {
@@ -966,10 +974,12 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
             Type = item.Type,
             Target = item.Target,
             Arguments = item.Arguments,
+            WorkingFolder = item.WorkingFolder,
             IconPath = item.IconPath,
             IsFavorite = item.IsFavorite,
             IsDisabled = item.IsDisabled,
             RunAsAdmin = item.RunAsAdmin,
+            StartMinimized = item.StartMinimized,
             DisplayMode = item.DisplayMode,
             Children = item.Children.Select(child => DuplicateItem(child, renameRoot: false)).ToList()
         };
@@ -1542,6 +1552,11 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
                 issues.Add(new TargetValidationIssue(string.Join(" > ", itemPath), problem));
             }
 
+            if (!item.IsDisabled && TryGetWorkingFolderIssue(item, out string? workingFolderProblem) && workingFolderProblem is not null)
+            {
+                issues.Add(new TargetValidationIssue(string.Join(" > ", itemPath), workingFolderProblem));
+            }
+
             if (item.Children.Count > 0)
             {
                 ValidateTargets(item.Children, itemPath, issues);
@@ -1610,6 +1625,25 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         }
     }
 
+    private static bool TryGetWorkingFolderIssue(LauncherItem item, out string? problem)
+    {
+        problem = null;
+
+        if (!LauncherController.CanUseLaunchOptions(item.Type) || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(item.WorkingFolder))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        string workingFolder = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(item.WorkingFolder.Trim());
+        if (Directory.Exists(workingFolder))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        problem = "Working folder does not exist.";
+        return true;
+    }
+
     private static bool CommandExistsOnPath(string target)
     {
         if (target.IndexOfAny([Path.DirectorySeparatorChar, Path.AltDirectorySeparatorChar]) >= 0)
@@ -1785,7 +1819,29 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         ThemeService.Apply(scheme);
     }
 
-    private void RunAsAdminBox_Changed(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
+    private void BrowseWorkingFolder_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        using FolderBrowserDialog dialog = new()
+        {
+            Description = "Choose a working folder"
+        };
+
+        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(WorkingFolderBox.Text))
+        {
+            string currentFolder = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(WorkingFolderBox.Text.Trim());
+            if (Directory.Exists(currentFolder))
+            {
+                dialog.SelectedPath = currentFolder;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (dialog.ShowDialog() == System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK)
+        {
+            WorkingFolderBox.Text = dialog.SelectedPath;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void LaunchOptionBox_Changed(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
     {
         if (isLoadingSelection)
         {
@@ -1875,11 +1931,17 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
             Type = TypeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherItemType type ? type : LauncherItemType.App,
             Target = TargetBox.Text.Trim(),
             Arguments = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(ArgumentsBox.Text) ? null : ArgumentsBox.Text.Trim(),
+            WorkingFolder = LauncherController.CanUseLaunchOptions(TypeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherItemType itemType ? itemType : LauncherItemType.App) &&
+                !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(WorkingFolderBox.Text)
+                    ? WorkingFolderBox.Text.Trim()
+                    : null,
             IconPath = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(IconPathBox.Text) ? null : IconPathBox.Text.Trim(),
             IsFavorite = selectedItem.IsFavorite,
             IsDisabled = selectedItem.IsDisabled,
-            RunAsAdmin = LauncherController.CanRunAsAdmin(TypeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherItemType itemType ? itemType : LauncherItemType.App) &&
+            RunAsAdmin = LauncherController.CanRunAsAdmin(TypeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherItemType adminType ? adminType : LauncherItemType.App) &&
                 RunAsAdminBox.IsChecked == true,
+            StartMinimized = LauncherController.CanUseLaunchOptions(TypeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherItemType launchType ? launchType : LauncherItemType.App) &&
+                StartMinimizedBox.IsChecked == true,
             DisplayMode = ItemDisplayModeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherDisplayMode mode
                 ? mode
                 : selectedItem.DisplayMode
@@ -1946,20 +2008,31 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
     private void UpdateTargetAvailability()
     {
         bool isMenu = TypeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherItemType.Menu;
+        bool canUseLaunchOptions = TypeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherItemType launchType && LauncherController.CanUseLaunchOptions(launchType);
         bool canRunAsAdmin = TypeBox.SelectedItem is LauncherItemType itemType && LauncherController.CanRunAsAdmin(itemType);
         TargetBox.IsEnabled = !isMenu;
         ArgumentsBox.IsEnabled = !isMenu;
+        WorkingFolderBox.IsEnabled = canUseLaunchOptions;
+        WorkingFolderBrowseButton.IsEnabled = canUseLaunchOptions;
         RunAsAdminBox.IsEnabled = canRunAsAdmin;
+        StartMinimizedBox.IsEnabled = canUseLaunchOptions;
         if (isMenu && !isLoadingSelection)
         {
             TargetBox.Text = "";
             ArgumentsBox.Text = "";
+            WorkingFolderBox.Text = "";
         }
 
         if (!canRunAsAdmin && !isLoadingSelection)
         {
             RunAsAdminBox.IsChecked = false;
         }
+
+        if (!canUseLaunchOptions && !isLoadingSelection)
+        {
+            WorkingFolderBox.Text = "";
+            StartMinimizedBox.IsChecked = false;
+        }
     }
 
     protected override void OnClosing(System.ComponentModel.CancelEventArgs e)

Models/LauncherConfig.cs

@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ public sealed class LauncherItem
 
     public string? Arguments { get; set; }
 
+    public string? WorkingFolder { get; set; }
+
     public string? IconPath { get; set; }
 
     public bool IsFavorite { get; set; }
@@ -31,6 +33,8 @@ public sealed class LauncherItem
 
     public bool RunAsAdmin { get; set; }
 
+    public bool StartMinimized { get; set; }
+
     public LauncherDisplayMode DisplayMode { get; set; } = LauncherDisplayMode.CompactList;
 
     public List<LauncherItem> Children { get; set; } = [];

README.md

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Download the compiled Windows release from:
 - Right-click launcher entries or Settings items to temporarily disable them
 - Right-click app/file entries to open their containing folder
 - Optional run-as-administrator mode for app and file entries
+- Optional working folder and start-minimized launch options for app and file entries
 - Validate missing app, file, and folder targets from Settings
 - Export and import selected items or menu sections
 - Sort a selected menu or item level alphabetically

Services/LauncherController.cs

@@ -180,10 +180,12 @@ public sealed class LauncherController : IDisposable
             Type = item.Type,
             Target = item.Target,
             Arguments = item.Arguments,
+            WorkingFolder = item.WorkingFolder,
             IconPath = item.IconPath,
             IsFavorite = false,
             IsDisabled = false,
             RunAsAdmin = item.RunAsAdmin,
+            StartMinimized = item.StartMinimized,
             DisplayMode = item.DisplayMode,
             Children = []
         };
@@ -278,6 +280,7 @@ public sealed class LauncherController : IDisposable
         string target = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(item.Target);
         bool runAsAdmin = item.RunAsAdmin && CanRunAsAdmin(item.Type);
         string launchTarget = runAsAdmin ? ResolveExecutableTarget(target) : target;
+        string workingDirectory = GetWorkingDirectory(item, target);
 
         try
         {
@@ -286,7 +289,7 @@ public sealed class LauncherController : IDisposable
                 FileName = launchTarget,
                 Arguments = item.Arguments ?? "",
                 UseShellExecute = true,
-                WorkingDirectory = Directory.Exists(target) ? target : ConfigService.AppFolder
+                WorkingDirectory = workingDirectory
             };
 
             if (runAsAdmin)
@@ -294,6 +297,11 @@ public sealed class LauncherController : IDisposable
                 startInfo.Verb = "runas";
             }
 
+            if (item.StartMinimized && CanUseLaunchOptions(item.Type))
+            {
+                startInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Minimized;
+            }
+
             Process.Start(startInfo);
             return true;
         }
@@ -309,6 +317,25 @@ public sealed class LauncherController : IDisposable
         return itemType is LauncherItemType.App or LauncherItemType.File;
     }
 
+    public static bool CanUseLaunchOptions(LauncherItemType itemType)
+    {
+        return itemType is LauncherItemType.App or LauncherItemType.File;
+    }
+
+    private static string GetWorkingDirectory(LauncherItem item, string target)
+    {
+        if (CanUseLaunchOptions(item.Type) && !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(item.WorkingFolder))
+        {
+            string configuredFolder = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(item.WorkingFolder.Trim());
+            if (Directory.Exists(configuredFolder))
+            {
+                return configuredFolder;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return Directory.Exists(target) ? target : ConfigService.AppFolder;
+    }
+
     private static string ResolveExecutableTarget(string target)
     {
         if (Path.IsPathRooted(target) || Path.GetDirectoryName(target) is { Length: > 0 })

TaskbarLauncher.csproj

@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
     <Authors>Ray Berezowski</Authors>
     <ApplicationIcon>Assets\AppIcon.ico</ApplicationIcon>
     <Version>1.0.1</Version>
-    <AssemblyVersion>1.0.1.19</AssemblyVersion>
+    <AssemblyVersion>1.0.1.20</AssemblyVersion>
-    <FileVersion>1.0.1.19</FileVersion>
+    <FileVersion>1.0.1.20</FileVersion>
     <InformationalVersion>1.0.1</InformationalVersion>
   </PropertyGroup>
 

Views/LauncherPopup.xaml.cs

@@ -468,6 +468,11 @@ public partial class LauncherPopup : Window
             AddToolTipLine(panel, $"Arguments: {item.Arguments}");
         }
 
+        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(item.WorkingFolder))
+        {
+            AddToolTipLine(panel, $"Working folder: {item.WorkingFolder}");
+        }
+
         if (item.IsFavorite)
         {
             AddToolTipLine(panel, "Pinned to top");
@@ -478,6 +483,11 @@ public partial class LauncherPopup : Window
             AddToolTipLine(panel, "Runs as administrator");
         }
 
+        if (item.StartMinimized)
+        {
+            AddToolTipLine(panel, "Starts minimized");
+        }
+
         return new System.Windows.Controls.ToolTip { Content = panel };
     }
 

config.example.json

@@ -9,10 +9,12 @@
       "Type": "Menu",
       "Target": "",
       "Arguments": null,
+      "WorkingFolder": null,
       "IconPath": null,
       "IsFavorite": false,
       "IsDisabled": false,
       "RunAsAdmin": false,
+      "StartMinimized": false,
       "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
       "Children": [
         {
@@ -20,10 +22,12 @@
           "Type": "Folder",
           "Target": "%USERPROFILE%\\Documents",
           "Arguments": null,
+          "WorkingFolder": null,
           "IconPath": "%USERPROFILE%\\Documents",
           "IsFavorite": false,
           "IsDisabled": false,
           "RunAsAdmin": false,
+          "StartMinimized": false,
           "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
           "Children": []
         },
@@ -32,10 +36,12 @@
           "Type": "Folder",
           "Target": "%USERPROFILE%\\Downloads",
           "Arguments": null,
+          "WorkingFolder": null,
           "IconPath": "%USERPROFILE%\\Downloads",
           "IsFavorite": false,
           "IsDisabled": false,
           "RunAsAdmin": false,
+          "StartMinimized": false,
           "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
           "Children": []
         }
@@ -46,10 +52,12 @@
       "Type": "Menu",
       "Target": "",
       "Arguments": null,
+      "WorkingFolder": null,
       "IconPath": null,
       "IsFavorite": false,
       "IsDisabled": false,
       "RunAsAdmin": false,
+      "StartMinimized": false,
       "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
       "Children": [
         {
@@ -57,10 +65,12 @@
           "Type": "App",
           "Target": "notepad.exe",
           "Arguments": null,
+          "WorkingFolder": null,
           "IconPath": "notepad.exe",
           "IsFavorite": false,
           "IsDisabled": false,
           "RunAsAdmin": false,
+          "StartMinimized": false,
           "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
           "Children": []
         }

docs/INSTALL.md

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ From Settings you can:
 - Right-click an item and choose **Disable Item** or **Enable Item** to hide or restore it
 - Right-click an app or file item and choose **Open Containing Folder**
 - Enable **Run as administrator** for app and file items that need elevation
+- Set a working folder or start apps minimized for app and file items
 - Use **Config... > Validate Targets** to check for missing app, file, and folder targets
 - Use **Config... > Export Selected Item** or **Import Item** to share one item or menu section
 - Right-click an item and choose **Sort This Menu** or **Sort This Level**