So last post (Software nostalgia; towards the end), I talked about Freebar that is written in VB6 (which is long dead), VB6 not installing on Windows 7 so I couldn’t open the Freebar project and the free alternative to VB6 being dead, so I couldn’t try to remake Freebar using the old code base.
340 words
Since then I’ve learned three things:
1 – there’s a second alternative to VB6…kind of: ActiveBasic
Pros: it’s free
Cons: It’s in Japanese and it seems like it doesn’t compile under Windows 7.
Nice try japs, nice try.
2- You can actually install VB6 on windows 7. (following this guide + running setup in compatibility mode with windows 98/ME since setup was crashing as soon as I clicked “Next”)
Which means I can play with Freebar’s source code and form design.
3- But even better.
There’s no alternative to the shortcut bar from office because…
*drum roll*
The shortcut bar from Office XP still works.
Perfectly (other than the 256 colour icons), docks to the edge and anything that maximizes “respects” the border. It doesn’t overlap full screen applications (unlike Freebar when it has “Always on top” turned on). Like an Application Desktop Toolbar should.
How awesome is that?
I’m starting to think that I’m the only human that loves that dockable shortcut bar.
This is my last rant about the office shortcut bar. For now.
*edit*
Oh fucking sweet baby jesus on a pogo stick!
If I have the office bar open when I go to youtube the youtube sidebar menu unpins itself and I constantly have to click the menu icon.
There’s more than enough screen space for both, but youtube decides that if the browser isn’t touching both borders of the screen it should unpin itself.
*edit 2*
Fucking google…sometimes I wonder how the fuck they made the money they have.
Zoomed (unzoomed?) the page to 90%, the idiot menu now decides it’s okay and there’s enough space for both it, the site layout and the office shortcut bar.
*edit 3*
I can actually go up to 99% zoom and the menu stays there.