7+ Taskbar Numberer: taskbar numbers for Utter Command
Speech recognition
This utility has been designed for speech recognition users who use voice macros to switch between open applications and tray icons. It works on Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems, both 32-bit and 64-bit.
For example, speech recognition users that use Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional with the third-party provided Utter Command add-on can switch to the third application shown in the taskbar by using the command “Window 3″, or can right-click on the third visible tray icon by using the command “Tray 3″. When there are many open applications, or when the user has a significant amount of tray icons, it can become quite cumbersome to count by hand the number of icons in order to identify the sequence of the intended application or tray icon.
“7+ Taskbar Numberer” solves this problem by numbering sequentially, left to right:
- the icons for the open and close-but-pinned windows applications.
- all the visible tray icons.
and then placing tiny visible numbers (a.k.a. “hints”) in the top left corner of the application icons, and in the top right corner of the tray icons. The numbering scheme supports more than one digit, so that the hint for the 12th application is “12″.
While this utility has been tested with the Utter Command user interface, it will work with any other voice macros that select open applications or tray icons by rotating with them sequentially from left to right.
The utility adjusts dynamically as new applications or tray icons are added, and also works when the user has chosen to make just a subset of the tray icons visible.
This article wasn’t written by me. The author wished to remain anonymous.
Win+# keyboard shortcuts
You can use the Windows key+number keyboard shortcut to refer to a taskbar item.
Windows logo key
+number
Start the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the program is already running, switch to that program.Shift+Windows logo key
Start a new instance of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.Ctrl+Windows logo key
Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.Alt+Windows logo key
Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Source: Microsoft.
7+ Taskbar Numberer adds numbers to your taskbar items, so you can see right away what keyboard shortcut is assigned to each item.
Optionally, the numbers can appear only when the Windows key is down.
Usage
To launch this utility automatically when Windows launches and without showing the dialog, add a shortcut in your startup folder pointing to the location where you have placed the utility, followed by the -hidewnd command line switch, similar to:
"C:\Software\7+ Taskbar Numberer\64\7+ Taskbar Numberer.exe" -hidewnd
You might also want to add the -hidetray command line switch to hide the tray icon.
To use a specific option from the GUI, use the corresponding command line switch: -v1, -v2 or -v3.
To exit from this utility, right-click the tray icon.
Download
7plus Taskbar Numberer.zip (88.36 kB)
Good work. Thanks much. Very useful shortcuts.
This is useful for use with shortcuts Windows 7 (Winkey + [number]).
This is what I was thinking. The only problem though, is that when you have more than one window open for a particular program (and don’t combine the taskbar buttons), the extra windows get their own number, throwing off the whole number scheme (for the purpose of Winkey+[number]).
It’d be great to incorporate this concept into 7 Taskbar Tweaker, but make it so that whenever you press and hold in the Windows key, the numbers appear, letting you know which number to press to activate a desired program.
That is a Windows 7 feature I have wanted FOREVER.
This program was not designed for the Win+[number] hotkey, but for speech recognition software.
I am aware of that. I was simply responding to what “Murillo” said about it being useful with Win+[number] shortcuts.
I think 7 Taskbar Numberer is a great concept. Seeing it made me imagine a kind of Win+[number] “helper”.
Keep up the great work, RaMMicHaeL!
I’ve released 7 Taskbar Numberer v4.0, which can be used for numbering taskbar buttons for Win+# hotkeys.
Thanks U Very MUch It’s Work Bro horay…
There I found a bug.If there are several same windows of one process, they shound have the same number.Since the taskbar is set to “Merger when taskbar is filled”. Poor english, if u can understand.
See this comment and my reply:
http://rammichael.com/7-taskbar-numberer#comment-1878
Hi,
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Die Seite enthält infizierten Code: Gen:Trojan.Heur.FU.bqW@aazpm@dc (Engine A).
A false positive. Can you send them a false positive report?
Can we get a version/option without tray numbers?
I wanna use it just for win+num shortcuts
Btw, i’d use it as is maybe if tray icons were not hidden by those numbers (especially 10+ icon #s)
The program was designed for speech recognition software, not for Win+num hotkeys.
I’ve released 7 Taskbar Numberer v4.0, where such option is available.
Is there a way to have it use this option when being run from the startup folder?
Use a shortcut with the appropriate command line option.
Hey RaMMicHaeL,
Thanks a lot for you work, I’ve been looking for something like this for a while. I know you’ve already responded multiple times that this was designed for speech recognition, but I would really love a version that didn’t have tray icon labels ( I just use this with Win+number).
If you have the time, I would be very grateful for a no-tray version, or if you were willing to release the source I can do it myself.
Either way, thanks again for your work.
Done in v4.0.
I loved the potential of using this for Windows key shortcuts, as it’s the only thing I’ve found that overlays the icons with numbers–exactly what I was looking for! Well, almost. If you don’t have Windows combine your taskbar items, then forget about using this. It numbers each window open for a program, which will throw off the count.
I understand that this isn’t exactly what the program was designed for, but it’s the only thing I’ve found that’s even close. I’ll download this and try it again if you can make an option so that this works for the Windows key shortcuts. (I’d also like to not have the tray icons numbered.) Your program is so close to what I’ve been looking for!!!
I’ve released 7 Taskbar Numberer v4.0, which can be used for numbering taskbar buttons for Win+# hotkeys.
Most excellent! Thank you!
nice, looking for ths from a very long time.
I use this with win+# option and I have a suggestion: is it possible to make it ignore some icons in the taskbar (because the numbering is limited)? Maybe in 7+ Taskbar Tweaker’s taskbar inspector.
And how can I make it start in win+# mode every time?
And apparently Yahoo messenger gets 2 number icons: one for the program, like it should, and another for the status indicator thing (available, idle, busy…)
You’re right. I’ll see what I can do.
Should be fixed in v4.1.
What do you mean?
Use the -v2 command line switch.
In win+# I can use only 1-0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gy46i3tn6p8h0cs/Capture.PNG
That’s intended, the numbers are corresponding to the keys you have on your keyboard.
Why would you need numbering above 10 (0)?
I don’t want over 10, I just want to be able to choose what programs have hotkeys.
Random example: 1 2 _(no number) 3 _ _ 4 _
I hope you understand.
Got it.
Well, the numberer program merely shows the numbers, the hotkeys are managed by Windows.
I don’t know what it takes to change the hotkeys, and I’m not going to look at it anytime soon.
Thanks for the command line switch info so I can always have it launch in v2 mode. Is there a way to have the “7 Taskbar Number” window not pop up upon launch? Thanks.
Never mind. I found the answer on this page (-hidewnd). Should have looked around a bit. Thanks for the great tool. I use this all the time.
Hi,
My taskbar doesn’t show number.
Here’s the screenshoot http://www.2imgs.com/3ef67a5083.
What should I do?
Thanks.
Hi,
Try v4.2, should be fixed.
Thanks a lot
.
Man, can you just embed this feature into 7+ Taskbar Tweaker? I and many other people dont like to have many third party programs running, while we can have one instead. After all you have source codes of both and its not problem for you to add this feature to Taskbar Tweaker.
Thanks
Hello there! One question: Are you going to update this tool to work with Windows 8? Thanks in advance!
Hi Makorus!
Dunno. In fact you are the first to require it.
I’ll probably port it someday when I have lost of spare time.
Hi again!
Thank you for your fast reply. It would be awesome if you could do that. I was looking for such a tool long time ago and I couldn’t find anything. You’d be my hero.
7+ Taskbar Numberer now supports Windows 8.
Pure AWESOMENESS, thank you VERY much!
Would be nice to see this updated for Windows 8 – and maybe included in the 7+ taskbar tweaker
7+ Taskbar Numberer now supports Windows 8.
If you are using Windows 8, then it’s built in. Switch to the task bar, then when on the taskbar, just say NUMBERS, and voilà! It is very easy to close applications such as Skype using speech recognition on the notification icons.
First off, this beautifully solves the problem I experience with switching windows when I upgraded to Windows 7. Thank you very much for your time and effort!
Initially I thought that I couldn’t get the numbers to display properly. But acting on a whim I realised it’s dependent on the desktop style selected. I.e., you will see the numbers if you have selected “Windows 7 Aero theme” or “Windows 7 basic” but not “Windows Classic” (my own preference).
Secondly, as someone who has yet to try the Utter Command plug-in and would like to try writing macros in a different plug-in (NatLink) or Dragon itself, what’s the shortcut for accessing the tray icons? I realise that I can access the taskbar icons using WinKey+# (e.g. Windows Key + 5).
Finally, is 7 Taskbar Numberer supposed to number every instance of each application? I.e., if I have 2 Chrome Windows open and a Windows Explorer window open, organised with Chrome to the left of Explorer: Should I see the Chrome button numbered for instance as “2″ and the Explorer button numbered as “4″ (with one of the two Chrome’s windows being “3″ – although not visible). The reason I ask is that that is my understanding from reading the comments above. However, that is not what I see you when I am using this very nifty program. I.e., I would see Chrome = 2 and Explorer = 3, whether I have one, two or several Chrome windows open.
Seems like it doesn’t work with the Classic theme. In fact, I’ve never tested it.
Windows+B, if that’s what you’re looking for. I’ve never used Utter Command, and the article wasn’t written by me.
Yes, if your taskbar configuration is “Never combine” (in Taskbar Properties).
Otherwise, for “Always combine, hide labels” (which I assume you’re using), it will count it the way you described.
Very Nice. I don’t understand why this isn’t part of Windows by default now that there’s the Win+# hotkeys.
It should be noted though, that when using small icons in the task tray, the numbers appear very near the centre of the icons and cover them up half way rather than appearing up in the corner out of the way.
Excellent! I was looking for this a long time ago, and now I stumbled upon it. Good job!
Thanks a lot for your time, and this tool has solved the problem of switching windows.
However, I make the taskbar being autohide, so I holp when I press the WIN key, the taskbar will show.
I like the latest update that shows the numbers only when I hold the Win key! Much cleaner but still helpful for when I need it!