PowerToys Run: MOAR config please

[fluffynuts]

I've only tried PowerToys Run for the second time; coming from KeyPirinha, it feels a little slow, but the last release is a lot faster than it was, so kudos.

I'd like to propose some settings toggles to facilitate what could become the central place to launch things on Windows machines, much like Spotlight (which isn't that great -- but it's fast) or Alfred (which is pretty good, but not free) or KeyPirinha (fast, free, only windows)

1. Option to rank matching windows highest
   • this would make PTR a viable alternative for alt-tab and hunting for the correct window; right now, the suggestion is at the bottom, so harder to get to, and more often than not, if the window is open, the app is a bad match: I basically never want 2x mail clients, slack, web browsers, etc -- I'd like to open the app or switch to it. For things that I open frequently (and multiple instances), I have keyboard shortcuts
2. I see there's a "fuzzy match", and the latest release ranks exact matches higher -- which makes sense. I'd like to see PTR learning my fuzzy matches and ranking those at the top. If I type in "ff" and move downward to select Firefox Nightly, I'd like "ff" to bring up Firefox Nightly at the top every time, with other matches below. IOW, rank matches by user selection -- if I cursored there, it's a good match
3. Option to start up blank every time -- I basically never want the last selection, and yes, the text is already selected, so I can just start typing, but it looks cluttered.

[Jay-o-Way]

I think.. 1) Wouldn't that exclude program when you already have a window with a matching title?? 2) Is a personal preference. You're talking about software that learns, wich sounds like extra effort. 3) Not a problem for me, and your suggestion means that you have to type every thing every single time, so you can't use/adapt the previous search, which means less productivity and more frustration. It's easier to just replace the text by typing.

[asherber]

The second point (learn my fuzzy matches) would be a big plus for me as well. Launchy does this, and it's pretty old software. I think it just keeps track in a table of the frequency of your selections that correspond to what you have typed.

[iron2000]

For point 3.

Would be nice to have an option in settings to get it to start blank on each Alt-Space call. An option so users can choose their desired behaviour of PT Run.

[fluffynuts]

@Jay-o-Way please read the issue title: I'd like configuration to enable / disable this based on user preferences. If you don't like it, don't enable it! The feature to "start blank when the user wants that" is really small, imo.

@iron2000 that's exactly what I'm asking for: configuration to enable these features, as and when it's possible (:+1:

@asherber correct: this isn't rocket-science, though I'm sure someone could try to over-complicate things (:

[fluffynuts]

I think..

1. Wouldn't that _exclude_ program when you already have a window with a matching title??

no -- prioritise it, as per the description

2. Is a personal preference. You're talking about software that learns, wich sounds like extra effort.

yes, like all software: every feature is extra effort for the developers and features are provided to reduce effort on the part of the user

3. Not a problem for me, and your suggestion means that you have to type every thing every single time, so you can't use/adapt the previous search, which means less productivity and more frustration. It's easier to just replace the text by typing. to adapt the previous search, you can't just start typing either -- you'd have to use a mouse or press right or something to remove the selection. Again, as a feature-toggle, if it's not something you'd like, then don't enable it (:

[jyuwono]

We have a tracking issue for all of the suggestions you've provided :)

For 1 & 2: #3371 For 3: #3237

Please continue the discussion in the respective issues. Closing this as a duplicate.