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ZenKEY Changelog

What's new in ZenKEY 2.5.3

May 11, 2015
  • Refresh of the tool chain / build process.

New in ZenKEY 2.5.2 (Feb 14, 2014)

  • Fixed error when tiling 4 windows.
  • Added 'Windows System Folder' actions so they can be added after installation.

New in ZenKEY 2.5.1 (Dec 6, 2013)

  • Fixed "Subscript of of range" error for certain menu sizes

New in ZenKEY 2.5.0 (Nov 22, 2013)

  • When moving the Infinite Desktop, ZenKEY will switch focus to the last used app visible app, otherwise to the app under the cursor.
  • If set as a permanent option (via the ZenKEY configuration utility), the ZenBar layout is now permanently enforced (instead of just on startup).
  • Usable windows are now filtered, providing a better history of used applications for desktop movements and window actions.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.17 (Jul 26, 2013)

  • Iconizing a windows now returns the focus to the previously active application.
  • Fixed a bug in the Infinite Desktop Autofocus setting that prevented it from working as desired.
  • Added a "Display Hotkeys" function to the "Backup/Restore" section (where else?) in the Configuration Utility.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.16 (Jul 13, 2013)

  • Fixed issue with the ZenKEY Wizard on Windows 8
  • Increased Window memory depth
  • Corrected description of the Infinite Desktop Automatic Focus setting

New in ZenKEY 2.4.15 (Jul 8, 2013)

  • Changed the "Automatic focus" setting for "Infinite desktop" movements to set focus to the most recent application that lies within the new desktop position.
  • The recorded active application depth in now 8 (was 4).

New in ZenKEY 2.4.14 (May 21, 2013)

  • Added two more Window classes for Win 8 UI + "Auto-Window Transparency" compatibility ("Snapped Window", "ImmersiveGutter" - thanks Link).
  • Corrected bug when saving "Auto-Window Transparency" exclusions.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.13 (May 13, 2013)

  • Added support for using a wider range of Hotkeys, such as "PrtSc/SysRq", "Break/Pause" and more.
  • Fix an issue where if a search is being tested and ZenKEY is not running, the test failed.
  • Removed the "Google Map Search" - it did not work.
  • Fixed an issue that prevented keystroke sequences from being tested.
  • Added class exclusions to prevent Win8 UI ("Metro") app Windows from participating in "Auto-Window Transaparency".

New in ZenKEY 2.4.12 (Apr 12, 2013)

  • Added Google map search to the list of predefined actions.
  • Icon size is now saved and restored per icon (if the 'preserve icon' setting is enabled).
  • Fixed the loading of omitted class names for automatic window transparency exclusions

New in ZenKEY 2.4.11 (Apr 1, 2013)

  • Switched off debug logging (was switched on for testing at some point and got into the final build. Sorry...).
  • Optimized and improved the behviour of the mouse click simulation.
  • Website: Updated the download page to include Rainmeter skins, a note about the demise of Samurize and links to the source repo on SourceForge

New in ZenKEY 2.4.10 (Mar 10, 2013)

  • Optimized transparency algorithms according to MS docs.
  • Improved the 'Refresh window' alogorithm after tranparency applications.
  • Removed the 'Refresh window' option in 'Automatic window transparency' as it's now handled automatically.
  • Added an "Automatic focus" option after Desktop movements.
  • Fixed a bug that repeated the keystrokes in the display when editing them.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.9 (Feb 13, 2013)

  • Removed "Avoid layered windows" option for auto-transparency: it now done by default.
  • Optimized some routines determining whether to apply auto-transparency.
  • Added support for excluding window classes during "Automatic window transparency".
  • Removed the "Desktop" option for selecting files.
  • The Desktop map is now refreshed immediately after Infinite Desktop area movements.
  • Small optimizations to window class resolving.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.8 (Nov 30, 2012)

  • Fixed issue creating a Zen Layout if no icons exist.
  • Some small tweaks in the Icon layout routines.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.7 (Oct 26, 2012)

  • Modified Desktop Map corner icon click behaviour.
  • Some small tweaks to internal string manipulation routines.
  • Removed some un-used functions and dead code.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.6 (Oct 15, 2012)

  • More Windows 8 icons fixes.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.5 (Oct 6, 2012)

  • Moved all Hotkey verification into single function (prevents illegal selections).
  • Fixed a bug in detection of duplicate keys.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.4 (Sep 24, 2012)

  • Fixed some visual artifacts in the icons.
  • Added support for detecting the Windows key when capturing keystrokes.
  • Added warning when using only the Windows key as a modifier.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.3 (Sep 21, 2012)

  • Changed email address for author.
  • Added ability to use the Windows key as a modifier.
  • Reworked a few windows to accomodate the longer hotkey combinations.

New in ZenKEY 2.4.2 (Sep 17, 2012)

  • Added Windows 8 Icon compatibility.
  • Added dedicated higher-res icon for shortcuts.
  • Added "Show window information" to window actions

New in ZenKEY 2.4.1 (Aug 23, 2012)

  • Added support for Windows 7 Desktop Map functions (Windows 7 "WorkerW" classes).

New in ZenKEY 2.4.0 (Jun 23, 2012)

  • Fixed an error opening menus.
  • Moved to new version number to assimilate all previous fixes/changes

New in ZenKEY 2.3.22 (Apr 24, 2012)

  • Added warning messages to the backup/restore functions.
  • Corrected spelling of "Set up" in the wizard.
  • Windows positioning and layout commands now take the taskbar into account.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.21 (Oct 19, 2011)

  • New Zen Icons now properly adopt the currently set Icon forecolor.
  • Added Backup and Restore functions for importing/exporting settings and menus.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.20 (Oct 7, 2011)

  • Fixed error when adding a 'Simlate keystoke' action via the Wizard.
  • Removed legacy compatibility parameters for 95/98 OS commands in the default config.
  • Restriced Icon extraction to locally mounted drives.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.19 (Sep 21, 2011)

  • Corrected spelling of 'Powershell' actions in Windows 7 configurations.
  • Corrected problem saving icons settings when not set to load on startup.
  • Corrected problem with extracting large icons on later Windows versions.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.18 (Sep 12, 2011)

  • Fixed the launching of the 'Windows configuration' utility (Windows 7).
  • Improved the 'mimimum size' behaviour for the desktop map.
  • Improved process information lookup for 64-bit compatibility.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.17 (Aug 21, 2011)

  • Updated help and documentation

New in ZenKEY 2.3.16 (Jun 28, 2011)

  • Added a new default configuration for Windows 7 (provides access to new, Win7 tools).

New in ZenKEY 2.3.15 (May 27, 2011)

  • When an open and visible application is activated/fired via a hotkey, ZenKEY now toggles between it's visible windows with each activation/firing.
  • Optimized some registry functions (faster, reduced size).
  • Modified 'Shutdown Windows' command to perform clean ZenKEY exit.
  • Optimized Infinite Desktop exclusion list handling.
  • Improved collection type safety.
  • Removed launch code from Winamp message class (It's a message passer, not a launcher).
  • Replaced manual window parent search (for 95 compatibility) with more efficient API call.
  • Optimized file name parsing method.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.14 (May 27, 2011)

  • Fixed 'Type mismatch' error on first run.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.13 (May 18, 2011)

  • Optimized windows handle acquisition in icon updating.
  • Improved the consistency of the icon 'Window mode' setting.
  • Fixed the "Window mode' setting for Zen Icons (All windows and Single window).

New in ZenKEY 2.3.12 (May 13, 2011)

  • Fixed bug in ZenIcon management (gave error when closing).
  • Fixed 'Flush inactive icons' function.
  • Flushing or closing icons restores icon Zenbar positions (if enabled).

New in ZenKEY 2.3.11 (May 5, 2011)

  • Optimimized message displays (reduced EXE size, reduced processing).
  • Removed and replaced a now redundant 'Modal message' function.
  • Removed use of 'End' statement from startup logic.
  • The screen dimmer now dims all attached monitors.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.10 (Apr 25, 2011)

  • Replaced 'per-icon' color setting with a 'All icon' color setting.
  • Optimized the opening/closing of the settings files (now accessed only once on start/end).

New in ZenKEY 2.3.9 (Apr 19, 2011)

  • Improved the Desktop map Active icon refreshing (to better handle resizing).
  • Fixed the Desktop map bottom right icon click (Displays right click menu).
  • Added 'Pin to Desktop' options for the Desktop map and ZenIcons.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.8 (Mar 19, 2011)

  • The Active application icon is now part of the Desktop map.
  • Optimized icon updating.
  • Icons now have a 'Color' options to change the Icon forecolor.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.7 (Mar 12, 2011)

  • Added 'Make Transparent' window function (renders the window background transparent).
  • Added the 'Make Transparent' function available in the Desktop map right click.
  • Optimized the Window refreshing routine (when transparency is set).
  • Modified style of ZenIcons (painted with Desktop background, pinned to Desktop, autosizing).
  • Fixed a memory leak with Icon handles.
  • If in ZenBar mode, ZenIcons are resized with the Desktop map.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.6 (Feb 26, 2011)

  • Fixed an error when multiple windows are selected via the Desktop map and then closed.
  • Added 'Pin to Desktop' and 'Pin to Desktop(Undo)' window functions, both with 'Undo' support.
  • Added 'Pin to Desktop' functionality to the Desktop map.
  • Slightly re-organized the Desktop map right-click menu.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.5 (Feb 3, 2011)

  • In the installer, added a check to see if ZenKEY is running and warn accordingly.
  • Changed User settings location (now determined by registry).
  • Improved installation behavior (remembers settings, unticking undoes option).

New in ZenKEY 2.3.4 (Jan 21, 2011)

  • Improved ZenKEY icon management.
  • Reworked internals so Desktop map and Infinite desktop classes are truly separate.
  • Fixed the errors when trying to add new actions via the ZenKEY configuration utility.
  • Fixed the external firing of actions (includes testing).

New in ZenKEY 2.3.3 (Jan 8, 2011)

  • Removed libraries the caused errors on unloading.
  • Improved Zen property lookup algorithm.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.2 (Jan 6, 2011)

  • Reworked program termination to try and avoid exiting errors on Windows Vista/7.
  • Optimized some array handing routines.
  • Optimized Desktop map access and some other object references.
  • Fixed some quirky interaction between a Desktop map and an Infinite desktop setting.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.1 (Dec 23, 2010)

  • Corrected transparency inconsistencies on Zen Icons.
  • Corrected problem where icons where not reloaded on startup.
  • Optimized multi-window selection on the Desktop map.
  • Corrected a problem in laying out icons in Zenbar mode.
  • Removed dynamic Zenbar layout enforcing - seems more irritating than useful.

New in ZenKEY 2.3.0 (Dec 17, 2010)

  • Moved internal workings over to RichClient libraries (faster dictionaries, new features).
  • Many optimizations and tweaks to internals.

New in ZenKEY 2.2.9 (Nov 13, 2010)

  • Corrected: the Desktop map can no longer be moved via the Desktop map itself (Really this time!).
  • Clicking 'Move Desktop right' did not give the appropriate warning when the Infinite desktop is disabled.
  • Removed support legacy 'Registry to INI' conversion.
  • Removed redundant settings from default configuration files.
  • Added actions to open the configuration utility in the 'Items' and 'Configuration' sections.

New in ZenKEY 2.2.8 (Nov 5, 2010)

  • Corrected spelling mistakes ("Folow", "actionl").
  • Corrected: the Desktop map can no longer be moved via the Desktop map itself.
  • Closing the Desktop map now keeps the map hidden (reworked instatiation behavior too).
  • Restored window rolling fix (fix was removed by recent changes).

New in ZenKEY 2.2.7 (Oct 22, 2010)

  • Removed legacy support calls for Windows 98/ME (In preparation for RichClient libraries).
  • Optimized some graphical tiling and polling routines.

New in ZenKEY 2.2.6 (Sep 17, 2010)

  • Corrected the display of the 'Run' dialogue.
  • Corrected a runtime error in the Wizard after the display of conflict messages.
  • Modified the "simulate keystokes" item in the Wizard to disable editing of the recorded sequence.

New in ZenKEY 2.2.5 (Jul 22, 2010)

  • Added ability to tweak mouse movements using direction keys.
  • Improved mouse-clicking simulation.
  • Added Bing and Bing image searches to Internet search options.
  • Tweaked message sending to active ZenKEY instance (when testing actions).
  • Added event flush to try and prevent graphical aberrations on startup.

New in ZenKEY 2.2.4 (Jul 6, 2010)

  • Optimizations to the way icons are loaded and placed.
  • Escape key now closes the search dialog.
  • Transformed all window resizing and placement functions to be more multi-monitor friendly: Windows placements are limited to the first monitor.

New in ZenKEY 2.2.3 (Jun 5, 2010)

  • Added code to avoid rare errors with imagelist initialization.
  • Improved ZenBar layout with Desktop map resizing behaviour.
  • Re-implemented the window rolling mechanism. This allows windows to be minimized and retain their rolled state.
  • Added a rolling repair mechanism to address the not unrolling glitch (appear not to be a bug but Windows behaviour).

New in ZenKEY 2.2.2 (Jun 5, 2010)

  • Added yield to allow processing before rolling windows (hopefully fixes rare unrolling failures).
  • Removed the 'Center on active window' option from the Desktop map. It's too much.
  • Renamed the 'Show form' setting to 'Show window' for a more consistent terminology.
  • Optimized a lot of the ZenKEY window updating and layering code.
  • Fixed some moving misbehaviour when dragging icons in ZenBar layout mode.
  • Optimized the ZenBar layout implementation slightly.
  • Added text about the 'Active icon' in the ZenBar layout (under Icons) setting description.

New in ZenKEY 2.2.1 (Apr 19, 2010)

  • Renamed 'Icon Clearing' actions to 'Icon Removing' (more intuitive).
  • Added 'Remove Window Icon' action.
  • Added 'Remove all Icons' action.
  • Removed the application labels from the Desktop Map.

New in ZenKEY 2.1.11 (Jan 24, 2010)

  • Tweaked the window rolling behavior.
  • Corrected the tooltip help on the icons.
  • Corrected an error when 'Auto-transparency' was enabled on the fly.
  • Corrected the 'Auto-window transparency' menu status toggle check indicator (was inaccurate).
  • Refinments to the ZenKEY Icon behavior. New icons now center around the mouse cursor on first creation, only store settings if 'Preserve icon' is checked, and are created in the foreground.

New in ZenKEY 2.1.10 (Dec 14, 2009)

  • The Desktop map now on-screen colors now applies across multiple monitors
  • Improved the Desktop map color detection mechanism
  • Another attempt to prevent the rare and elusive "window staying rolled" problem
  • Re-factored and optimized the window rolling functionality
  • Improved the Desktop map window handling

New in ZenKEY 2.1.9 (Dec 14, 2009)

  • Re-worked the message box behaviour to allow actions whilst a message box is visible
  • Improved rolling behaviour to preserve window position
  • Made process information on icons standard (not longer an option)

New in ZenKEY 2.1.8 (Nov 9, 2009)

  • Windows occasionally would not unroll automatically. Hopefully that is fixed now.
  • Fixed problem with annoying message when a rolled application is closed.
  • Optimized a few window placement functions.
  • Neatened up the icon stats display and improved the update algorithm.
  • Modified the message box behaviour to prevent cascading errors.

New in ZenKEY 2.1.7 (Oct 5, 2009)

  • Fixed a bug with auto unroll (Windows occasionally would not unroll automatically)
  • Corrected the loading of icons - only icons with 'Preserve' enabled are now not restored on a restart of ZenKEY
  • Improved the 'Follow window' behavior
  • More optimized Desktop map updating
  • Corrected the icon click to always re-acquire the window handle
  • Corrected Desktop map not correctly displaying maximized windows across multiple desktops
  • Tweaked the mechanism for detecting which window to act upon

New in ZenKEY 2.1.6 (Sep 18, 2009)

  • Fixed a nasty bug if a rolled window is active and a message box was shown.
  • Re-implemented and optimized the rolled window collection.
  • Re-implemented and optimized the Zen Icon collection.
  • Windows are now unrolled when fired immediately after rolling.
  • Rolled windows can now be minimized.
  • Activating Iconized applications now moves through all the application windows when repeated.
  • Fixed a bug where icons did not restore proc ess information updating.

New in ZenKEY 2.1.5 (Aug 28, 2009)

  • Improved the mouse move commands to act with delay.
  • Improved the mouse button commands (Click, Right click) to fire when any Hotkey is released (it previously waited until all Hotkeys were released).
  • Windows are now automatically unrolled when applications are activated (to be further refined).
  • Added screen dimming actions which now apply to all screens (multiple monitors).
  • Optimized the window selection mechanism for applying actions.
  • Re-implemented the window list mechanism for icons (more elegant).
  • Improved the icon updating (more accurate, no exclusions).

New in ZenKEY 2.1.3 (Jul 21, 2009)

  • The active icon now reacquires window information for other icons.
  • Fixed the 'Close and clear' icon action so it actually does this.
  • Refined iconization and un-iconizing to be more consistent and preserve settings.
  • Simplified the active icon behaviour and removed unused menu items.
  • Removed the 'Show tooltips hints' option.

New in ZenKEY 2.1.2 (Jun 17, 2009)

  • In ZenBar mode, added a permanent 'Active application' icon The caption is italicized and colored
  • Added tooltips to the icons
  • Asterisks in the icon caption now indicate that the application is iconized
  • Firing iconized applications or clicking 'Shown window' on the icon now shows each window sequentially
  • Optimized and reworked the balloon messages to dissappear after 3 seconds
  • Corrected a forground issue with activiating iconized windows
  • Corrected undo behaviour for rolled windows

New in ZenKEY 2.1.1 (May 29, 2009)

  • Modified icon click action to reacquire and act with one click (previously required 2).
  • The ZenKEY form is now no longer moved and placed in the ZenBar layout.
  • Refined the tray notification to address suspected problems with incorrect click behavior on the icons.
  • Removed the 'Apply to all app windows' option from icons. This is now the default behavior.
  • Iconization is now a simple toggle when clicking on icons.
  • Icons now reacquire process information on startup. If the application is not active, the display is disable until the icon is clicked.
  • Added a windows action 'Icon - Reacquire process information' to update icon process information manually.
  • Serious optimizations to icon behavior, including faster loading, improved information acquiring and reduced CPU usage.
  • In order to minimize acting on inappropriate windows, icons now only act on windows with a caption.
  • Modified the icon right-click menu.

New in ZenKEY 2.1.0 (May 29, 2009)

  • The ZenKEY Installer now uses the Open Source NSIS Installer.
  • Switched to using native windows controls/widgets (faster, smaller).
  • Fixed a bug that occasionally generated and error when multiple modal message box was displayed.
  • Changed the notification mechanism to use standard windows balloon tips (XP and above only).
  • Reinstated the 'Re-acquire' window option on icons.
  • Removed the Desktop Map update and timed display options. Simple is better.
  • The search dialog now shows the previous search with all text selected.

New in ZenKEY 2.0.17 (May 29, 2009)

  • Fixed the 'ShowMenu' action to show the main menu, not the ZenKEY submenu.
  • Added a 'Send to tray' option to ZenKEY icons.
  • Optimized the 'Auto-window transparency' to prevent unnecessary window refreshing.
  • Added intellegent reversing of states when switching ZenKEY icon actions.
  • Fixed a bug in the configuration utility - Browse 'Program files' now opens in 'Program files'.
  • Optimized window z-order management.
  • The 'ZenKP.exe' file was not included in the install (which means ZenLEY could not simulate keystokes).

New in ZenKEY 2.0.16 (May 29, 2009)

  • Optimized various loading procedures.
  • Removed icons from the menu when items are on/off settings. The icons are now blank or a tick.
  • Fixed a bug where the 'Window under mouse' setting did not work properly.
  • Moved Keystroke emulation to an external module. This means simulated keystrokes can now be used to fire ZenKEY Hotkeys.
  • Added delayed firing for any action and removed 'Delayed startup' action from icons.
  • Improved refreshing of moved windows to play nicely with multiple desktops.
  • Removed manual window refreshing (faster).

New in ZenKEY 2.0.15 (May 29, 2009)

  • Fixed a bug where the last icon was loaded twice on startup (reimplented the icon stack using collections)
  • Removed UPX compression on exe's due to unpredicable behaviour.
  • Fixed a bug when iconizing windows that had an icon. Process information is now correctly restored and blank icons re-used.

New in ZenKEY 2.0.14 (May 29, 2009)

  • Fixed a bug where the 'Apply to all app's windows' setting on the icon was not saved.
  • Added support for multiple monitors on the Desktop map.
  • Improved window refresh algorithm for offscreen windows.

New in ZenKEY 2.0.13 (May 29, 2009)

  • Removed the 'Auto-roll' actions from the icons. This feature will be re-implemented at a later stage.
  • Removed the automatic re-acquiring of windows from the icons - too CPU intensive.
  • Added a 'Desktop map update' option to allow decreased CPU usage.

New in ZenKEY 2.0.12 (May 29, 2009)

  • Fixed a bug the resulted in existing instances of applications not being brought to the foreground.

New in ZenKEY 2.0.11 (May 29, 2009)

  • Automatic rolling is now prevented when the window is minimized.
  • Modified the unloading to try and prevent windows from staying rolled when ZenKEY exits.

New in ZenKEY 2.0.10 (Jul 27, 2008)

  • Infinite Desktop, Desktop map, 'Live' icons with CPU and memory usage display

New in ZenKEY 1.9.1 (Sep 7, 2006)

  • Desktop map dragging and right-click control, support for mobile disks

New in ZenKEY 1.9.0 (Aug 24, 2006)

  • Support for mobile disks. ZenKEY can now be installed on a memory stick and run on any computers running Windows XP or with Vb5 runtimes.
  • The 'Desktop map' can now be used to control windows and perform desktop moves.
  • Transparency is no longer applied to 'RunDLL' and 'Static' system windows eg. 'Display properties', 'Run'.