I use SlickRun for my desktop launching needs, and thanks to this tip, i configured a SlickRun magic word for this. Works like a charm. Here's how to do it if anyone else is interested:

[blog.gadodia.net]

whoisvaibhav

@JSDavis82: Regarding HTML Sigs, if you're running the newest version, its not compatible with the old version of Gmail (which is what the "ui=1" means in the URL that spawned this article). Changing it to "ui=2" should work properly, tho. Unless you have found another way to pass the To, Subj & Body fields using the #compose URL, give this hack a try.

So, using the URL J. D. Harper (aka Blog Jones) supplied, it would be:
"https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&ui=2&tf=0&fs=1&to=$$&su=$$&body=$$"

Saibot

Question about reverting to Launchy 1.25: I would like to revert from 2.0 - I find it slow and not worth the hype. BUT, how do I revert without losing all my folder/directory/extension information?

I have it set up as a general file handler, so it's at least an hour to note down my settings and insert them in again.. ah the time we spend on 'productivity'!

CheGordito

Anyone having the same problem I am? I tried Adam's code and also Wererogue's, but when I try to launch it a window opens up and then closes after 1/2 second. I can open other URLs with Launchy no problem.

vandasian

In the path, put the address they show you above. Give it any description you wish and the hit OK. This new alias will now open a new "Compose Message" window in your default browser. lasvegasgolfing.net

MayGirl

Like many others, I also reverted back to 1.25 after "upgrading" to 2.0 and running into a myriad of issues. High resource usage, inability to use established and beneficial 1.x plug-ins, and a general bugfest are some of the reasons I would suggest staying at 1.25. If you need more, just take a look at the Launchy Bug Submissions for 2.0.

j3sX

Anyone know if there is a URL addition for attaching files?

Biologyfool

Does anyone else get error that says firefox is already running?

lethalox

@rtipping: yep, I find it heavy, but I use it along w/ process lasso, which was also featured here at lifehacker, and it seems to "lasso" it in before it runs away w/ my cpu!

qrius

If you're using Firefox, you could just bookmark

"https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&ui=1&tf=0&to=%s&fs=1"

and give it the keyword "compose" (right-click on the bookmark, choose "Options"). If you're running Launchy 2.0 (or 1.25 and the Weby plugin), your bookmarks are indexed, including keywords. This way, whether you use Launchy or choose Ctrl-L within Firefox, you get the same thing. In Launchy you can type "compose [tab] xxx@xxx.com" while in the Firefox address bar, it's "compose [space] xxx@xxx.com"

If you'd rather fill the subject than the "To:" address, use "su=%s" instead of "to=%s". You can't pass more than one parameter with FF bookmarks, though.

joelena

I really liked lauchy but it seemed to eat a ton of resource on my old box.
I switched to run robot on an article here which mentioned it and it worx well and seems lite on resource I don't think you can email with it though.
Any one else find lauchy heavy on juice?

rtipping

@Posco Grubb: I had wondered that, but just using "Subject=" didn't work. After a little searching, I found you had to use "su=". So, here's the new URL:

"https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&ui=1&tf=0&fs=1&to=$$&su=$$&body=$$"

Type compose → email address → subject → body.

Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be working for me. When I hit the last tab, the compose and email address mush together, so that it becomes composetest@test.com → subject → body.

Looks like a bug in Launchy to me. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

J. D. Harper (aka Blog Jones)

It worked great for my domain on Google Apps. I just used the following URL:

"https://mail.google.com/a/MYDOMAIN.COM/?view=cm&ui=1&tf=0&to=&fs=1"

Raneman

I also reverted to 1.25. I use the Mathy plug-in to quickly calculate stuff that the built-in Calcy can't handle, like e^(-0.2345).

Hopefully the author of Mathy will update it to 2.0, but it seems like the transition to 2.0 was basically a complete re-write with a different programming language (Qt), which appears to be more difficult to code for than whatever was used for the 1.x versions.

The benefit to Qt is that it is cross-platform, but for us mainstream Windows users, we could care less about cross-platform compatibility.

slip

Yeah, I rolled back from Launchy 2.0 to 1.2.
@jglessner: The issue I had was that 2.0 was consuming CPU cycles like crazy, making my CPU usage stay at 100% every few minutes. I even turned off automatic indexing and transparency effects. I posted a message on the Launchy Help forum, but there has not been a satisfactory response or acknowledgment... yet. Other users have noted the same behavior about 2.0.

@J. D. Harper (aka Blog Jones): Anyway, this is a very cool tip! Especially with the use of email address and body arguments. Does it work for the subject, too?

Posco Grubb

@Ryan Fisher:
I just did it while you were afk - try it! So just drop me 10$.. well make it 15 because I was that fast.

:p

slothy

@mig000: Actually, you can do both! If you use this url:

"https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&ui=1&tf=0&fs=1&to=$$&body=$$"

you can type "compose → email address → body" in one shot.

J. D. Harper (aka Blog Jones)

Thanks for another great Launchy tweak! It has been too long.

DmitriKaramazov

Point the Launchy indexer at %USERPROFILE%\Recent, then you can quickly call up anything you've opened lately.

drwtsn32

When Win+R starts autodetecting what program I want to start when I type it in, so I don't have to sift through my start menu anymore, I'll consider uninstalling Launchy...

IanT

@foxmajik: If I send ten dollars will you set it up so I can use a hotkey. Something like Windows Key + R?

Ryan Fisher

Save yourself the time of downloading "Launcy" and having more cruft in your registry:

Start --> Run

This all in one utility provides the functionality that advanced users need, allowing them to type arbitrary commands and run them just like they were entering arbitrary commands!

Please send me five dollars.

foxmajik

@gopanthers:
I guess you're referring to the Firefox Plugin Launchy. This article actually is about a keystroke launcher program called Launchy.

slothy

@Kubota: I rollback to 1.25. Is there anything 2.0 can do that 1.25 can't?

Pulseczar

I can't get this to work at all, and I tried every address here.

ChrisGriswold

I really do hope Launchy can manage to become as functional as Quicksilver is in Mac OSX, It is one of the greatest programs i have on my Mac and I would love to have an equivalent on Windows when I use it.

Trynemjoel

@Kubota:

Aye, I can't use 2.0 because they eliminated a few things I can't do without (like the "apply to all folders" function")

gvf

Ok, this is great on my Windows PC. Love it.

Is there a Quicksilver equivalent for my Mac at home?

agentgray

v1.2? v2.0? My Launchy extension says version 4.2.0!!! And furthermore, I've never seen anything that even slightly resembles the screenshot seen above. What the heck is going on here? Are there multiple, non-related Launchys?

gopanthers

brilliant. thanks for the tip!

I found that if I use the url recommended in the post, my sigs in HTML Signatures greasemonkey script don't load. However, if I use the program url that @wererogue suggested, the do. hope that helps.

JSDavis82

This tip gets much cooler if you append &body=$$ or &to=$$. This way you can press [tab] and enter the mail contents or recipient in launchy. Full url for recipient variant:

"https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&ui=1&tf=0&fs=1&to=$$"

If you choose the recipient variant the adress dropdown is open immediatly.

mig000

If you want a quick way to bring up your default compose mail, you can use this same method but put "mailto:" without the quotes in the program field. I have this setup to the keyword "send".

Ryan Fisher

The following works for me with google apps.

[mail.google.com]

Thanks for the tip.

rex827

Figured it out. You can't use "gmail" as the keyword. So I used compose like you said, and it works fine. Thanks LH!

radink360

This works for me! This is awesome!

spiralout987

For a more user-friendly url, you can use "https://mail.google.com/#compose"

wererogue

I was able to get the compose window to open but it doesn't recognize that I am already logged into Firefox. I have to leave IE as default because this is my work machine.

What tweak would I need to have this open the a Firefox window? I use Firefox constantly and have it open to Gmail most of the time.

vahju

Hmm. This just takes me to the inbox. Was it supposed to go into a compose screen?

radink360

For instructions on how to do the same thing in DOMercury: Type Options to bring up the options item, or right-click and select Options. Choose the "Alias Manager" tab. Click "Add". In the Alias Text Box write "Compose" or "Compose Gmail" or whatever you want to call it. In the path, put the address they show you above. Give it any description you wish and the hit OK. This new alias will now open a new "Compose Message" window in your default browser.

Dom

Why would you roll back? I haven't had any issues with 2.0, I'm just curious as to what issues you've had?

jglessner

Has Anyone gotten this to work with Google Apps using their own domain?

mminella

I'm still using 1.0, didn't even know there was a 2.0... LOL!

xint

I'm just curious, did anyone else rollback to Launchy 1.2?

Kubota

Here's how to do an even faster email, if you just want to send a quick SMS or one-line email idea or note to someone.

From my blog, [myfavortitetips.wordpress.com]

I frequently send one-line emails and/or text messages to my wife throughout the day. I configured Launchy so all I have to type is alt-space, cherylemail, tab, and the contents of the short email.

1. Download and install Blat (a command-line mail client.)

2. Add a new Launchy runner command (see image below.) In the Program field, enter the path to the Blat executable.

3. Use something like this in the arguments field: (Don't miss the leading hyphen.)

- -to "yourfriend@domain.com" -f myemail@mydomain.com -subject "Quick Note" -body "$$"

Jeff Axelrod