Hello to all fellow Reaper users and welcome to the ReaLauncher discussion thread.
What's ReaLauncher?
ReaLauncher is a custom and Lua-based version of the standard Reaper startup prompt window with a number of additional features (more info in the
Feature overview below).
Powered by Lokasenna's GUI library v2 for Lua (see link in the
Install instructions below). So also a big thanks to Lokasenna for his work!
Screenshot shows version 2.5
Feature overview- Linux, macOS & Windows support
- Separate tabs for [Recent Projects], (.rpp) [Project Templates], (.rtracktemplate) [Track Templates], (.rpp) [Projects], (.rpl) [Project Lists], (.rpp-bak) [Backups] and (.pdf) [Docs]
- Option to set custom folder paths for [Project Templates] and [Track Templates] - which are scanned in addition to the default template folder locations
- Option to set custom folder paths for the [Projects], [Project Lists], [Backups] and [Docs] tabs
- List filter in each tab that supports the use of multiple search words separated by a 'space' character
- File paths can be shown/hidden and also displayed optionally in the status bar
- Sort options
- [Favorites] tab to list and manage bookmarked favorites of each tab
- [Follow Actions] tab to set Actions that are triggered after certain operations (New Tab, Load Project, etc.)
- Global functions accessible via main button panel or context menu: [Open Project], [New Project], [New Tab], [Load in Tab], [Load] and [Insert]
- Selection and loading of multiple entries at once (multi-select via mouse is already part of Lokasenna's GUI library)
- 'Keep open' checkbox to toggle the automatic window closing behavior after Load/New/Insert operations
- Different tab selector styles (Tabstrip or Dropdown)
- Scalable and resizeable window
- Customizable colors
Features that require SWS Extensions (2.9.8 or higher)- [Recent Projects] tab for listing and managing recent project entries (with functions to remove selected entries and to clear the entire list)
- 'Last Active' project functions to check for and load last active project tabs
- [Locate in Explorer/Finder] button to navigate to the location(s) of selected files in Explorer or Finder
- [Docs] tab for listing .pdf files
- Setup of predefined Reaper Theme Slots and the possibility to switch between them (uses SWS Resources)
Features that require js_ReaScriptAPI (0.991 or higher)- Function to preview attached 'demo' audio files (supported file extensions: .wav, .flac, .mp3 and .ogg)
- Option for adding folder paths in the [Options] tab via a 'Browse' dialog (besides copy & pasting paths manually)
- Additional sorting options by date
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Install instructions- Install Lokasenna's GUI library v2 for Lua (via ReaPack)
- Afterwards, run the Script: Set Lokasenna_GUI v2 library path.lua Action from the Action List
- Install ReaLauncher (via ReaPack)
- Install SWS Extensions (see link below) - required for [Recent Projects] and [Docs] tab functions, among others
- Install the js_ReaScriptAPI extension (via ReaPack) - required for the audio preview function
- Have fun!
Additional notes- Folder paths can be set in the [Options] - accessible e.g. via the [F2] function key
- General info and an overview of all key shortcuts can be found in the [Help] tab - accessible e.g. via the [F1] function key
- The window size is scalable via UI buttons or the function keys: [F10] toggles between a small & big window size, [F11] & [F12] lets you scale the window size down & up
- The list font size is scalable via UI buttons or the function keys: [F8] & [F9] lets you reduce & increase the list font size.
Links
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Settings to always show ReaLauncher automatically at startup (requires SWS Extensions)- Search for Script: solger_ReaLauncher.lua in the Action List *
- Right Click on the entry and Copy selected action command ID *
- Open Extensions > Startup actions > Set global startup action
- Paste the action ID (copied in step 2) into the input field and confirm via [OK]
- Open Options > Preferences > General
- Set Open project(s) on startup to one of the [New project] options (instead of [Prompt] that shows the standard Reaper startup prompt window)
* Another way is to first add 'Script: solger_ReaLauncher.lua' to a Custom Action and then copy the action command ID of this Custom Action
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Reverting to an older version
In case there might be any issues with certain updates or you want to skip a version, here are the steps to revert to an older version:
- Go to 'Extensions > ReaPack > Browse Packages'
- Filter for 'ReaLauncher'
- Use either the [Actions] button at the bottom or the Right Click menu to select a different version
- Click [OK] or [Apply] afterwards
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Bug reports & Feature requests
Although I mainly test things under Windows 10, macOS 11 (Big Sur) and Linux (64-bit), there's always room for improvement.
So if anyone encounters any bugs or errors, please let me know including some basic details:
- Operating system: Windows, macOS or Linux
- Reaper version number (and if 32-bit or 64-bit)
- A short description of the problem (as example: what's the problem and when exactly does it occur?)
- Additionally, a screenshot or LICEcap screen capture showing the problem can also be helpful
Feature requests (see
post #2) are of course also always welcome.
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Tips & Tricks (also visible in ReaLauncher's
[Help] tab)
Global Shortcuts for loading projects with FX Offline- Holding CTRL + SHIFT (Windows & Linux)
- Holding CMD + SHIFT (macOS)
Another possibility is to use the
Open with FX offline option in the
[Open Project] window
Selection of multiple list entries via mouse:- Select adjacent entries with SHIFT + LEFT CLICK
- Select non-adjacent entries with CTRL/CMD + LEFT CLICK
- Loading a single entry directly is possible via Double Click - if set in [Options]
[Recent Projects] tab (requires SWS Extensions installed)
RIGHT CLICK on the Recent Projects listbox opens the (Remove entry | Clear list) context menu to remove selected entries or clear the entire recent projects list.
Audio preview function (requires js_ReaScriptAPI)
Preparation: Place a WAV, FLAC, MP3 or OGG audio file with identical name into the same folder as the project or template file.
Examples:
- Demo-Project.rpp | Demo-Project.wav
- Test.RTrackTemplate | Test.mp3
Usage inside ReaLauncher:
- Select a preview output channel (by default 1/2) and adjust the volume knob (in %) via Left Drag or Mousewheel
- Start/Stop a preview via Key Shortcut or Double Click (on the volume knob)
Status colors: Silver (preview file available) & Highlight color (preview file playing)
ReaLauncher
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