ExtraBars is unique and integrates so seamlessly with your Series 5 that you'll think it's actually part of the operating system.

Of course there are alternative shareware products to ExtraBars which try to replace the Extras bar with their own proprietory interface. There are even some launcher applications that actually break the ultimate rule and re-create the Windows CE task bar and start menu. Windows CE on your EPOC palmtop? - It's blasphemy!!!

Where does ExtraBars differ from these other products?

ExtraBars provides the power and flexibility of the standard EPOC Extras bar but allows you to add and configure multiple "bars". The shortcuts on these bars can be links to Applications, Documents, Folders, Web sites, Clipboard entries, Templates, keystrokes, extrabars and Macros (Macro5 and EScript macros supported) You can create up to 100 bars, each holding up to 40 shortcut icons and each assigned to a hotkey such as FN+T or one of the application keys (i.e. Agenda or Fn+Agenda).

Application and Document shortcuts allow you to get to your favourite files quickly allowing you to organise your documents more efficiently. Webs site shortcuts mean that your favourite Psion sites are only a pen or key click away and folder shortcuts allow you to see a folder contents in a dialog or in the system screen itself.

Other shortcut types include ClipTexts and Templates. ClipText's are text entries that can be pasted into documents with a single click. Use them for signatures, common phrases, letterheads etc. Templates enable you to launch an new Word document for example in a pre-defined format, ie Letter, Memo etc. You can even use them to make notes!

Keystrokes are new in version 1.20 and allow you to take a key combination like Ctrl+Shift+W (Week view in agenda) and replace it with Fn+W. Pressing the new hotkey sends the full keystroke to the application in the foreground (or a specific application that is running). It makes switching views of moving email (Ctrl+Shift+I in Epoc Mail v2.00) much easier!

Extrabar shortcuts, also new in version 1.20 allow you to build nested extrabars, where each can link to another bar, which itself can contain links to other bars. Navigation couldn't be easier!

You can navigate through bars and shortcuts with the pen or keyboard. Typing the first letter of a shortcut jumps to it but If you want to launch shortcuts with one keypress then the "single key launching" feature is for you. With this feature YOU can decide the key you want to use by prefixing the shortcut names with letters or numbers eg "1-My Doc", "2-Cliptest". Simply type the character while the bars is displayed and that shortcut is instantly run. Why tap twice when you can do it once!!

I just want something simple, is ExtraBars too complicated?

No, ExtraBars is the only shareware application/document launcher that is fully compliant with EPOC design standards and this makes it the easiest to use. ExtraBars wizards (which have been highly praised in the many reviews and copied in other applications) help you through the various features without slowing you down and rich on-line help is there at all times. Extensive preferences make it possible to configure all aspects of ExtraBars so you can make it work for you from day one.

'EventBars' add even more features to ExtraBars. A Startup and PowerOn bar allow you to launch applications and documents whenever ExtraBars is loaded for the first time or the palmtop is switched on. Simply create a bar with the name Startup or Poweron, add some shortcuts and it's as simple as that. Next time you switch on the machine, anything on the Poweron bar is run and any time you startup ExtraBars, everything on the Startup is run.

There's even more for developers. ExtraBars was the first EPOC application to offer a fully open application progammable interface (API). This feature, now used in other commerical EPOC applications allows developers or users with OPL expertise to add and extend the features of ExtraBars. A full programatic interface through EScript allows you to create and delete bars, add and remove shortcuts and new in 1.20F are Event handlers that allow you to intercept the launching of shortcuts and add you own custom features! You can intercept the launching of a ZIP file and open it in another application or intercept an HTML file and open it in an editor. The possibilities are almost limitless.

That's not all on the customisation front. Plugin macro support allows you to add your favourite Macro5, EScript, and Backlite+ macros into the ExtraBars menus, seamlessly merging their functionality into the main application.

ExtraBars comes with some sample Macro5 and EScript macros and more are coming soon.

So how do you get it and how much is it?

This is the best part! You can download and use ExtraBars for free for an unlimited amount of time. You can create up to 5 bars with 40 shortcuts on each. If you decide you like it, you can register for  15 UKP and the limit of 5 bars is raised to 100 - that's 4000 shortcuts!!

Features at a Glance

  - Up to 100 bars.
  - Up to 4000 links..
  - Documents links.
  - Applications links.
  - Websites links. 
  - Clipboard links.
  - Templates links.
  - *ExtraBar links.
  - *Keystroke links.
  - Task cycling.
  - Folder links.
  - Macro5 macros.
  - EScript macros.
  - Backlite+ macros.
  - Sorting of shortcuts.
  - Startup bar.
  - Poweron bar.
  - One key launch
  - Online Help.
  - Intuative Wizards.
  - Fully customisable.
  - Extendable.
  - Superior support

  * New in 1.20F

Reviews

"ExtraBars is a revelation" Steve Litchfield 3-lib review

"ExtraBars offers so many possiblities that it is just amazing" - Planet EPOC review

"an excellent application" - 5Alive review

The facts

Product
ExtraBars V1.20F


Price
15 UKP

Free Trial limitations
You can create
five bars whilst unregistered.

Download sites
EPOC+Plus
PocketIQ

Install formats
EPOC install (SIS)
Manual install (ZIP)