[PT Run] Explicitly start new program instance with modifier key

[Mario-Hofstaetter]

Summary of the new feature/enhancement

Force starting of a new program instance even if an active windows is selected, by explicitly pressing

e.g. SHIFT+ENTER (configurable).

This is somewhat based on the windows taskbar behavior:
If an application is running, MIDDLE Mouse Click on its taskbar icon will open a new instancen/window (if the app allows it), e.g. Windows Explorer.
Also WIN+1 opens or switches to the first app on the taskbar. By pressing SHIFT+WIN+1 it is possible to open a new instance/window instead.

Why?

There are currently several issues open and closed discussing how to best procede after the merge of walker and launcher, after scanning them I did not read about my proposed idea above.
Several people wish for a seperate WindowWalker Mode, others suggest to prioritize running windows in the searchresults. It will be quite hard to satisfy everones needs.

IF running windows end up being the first in search results, users may prefer to use this alternative keyboard shortcut to force launching a new program window.

[mrmcpowned]

Would it be good to merge this with #3169? The suggestions seem to complement each other.

[Mario-Hofstaetter]

@mrmcpowned I guess so , precisely your #3169 (comment)
I think there are several more issues with overlapping concerns / ideas.

[c-vetter]

This sounds like a good option for a lot of people wanting a mix of running and non-running apps. Since PTRun is built around plugins, I think this would be a great new plugin. It should probably build upon both the walker and launcher plugins in some way.

Also, in my mind, it would tie in well with my proposal for direct plugin triggers. Would you consider that a good way forward?

[crutkas]

@Mario-Hofstaetter what is an instance of a program that launches it but doesn't start a new instance? just tried outlook and it starts a new pane.

[Mario-Hofstaetter]

@Mario-Hofstaetter what is an instance of a program that launches it but doesn't start a new instance? just tried outlook and it starts a new pane.

The first line of my post above says:

[...]starting of a new program instance even if an active windows is selected[...]

What I meant by that is, if searching for "outlook" would yield the RUNNING window as first result, pressing Enter would switch to this window. There is no explicit hotkey to open a new window instead (?).

You have to select Outlook 2016 instead using Arrow Keys. Currently, the running windows is NOT the first entry in search results (at least for me).

The reason I proposed this is I would greatly prefer to have running applications always as top most search result to switch to it, but if I want to start a new window, I'd prefer e.g. Shift+Enter instead of using the arrow keys to select the "launch application entry".

[saahmedm]

related to #3169 and #3557

[enricogior]

@Mario-Hofstaetter
as of now (version 0.29.x) this is the default behavior. Closing this issue.
Please open a new one in case you have a suggestion for the current behavior.
Thanks