windows 7 +calibre - 2 start methods - 2 speeds ?

cybmole · 01-21-2011, 02:15 AM

i have calibre set to go to system tray when closed & from there it restarts instantly.

but the system tray icon is small so I also added calibre to the main task bar using "pin to taskbar" - that gives a larger - easier to click - icon.

but when i click that icon , calibre takes a few seconds to restart - presumably it is trying to launch a new instance of itself before realising that it does not need to.

this is unusual behavour - other "pin to taskbar" programs do not behave like this

Manichean · 01-21-2011, 03:08 AM

What do you mean by "pin to taskbar"? Does this force the program to stay in the taskbar when active? Does this create a shortcut in what was called "quick start" in XP? If the latter, then yes, Calibre would then spawn a new instance (or at least, try to do so) every time you clicked the icon.

cybmole · 01-21-2011, 03:23 AM

pin to taskbar is a standard windows 7 feature, as is pin to start menu. with the former you get a handy, largish icon at foot of screen to use for launching programs.

it does as you say - try to spawn a new instance, but calibre is smart enough not to have 2 active instances, as the "close to system tray" option in calibre has been keeping it alive. - so I guess that I am just suprised that calibre does not detect that instantly & behave as if I'd clicked the small system tray icon.

watching with task manager.
state1. calibre closed, system tray icon present - calibre.exe is a live process.
state2, launch calibre ( from start bar, task bar, whatever) - see 2 instances of calibre in task manager, cpu at 50% for a couple of seconds, then a return to one instance & low CPu usage.
state 3. close calibre ( = shrink to system tray) - no change in live processes.

I could just minimise to task bar when not in use but that takes up more screen real estate. ( standard win 7 behaviour again - minimised programs take up about 1" of task bar space - just enough to show program name),

Manichean · 01-21-2011, 03:38 AM

Let me state clearly what I only implied before: You start a new instance. Calibre is written in Python, which takes a little to start up before it even realizes there already is an instance.
Or, let me say this in another way: Why do you even try to start another instance if there is already an active instance in memory?

Perkin · 01-21-2011, 04:58 AM

Instead of closing to taskbar, why not just use 'minimize window', as calibre will still be running anyway, and then a nice large icon will still appear in the main taskbar, which when clicked on will quickly restore calibre to full window mode.

01-21-2011, 02:15 AM	#1
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	windows 7 +calibre - 2 start methods - 2 speeds ? i have calibre set to go to system tray when closed & from there it restarts instantly. but the system tray icon is small so I also added calibre to the main task bar using "pin to taskbar" - that gives a larger - easier to click - icon. but when i click that icon , calibre takes a few seconds to restart - presumably it is trying to launch a new instance of itself before realising that it does not need to. this is unusual behavour - other "pin to taskbar" programs do not behave like this

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01-21-2011, 03:08 AM	#2
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	What do you mean by "pin to taskbar"? Does this force the program to stay in the taskbar when active? Does this create a shortcut in what was called "quick start" in XP? If the latter, then yes, Calibre would then spawn a new instance (or at least, try to do so) every time you clicked the icon.

01-21-2011, 03:23 AM	#3
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	pin to taskbar is a standard windows 7 feature, as is pin to start menu. with the former you get a handy, largish icon at foot of screen to use for launching programs. it does as you say - try to spawn a new instance, but calibre is smart enough not to have 2 active instances, as the "close to system tray" option in calibre has been keeping it alive. - so I guess that I am just suprised that calibre does not detect that instantly & behave as if I'd clicked the small system tray icon. watching with task manager. state1. calibre closed, system tray icon present - calibre.exe is a live process. state2, launch calibre ( from start bar, task bar, whatever) - see 2 instances of calibre in task manager, cpu at 50% for a couple of seconds, then a return to one instance & low CPu usage. state 3. close calibre ( = shrink to system tray) - no change in live processes. I could just minimise to task bar when not in use but that takes up more screen real estate. ( standard win 7 behaviour again - minimised programs take up about 1" of task bar space - just enough to show program name),

01-21-2011, 03:38 AM	#4
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	Let me state clearly what I only implied before: You start a new instance. Calibre is written in Python, which takes a little to start up before it even realizes there already is an instance. Or, let me say this in another way: Why do you even try to start another instance if there is already an active instance in memory?

01-21-2011, 04:58 AM	#5
Perkin Guru Posts: 655 Karma: 64171 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Kent, England, Sol 3, ZZ9 plural Z Alpha Device: Sony PRS-300, Kobo Aura HD, iPad (Marvin)	Instead of closing to taskbar, why not just use 'minimize window', as calibre will still be running anyway, and then a nice large icon will still appear in the main taskbar, which when clicked on will quickly restore calibre to full window mode.

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