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InputBar 1.2.0

· 4 min read

IMPORTANT: Theme reset - Incompatible themes from earlier versions​

Due to major layout changes introduced in 1.2.0 (double-line result items, dynamic window height), themes from version 1.1.x and earlier are incompatible.

On first launch after upgrading, InputBar detects these old themes and automatically replaces them with the updated defaults. A one-time warning dialog is shown before this happens.

Only theme files are affected. All other data (settings, plugin data, aliases, favorites) is preserved.

Config.json - Data directory redirect​

A new Config.json file (next to the executable) lets you redirect where Data/ and Plugins/ are stored:

{
    "ConfigDirectory": "C:\\Users\\USERNAME\\AppData\\Roaming\\InputBar"
}

Plugin data files (favorites.data, aliases.data, default_shell.json) are automatically seeded into the new location on first launch.

Data/Config.json -> Data/Settings.json​

The main settings file has been renamed from Data/Config.json to Data/Settings.json.
Existing installations are migrated automatically on first launch — no manual action needed.

  • Type settings in InputBar to reload or open the file (was config)

New Plugin - Shell​

A dedicated Shell plugin has been added (Plugins/Shell/Shell.py).

It handles shell command execution, separate from app launching:

  • favorites.data — define named shell command shortcuts:
fastfetch=pwsh fastfetch
btop=cmd btop
showFolder=pwsh ls "C:\My\Path\"
myscript=python C:\My\Path\script.py --arg
  • default_shell.json — set your default shell (cmd, pwsh, powershell)
  • Per-entry shell override — prefix any entry with a shell name to override the default:
btop=cmd btop
  • Favorites are fuzzy-searchable by name from the InputBar
  • Direct shell commands typed in the bar are also detected and executed
  • Type shell reload to reload favorites without restarting
→ Shell Documentation

New Plugin — Everything (file search)​

A dedicated Everything plugin integrates voidtools Everything directly into InputBar.

  • Type f <query> or everything <query> for an explicit file search
  • Known extensions (.png, .pdf, .mp4, …) auto-trigger the plugin — just type the extension
  • Favorites — define named folder shortcuts in favorites.data: 
    # Plugins/Everything/favorites.data
    src=Z:\Projects\MySrc
    wallpapers=C:\Users\Me\Pictures\Wallpapers
    Typing src shows the folder as the first result, followed immediately by its contents.
  • Right-arrow sub-menu on any result: Open folder · Copy file path · Back
  • Everything is started silently in the background if not already running; no manual setup needed
→ Everything Documentation

Improved app filtering (App plugin)​

Shortcuts (.lnk files) whose target is a non-executable document (e.g. .chm help files, .pdf, .txt) are now excluded from the application index. Only shortcuts that open a real executable or folder are shown.

SVG icons & right-arrow sub-menu improvements​

  • Sub-menu items (Start as admin, Open folder, Copy file path, Back) now use coloured SVG icons from Assets/Icons/
  • Icon colours are configurable per-theme via the new icons section in the theme JSON: 
    "icons": {
        "admin":   "#FF8C00",
        "folder":  "#FFD700",
        "system":  "#888888",
        "arrow_left": "#FFFFFF"
    }
  • Copy file path is a new sub-menu option (copies the full path to the clipboard)
  • The right-arrow sub-menu is now available on both app and file results (Everything items included)
  • "Start as admin" is only shown when the selected item is an executable (.exe)
  • Emoji characters removed from all built-in result labels

Internal Changes​

  • _version.py moved to Build/ (generated by CMake at build time)
  • .gitignore added at root; src/.gitignore updated
  • Startup warmup: InputBar now shows briefly on launch to pre-warm search and icon cache, eliminating first-keystroke latency
  • Core/Config.py renamed to Core/Settings.py
  • Core/Migrations.py — new file centralising all startup migrations and plugin data seeding
  • Data/__pycache__ no longer created in compiled/setup builds (was always empty)
  • Plugin data files now correctly follow ConfigDirectory when set

Downloads​

View on GitHub