RBTray: lightweight and simple minimize to tray app
RBTray is a free, lightweight app that provides minimize-to-tray functionality for any open window by right clicking the bottom right corner of the window’s "minimize" button. Alternately you can minimize to tray by right clicking anywhere on the title bar and using a context menu that also provides "always on top", and Window resizing functions.
First off let me note that the version of this program that I am reviewing here is a modified version of the open source program with the same name that I downloaded from this site. More notes on this program below:
- What it does: minimize-to-tray on demand, from the title bar.
- How it works:
does not install any buttons on the title bar; rather, it can minimize to tray by right-clicking the lower right corner of the minimize button (see screenshot above) or through a context menu that appears on right-clicking anywhere on the title bar (see image to the right). - Memory use: is very small. Memory use seems to vary across a range, 500K to approx 2 megs.
- No install: simply unzip and run. To have the program start with Windows you will need to add a shortcut to the startup folder manually.
- Other functions: "always on top", and a rather puzzling "my size" function which on my machine resizes any window to 1584×948, apparently without giving you the option to customize that size.
The verdict: if you are looking for a minimize to tray app with bells and whistles this is not the one you are looking for. However if you just want a tiny, straightforward utility that does not take up a lot of memory (and does not need to be installed to boot) you will probably like RBTray. If there was one thing that I would ask for it would be to remove the strange "My size" option altogether.
Version Tested: 3.3 modified
Compatibility: Windows XP, Vista.
Go to developer’s page to download (middle of the page) – approx 69K.
Just tried it. Dead handy! Thanks!
This one’s a keeper.
I use hotkeyP to do this.
You can in this software create a shortcut as wel.
Another similar one as RBTray is Tray It!
Downloaded this, converted to VS2008 and compiled it. The “My Size” option makes the window fit the desktop work area with a border of 1/35 at the sides and 1/28 at the top & bottom. For me it would be better to fit the whole screen so I may just change it to do that.
there is a similar utility called “power menu” which has some more options …. have been using it for a long time mainly for the always on top or minimize to tray feature…in that ine can also set the transparency of the window and its priority !!!
Programmer makes some strange choices… Why the pixelhunting by having to click a corner? It uses rightclick so it could have been the whole button all the same. Also I agree the ‘my size’ function is strange. Idea for the program is nice though.
@David: can you remove the “My Size” option altogether and send me the modified version? I would appreciate it (and post it for download in the review).
@Anand: I actually looked at Power Menu last week. It adds transparecny and priority, but lacks the ability to right click on the minimize button to minimize, which personally makes me prefer RBTray.
[...] Windows only: Free, lightweight application RBTray minimizes any app to your system tray. Once it’s running, you can tray your windows in a couple of ways: You can either right-click the bottom-right corner of the minimize button to instantly send the app to the system tray, or you can right-click anywhere on the title bar and select Minimize in tray from the context menu (which also offers Always on top and a useless My size feature). The app doesn’t require any installation, so you can also toss it on your thumb drive and take it with you. Even better, RBTray used a meager 380KB of RAM on my system. RBTray is a free download, Windows only. For more alternatives, check out previously mentioned TrayEverything or Trayconizer. RBTray [via FreewareGenius] [...]
@David, and if you do send the program in to Samer, it would be great to make the whole minimize button right clickable instead of just the small corner. Otherwise, love this little app.
[...] RBTray Minimizes Any App to Your System Tray [Featured Windows Download] Posted by news on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 12:00 This news item was posted in Technology category and has 0 Comments so far. Windows only: Free, lightweight application RBTray minimizes any app to your system tray. Once it’s running, you can tray your windows in a couple of ways: You can either right-click the bottom-right corner of the minimize button to instantly send the app to the system tray, or you can right-click anywhere on the title bar and select Minimize in tray from the context menu (which also offers Always on top and a useless My size feature). The app doesn’t require any installation, so you can also toss it on your thumb drive and take it with you. Even better, RBTray used a meager 380KB of RAM on my system. RBTray is a free download, Windows only. For more alternatives, check out previously mentioned TrayEverything or Trayconizer. RBTray [via FreewareGenius] [...]
[...] RBTray – A simple program that allows you to minimize any application to the system tray. Also provides a way to keep a window always on top of other windows. [...]
Very slick, I know there are plenty of apps I’ve wanted minimized to the system tray. This looks as easy as it gets.
WinRoll does this and more, and is totally free and very small.
I like rbtray the best of all ‘to-tray’ aps. However it does not work with all windows and therefore I found myself using it practically not at all.
[...] RBTray: minimize any window to the system tray by right-clicking on the “minimize” button. [...]
[...] RBTray: minimize any window to the system tray by right-clicking on the “minimize” button. Simple with [...]