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Launch a Windows App in Parallels From the OSX Dock

verysimple.com — With the latest version of Parallels coherence mode you can run Windows apps yet have the Windows OS itself transparent. The illusion doesn't seem quite complete to me without being able to launch Windows apps from the Dock. I created this simple app as a proof of concept that it could be easily done. It's simple but it works!

Who dugg this? Made popular Dec 4, 2006

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  • misterjangles, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Thanks! I think I see the writing on the wall that Parallels is going in this direction. I think they're going to works towards making the the guest OS itself totally transparent - almost as if it's just a background service. After 2 days of playing with it I have to say that it's a very convincing effect - even in this beta stage

    In order to make it totally work, though, they'll need to get OSX really talking with Windows. This thing that I did is definitely a quick hack. If parallels would provide some type of communication API that you can access from OSX and hook into windows messages or something, the sky is the limit.
  • scratt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11WIndows is the new 'Classic'. Awesome.
    I use Parallels on a daily basis for full dev. work, and it's the only way I would work on a PeeCee.
    When I started my last contract I was able to use the developement money for a PC project to buy a new MBP and Parallels, instead of being forced to buy a PC I don't want! :)
  • 2d.Chance, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10This is a very cool idea. I hope that Parallels takes the proof of concept and runs with it.
  • jasonhodulik, on 09/14/2009, -0/+8Interesting idea. Between these hacks and their official work, Parallels is really changing the entire OS environment.
  • shauncullen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I'm buying parallels for sure now. This program just keeps getting better and better. Keep up the awesome work.
  • EztliNahua, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Screenshots, please?
  • trylleklovn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@nofxjunkee

    Actually you are wrong. XP adapts to your enviroment if you close explorer.exe, and creates new threads with explorer.exe's for browsing windows, without opening the desktop explorer.exe thread again.
  • pplante, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I just was thinking about this app last night.

    I was going to make Windows export its start menu, put it on the share, and then have OSX load that list into a Dock menu or something. Then using the same method as you have developed, it would launch the windows app.

    Basically I wanted to get rid of the windows taskbar and such, possibly even kill explorer.exe so that I have more resources available.

    If anyone is interested in developing this I could lend a hand. Unfortunately I don't have enough time for this sort of thing. Let me know...
  • blackbrrr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Parallels would be smart to build a messaging architecture that could translate between both Windows and OSX. Applescript or otherwise ...

    That being said, great work as usual.
  • phatvolvo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Obvliously!
  • judgeFire, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3IIRC you could do this in Virtual PC for Mac. Soon Parallels will have all those features matched, as drag & drop and clipboard already work. Nice.

  • kylesellers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Genious. Simply genious. Maybe this is why Mac users "don't have real jobs." They're too damn smart.
  • Stonekeeper, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Is there any reason why this wouldn't be available on linux eventually?
  • misterjangles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yea, that would be awesome. Basically this code is a very crude type of messaging but if parallels tools had a listener on the actual windows messaging and then allowed you to access that on the OSX side through a parallels API of some type - you could do almost anything.
  • Quix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"Genious. Simply genious."

    Ah, the irony here makes me smile. :)
  • misterjangles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I just posted a demo video of this in action if you want to check it out:

    http://www.verysimple.com/blog/?page_id=71
  • LaPistola, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Direct X will come.. be patient.

    Paralles has come a long way very quickly! Give them some props!
  • pplante, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Its working just fine for me.

    http://www.duggmirror.com
  • pplante, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Support from Parallels is the deciding factor really.
  • nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1really? that's cool. something i didn't know.
  • aerophe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Ya, great, but where is DirectX for Parallels. Thats what they need at this point more than anything else. Get all programs to run - then build cool features. Just my opinion.
  • Quix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Ugh, why didn't I buy Parallels back in the initial beta when it was $40??? (sob)
  • jonathaz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Sweet. Parallels does for OSX and XP what OS2 did for Windows 3.1.
  • Mac2492, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Excellent piece of software! Currently, I have my dock on the right, my start bar on the bottom, and a window of my Windows desktop on the left. I think this will make it even better.
  • misterjangles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1thats cool! do you have a how-to or anything for doing that?
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Tried it out, seriously awesome!!! ++++ The beta is pretty damn stable too. Although I don't like the whole task bar thing when it is set to auto hide. I don't like the windows task bar being in the period.
  • sidmandeluxe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0if you kill explorer.exe, parallels looses its transparent background.
    I guess using a replacement shell is out of the picture.... for now.
  • mattmon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I used Platypus to wrap the shell script in a pretty icon that I could place in /Applications or launch from QuickSilver...
  • nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1What about dbus over the network? I know there's a .NET version of dbus, is there one for OS X?

    edit: err, I just realized you meant message as in OO terms message (Obj-C). so yeah, nevermind...
  • UltimaNut, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Dont. Paralleles is not without its issues. The support so far is spotty IME. I run it on a few machines. If you can wait for VMWare and see how that stacks up I would recommned doing that. Not too much longer. I like VMWare's philosophy of a free player as well.

  • nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1explorer.exe is responsible for Windows Explorer, so if you use that at all you'll need it running.
  • sketchstudios, on 10/12/2007, -4/+140 diggs & its already down :(
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3The Million Dollar question....

    yea but can it load Obvlivion?

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