RocketDock Portable: Create a USB Version
Creating a Portable Version of RocketDock
RocketDock is a lightweight and highly customizable application launcher designed for Windows operating systems. It functions as a dock, providing users with convenient access to their frequently used programs.
This guide details the process of making RocketDock portable. This allows you to run the application directly from a USB flash drive, offering quick access to your programs on any compatible computer.
Prerequisites
Before initiating the portability process, a standard installation of RocketDock is required. Refer to our dedicated article for instructions on installing, configuring, and utilizing RocketDock effectively.
Enabling Portable Mode
Once RocketDock is installed, locate the dock itself or any of its icons. Right-click to open the context menu and select "Dock Settings."
Ensure the "General" tab is selected within the Dock Settings dialog. If not, click the "General" icon to activate it.
Within the General settings, locate and check the box labeled "Store Settings in a Portable INI (single-user)." This action configures RocketDock to save its settings within a portable configuration file.
Confirm your selection by clicking "OK."
The Settings.ini File
Following the previous step, a file named "Settings.ini" will be generated within the RocketDock program folder.
This file contains all of RocketDock’s configurations, including the details necessary for the icons displayed on the dock.
Copying to Your USB Drive
Locate the RocketDock program folder on your computer. On 32-bit Windows systems, this is typically found in "C:\Program Files." On 64-bit systems, it resides in "C:\Program Files (x86)."
Copy the entire RocketDock folder to your USB flash drive.
Running RocketDock from the USB Drive
Navigate to your USB drive and locate the copied RocketDock folder.
Double-click the "RocketDock.exe" file to launch the application.
Customize your portable dock by dragging program shortcuts, files, and folders onto it. Docklets can also be added, as previously demonstrated.
Configuring Icons for Portability
When adding items to your portable dock, adjustments to the icon settings are necessary to ensure functionality regardless of the assigned drive letter of your USB drive.
Prior to modifying icon settings, it is recommended to extract the icons from the executable (.exe) files of the programs you’ve added to the dock.
Place these extracted icons into the "Icons" folder within your RocketDock folder on the USB drive. For instance:
X:\RocketDock\Icons
The drive letter is irrelevant during this icon copying process, allowing for the use of relative paths.
Adjusting Icon Settings
Right-click on the icon you wish to modify and select "Icon Settings" from the context menu.
In the Icon Settings dialog box, your custom icons will be displayed in the "Icons" box on the right.
Select the desired icon to assign it to the corresponding dock item.
The item's name is derived from the name of the program file, file, or folder added to the dock. This name appears as a tooltip when hovering over the icon.
To change the name, edit the text within the "Name" edit box.
To establish a relative path to the executable file, file, or folder, modify the "Target" text. Remove the drive letter (e.g., "E:") and replace it with “..” (without the quotation marks).
Clear the contents of the "Start in" edit box.
Click "OK" to save your changes.
Creating a Shortcut
For convenient access, create a shortcut to RocketDock directly on your USB drive. This is particularly useful as the autorun feature has been removed in Windows 7 and later versions.