Puppy Linux with gtkdialog4 (0.7.21 or greater)
The pRun utility is an application launcher with features similar to standard run-dialog utilities such as gExec, gRun and gmRun. A fully-automated launch history (blue folder icon) facilitates access to recently launched applications with a selectable display range of 10-50 apps. Unlike the companion PupMenu which is an application finder, launcher and editor based on conventional menu files, pRun finds applications in the PATH environment and provides a scrollable list of executables arranged alphabetically.
You can selectively launch an application with the standard pRun launch button, or enter part of an application name in the search box to quickly parse files in a manner analogous to auto-completion. Pressing the Enter key will launch the first item in the search list, assuming the file is a launchable executable. The option to run an application in a terminal emulator is easily set by the toggle checkbox (Terminal) which is available on the main user interface. As expected, pRun launches single-name executables in the PATH environment, but also supports command arguments. For example, press the Enter key after typing the following in the search box: defaultbrowser http://www.google.com/
The search box, which features a standard 'clear' icon for starting a new search, is also flanked by two functional icons. Click the left (blue terminal) icon to open the default terminal emulator, with support for rxvt, urxvt, mrxvt, aterm, xterm, konsole, roxterm, sakura, Terminal, terminal, termit, and lxterminal. Click the right (loupe) icon to toggle standard and enhanced search modes. Standard searching in pRun parses the first letter of each PATH application and sorts all names alphabetically. The enhanced search mode enables comprehensive parsing of all character combinations that match the current search parameters. For example, with standard searching, entering 'burn' in the pRun search box will return burniso2cd, but the same entry with enhanced searching will return multiple matches such as burniso2cd, cdburner-wizard and pburn.
In the Preferences module you will find spinbox options for setting the height (24-300px) and width (300-800px) of the applications window, a toggle checkbox option which enables/disables a GUI of minimal size, a second toggle checkbox which enables/disables the automatic closing of pRun after launching an application, and a third toggle checkbox which enables/disables double-click launching of applications. A combobox drop-down list provides options for the default terminal emulator. The associated 'Close' checkbox determines the post-launch status of the terminal. For example, the terminal must remain open (Close box unchecked) for successful launching of some terminal programs such as the command-line 'cal' utility. However, many terminal programs such as top, htop, e3 and mp will launch properly without holding the terminal open (Close box checked). Generally, if a launchable terminal application aborts while loading, then unchecking the 'Close' checkbox may lead to successful launching. To illustrate this function, select the 'Terminal' checkbox on the main user interface and deselect (uncheck) the terminal 'Close' checkbox in Preferences, then type 'cal 2020' in the search box and press the Enter key. This will launch the terminal calendar application (cal) and associated argument (2020), with the terminal held open. You will quickly learn the requirements of each terminal application.
Program access is by Puppy Menu->Utility->pRun, or by the default Ctrl+Alt+R keyboard shortcut in supported window managers. This hotkey sequence is already assigned to another utility in Fluxbox, but the Preferences module of pRun will set the Ctrl+Alt+R shortcut in current releases of IceWm, JWM, Openbox, LXDE and LXPanel. Alternatively, utilities such as xbindkey or sven will assign preferred hotkey sequences to almost any application, and a similar function is available in the XFCE4 desktop environment.
One final caveat: Those who are new to the Linux command structure may find run-dialog programs of limited utility due to an abundance of esoteric PATH executables, of which many are unlaunchable. However, with a little patience, most users will find run-dialog utilities are convenient alternatives to the standard menu format of conventional window managers.
GNU GPLv3, Copyright 2013-2025, Roger D. Grider