Set Up a Launch Button

You can add up to 64 launch buttons to a custom toolbar. You can configure each button to run a different program.

For example, you are the manager of a government department. You keep the data source files for your reports in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. While reviewing your reports, you want to look at your data source files. You customize your toolbar to run Excel directly from IBM® Cognos® PowerPlay®, Impromptu, or Transformer.

Procedure

  1. From the Tools menu, click Customize.
  2. On the Toolbar Buttons tab, in the Category box, click Miscellaneous.
  3. Click Toolbar Launch Button, and drag it to a toolbar.
  4. Click OK to close the Customize dialog box.
  5. Click the new launch button.
  6. In the New Launch Item dialog box, in the Name box, type a name for the launch button.
  7. In the Description box, type a brief description of what the button does.

    The tooltip appears when you pause the pointer over the button.

  8. In the Type box, click Macro or Application.
  9. In the Command box, browse to the location of the macro or program.
  10. In the Parameters box, type any parameters you want to add to the macro or program.
  11. If you want to minimize the current window when you run the program or macro, select the Minimize Application Before Launching check box.
  12. In the Image box, click the image you want to appear on the new launch button.
  13. In the Path box, browse to the location of the button image.
  14. Click OK.

Results

The launch button is now configured. If you want to change the settings of a launch button, ensure the Customize dialog box is closed, and Ctrl+click the launch button and then make changes in the Modify Launch Item dialog box.