Starting Opus

There are a two main ways you can run Directory Opus once it is installed. We recommend that you set Opus to start automatically when Windows starts, using the options in the Launching Opus / Startup page in Preferences. You can also specify whether Opus opens any Listers or not when it starts up. Opus is designed to stay running in the background, even when no Listers are open. There are several advantages to this:

• Opening a Lister is much quicker if Opus is already loaded in the background. Double-clicking on the desktop or (if Explorer Replacement is enabled) pressing Windows+E or double-clicking on a folder icon will cause a Lister to open almost instantly if Opus is already running - whereas there may be a delay of several seconds if Opus is not already in memory.
• Opus lets you create floating toolbars that you can use as command launchers - these can only be used when Opus is running.
• It is possible to configure system-wide hotkeys that run programs or initiate Opus functions - again, these only work when Opus is running.

You can also treat Opus like a traditional file manager, that you run when you need it and exit when not using it. The installer places shortcut icons on the desktop and in the start menu, and you can use these icons to run Opus - under Windows 7 you can also pin the icon to the taskbar and launch it that way. To quit Opus when you're done using it, select the Exit Directory Opus command from the File menu in a Lister, or right-click on the taskbar notification icon (if enabled) and choose the exit command from that menu. You can also set Opus to exit automatically when the last Lister is closed, with the Launching Opus / Startup / Shutdown Directory Opus when the last Lister closes Preferences option. With this option on, and Opus not set to run on startup, it will behave like a traditional, monolithic file manager.