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Tracker.exe for Windows

What is Tracker.exe?

Tracker.exe is a Windows executable file that launches an internal copy of tracker.jar. There is therefore no difference in the look or operation of the Tracker program itself. However, the use of Tracker.exe does provide the following advantages:

  1. Tracker data files (.trk extension) can be associated with Tracker.exe so that double-clicking a data file automatically opens it in Tracker. This behavior, along with the new ability to open data and video/image files by dragging and dropping them into Tracker, is typical of most Windows programs.
  2. Tracker.exe and Tracker data files display the Tracker icon (seen above) rather than the generic Java icon.

There are also some minor disadvantages that should be considered:

  1. In order to associate Tracker data files with Tracker.exe, the executable must reside in a fixed, known location (e.g., C:\Program Files\Tracker\Tracker.exe).
  2. Unlike Web Start, which automatically updates tracker.jar whenever a new version becomes available, Tracker.exe must be manually downloaded and replaced.

Note: it is perfectly fine to use Tracker.exe AND to Web Start or download and use tracker.jar locally as you always have. But be aware that the executable and jar files are independent and must be separately updated.

Installing Tracker.exe

1. Create the folder in which Tracker.exe will reside (recommended: C:\Program Files\Tracker).

2. Click here to download Tracker.exe. Move or copy it into the folder you created in step 1.

3. Double-click on a Tracker data file (.trk extension--if you don't have one you can download projectile.zip and unzip it to obtain the file "projectile.trk"). A dialog will pop up to inform you that Windows does not know how to open the file (Windows XP screenshot shown). Choose "Select the program from a list" and click OK.

4. A second dialog will pop up. Enter the description "Tracker File" and be sure the checkbox "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" is checked. Then click Browse.

5. A file chooser will pop up. Navigate to the folder you created in step 1, select the Tracker.exe program, and click Open. Tracker should open and load the trk file.

6. Close Tracker and confirm that (a) the trk file now identifies itself with either the Tracker icon itself or a Tracker document icon like that shown below and (b) double-clicking the trk file now opens it in Tracker.

7. Make shortcuts to Tracker.exe and drag them onto your start menu, desktop, etc. to open Tracker from those locations.