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Impulse offers you a number of choices to change how it operates, such as: displaying pre-release software (alpha/beta) to download, the choice to have desktop icons created when software is installed, auto-restart after Impulse updates itself, disable custom skin, archive software before installing an update, change what folder archives, temp. files & install files are stored in, edit proxy settings, force Impulse to check for updates, restore an archive and more.
Orb Menu
Clicking the Impulse  Orb icon in the upper, left corner opens a menu with a number of options. Clicking the again will close the menu.
Action |
What it does |
| Preferences... |
Opens the Preferences window with more options (see below). |
| Change log-in... |
Displays the log-in screen, with options:
- Login with my existing account.
- Create new account.
- I forgot my account information.
- Edit Proxy Settings.
|
| Check for updates... |
Forces Impulse to check for updates to any software you got through Impulse. If update(s) are available, the "Updates" tab will be visible and the applications will be listed on that tab. |
| Register a product... |
Opens the registrations screen, where you can edit, add new products, update and remove product registrations.
(Please see the Help page for more information.) |
| Restore archive... |
Allows you to restore an Impulse archive of an application or files.
Archives are created by right-clicking on an application in Impulse &
selecting "Archive Application". |
| Exit Impulse |
Closes Impulse. |
|
Show pre-release versions |
Checked,
alpha and beta pre-release versions of software will be included on the
"Updates"
tab. Alpha/Beta versions should be installed with the
understanding that this is an incomplete or and/or test version of the
program. It may include "bugs" (i.e. errors, problems) when using
certain features.
Unchecked, (default) alpha/beta versions will be hidden. |
| Show freeware & demos |
Checked, will show freeware (free software) and demonstration versions of software on the Updates, My Software, and My Games tabs.
(Note: If you want to download the free Impulse Dock, this option needs to be checked in order to see it on the "My Software" tab to download.)
Unchecked, (default) will not display this type of software. |
| Show hidden applications |
Checked, if you hid a program on the My Software or other tabs (right-click on program, select "Hide application") this option will show it dimmed. this option is only available if you hid an application, otherwise it's grayed out.
Unchecked, (default) any hidden applications will not be visible on the software tabs. |
| Press F1 or click here for help. |
Opens your web browser and displays this manual on the Stardock website. |
Preferences
Preferences are divided between the "General" tab and "Advanced Settings" which include: "Folders", "Connection" and "Archive & Install".
General Tab
This section includes options to view test versions of software, where to place icons and other settings.
Quick Reference
Action |
What it does |
General |
|
|
Show Pre-Release (Alpha/Beta) Versions |
Checked,
alpha and beta pre-release versions of software will be included on the
software tabs. Alpha/Beta versions should be installed with the
understanding that this is an incomplete or and/or a test version of the
program. It may include "bugs" (i.e. errors, problems) when using
certain features.
Unchecked, (default) alpha/beta versions will be hidden. |
| Show hidden updates |
Checked, shows any software updates you told Impulse to ignore. To ignore an
update on the "Updates" tab, either right-click on the application &
select "Ignore this update" or click the link under "Manage
Application" & click the link "Ignore this update" and the
update will be removed from the "Updates" tab.
Unchecked, (default) updates you tell Impulse to ignore will be removed (hidden)
on the "Updates" tab. |
| Show hidden applications. |
Partially un-hides applications you requested to be hidden. Applications can be
hidden by right-clicking on the application & selecting "Hide
application".
Checked, hidden applications will be slightly visible.
Unchecked, (default) hidden applications can not be seen at all.
Note: You will not see this menu option until you hide an application by
right-clicking on an application & selecting "Hide application". |
Impulse Options |
|
| Disable Custom Skin (requires restart) |
Checked,
the title bar, window frame, scroll bars, etc. will follow the default
Windows style.
Unchecked, (default) will use the custom Impulse skin. |
| Store usage (last played, etc.) data |
Checked, (default) Impulse keeps track of how many times you used an application & when last used. This data is displayed in "detail-view" on the software tabs (i.e. My Software, My Games). You may need to maximize Impulse to see these extra columns.
Unchecked, Impulse will not store this data.
Clicking  will reset the data stored, while  will erase any data saved. |
| Remind me about expiring subscriptions |
Checked, (default) Impulse will remind you when a software subscription is nearing the expiration date.
Unchecked, Impulse will not remind you. |
Impulse Updating Options |
|
|
Auto restart Impulse after update |
This option
has to do with Impulse updates, not updates to your programs. It
only restarts itself, not your computer.
Checked, Impulse will automatically restart itself after each Impulse
update.
Unchecked, (default) Impulse will ask you if you want to restart Impulse
after an update. |
| Prompt for Impulse Updates |
Checked, (default) Impulse will ask you if it can update itself.
Unchecked, Impulse will not prompt you before updating itself. |
| Use beta versions of Impulse |
Checked, Impulse will update itself with beta (pre-release) versions. Beta versions often have bugs (errors).
Unchecked, (default) beta versions of Impulse are not installed. |
Folders Tab
This tab allows you to select where
applications & games are installed, including temp. (temporary) files.
Quick Reference
Action |
What it does |
Install Locations
|
You can change where programs install under each of the tabs in Impulse. Click
to select a new folder. Click
to save & exit Impulse Settings. |
|
Prompt for
install directory. |
Checked,
Impulse will ask you where you want to install each new program.
Unchecked, (default) Impulse will use the Install Location (above) for
each category. |
|
Archive File Location. |
Allows you to change the drive & folder where archives are stored.
This is helpful if you have more free space on a different drive.
Click
to select a new folder. Click
to save & exit Impulse Settings.
Default (Vista): C:\ProgramData\Stardock\Impulse\backup
Default (XP): C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Stardock\Impulse\backup |
|
Temporary Files Location |
You can
change where temporary files are stored by clicking
. This might be handy if your C: drive is running low on free space, but
you have a D: (or other) hard-drive with more room.
Default (Vista): C:\ProgramData\Stardock\Impulse\Temporary
Default (XP): C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Stardock\Impulse\Temporary |
Connection Tab
The settings on this tab allow you to add proxy server settings.
If you have trouble connecting to the internet, because your
behind a proxy server you can set it up here.
As a rule, proxy servers are used on Local Area Networks (LAN)
at businesses, while home users should not have to deal with this.
Quick Reference
Action |
What it does |
|
Proxy Settings |
Unchecked, (default) Impulse will use Internet Explorer's Internet
settings.
Checked, "Use custom settings", use this if your computer is on a LAN (Local Area
Network) using a proxy server to access the internet. Contact your
Network Administrator for these settings. Click
to save & exit Impulse Settings. |
Archive & Install
These options are related to creating desktop shortcuts for games, and how archives are handled.
Quick Reference
Action |
What it does |
Desktop icons for newly
installed games |
This allows you to tell Impulse how you want desktop icons handled:
- Ask me to create a desktop icon - (default) Impulse will ask when installing, if you want it to place a icon on the desktop.
- Always create a desktop icon - Impulse will put an icon on the desktop & not ask you.
- Never create a desktop icon - Impulse will not put an icon on the desktop & will not ask you. To run the program, either run it through Impulse or from the Windows Start menu.
|
Archive Applications
before updating |
Checked,
programs will be backed up prior to being updated. If an update
does not work right, you can restore the archive to revert to the older
version.
Unchecked, (default) programs will not be backed up before updating. |
Overwrite existing
Archives on Update |
Checked, (default) a newer update will overwrite
(erase) the previous archive (backup) of the program, with a newer
archive before applying the update.
Unchecked, old archives will be saved on your hard-drive. This may
take considerable space, if old archives are never deleted. |
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Shortcut to the "Folders" tab under Advanced Settings to change folders. |
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