What is Total Launcher

A world of “launchers” is huge. These “launchers” allow changing the look and actions of a home screen and its icons (objects), or provide a “drawer” to hold and offer easy access to the user's applications (apps).

Total Launcher was officially released in January, 2015 by the developer ChYK. It gives the user every opportunity to customize the look and feel of their device while requiring minimal programming ability, instead providing a near “what you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG or wizy-wig) environment. A few features which make Total Launcher unique in the field are:

• Battery- and memory-friendly \ \
• Support for different portrait and landscape views
  
• Support for multi-screen, foldable devices
  
• Built-in dynamic icons and text
  
• Support for variable data imports from the automation program Tasker (check it out on the Google Play Store)
  
• Support for device environments of Android, Windows, and Chrome OS
  
• Ability to import pre-made themes and to share with others
  
• A community of other Total Launcher users as seen on Telegram

This launcher offers 3 basic methods of displaying and organizing content in containers:

• A page (some call this a screen) can be arranged horizontally and moved left or right as other launchers, but can also be individually vertically scrolled.
  
• A window can be full or partial screen. It can appear by gesture, visible/invisible shortcut, or a series of actions. The use of windows could replace scrolling pages.
  
• A drawer can be opened by a sliding movement from the top, bottom, left or right sides.

Each of these three containers can include additional customization of their contents, which this manual will term objects. Objects can be sized and easily located, even outside of the visible page boundaries. They can be transformed to create a 3-D effect and further customized to initiate actions, set color, visibility, animation, and more.

• A layout provides for static placement of other objects. These built-in layout placements can also be further customized.
  
• A widget can be external or built-in. Total Launcher's built-in widgets include app drawers, media controller, page indicators, contacts, compass, circle resource indicators, sliders, and drawer handles. External widgets are through the device's installed applications.
  
• A graphic includes the categories of text and images, both dynamic and static. These cover date, time, calendar events, texts, phone, mail, and variables.

The objective of this manual is to provide new users with an organized, easily searchable knowledge base and experience to begin learning Total Launcher. The manual includes step-by-step procedures with visuals, how-tos, tips, and video demonstrations.

Some advanced “computer” users may not need this assistance. Those in this category are encouraged to contribute the insights and nuances they have gained through their own trial and error. That is known as community helping community.

Each “new” user gives this community an opportunity to grow and continue supporting itself. If that user can use this Manual to gain easier access to Total Launcher's customization power, the Total Launcher community will continue to strengthen and grow.