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XBar is a dynamically resizable application and file launcher that works on a configurable button motif in a floating palette. It allows you to arrange applications in category groups, which increases user efficiency when looking for frequently used files and applications. For example, you can group all text applications under one row of popup launch buttons. 
When XBar is first launched, all you see is the basic floating icon, and you can do nothing until you create a category. By Control-clicking on the main XBar button, a menu will appear to add a Category and name it. You can drag an icon of your choice into the root category button to identify it. 
I just unimaginatively dragged category-representative application icons in. Note that you also have to configure a button as well to launch those applications. Click ‘Add Category’, and an empty category will appear. You can configure a new button by dragging an application icon to the empty category, which will assume the icon’s appearance. 
You can keep Control-clicking on the XBar button to add categories, as many as you like, adding Cat 2, Cat 3, etc... 
Adding applications to a category is done exactly the same as adding a Category to the XBar. Simply Control-click on the Category you would like to add an application to, and click ‘Add Application’ from the newly displayed menu. The XBar will now shrink around the application, shifting into Application view. The newly created application will be displayed below the Category as App1.Creating more apps will yield App 1, App 2, etc... Currently only 10 applications per Category are supported, but that should be more than adequate for most of us. 
To launch an application, or open a file, simply click on the Category that your application is associated with, moving XBar into application view. Once in application view, click on the desired icon, and launch the app!. If XBar is already in application view, just click on the application, and it will launch. Clicking on the center category will cause the XBar to shrink and revert to the Application view with all the Applications. To delete an Application or Category just Control click on the desired application or category exposing the right click menu, and click delete. Preferences Make Floating - This will cause the XBar application to “float” above all other running applications. Tile Size - Choose the size of the tiles for XBar Enable Icon Lock - Once a Category has an icon, The icon is locked, and will no longer accept new icons for drag & drop. Enable Application Lock - Once an Application has a file or application associated with it, it will no longer accept new apps for drag & drop. Prompt for title at creation - Prompts the user for a Category Title immediately after a new category is created. Display Category Title - Displays the category title above the current category. Display Application Title - Displays the application title beside the current application. XBar is very attractive, intuitive to configure, and works slickly. It’s only significant downside, at least for this of us who work with small displays, is that it adds another floater cluttering up on screen real estate. Maybe ading a pop-up "drawer" option would be a solution. Another issue I found annoying is if I kept XBar at the bottom of the screen, which is where I prefer to keep stuff like this, the category columns expand out of sight, requiring one to drag them up in order to see the selection buttons. My launch utility of choice, TigerLaunch, isn’t as button-click simple or as pretty as XBar, but it lives out of the way in the main menu bar, and as a bonus self configures when you install a new application. However, if you have lots of screen room, XBar is a slick little launcher. XBar is donationware - $5 suggested For more information, visit:
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