Hotkey Commander - Ultimate Hotkey Managing and Overriding Utility

Traditional Hotkey Introduction

Traditional Hotkey is a keyboard combination used as a shortcut to perform some predefined operations, like selecting a menu, typing a long command, etc. By reducing such operation sequences to a few keystrokes, this can often save user's time. The most famous hotkey must be the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Delete> combination, which is widely used in DOS, Windows and Unix GUI systems. It forces a soft reboot, or brings up the task manager. Some hotkeys are reserved by operating system or registered by applications, like <Ctrl>+<Esc> (Show/Hide Windows Start menu, reserved by system) and <WIN>+<E> (Open Windows Explorer, registered by Windows shell program: <explorer.exe>). These hotkeys work system-widely. Others are defined by applications and function in those applications only, such as <Ctrl>+<O> (Open file), <Ctrl>+<F> (Make search), which are called accelerate keys here.

Hotkey Commander's Innovative Keystroke Style

Hotkey Commander adds great extensions to traditional hotkey and creates a brand-new keystroke style for hotkey utilization. Not only it supports modifier keys including <Shift>, <Ctrl>, <Alt> and <Win>, it can also distinguish between left and right ones. Besides key combinations, Hotkey Commander supports keystroke sequences like "Double-hit <Left Ctrl>" or "<A>-<S>-<D>-<F>". Thus, you can define hotkeys like <↑>-<↑>-<↓>-<↓>-<←>-<→>-<←>-<→>-<A>-<B> (The famous Capcom secret game key on Nintendo FC game console) to open your secret files, or <↓>-<→>-<←>-<↓>-<→-<←>-<↓>-<←>-<B>-<C> (Haohmaru's secret attack move in Samurai Shodown II) to launch your favorite games.

To define your own hotkey, click drop down icon of the hotkey list item to show hotkey configuration items. First you select the mode of your hotkey: Combination or Sequence_[a]. Next choose if you want to distinguish between left and right modifier keys_[b] in your hotkey. Then click in the edit box_[c] and press whatever key combinations or sequences you like.

In Combination hotkey mode, you can specify how long the hotkey needs to be held down before firing the hotkey event. Thus you can define functions like "Shuting down my computer after holding down <Pause> key for 3 seconds", which acts as the power button on your pc box. You can either hold down the hotkey when you define it, or you can adjust the timing manually using the spin button_[d]. If the hotkey needs being held down, you can choose whether or not to repeat the hotkey event by checking the Repeat on Holding box_[e]. In the condition combobox_[f], you can define conditions to apply hotkey settings.

Example: Overriding <Win> key with "<Tab> Double-Hit" When Gaming

Let's take an example. You don't expect <Win> key to bother you when you are in games and want to override it with a <Tab> double-hit. First, uncheck the checkbox of the <Win> key item in the System hotkey list. Next, configure the hotkey: select Sequence mode, click in hotkey edit box and press <Tab> key twice. Then click the "+" button beside the condition combobox and select the game's launching exe file. Last, apply all these settings by clicking the Apply button.

Detecting & Exploring Hotkeys

Hotkey Commander can detect hotkey combinations that have been registered by operating system or applications. That is, hotkeys in system scope, NOT accelerate keys. When Hotkey Commander runs, hotkeys detected are displayed in the System and Application Registered Hotkey list. Please note that because the automatic detecting process is only performed ONCE when Hotkey Commander starts to run, the hotkey list may NOT always be up-to-date. For example, applications that registers hotkeys may start or exit after Hotkey Commander, in which case Hotkey Commander won't know. Thus you need to update hotkey lists manually by clicking the Refresh button.

System/Extended Hotkey List

Hotkeys listed here are defined by either operating system or users. All these hotkeys can be enabled/disabled by checking/unchecking the box in the first column of the list item. Also they can be overrided by defining your own hotkeys.

The system hotkey items listed are hotkeys reserved by operating system, like <Win> key. Multimedia hotkeys are extra function keys on multimedia keyboards, such as browser keys, email keys, media keys, volumn keys, etc. By overriding these hotkeys, you can simulate multimedia keyboard functions even if you don't have one. Extended hotkeys are not reserved by system, but they are commonly used in most applications. Such as <Ctrl>+<C> (copy), <Ctrl>+<V> (paste), etc.

If there are other hotkeys/accelerate keys that aren't listed here which you want to disable or override, you can add them to the extended hotkey list manually. Click Create Extended Hotkey button and you may define whatever hotkeys to add. Clicking Delete Extended Hotkey button will delete the extended hotkey you select. If you want to reset all extended hotkeys to their default settings, click Reset Extended Hotkey button.

Application Registered Hotkey List

Hotkeys registered by applications are listed here with their filenames. To developers, that means by using RegisterHotKey() API or sending WM_SETHOTKEY message. Like system hotkeys, all these hotkeys can be enabled/disabled by checking/unchecking the box in the first column of the list item. Also they can be overrided by defining your own hotkeys.

You may find a lot of familiar Windows hotkeys here, such as:

• <Win>+<E> - Open Windows Explorer
• <Win>+<D> - Display Desktop
• <Win>+<F> - Start Windows Search
• <Win>+<R> - Run Program

Which are all registered by Windows shell program <explorer.exe>. Note that hotkeys defined for Windows desktop icons and start menu shortcuts are also registered by this program.

Customized Hotkey List

Hotkeys listed here are for customized functions. Such as running programs, opening files, recording/playing macros, shuting down computer, etc. Make good use of the shell open functions. You may find a lot of jobs can be accomplished by them easily. For example, you may specify the 1~7 number keys to play Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti in midi files. Thus turns your PC keyboard into a simple electronic keyboard.

To configure targets to open/run, just click the edit icon. Type in the file/path name or click the "..." button to browse for it. Windows Environment Variables like %WINDIR% are supported here. Click OK icon or press <Enter> when you finish editing.

Macro is a logged series of mouse and keyboard inputs. You can get automation jobs done more efficiently by recording and playing macros back. To record macros, you must first assign hotkeys for them. Then you can start recording by pressing the hotkey defined. And press it again when you want to finish recording. After a macro is recorded successfully, it is ready for playing back. You can also assign a name or note for that macro by editing in the description field. To have users informed when operating with macros, Hotkey Commander changes its icon in the system tray and blinks in macro recording () or playing () state.

More and more custom functions will be added in future versions of Hotkey Commander. If you have good ideas, don't hesitate to tell us.

Miscellaneous

Unless Save Settings on Exit box is checked, hotkeys and functions you defined will NOT be saved when Hotkey Commander exits. If Auto Start with Windows box is checked, Hotkey Commander automatically starts minimized to the system tray icon when Windows starts.