FUNCTIONS

Below are descriptions of the various assignable HotKey functions. Some of these functions already have keyboard shortcuts in Windows. They have been included for two reasons: (1) many users may prefer a different hotkey than the default, and (2) some keyboards (especially laptops) lack a "Windows Key" which is needed for many of the default Windows keyboard shortcuts. Where applicable, default Windows keyboard shortcuts for a given function are shown in the Default Hotkey column in the following format "Win-Def: <keys>".

For an excellent review of built-in Windows keyboard shortcuts, see this page: http://www.nonlinear4.com/winkeys.htm

You can also open MS Help by pressing the Windows key + F1, and search for "keyboard shortcuts".

Note: Function names are case-insensitive: volup works just as well as VolUp when customizing hotkeys.

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HotKey Control Functions

Function Name Description Default Hotkey
KillHotKey Exits the HotKey program. CTRL+ SHIFT + ALT + X
ToggleOnOff Toggles the hotkeys on and off. This is useful if you are working in a program that has keyboard shortcuts that are identical to ones you have set for HotKey. This function does not exit HotKey. Note that the hotkey set to toggle keys on and off is NOT toggled off itself (so you can toggle the keys back on!) CTRL + SHIFT + SPACEBAR
UseConfig[1-3] Switches the currently active configuration file. UseConfig1 makes keys.cfg the active config file, UseConfig2 activates keys2.cfg, and UseConfig3 activates keys3.cfg. This is equivalent to selecting the given config file from the HotKey tray menu. N/A

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Window Management Functions

Function Name Description Default Hotkey
MinWins Minimizes all windows. CTRL + ALT + M
Win-Def: WINDOWS-KEY + M
MinWinsUndo Undoes window minimization performed by MinWins. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + M
 Win-Def: WINDOWS-KEY + SHIFT + M
MinThisWin Minimizes the current top window. CTRL + SHIFT + >
CTRL + SHIFT + .
RestoreThisWin Restores the window most recently minimized by MinThisWin. TRL + SHIFT + <
CTRL + SHIFT + ,
TransThisWin Makes the current window translucent (Win 2000/XP only) CTRL + SHIFT + "
CTRL + SHIFT + '
UnTransThisWin Makes the current window opaque. Undoes any translucence operation performed by TransThisWin. CTRL + SHIFT + :
CTRL + SHIFT + ;
CloseAll Closes all windows. For most applications, dialogs asking to save unsaved work will appear. CTRL + ALT + F4
CloseAllOthers Same as CloseAll, except it does not close the top window. CTRL + ALT + F5
ThisWinTop Sets the current window to be "always on top." Calling this function a second time on the same window will undo the "always on top" setting on that window. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + T
KillThisWin Forces the top window to close. This is equivalent to canceling the window's process in the Task Manager. This is most useful for forcing hung windows that are "Not Responding..." to close (may close the window faster than using the Task Manager in many cases).. Also handy for closing command console windows (where ALT+F4 does not work). CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + F4
ChangeWinTitle Change the title on the current top window. A dialog will come up where you can type in the new title for the window. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + U

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File and Folder Functions

Note: For the MakeFile and MakeDir functions to work properly, your computer must be set up to display full folder paths in the address bar (rather than just the current folder name). If this is not already set up, you can enable full path display in your folders by doing the following:

  1. Open any folder on your computer, and select Tools --> Folder Options... from the top menu bar
  2. Click the View tab and check "Display the full path in the address bar"
  3. Click Apply and then OK. The changes should take effect immediately.
Function Name Description Default Hotkey
MakeFile Creates a new file in the current folder. CTRL + SHIFT + H
MakeDir Creates a new directory in the current folder. CTRL + SHIFT + N
EmptyBin Empties the recycle bin (trash). CTRL + SHIFT + B
GetFileProps Opens the file properties window for the currently selected file. CTRL + SHIFT + P
 Win-Def: ALT + ENTER
GetClipPath Opens the URL or file path currently stored in the clipboard in Explorer. CTRL + SHIFT + K
GetClipURL Opens the URL currently stored in the clipboard in the default Browser. Can also open a local folder path. CTRL + SHIFT + J
Find Opens a find file window. CTRL + SHIFT + F
 Win-Def: WINDOWS-KEY + F
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Shutdown / Logoff Functions

Function Name Description Default Hotkey
CompShutdownMenu Launches the "Shut down Windows" menu. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + S
Win-Def: WINDOWS-KEY, then U
Win-Def: ALT + F4 (from desktop)
CompShutdown Shuts down the computer. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + D
CompForceShutdown Forces the computer to shut down. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + F
CompReboot Restarts the computer. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + R
CompForceReboot Forces the computer to restart. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + B
CompLock Locks the computer (Win 2000/XP only) CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + K
 Win-Def: WINDOWS-KEY + L
CompLogoff Logs off the current user. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + L
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Sound Functions (Win 2000/XP only)

Function Name Description Default Hotkey
VolUp Turn the system volume up. A short beep will sound to help you gage the current setting. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + =
VolDown Turn the system volume down. A short beep will sound to help you gage the current setting. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + -
VolMute Mute the master volume. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + 0
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"Utility" Functions

Function Name Description Default Hotkey
RunWin Launches the Windows Run window. CTRL + SHIFT + R
Win-Def: WINDOWS-KEY + R
OpenNotepad Opens an untitled document in notepad. CTRL + SHIFT + T
Command Starts a command prompt (DOS) window, with the desktop as the current working directory. CTRL + ALT + C
CommandHere Starts a command prompt (DOS) window, with the current folder as the current working directory. This function requires full path display in the address bar. See the note above. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + C
CommandAnywhere See description below. N/A
Calculator Opens the Windows calculator. CTRL + SHIFT + Q
ExtraCopy[1-20] and ExtraPaste[1-20] Implements extra clipboards. Up to 20 extra clipboards are available. ExtraCopy1 will copy to exta clipboard #1, and ExtraPaste1 will paste from this clipboard. ExtraCopy3 will copy to clipboard #3, and ExtraPaste3 will paste from clipboard #3...and so on. The additional clipboards work with all types of data, not just text. ExtraCopy1: CTRL + SHIFT + W
ExtraPaste1: CTRL + SHIFT + E

Note: These functions save extra clipboard data in ".cilp" files in your HotKey folder. These may be viewed in the Windows clipboard viewer by dragging the files onto the clip_save_restore.exe program in your HotKey folder (this will replace whatever is on the main clipboard). Also, since these files are not deleted when HotKey opens/closes, your extra clipboard data will be available until it is explicitly overwritten (e.g. it will be availbe after you restart your computer). There may be situations in which this is undesireable (e.g. very large amounts of data copied, or private data on the clipboard). In these cases, you can delete the extra clipboard data files by selecting the "Clear saved ExtraCopy clipboard data" option from the HotKey tray menu (click on the tray icon).
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Customizable Functions

These functions may be customized to work on user-specified locations or files. For more information on how to use these functions, see the help page on Customizing HotKey. Each of these functions may be used up to 30 times in the config file (e.g. you may specify 30 different pages to open with GetPage).

Function Name Description Default Hotkey
CommandAnywhere Starts a command prompt (DOS) window in a user-specified location. N/A
RunProg Launches a user-defined program or batch file. N/A
OpenFile Opens a user-defined file with the default program for that file type (for example, if used on an mp3 file, this will open it in your default player). N/A
GetPage Opens a user-defined webpage in the default brower.* CTRL + SHIFT + G     → Google.com
SendKeys Sends user-defined keystrokes. This is used to have HotKey "virtually type" things for you. For example, you might use it to have HotKey type commonly-used phrases in order to save the time of typing them yourself. Keystrokes sent by by the SendKeys are equivalent to those done on the keyboard -- it is as if you had typed them. Key specifications are the same as those for specifying hotkeys.

This function can also be used to navigate program menus (using the ALT key in appropriate combination with other keystrokes), or to map one hotkey to a more convenient duplicate. For example, one might specify WIN+C to run the SendKeys command to send CTRL+C, thus mapping the common "copy" function in windows to the WIN+C hotkey.

NOTE: To avoid unintended key combinations between the actual user input and the input sent by SendKeys (for example, setting the hotkey to include CTRL and ALT while including a {DEL} in the sent keys might otherwise result in an unintended CTRL+ALT+DEL key combination), the SendKeys function does not execute until the hotkeys are released, and it blocks user input temporarily while the simulated keypresses are being sent.		 N/A

*A browser other than the default can be set with the MyBrowser: directive in the keys.cfg file.