Keyboard LaunchPad

Overview
The Keyboard LaunchPad provides a fast way to configure keys for opening objects. For example, instead of having to launch a word processing program, then using a File command to open a particular file, you can configure keys to open the file directly. For example, pressing Alt+M opens the file in the word processing program.

The Keyboard LaunchPad works with any object that runs on the Workplace Shell desktop, including Presentation Manager programs, Windows applications, DOS-windowed applications, OS/2 windowed applications, Workplace Shell folders, and OS/2 fullscreen sessions. You can also set up key combinations for Object Desktop objects, such as the Object Navigator or the Control Center.

Key combinations can be used to switch between running windows. If a view of an object is already open, the Keyboard LaunchPad makes the view the active window.

To open the Keyboard LaunchPad, double-click the icon in the Object Desktop view.

To define a key combination for an object, drop one or more objects on the Keyboard Definitions window or on the closed Keyboard LaunchPad icon.

Defining Key Combinations

Highlight an object on the list, then click the hot key definition field at the bottom of the dialog. Simply type the key combination that you wish to use. For example, press Alt+P. The key combination appears in the field.

To change the hot key combination, click the definition field and enter a new combination. To cancel the last entry, click the Undo button.

To remove an object from the list, highlight the object and then click the Remove button.

Note: To avoid conflicts with other applications that commonly use two-key combinations such as Alt+letter/number and Ctrl+letter/number, use three-key combinations such as Ctrl+Alt, Shift+Alt, and Ctrl+Shift.

Hot key settings are specified on the Options page of the Keyboard LaunchPad's Settings notebook.

Hot Keys Enabled.

Mark the checkbox to enable the use of hot keys, If the hot keys in some way interfere with the use of a particular program, you can disable the use of all hot keys by unmarking the checkbox.

Allow Multiple Hot Keys per Object.

Mark the checkbox to allow multiple objects to be assigned the same hot key combination. This feature enables you to open multiple objects using a single hot key combination.

Unmark the checkbox to open only the first object listed in the Keyboard LaunchPad window that has the hot key combination.