Add PC Wide Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts make our lifes easier, hitting Win +M is nicer than to minimize every windows by hand. Windows XP already has a method of assigning new keyboard shortcuts to programs but this method is very limited. You are only allowed to assign shortcuts using a combination of at least two STRG, ALT and SHIFT keys plus one additional letter, number or symbol.

Clavier is a freeware that extends the ability of keyboard shortcuts in windows xp. You are free to use almost any key for the shortcut including the windows key. The interface is pretty straightforward – it displays a list of all current keywords with their shortcuts. To add a new keyboard shortcut you simply click on the + symbol below the shortcut list and select either a program from the start menu, internet favorites (IE only), a special char, a folder, a text that you want written, a program to launch or display website.

• Program: Select a program from your start menu that you want to open with the keyboard shortcut.
• Internet Favorite: Select a favorite that shall be loaded into the current browser with this shortcut. Favorites are imported from Internet Explorer only.
• Special Char: Display a special char with this shortcut.
• Open Folder: Use the keyboard shortcut to open the selected folder.
• Write Text: Write a text and create a shortcut out of it. You could for instance create a pc wide shortcut for your email address, a signature or even a letter.
• Launch a Program: This launches a program from the destination that you select. Many programs are not available in the start menu, that is why this option exists.
• Display a Website: This is similar to the Internet Favorite shortcut. The difference is that you specify the url by yourself with display a website.

Clavier has a built in autostart option which should be activated if you want to use it on a regular basis. It currently supports two languages: English and French. It is Open Source and does not have to be installed on the system if you download and unpack the version without installer from the authors website.

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Author: Martin Brinkmann, Sunday September 17, 2006 -
Tags:clavier, freeware, keyboard shortcuts, shortcuts

Responses so far:

1. Oliver Alexander says:

   September 21, 2006 at 3:49 pm

   This whole shebang is what one would call a minor sub-feature of “PowerPro” (http://powerpro.webeddie.com/). The cost here, to my memory, is roughly a 2MB download. Else, completely freee, too.

   Reply