BITS & BYTES: Keyboard shortcuts

Q: Can you recommend a good keyboard shortcut program? My hands shake so much that it's difficult to use a mouse.

A: I like AutoHotkey, which is a free, open source utility for Windows which you can download from http://www.autohotkey.com. With AutoHotkey, you can:

-- Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks. You can write a mouse or keyboard macro by hand or use the macro recorder.

-- Create hotkeys for keyboard, joystick, and mouse. Virtually any key, button, or combination can become a hotkey.

-- Expand abbreviations as you type them. For example, typing "btw" can automatically produce "by the way".

-- Create custom data-entry forms, user interfaces and menu bars. See GUI for details.

-- Remap keys and buttons on your keyboard, joystick and mouse.

-- Respond to signals from hand-held remote controls via the WinLIRC client script.

-- Run existing AutoIt v2 scripts and enhance them with new capabilities.

-- Convert any script into an EXE file that can be run on computers that don't have AutoHotkey installed.

Don't forget that you can use the following keyboard shortcuts with your Windows key on your keyboard. Use your [Windows] key along with the key indicated here:

 -- [1-9 and 0] Launches applications on the Quick Launch toolbar. You can have up to 10 shortcuts on the Quick Launch toolbar to use with the [Windows] key. The first shortcut on the Quick Launch toolbar is automatically assigned to [Windows]+1, the second shortcut to [Windows]+2, and so on.  The 10th shortcut is automatically assigned to [Windows]+0.

-- [B] Selects the first icon in the Notification Area. If you have the Hide Inactive Icons setting enabled, the Show/Hide toggle arrow will be selected. You can then use the right and left arrow keys to select whatever icon you want.

-- [D] Shows the desktop. This will minimize all open windows so you can see the desktop.

-- [E] Launches Windows Explorer targeted on the Computer folder.

-- [F] Launches the Search tool.

-- [Ctrl]+[F] Launches the Find Computers tool.

-- [G] Switch between gadgets on the Windows Sidebar.

-- [L] Locks the system.

-- [M] Minimizes all open windows.

-- [Shift]+[M] Restores all minimized windows.

-- [R] Launches the Run dialog box.

-- [U] Launches the Ease of Access Center.

-- [T] Cycles through programs using the Live Taskbar feature.

-- [Break] Launches the System window.

-- [F1] Launches Windows Help and Support.

-- [Spacebar] Brings the Windows Sidebar to the foreground.

-- [Tab] Launches the Flip 3D task switcher.

Opinions are solely the writer's. April Miller Cripliver of Chesterton holds a doctorate in management information systems and is a computer hardware and software consultant. E-mail your computer questions to nwitimes@cripliver.com, and specify your operating system and other pertinent PC information.