TuneTracker™ QuickTip

Alternate Ways to Launch Programs, Part I of III: Using "Spicykeys" Hotkeys

Since TT3 is optimized to display fullscreen on an 800x600 resolution workspace, those who set themselves up that way will notice that launching other applications requires a different approach. You can either flip to another of the many simultaneous workspaces available in Haiku® (by using CTRL-F1, CTRL-F2, etc), where you have a fully visible, uncovered desktop to launch programs from, or you can take advantage of one of the really cool alternative methods. Here's one of them.

Included in all TuneTracker distributions for the last several years is a program that runs in the background, called SpicyKeys. SpicyKeys is a very easy-to-use hotkey program that is already set up for you with the most-commonly-launched TuneTracker-related tools configured-in. For example (and this setup varies a bit depending on the distribution you have), you might have the following available:

CTRL-ALT-W
Brings up StyledEdit word processor

CTRL-ALT-D
Brings up the Terminal window

CTRL-ALT-T
Brings up a timer/stopwatch

CTRL-ALT-F
Brings up the included FTP program, NetPenguin

CTRL-ALT-B
Brings up the extremely useful BeShare filesharing and chat program we use to assist you with support issues

You can pull up the SpicyKeys setup by clicking on the Haiku® (or Zeta) start button found in your deskbar, and under Preferences, left-clicking on SpicyKeys. To create a new hotkey, just drag and drop the program you want launched (or the folder you want opened!) onto SpickyKeys, and in the new line that's created, left click in the boxes to make Left-CTRL and Left-ALT the trigger keys. Then type-in the letter or number you want associated with the item. For example, on our Haiku®RADIO setup here at TuneTracker Systems LLC, we have set the /boot/Station/Logs/ folder to the hotkey combination CTRL-ALT-L. Then just save your settings and exit.

We think that once you get accustomed to using hotkeys to launch programs, you might find yourself actually preferring that approach to the alternative of hunting around on the desktop for the correct icon. Just remember the letter or number of the item you want, and do CTRL-ALT-(that letter or number). It works great!

Thanks to Jeremy Friesner, the same guy who created the awesome BeShare program, for authoring SpicyKeys and helping make everybody's lives better.

Back