Open TrackerV3 with a global hotkey

[Chris Wood]

I find it really handy how Explorer can be opened by pressing Windows-E...

[peterbonge]

I don't need this. TrackerV3 is always running. Why don't you just use Hot Key Plus?

[admin]

I don't need it either. And: a global hotkey is a property of the OS, not of an app.

[Chris Wood]

Fair enough - keep TrackerV3 open. To facilitate that, how about minimizing TrackerV3 to the taskbar? Or even better, an option to "close to taskbar". Should I open a new poll on this?

[admin]

No, I don't like the taskbar, so I would not do it anyway

[Chris Wood]

Woops, I meant the system tray, but I think you got what I meant.

[admin]

Oh yes, whoops myself, but still: two thumbs down for programs cluttering up the *system* tray.

[Chris Wood]

Programs take up a lot less screen space in the systray than in the taskbar.

Besides, every fifth program has an option to 'minimize to tray', why fight the system?

[admin]

"every fifth program" -- that's not exactly "the system". For me, apps in the taskbar, and system stuff in the tray, works alright. Where's the loss of screen space?

[Chris Wood]

I guess I consider TrackerV3 to be a 'system' program, since it replaces Explorer.

[admin]

Explorer isn't in the tray either.

[Chris Wood]

It doesn't need to be since it's always in memory, and has a global hotkey

[admin]

You just can't beat Explorer!

[BillR]

A. Open TrackerV3 with hotkey or equivalent
B. Minimize TrackerV3 to Tray
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A. Open TrackerV3 with hotkey or equivalent

1. Use OS
- Create a shortcut to C:\Program Files\TrackerV3\TrackerV3.exe (or wherever you put it).
- Open new shortcut's properties and define a hotkey
- NOTES
- Win2k and Win9x don't support defining Windows key hotkeys.
- Add (drag) shortcut to MS Quick Launch bar for single click start.
- Add shortcut to desktop for single click start.
- Create a separate hotkeys folder for all shortcuts that have hotkeys. Only define hotkeys via shortcuts in this folder. Duplicate another shortcut (e.g., in Program Files) if necessary, but do not define a hotkey anywhere except in hotkeys folder. This greatly facilitates maintaining them.
- See Shortcuts Map for a nice display of all hotkeys
http://zealsoftstudio.com/shortcuts/index.html

2. Use hotkey manager
- http://www.Pricelessware.org has a few good suggestions from participants in the news group Alt.Comp.Freeware
- I use WireKeys (which includes an autoreducing Shortcuts Map equivalent and a sophisticated tray manager) from http://www.WiredPlane.com (Shareware and freeware versions available; freeware version is better -- or used to be -- than expired shareware version). PowerPro is also great and has many other features but is initially confusing to set up.

3. Use alias in Start/Run
- Define an alias for TrackerV3 (e.g., named "tv") in the registry. Type Win+R, then tv <enter>
- Automated script (AliasBuilder.vbs) available from http://http://members.cox.net/scotterpo ... uilder.zip
- Manual instructions elsewhere on scotterpops (note SCOT...)

4. Use QuickRun from DigiArch
- Create a shortcut to TrackerV3 (e.g., named ""tv")
- Type F4 (invokes QuickStart), then tv <enter>

B. Minimize TrackerV3 to Tray

Use a tray manager. Pricelessware.org recommends a few. 4t Tray Minimizer Free from http://www.4t-niagrai.com/tray is simple but effective.

I use WireKeys. It supports minimize to tray by right-clicking minimize icon in upper right; hide to tray; define a tray menu/application launcher; rollup/down to titlebar (winshade) by right-clicking maximize icon in upper right; complex hotkey definitions -- WinKey hotkeys, multicharacter hotkeys, and more (e.g.,Win+T+V or CapsLock+T).