Keyboard Shortcut

**Brink**

How to Create a Keyboard Shortcut for a Program in Vista

Information

This will show you how to create a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Alt+key) for any program shortcut of your choice.

NOTE

The keyboard shortcut can only be made from a shortcut of the program or action that you want it made for. This will usually not work for Quick Launch shortcuts since they have their own keyboard shortcut settings. For more about Quick Launch, see: How to Use Quick Launch in Vista

RELATED LINKS:

Here's How:

NOTE

For an example I'm using a shortcut for Shutdown.

1. Right click on the shortcut and click Properties.
2. In the Start in: field, make sure the full path of the folder that the program .exe for this shortcut is located is correct here.
NOTE: For more about this, see: Microsoft Help and Support: KB283065 Article

3. Click on the None area next to Shortcut Key: . (See screenshot below step 4)

4. Type in the letter that you want to be used as the keyboard shortcut.
NOTE: Just press only the letter itself, no Shift to capitalize.
EX: The letter s for Shutdown.

Properties.jpg

5. If the key is available and not already used, it will make a keyboard shortcut using Ctrl + Alt + (your letter). (See screenshot below)
EX: For the letter s above, Ctrl + Alt + S.

Key.jpg

6. Click OK to apply and close window.
NOTE: Now when you press Ctrl + Alt + (your letter), it will open or run that shortcut to the program or action.

That's it,
Shawn

**johngalt** · 05-19-2008

Shawn,

I created a shortcut for the Snipping tool, and using either CTRL + ALT + Z or CTRL + SHIFT + Z is not working - I am currently having to use a third party app for creating shortcuts (HoeKey) because it does a *lot* more than just simple shortcuts, allowing you to map the Windows Key as well, and including extra functionality, including minimize to System Tray and other functions.

However, with Vista Ultimate 32bit setting a shortcut key for Snipping Tool always worked. Any idea why it might not be working in Vista Ultimate 64bit (SP1) ?

**Brink** · 05-19-2008

Hi Johngalt,

Not sure why it is not working for you. It is working fine on my 64 Bit Vista Ultimate SP1. You might try another letter to see if that is the problem.

Shawn

**johngalt** · 05-19-2008

Ahhh, I figured it out. I was using the shortcut in the Quick Launch menu, and not the item from the start menu - I just verified - I set ST's shortcut to CTRL + ALT + Z from the ST in Start menu, then went to Quick Launch and changed the shortcut on that ST to CTRL + ALT + X and then went back to the start menu - the shortcut remains at CTRL + ALT + Z. So, the Quick Launch items cannot be used for creating a system wide shortcut. Very weird.

**Brink** · 05-19-2008

Johngalt,

Nope. It will not work for Quick Launch. Quick Launch has it's own keyboard shortcuts for them. Windows Key + 0 to 9.

Quick Launch

Shawn

**johngalt** · 05-19-2008

Yeah, I belated figured that out. BTW, I took a tutorial similar to your tuts about creating logoff, shutdown and reboot shortcuts and took it a step further. I renamed the shortcuts 1 - Reboot, 2 - Shutdown, and 3 - Logoff, and then placed them in Quicklaunch. Now, they are easily there for use either by clicking on them (renaming them with numbers puts them at the top of the list when sorting by name) or by the QuickLaunch shortcuts Win + 1, etc.

Again, though, sorry about the goof earlier in trying to use the QuickLaunch Snipping Tool icon.

**Brink** · 05-19-2008

LOL, no problem Johngalt. That's a good idea you have on naming the shortcuts like that to make it easier to remember the QL keyboard shortcut numbers for them.

Shawn

05-19-2008
johngalt Antidisestablishmentarian Join Date: May 2008 Vista Ultimate x64 MAK Posts: 1,534 Location: 3rd Rock	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Shawn, I created a shortcut for the Snipping tool, and using either CTRL + ALT + Z or CTRL + SHIFT + Z is not working - I am currently having to use a third party app for creating shortcuts (HoeKey) because it does a lot more than just simple shortcuts, allowing you to map the Windows Key as well, and including extra functionality, including minimize to System Tray and other functions. However, with Vista Ultimate 32bit setting a shortcut key for Snipping Tool always worked. Any idea why it might not be working in Vista Ultimate 64bit (SP1) ?
	<----- If you found my post meritable, show me! CPU: Core 2 Quad 6600 G0 CPU @3.375 GHz Heatsink: Tuniq Tower 120 LFB Cooler Motherboard: eVGA 780i Motherboard PSU: OCZ ModXStream 780W SLI Ready PSU Graphics Card: eVGA 8800 GTS 512 KO edition GA RAM: 2 X 2GB OCZ PC2-8000 ReaperX HPC RAM @ 500 MHz (1000 MHz Dual) HDs: 2 X Seagate 500 GB 7200.10 RPM 32MB Cache HDs 1 X WD 250 GB 7200 RPM 8 MB Cache HD Optical: SONY DRU-830A Dual Layer IDE DVD burner Extra: Hauppage WinTV 1800 HVR TV Tuner card with Remote Case: ThermalTake Armour case Monitors: Dual Acer X312Wbd 21.6" Widescreen Active Matrix TFT with 2500:1 DC http://picasaweb.google.com/johnlgalt/TheBeast Please do not contact me via PM for help - post it in the forums to others may benefit from solutions that may be found.

05-19-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 Posts: 13,545 Location: Texas, USA	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Hi Johngalt, Not sure why it is not working for you. It is working fine on my 64 Bit Vista Ultimate SP1. You might try another letter to see if that is the problem. Shawn
	There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them. Vista Forums Please post feedback to help others.

05-19-2008
johngalt Antidisestablishmentarian Join Date: May 2008 Vista Ultimate x64 MAK Posts: 1,534 Location: 3rd Rock	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Ahhh, I figured it out. I was using the shortcut in the Quick Launch menu, and not the item from the start menu - I just verified - I set ST's shortcut to CTRL + ALT + Z from the ST in Start menu, then went to Quick Launch and changed the shortcut on that ST to CTRL + ALT + X and then went back to the start menu - the shortcut remains at CTRL + ALT + Z. So, the Quick Launch items cannot be used for creating a system wide shortcut. Very weird.
	<----- If you found my post meritable, show me! CPU: Core 2 Quad 6600 G0 CPU @3.375 GHz Heatsink: Tuniq Tower 120 LFB Cooler Motherboard: eVGA 780i Motherboard PSU: OCZ ModXStream 780W SLI Ready PSU Graphics Card: eVGA 8800 GTS 512 KO edition GA RAM: 2 X 2GB OCZ PC2-8000 ReaperX HPC RAM @ 500 MHz (1000 MHz Dual) HDs: 2 X Seagate 500 GB 7200.10 RPM 32MB Cache HDs 1 X WD 250 GB 7200 RPM 8 MB Cache HD Optical: SONY DRU-830A Dual Layer IDE DVD burner Extra: Hauppage WinTV 1800 HVR TV Tuner card with Remote Case: ThermalTake Armour case Monitors: Dual Acer X312Wbd 21.6" Widescreen Active Matrix TFT with 2500:1 DC http://picasaweb.google.com/johnlgalt/TheBeast Please do not contact me via PM for help - post it in the forums to others may benefit from solutions that may be found.

05-19-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 Posts: 13,545 Location: Texas, USA	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Johngalt, Nope. It will not work for Quick Launch. Quick Launch has it's own keyboard shortcuts for them. Windows Key + 0 to 9. Quick Launch Shawn
	There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them. Vista Forums Please post feedback to help others.

05-19-2008
johngalt Antidisestablishmentarian Join Date: May 2008 Vista Ultimate x64 MAK Posts: 1,534 Location: 3rd Rock	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Yeah, I belated figured that out. BTW, I took a tutorial similar to your tuts about creating logoff, shutdown and reboot shortcuts and took it a step further. I renamed the shortcuts 1 - Reboot, 2 - Shutdown, and 3 - Logoff, and then placed them in Quicklaunch. Now, they are easily there for use either by clicking on them (renaming them with numbers puts them at the top of the list when sorting by name) or by the QuickLaunch shortcuts Win + 1, etc. Again, though, sorry about the goof earlier in trying to use the QuickLaunch Snipping Tool icon.
	<----- If you found my post meritable, show me! CPU: Core 2 Quad 6600 G0 CPU @3.375 GHz Heatsink: Tuniq Tower 120 LFB Cooler Motherboard: eVGA 780i Motherboard PSU: OCZ ModXStream 780W SLI Ready PSU Graphics Card: eVGA 8800 GTS 512 KO edition GA RAM: 2 X 2GB OCZ PC2-8000 ReaperX HPC RAM @ 500 MHz (1000 MHz Dual) HDs: 2 X Seagate 500 GB 7200.10 RPM 32MB Cache HDs 1 X WD 250 GB 7200 RPM 8 MB Cache HD Optical: SONY DRU-830A Dual Layer IDE DVD burner Extra: Hauppage WinTV 1800 HVR TV Tuner card with Remote Case: ThermalTake Armour case Monitors: Dual Acer X312Wbd 21.6" Widescreen Active Matrix TFT with 2500:1 DC http://picasaweb.google.com/johnlgalt/TheBeast Please do not contact me via PM for help - post it in the forums to others may benefit from solutions that may be found.

05-19-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 Posts: 13,545 Location: Texas, USA	Re: Keyboard Shortcut LOL, no problem Johngalt. That's a good idea you have on naming the shortcuts like that to make it easier to remember the QL keyboard shortcut numbers for them. Shawn
	There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them. Vista Forums Please post feedback to help others.

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