Getting Started with Active Keys

If you do not like reading long manuals and are already familiar with the Internet, this is probably the only chapter you need to read in order to get started.

Starting Active Keys

Normally, Active Keys starts automatically once it is installed on your computer. You can see the program running in the taskbar notification area (the lower right corner of the screen where you usually see the clock); it appears as a hand-over-the-keyboard icon. If for some reason the program is not running, you can start it manually.

To start Active Keys manually: Click Start button, then point at Programs; then point at Active Keys and select Active Keys.

Active Keys consists of two parts - the executable part that actually carries out the shortcut commands and of the configuration program that appears in a separate window when you double-click on the program's icon in the taskbar notification area.

Opening Active Keys settings window

To bring Active Keys settings window up, simply double-click on the program's icon in the taskbar notification area or right-click on the icon and then select Customize Keyboard Shortcuts...

The Active Keys window that appears lists all custom shortcuts currently defined in the program. To view a shortcut, double-click on it or select it and then press ENTER. For details on creating and managing custom shortcuts, please refer to Working with Active Keys.

To shut down Active Keys, right-click on the program's icon in the taskbar notification area and then select Exit.

Now that you have got some hands-on experience with the program, follow your intuition and start playing with it or - read the next chapter on working with the program.