[NFBCS] creating a 3-key shortcut hotkey for Windows 10 even when you are not the machine administrator

[Steve Shelton]

Hi John -

 

Here's an alternative I use. I don't think it requires admin. The set up can
be a little tricky but will only require a simple windows key shortcut to
start any application. 

 

Pin the application to the task bar using the context menu for the
application. There will be a "pin to task bar" option.

 

Open the task bar  (Windows key + T) and look to see what position the
application you added is in.  The left most app is position 1  and the
position increments as you move to the right.

 

Now, at any point you can press Windows key + position number. This shortcut
can only be used for the first 10 apps in the task bar using digits 1 - 0.
If your app is beyond the 10th position, use JAWS drag and drop  (control
JAWSkey + numpadslash) to move your app in the task bar within the first ten
positions.  

 

I have Outlook in the first position of the task bar so I press Windows key
+ 1 to launch Outlook.

 

Note that the drag and drop command in the Task bar works only in Windows
10. It appears it is broken in Windows 11. I have reported this to JAWS
technical support but the ticket was closed with no resolution.  

 

Hope this is helpful.

 

Steve 

 

 

From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of John Miller via NFBCS
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2023 10:34 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: John Miller <johnmillerphd at hotmail.com>
Subject: [NFBCS] creating a 3-key shortcut hotkey for Windows 10 even when
you are not the machine administrator

 

Hello,

 

Below are steps to configure a hotkey to launch a program in Windows 10.

These steps work even if you are not the administrator of the machine.

I recently have had to use a Windows 10 computer for work without
administrator privileges.

Although many of us know how to make a 3-key hot key for an application and
benefit from this method, it does not work when you are not the machine
administrator.

I would like to hear from other blind Windows users about this issue and
possible work-arounds.

 

Unfortunately, even though there may be many shortcuts on the desktop, if
they are the result of an admin install, they are unchangeable without admin
rights.

This means that if you are not the machine administrator, you can not use
one of these shortcuts by going to properties and filling out shortcut hot
key.

 

These 14 steps create a user generated shortcut which can be altered for a
desired application

If you are the machine administrator and you already have a shortcut on the
desktop, you can skip to step 8 and follow along.

 

1. Press Win + S

2. Type the first few letters as you normally would when starting the
application

The resulting dialog box is split horizontally.  

The left side is a list of results or list items whose names start with the
letters you typed.  That list is split vertically by best match at the top,
then a list of apps, and finally search phrases for the web.

The right is the dialog for whichever list item from the left half is in
focus. 

3. Once the list item of choice is in focus, right arrow to its dialog.

4. Arrow down to 'Open File Location' press Enter. When the file location
opens, a shortcut (or possibly the executable) will be in focus, but this
one cannot be hotkeyed without admin rights.

5. Press Shift + 10 to open its right click dialog

6. Press 's' to create a user shortcut on your desktop and confirm.

7. Alt + F4 to close that location then Win + E to open Windows Explorer

8. Press windows-D to go to desktop.

9. Press the first letter of your shortcut name until you land on the
shortcut.

10 Press Shift + F10 to open its right click dialog

11 Press 'r' to open properties for the shortcut

12 Tab to the 'Shortcut key' field.  In my case tabbing twice brought me to
the right field.

13. Enter your hotkey combination. 

I recommend the hotkey be 3 keys. ALT+CTRL+letter is a good choice.

For example, ALT+CTRL+j for latest version of JAWS, JAWS 2023.

14. Tab to the Apply button. In my case tabbing 6 times brought me to the
right control.

 

There does not seem to be a Windows way to catalog user created hot keys.

You will know a particular combination is in use when you try to type it in
the 'Shortcut key' field and it does not take.

If you delete the shortcut, the hotkey combination applied to it will only
be available for reuse after machine restart.

 

 

Best Regards,

John

 

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