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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi John –<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pin the application to the task bar using the context menu for the application. There will be a “pin to task bar” option.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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 10<sup>th</sup> position, use JAWS drag and drop (control JAWSkey + numpadslash) to move your app in the task bar within the first ten positions. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have Outlook in the first position of the task bar so I press Windows key + 1 to launch Outlook.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hope this is helpful.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Steve <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>John Miller via NFBCS<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 11, 2023 10:34 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> John Miller <johnmillerphd@hotmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBCS] creating a 3-key shortcut hotkey for Windows 10 even when you are not the machine administrator<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Below are steps to configure a hotkey to launch a program in Windows 10.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>These steps work even if you are not the administrator of the machine.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I recently have had to use a Windows 10 computer for work without administrator privileges.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would like to hear from other blind Windows users about this issue and possible work-arounds.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>These 14 steps create a user generated shortcut which can be altered for a desired application<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you are the machine administrator and you already have a shortcut on the desktop, you can skip to step 8 and follow along.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1. Press Win + S<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2. Type the first few letters as you normally would when starting the application<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The resulting dialog box is split horizontally. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The right is the dialog for whichever list item from the left half is in focus. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3. Once the list item of choice is in focus, right arrow to its dialog.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>5. Press Shift + 10 to open its right click dialog<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>6. Press 's' to create a user shortcut on your desktop and confirm.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>7. Alt + F4 to close that location then Win + E to open Windows Explorer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>8. Press windows-D to go to desktop.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>9. Press the first letter of your shortcut name until you land on the shortcut.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>10 Press Shift + F10 to open its right click dialog<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>11 Press 'r' to open properties for the shortcut<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>12 Tab to the 'Shortcut key' field. In my case tabbing twice brought me to the right field.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>13. Enter your hotkey combination. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I recommend the hotkey be 3 keys. ALT+CTRL+letter is a good choice.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For example, ALT+CTRL+j for latest version of JAWS, JAWS 2023.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>14. Tab to the Apply button. In my case tabbing 6 times brought me to the right control.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There does not seem to be a Windows way to catalog user created hot keys.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you delete the shortcut, the hotkey combination applied to it will only be available for reuse after machine restart.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>John<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>