Keystroke combo to open a folder?

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Guest

I know it is possible to create a keystroke combination to get to an .exe
file (or even to a shortcut to an .exe file). Is it possible to create a
keystroke combination using just XP to open a specific folder? I've tried
creating shortcuts to the folder I want to open and then entering a keystroke
combination in the Preferences panel, but when I press that combination
(Ctrl-Alt Whatever) the folder does not open on the desktop -- which is what
I'd like it to do. Any thoughts?

TIA

Mark
 
message
I know it is possible to create a keystroke combination to
get to an .exe file (or even to a shortcut to an .exe file).
Is it possible to create a keystroke combination using just
XP to open a specific folder? I've tried creating shortcuts
to the folder I want to open and then entering a keystroke
combination in the Preferences panel, but when I press that
combination (Ctrl-Alt Whatever) the folder does not open on
the desktop -- which is what I'd like it to do. Any
thoughts?

TIA

Mark
Click to expand...

I'm not sure where you're coming up with a Preferences tab on a
shortcut to a folder.

Here's what works on my system:

Right click the shortcut and select Properties from the menu.
Click on the Shortcut tab.
You should see a box labeled "Shortcut key:" with None entered
in the box.
Left click next to None so you get a blinking bar.
Hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys.
You should now see "Ctrl + Alt +" in the box.
While holding down Ctrl and Alt, hit a third key of your
choosing.
Click OK.
Use that key combination and see if it opens the folder.

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
Wesley,

This approach works fine for a "program" such as winword.exe. What I want to
do is use a similar kind of keystroke combination to open specific folders on
my hard drive -- and this approach does not seem to accomodate that. I'm
trying to ascertain whether I'm just missing something, whether there's a
workaround that will enable me to open a specific folder when the keystroke
combination is pressed, or whether this just won't work anything but
"programs" in the classic sense. I can always run QuicKeys for Windows and
do exactly what I want, but that's the only reason I use QuicKeys and I was
hoping there might be a simple way to do this just within XP.

TIA,

Mark
 
My bad -- I meant the Properties panel, not the "Preferences" panel.

The problem I have is that I've done just what you suggest and it's NOT
causing the folder to open when I press that key combination. I'm wondering
if this kind of keyboard shortcut only pertains to .exe files and simply
won't work with folders.

TIA,

Mark
 
Mark,

I have *several* folders set up with shortcut keys. You have to have a
shortcut to the folder in order for this to work.

Create shortcuts to those folders, then...
Right click the shortcut | Properties | Shortcut tab | Shortcut key | Click
where it says None | Hit the key you want (which will be in combination with
Ctrl + Alt +) | Click Apply | Click OK

You cannot use the ESC, ENTER, TAB, SPACEBAR, PRINT SCREEN, SHIFT, or
BACKSPACE keys.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
Wesley --

Excellent -- at least I know it should work, which was not clear until your
post. I may have conflict with another key, which would explain why one
combination is not working. I'll play around with this. As long as I know it
should work, that answers my key question.

Thanks!

Mark
 
Try that combination to see what opens. If something opens, UNDO the hot
key.
Delete what's in the Shortcut key box.

What you need is David Candy's FindHotkeys.bat & FindHotkey.vbs.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
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