Global Shortcut for Notepad?

Anyone know if you can create a global Windows shortcut in WinXP to open a Notepad window?  Something like WIN + N (WIN = Windows Logo thingy).  Right now, the best I can get is WIN + R for the run prompt and type "notepad".  A quicker shortcut would be nice for times when I want to read a system file or some other text file that does not have a program associated to it, and you don't want to associate it to one.  What I usually do is open a Notepad window and then drag the file from explorer into the window.

Clay Whipkey
Thursday, May 13, 2004

Run winkey: http://www.copernic.com/winkey

Rob Walker
Thursday, May 13, 2004

Awesome, that is perfect.  Thanks.

Clay Whipkey
Thursday, May 13, 2004

If Notepad's on your Start menu, then

Win, N

(not Win-N, but Win, then N) works, or

Win, N, Enter

if you have more than one thing starting with N there (so long as Notepad is first).

You can also use X-Setup to add "View with Notepad" to the context menu for any file; the older (free) version of X-Setup is here:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=127

Kyralessa
Thursday, May 13, 2004

Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> (Right Click) Notepad -- > Properties --> Shortcut Key (Modifiers limited to Ctrl + Alt)

KayJay
Thursday, May 13, 2004

For context menus, it is also possible by having a shortcut to Notepad (or any Application) in your "Send To" menu. Right click the file and send to Notepad or Acrobat Reader or Hexedit or whatever.

KayJay
Thursday, May 13, 2004

KayJay-

Did you know if you modify a shortcut on the QuickLauch bar and add the shortcut, it doesn't work?  Hmm.  I had to clear it and recreate it from the Start menu.  Go figure...

Russell Thackston
Thursday, May 13, 2004

"Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> (Right Click) Notepad -- > Properties --> Shortcut Key (Modifiers limited to Ctrl + Alt)"

Yes, but if you create a shortcut with CTRL or ALT, doesn't a running application in focus take priority over shortcuts using those keys?  For example, if I am in Outlook, CTRL+N will open a new email.  In Photoshop it will open a new file.  If I set a shortcut using CTRL or ALT, I can't guarantee that the application in focus will not take over that shrotcut.  That is the reason for wanting to use the Windows key.

I installed the Winkey app and it works great.  Not just for Notepad, but really almost anything I would want to add.

Clay Whipkey
Thursday, May 13, 2004

Actually, it forces you to use *both* Ctrl and Alt.  I guess they saw that as an under-used combination?

Russell Thackston
Thursday, May 13, 2004

Russell Thackston,

That's true! I thought it could be you can't assign shortcut keys to shortcuts, but I tried something on the desktop, it work.

Anyway thanks. I've got something to tinker with tonight!

KayJay
Thursday, May 13, 2004

I've added a shortcut to Quick Launch and Send To and that's always been enough for me.

yet another anon
Thursday, May 13, 2004

Yet another way to solve this problem is to copy notepad.exe as n.exe so you can run it by pressing Win-R, n, Enter.  I like this method because I can also use it to open a file from the commandline by typing "n [filename]" once I have navigated to the appropriate directory.

Whlie you're messing with this, you might also want to install a good text-editor such as metapad (and copy it as n.exe.)

dejavujade
Thursday, May 13, 2004

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