Keyboard assistant. A guide to keyboard managers. Entering data from the keyboard

The keyboard is used to enter information into a computer and send control signals. It contains a standard set of alphanumeric keys and some additional keys - control and function, cursor control keys, and a small numeric keypad.

General concepts

Information entry point (cursor)- the symbol "|" blinking on the monitor screen, indicating the position in which the next character entered from the keyboard will be displayed.

The keyboard has a built-in buffer- intermediate memory of small size, where entered characters are placed. All characters typed on the keyboard are immediately displayed on the monitor at the cursor position. However, if the system is busy, the characters may not be immediately displayed on the screen, but placed in the keyboard buffer in order to display the entered characters on the screen after the system is released. If the keyboard buffer overflows, pressing the key will be accompanied by a beep, which means that the character has not been entered (rejected).

The most common today is 105 (7) - keyboards with key layouts QWERTY(reads "quart"), named after the designations of the keys located in the upper left row of the alphanumeric part of the keyboard.

Alphanumeric keys

The alphanumeric keys on the keyboard are designed to enter English and Russian letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and some other symbols. To change the input language, you need to click in the indicator area Taskbars by the keyboard indicator icon and select the desired language.

The language can also be changed using the keyboard. This is usually done using one of two keyboard shortcuts: Alt (left) + Shift or Ctrl + Shift.

Alphanumeric keys also enter symbols of other national alphabets. For example, if you have the Belarusian language installed in your system, then most of the letters of the Belarusian language coincide with the arrangement of the letters of the Russian language. But there are also differences. They are presented in the following table:

Function Keys

At the top of the keyboard are located 12 function keys. F1-F12... Function keys may have different meanings in different applications. Here is an example of the actions that the key performs F5.

Note that many programs use the key to get help (hints). F1.

Control keys

Control keys have the following purpose:

Enter- enter key. In text editors, pressing the Enter key completes the paragraph. When working, for example, in a folder window or Explorer pressing the Enter key performs the same function as double-clicking the left mouse button (usually the default action is open).

Esc(escape - exit) key to cancel any action, for example, to exit a dialog box, from a menu, etc.

Key Alt is used to select a command from the menu of the active application without using the mouse. By pressing the Alt key, the user gains access to the first menu item of the active application. Further selection of the command is carried out using the navigation keys ↓ ← → and pressing the key Enter... Key Alt widely used in combination with other keys. Here are some of them:

Key Ctrl has no independent meaning, but when pressed together with other alphabetic or control keys, changes their action. Here are some examples of using such combinations:

Shift(register) - provides change the case of keys(top to bottom and vice versa). For example, pressing the key Shift together with the alphabetic key, enables the entry of uppercase letters.

Insert(insert) - toggles the modes of insertion (new characters are entered between the ones already typed, pushing them apart) and replacements (old characters will be mixed with new ones).

Delete(delete) - deletes the character from the position to the right of the cursor (information entry point).

Back space deletes the character before the cursor, that is, to the left of the information input position. Recall that the key Back space located on the keyboard above the key Enter.

Tab - the tab key, in text editors, it moves the cursor to the right several positions at once to the next tab stop; in dialog boxes, it serves to move between various control elements.

Caps lock- locks uppercase, providing input uppercase letters instead of lowercase... Note that the key Caps lock works only with letter keys and does not affect the input of special characters.

Scroll Lock- used only in spreadsheets to scroll through information without changing the active cell.

Print Screen- provides copying information currently displayed on the screen in Clipboard.

Long bottom key untitled - designed to enter spaces (to separate words).

The Windows logo key displays Main menu Windows. In addition, it is used to execute some commands, the list of which is given in the table below:

Keyboard shortcut	Appointment
Windows + Break	Opening a dialog box System properties
Windows + D or Windows + M	Minimize all windows
Windows + Shift + M	Restoring minimized windows
Windows + E	Opening the My Computer window
Windows + F	Search for a file or folder
Ctrl + Windows + F	Find computers
Windows + F1	Displaying Windows Help
Windows + L	Lock a computer when joining a domain, or switch users if a computer is not joined to a domain
Windows + R	Opening a dialog box Execute
Windows + U	Opening the Utility Manager

The key is used to call the context menu of the selected object, that is, it replaces a right-click on the selected object.

Navigation keys

Navigation keys have the following purpose.

The ↓ ← → keys are used to move the cursor accordingly up, down, left and right one position or line.

Home and End- provide movement of the cursor to the first and last position of the line, respectively.

Page Up and Page Down- provide movement through the text one screen page back and forth, respectively.

Small numeric keypad

Small numeric keypad can be used in two modes: for entering numbers and for cursor control... Switching between these modes is carried out with the key Num lock.

And when writing a letter, and calculating digital data, you can't do without a keyboard- the main means of entering information into a computer. This section covers the basics of using the keyboard and introduces keyboard commands.

How keyboard keys are ordered

Keys on the keyboard computers can be divided into several groups by function:

Letters (letters and numbers)... These are the keys for letters, numbers, punctuation marks and symbols, just like on a regular typewriter.
Service keys... These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform specific actions. The most commonly used service keys are Ctrl, Alt, Esc and the key with the Windows logo.
Function Keys... Function keys are used to perform special tasks. They are designated F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. Depending on the program, the functionality of these keys may vary.
Navigation keys... These keys are used to navigate documents, web pages, and edit text. These include the arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Delete, and Insert.
Numeric keypad... The numeric keypad is convenient for entering numbers quickly. The keys are grouped into a block, just like on a regular calculator.

The figure below shows how these keys are located on a typical keyboard. You may have a different keyboard layout.

Entering data from the keyboard

Whenever you need to enter something into a program, email, or field, a vertical bar (|) flashes on the screen. This is the cursor, also called the input position. It shows where the input will start. You can move the cursor by clicking the desired location or by using the navigation keys (see Using the Navigation Keys in this section).

In addition to letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and symbols, the input keys also include the Tab key, Shift, Caps Lock, Enter, Space and Backspace.

Key name	Key Usage
Shift	To enter an uppercase letter, press that letter in combination with the Shift key. If you press the Shift key in combination with another key, you can enter the character shown at the top of the key.
Caps lock	To enter only capital letters, press Caps Lock once. Pressing the Caps Lock key again will disable this feature. The keyboard may have an indicator light to indicate if the Caps Lock function is on.
	If you press the Tab key, the cursor moves several spaces forward. You can also use the tab key to move to the next field in the form.
Enter	Pressing the Enter key will move the cursor to the beginning of the next line. Pressing the Enter key in selects the highlighted button.
Space	Pressing the Space key moves the cursor forward one space.
Backspace	By pressing the Backspace key, you can delete the character in front of the cursor or the selected text.

Using keyboard shortcuts in Windows

	Action
Windows logo key	Open Start Menu
Alt + Tab	switch between open applications or windows
Alt + F4	Close the active object or exit the active program
Ctrl + S
Ctrl + C	Copy selected object
Ctrl + X	Cut selected object
Ctrl + V	Insert Selected Object
Ctrl + Z	Undo action
Ctrl + A	Select all objects in a document or window
	Open Help for a program or Windows
Windows logo key + F1	Open Windows Help and Support
	Canceling the current job
Context key	Open the context menu of commands associated with the selected object or objects in the program. Equivalent to clicking the right mouse button.

Using the navigation keys

Navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, navigate documents and web pages, and edit text. The following table contains a list of the main functions of these keys.

	To perform such an action
Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow	Move the cursor or selection one space or line in the direction of the arrow, or scroll a web page in the direction of the arrow
Home	Move cursor to the beginning of a line or web page
	Move cursor to end of line or web page
Ctrl + Home	Go to the beginning of the document
Ctrl + End	Go to the end of the document
Page Up	Move cursor or go to page screen above
Page Down	Move cursor or go to page screen below
Delete	Delete the character in front of the cursor or the selected text, in Windows - delete the selected object and move it to the "Trash"
Insert	Enable or disable insert mode. When the text insertion mode is on, the entered text appears at the cursor position. When insert mode is off, text that you enter replaces existing characters.

Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad contains numbers from 0 to 9, arithmetic signs + (addition), - (subtraction), * (multiplication) and / (division), as well as a decimal point, as on a calculator. These characters are duplicated on other keys, but their location on the numeric keypad allows you to quickly enter numbers or math operations with one hand.

To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, press the Num Lock key. Most keyboards have a light indicator that shows if Num Lock is turned off. When Num Lock is off, the numeric keypad functions as a second set of jump keys (these functions are depicted on the number and character keys).

You can also use the numeric keypad to perform simple calculations in the Calculator program.

Controlling the Calculator program from the numeric keypad

Open the Calculator program.

Look at the keyboard light to see if Num Lock is on. If Num Lock is off, press the key.

Using the numeric keypad, enter the first counting number.

On the numeric keypad, press the + button to add, - to subtract, * to multiply, or / to divide

Enter the next number in the tally.

Press Enter to end the count.

Three additional keyboard keys

We have already examined almost all the keys that can be used. But for the curious, let's take a look at three of the most mysterious keys on the keyboard: PrtScn, Scroll Lock, and Pause / Break.

PrtScn (or Print Screen) key

Once upon a time, this key actually performed the function that its name indicates (ie "Print Screen") - it sent the text of the current screen to the printer. Now pressing PrtScn captures the image of the entire screen (takes a "screenshot") and copies it to the clipboard in the computer's memory. From there it can be pasted (by pressing Ctrl + V) into Microsoft Paint or another program and optionally printed from that program.

On some keyboards, the SYS RQ command is also marked on the PrtScn key - it is even more mysterious. SYS RQ used to stand for system request, but this command is not available on Windows.

For more information on the Print Screen key, see Taking a screenshot (Print Screen key).

reference: To freeze the image of not the entire screen, but only the active window, press Alt + PrtScn.

ScrLk (or Scroll Lock) key

In most programs, pressing the Scroll Lock has no effect. In some programs, pressing the Scroll Lock changes the behavior of the arrow keys and the Page Up and Page Down keys: pressing these keys scrolls the document without changing the cursor position or selection. The keyboard may have an indicator light to indicate if the Scroll Lock function is on.

Pause / Break key
This key is rarely used. In some ancient programs, pressing Pause / Break can pause the program, and pressing Ctrl + Pause / Break can stop the program from running.

Other keys

Some modern keyboards also have hotkeys or buttons that provide quick, one-touch access to programs, files, or commands. Other models have volume controls, scroll and zoom wheels, and other gadgets.

For more information on these features, see the instructions for your keyboard or computer, or on the manufacturer's website.

Correct use of the keyboard can prevent pain or injury to the wrist and arm, especially when using the computer for a long time.

Here are some tips to help prevent problems:

Place the keyboard at elbow level... Your forearms should be relaxed to the sides.
Center the keyboard in front of you... If your keyboard has a separate group of numeric keys, you can consider the space bar as the center point.
While typing, your hands and wrists should remain above the keyboard so that distant keys can be reached with a full arm motion rather than stretching out the fingers.
Do not place your palms or wrists on any surface when entering text... If the keyboard has a wrist rest area, use it only during breaks while typing.
While entering text press the keys lightly, your wrists should be straight.
If you do not enter text, relax your hands.
Keep it short breaks from work at the computer every 15-20 minutes.

As the name suggests, an on-screen keyboard, or as it is also called, is a keyboard that is displayed on a computer screen. It is used as an alternative to a real keyboard and allows people to type with a mouse or various other devices.

Typically, there are two main reasons why users use virtual keyboards instead of real ones.

Availability

Using the keyboard as a replacement:

User cannot use real keyboard. For example, people have devices that do not imply a physical keyboard, such as communicators and touchscreen devices.
Find an alternative way to enter text. For example, in order to be able to type text in your native language (for example, there are no native language stickers on a real keyboard). Or, for example, problems with an existing keyboard (the driver in the system has broken, the device is locked, etc.).

Security

To increase the level of security and protection against various malicious software (for example, from keyloggers):

Secure on-screen keyboards are great helpers in increasing the level of security when using public, unsecured or suspicious computers (for example, classrooms, Internet cafes, etc.).
Safe virtual keyboards can help protect your computer from the following types of malicious software:
- Keyloggers (keyloggers) - record all keystrokes
- Screen logging - create screenshots of the screen with regular periods or for any specific user actions
- Clipboard logging - control the contents of the clipboard
- Fixing the position of the mouse cursor - save all the coordinates where the mouse clicks were fixed. Basically, this type is used to hack bank screen keyboards.
- Capture values in text fields - get all values from text fields, even hidden by a password mask (everyone knows ****)

The good news is that there are a number of special free programs available to help you type safely. However, it must be emphasized that there is no one unique program that would include all possible functions. Accessibility-based virtual keyboards offer no real protection against malware. Likewise, the secure on-screen keyboards do not contain any special feature sets for ease of use. It should also be emphasized that secure on-screen keyboards should be viewed as an additional security tool that can never be replaced by specialized protection programs such as firewalls, antiviruses, etc.

This review examines virtual keyboards addressing accessibility issues.

Free Screen / Virtual Keyboards Review

On-screen keyboard Click-N-Type is an excellent analogue of commercial proposals

Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard

		Support for three input methods. Starting with Windows 7, automatic language switching when changing the active window.
		Can't resize keyboard (fixed since Windows 7).
		-------------
		211KB 2.0 Unrestricted freeware Windows
		Part of Windows

Even if your work is not directly related to typing, you still most likely have to work with the keyboard a lot. Write a letter, leave a message on the forum, just chat on ICQ - all this requires a keyboard. So far, unfortunately, computers cannot be dictated like a secretary or transmit their thoughts to them from a distance, so the keyboard remains the main input device. You may have wondered more than once how to type faster. In addition to the most obvious solution - mastering the touch typing method - there are others. They are based on the automation of some of the operations that must be performed when entering text. Programs for accelerating keyboard input can automatically or at the user's command switch the layout of the typed text, correct typos in words, offer suggestions for completing words when the user has just started typing, replace several entered characters with whole phrases or even sentences. It is these programs that will be discussed in today's review.

Punto Switcher 3.0

Developer: Yandex
Distribution size: 2 Mb
Spreading: is free
Interface: Russian Punto Switcher is perhaps the most famous and popular program for automatically switching keyboard layouts. However, not everyone knows that apart from switching layouts, Punto Switcher can do a lot more. For those who work a lot with text, the program can be a good helper. First, it is worth mentioning the compilation of the autocorrect list. Autocorrect in Punto Switcher works in much the same way as in MS Word - when you enter certain characters, they are replaced with a predefined word or a whole phrase. But if Word AutoCorrect works only within this text editor, then the list of frequently typed words and phrases saved in Punto Switcher can be used in all Windows applications, for example, in a browser or email client. In addition, you can save this list when reinstalling the system or transfer it to another computer. The autocorrect list is stored in the replace.dat file, which in previous versions of Punto Switcher was placed in the program installation folder, and is now located at c: Documents and SettingsUserApplication DataYandexPunto Switcher3.0 (for Windows XP).

The autocorrect list has two main purposes. First, you can use it to automatically correct typos in the words you miss most often. Second, you can include in this list some words or phrases that you often have to type. You can even use paragraphs when creating AutoCorrect items, so you can store, for example, templates for replies to letters in this list. Depending on your preference, you can ask the program to replace the entered characters after pressing the space bar, Enter or Tab. In addition, Punto Switcher can take into account characters typed in a different layout. In most cases, this feature is very convenient, as it allows you not to think about which layout you are typing in. For example, if you need to insert a reply template for a letter for which the letters "letter" are specified in the program settings, you can enter "dueyuk", after which Punto Switcher will switch the layout and perform autocorrect. Some users do not work with the AutoCorrect list because it is difficult for them to remember which characters to enter in order for the program to replace them. "I'd rather spend the time typing the phrase in full than remembering what abbreviation I came up with for autocorrect," they say. For such users, Punto Switcher provides a display of the autocorrect list on top of all windows. This window can be translucent and located anywhere on the screen. It is very simple to work with it: you place the cursor in the place where you want to insert the text, and click on the desired phrase in the autocorrect list box. However, it should be noted that this method of working with the autocorrect list will be convenient only if there are not very many elements in it, otherwise you will have to spend a lot of time searching for the desired phrase, scrolling through the list.

The second convenient feature of the program, which will help to save a lot of nerves while working, is a diary. The program can record in a diary everything that you type on your computer. By the way, because of this feature, some spyware detection programs perceive Punto Switcher as a malicious utility, because in fact it works like a keylogger program. However, unlike real keyloggers, it does not send the contents of your diary anywhere. Moreover, you can set a password to view it. The diary can store all the phrases you typed containing at least a certain number of words (this number must be at least two and is set in the program settings). In addition, the contents of the clipboard can be saved in the diary.

What is the practical use of this feature? It is guaranteed to save your work in the event of a software or system failure. Closing your text editor or browser unexpectedly, freezing your computer, and performing a warm restart can all cause the text you typed to not be saved in the original program. For many years of work with Punto Switcher, we have not had a single case when in a similar situation we could not "pull out" the loss from the diary. The only thing worth remembering when working with the diary is the need to clean it from time to time, since with active work this file can grow to a rather large size. However, the cleaning function is provided in the Punto Switcher. Despite the fact that Punto Switcher does not know how to check spelling "on the fly" and automatically correct typos, the program can still help you to pay attention to errors. If a typo was made while typing, the program changes the color of its icon in the system tray. In addition, if the sound is turned on on the computer, it will also notify you of an error with a special signal. Punto Switcher also has some clipboard options that you might find useful in your day-to-day work. First, the program can translate a piece of text that is entered into the clipboard into another layout. Secondly, using Punto Switcher, you can transliterate text from the clipboard. After Punto Switcher was acquired by Yandex, some other features were added to the program. For example, for a word placed on the clipboard, you can quickly find an interpretation in Yandex online dictionaries, get its translation into another language, see an article about it in the Russian or English encyclopedia Wikipedia, and search in Yandex. All these features are available from the context menu, which is invoked by clicking on the Punto Switcher icon in the system tray.

Finally, it is worth saying a few words about the main purpose of the program - automatic switching of the layout from Russian to English, and vice versa. The program provides many settings that help to adapt it to the needs of a particular user. For example, if the Punto Switcher dictionary does not contain a particular word that you often type, you can enter it there manually. For example, the program does not automatically switch the words "vuser" and "mukeuch" into the English layout when typing, despite the fact that in Russian they sound like gibberish, and in English - like "depth" and "vertex". It also happens vice versa - switching to another layout occurs when it is not needed. When you add a word to a custom dictionary, you can specify whether it needs to be translated into a different layout and whether it should be case sensitive. In some programs, Punto Switcher may not help, but interfere. An example is working in AutoCAD, where you often need to work with the command line, entering commands that do not look like ordinary words and therefore may be incorrectly interpreted by the program. For such cases, Punto Switcher has the ability to specify applications in which the program will be automatically disabled. In addition, the program can be disabled manually by unchecking the box next to the "Auto switch" command in the context menu of the tray icon. If you work with other languages besides Russian and English, be sure to pay attention to the "Consider input only in Russian and English layouts" checkbox in the program settings. If you install it, then Punto Switcher will not manifest itself when another layout is active. Perhaps one of the main inconveniences that Punto Switcher users complain about is that the program does not accept characters that were typed earlier. That is, if you typed a part of the word earlier, and then added the missing characters, Punto Switcher will process only the letters you just entered. This often causes errors when automatically switching layouts, because the part of a word you typed, for example, may begin with "ь", and therefore Punto Switcher will instantly change the layout to English. To edit the words you typed earlier, the easiest way is to use the left and right arrows on your keyboard. When you do not need the program to switch the layout, you just press these keys before entering characters, after which you can enter any characters without any problems. In the program settings, you can specify other keys, after pressing which Punto Switcher should not switch the layout - Delete, BackSpace, manual layout change.

Orfo Switcher 1.22

Developer: Oleg Dubrov
Distribution size: 1 Mb
Spreading: shareware
Interface: Russian The main purpose of Orfo Switcher is to check the spelling of the typed text while typing. The program works in all Windows applications, including IM clients chat windows, browsers, etc. As soon as you make a mistake in a word, Orfo Switcher displays a menu next to it, in which it offers several options for correcting it. In addition, it is possible to immediately add a word to the dictionary. You can select the desired option from the menu using the keyboard arrows or using the mouse. If you don't want to do either one or the other, you just continue typing, and the window with options for correcting the error disappears from the screen by itself. The program works with both Russian and English.

The second function of Orfo Switcher is to switch keyboard layouts. Like Punto Switcher, the program can monitor the typed text and automatically switch layouts. Switching can be performed both while typing a word, and after pressing the "Space" key. The program provides lists of exceptions - words for which you do not need to change the layout, and words for which you must change it. These lists are presented as text files and are easily edited in Notepad.

It should be noted that, unlike Punto Switcher, which works in both Windows XP and Windows Vista, this program provides the ability to automatically switch the keyboard only in Windows XP. In Windows Vista, to switch typed text to a different layout, you need to select it and use a predefined keyboard shortcut. Using the context menu that appears when you click on the program icon in the system tray, you can disable the Orfo Switcher or temporarily disable it for 10 minutes. These commands can also be executed using hotkeys. Orfo Switcher also has the ability to compile a list of applications in which the program will not work. Orfo Switcher implements some of the options for working with the clipboard. The program saves the last 40 elements that were entered into the buffer, and makes it possible to quickly insert them at the place where the cursor is located. To open a window with a list of text fragments, press and hold the middle mouse button. After that, it is enough to select the desired fragment using the cursor or arrows on the keyboard. Using this menu, you can also transliterate characters entered in the clipboard, or translate them into another layout.

The program also has a function similar to the autocorrect list in Punto Switcher. Using the "Presets" tab in the program settings, you can create a list of frequently used words and phrases. You can insert such blanks using the same menu that is called by pressing the middle mouse button. It is interesting that with the help of this menu you can quickly create new templates, and, by default, the text that is in the clipboard will be inserted into them.

Comfort Typing 3.2

Developer: Comfort Software Group
Distribution size: 2 Mb
Spreading: shareware
Interface: Russian Comfort Typing, unlike the other utilities discussed in this review, is not an automatic keyboard layout switcher. According to its developers, it was created for those who do not trust automatic switchers to change the input language. Layout switching can be performed only by user command. Comfort Typing can switch the input language of the text just entered, as well as the characters that have been highlighted. To change the layout, use the Win + Shift key combination. In addition to changing the input language, Comfort Typing helps you quickly perform operations with selected text such as changing the case of characters (you can convert all characters to upper or lower case, invert the case of characters, set the case as in sentences, or make all words begin with capital letter). To perform these operations, keyboard shortcuts are used that can be assigned in the program settings.

Comfort Typing offers several tools to speed up your typing. Firstly, the program has an auto-suggestion function when typing. As soon as you start typing a word, it brings up a small menu that offers one or more word completion options. You select the appropriate one using the arrows on the keyboard and move on to entering the next word. You can also use numbers to select the desired word, which is very convenient if there are several completion options in the list. All the words that Comfort Typing suggests for replacement are numbered. It is enough to enter the number that corresponds to the desired option, and the word will be automatically typed. If you enable the corresponding option in the program settings, then a space will also appear after it. Comfort Typing automatically expands its vocabulary with the words you are typing, so the more you use the auto-suggestion function, the more likely it is that the program will find the right word for substitution in the dictionary. The auto-suggestion function will be especially convenient for those users who cannot boast of a high typing speed. If you do not see any prompts while typing, simply reduce the delay time for their appearance. By default, it is large enough that you may be typing faster than Comfort Typing can prompt. If you reduce the delay time to the minimum value, then prompts will appear.

The second tool for speeding up typing is text templates, which are somewhat similar to the autocorrect list in Punto Switcher. Text templates work as follows: you type the sequence of characters that was specified for the template and press the NumLock key, after which the program replaces the entered characters with the corresponding piece of text. If you do not remember the sequence of characters, you can simply press NumLock. In this case, a window with a list of all templates will appear on the screen. You can select the desired one and insert it.

Working with templates in Comfort Typing has several advantages over similar programs. First, you can use macros in templates, for example, the current date and time. Secondly, templates can be saved in RTF format, that is, when creating them, you can use a variety of formatting tools that are not available for regular text: lists, alignment, superscript and subscript, different types of style, typeface and font size. All templates created in the program can be password protected. It is also possible to use common templates within a local network, where several users work with the program.

Conclusion

It was noted that keyboard simulators help speed up text entry and, accordingly, significantly save time. It is necessary to take into account one more aspect: "communication" with a computer is possible thanks to hot keys, which, in fact, are conceived to increase performance.

However, not every sequence of commands is performed with one click, and not every command has hotkeys. This guide includes programs that, in general, can be described as hotkey managers, although their capabilities are much wider. Software in this category helps automate repetitive actions, unify keystrokes on keyboard or other input devices in various ways. In addition, separate programs will help solve problems that arise when changing the layout, correct typical typos.

During the review, special attention was paid to the following main functions:

Customize hotkeys and extend the standard system keyboard capabilities
Auto-correction of input errors, including when changing the layout
Recording macros, scripts
Paste text from the Clipboard, work with templates, supported text formats

AutoHotkey

The AutoHotkey utility is designed for writing scripts that solve tasks such as:

Create, reassign hot keys for input devices (mouse, keyboard or joystick)
Creation of abbreviations (abbreviations) for subsequent autocompletion
Building input forms, menus, user interfaces

The scripts are compiled manually, there are no tools for recording them in graphical mode, although the program includes a utility for determining the coordinates of the mouse, the position of the active window (Window Spy) and a script-to-EXE-file converter (Ahk2Exe).

Information for learning the script language is contained in, there is also an unofficial Russian translation of expressions, functions, commands, etc. The section contains all the necessary information that will help at the initial stage of acquaintance with AutoHotkey.

The simplest example of an AutoHotkey script is to launch an application with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + C: ^! C :: Run calc.exe

where "!" - this is Alt, "^" - Control, "c" - the C key. The script can be created on the Desktop ("New → AutoHotkey Script" in the context menu) and edited in any editor. The script takes effect after the file is run.

Thanks to AutoHotkey scripts, you can not only launch programs or open documents, but also send keystrokes and clicks to the active window, manage windows, operate on data (for example, create and delete files, Registry entries), program shells, dialogs, buttons that require participation from the user's side. In theory, any mistake, deliberate or accidental, can lead to unpredictable consequences, up to and including loss of data. However, such functionality will be of interest only to a fairly experienced user.

The scripts support environment variables, with these tools you can use the clipboard. As proof - ready-made scripts and programs posted on the forum. More examples are published in the section.

Summary... A powerful tool for automation, applicable both for the implementation of simple tasks (reassigning hot keys, working with text, templates), and quite complex (automation, creating shells). But in the context of the review, the important thing is that AutoHotkey really expands the capabilities of the keyboard and other devices.

[+] Ample opportunities for scripting
[+] Documentation, availability of examples
[+] Support for various input devices
[-] Learning syntax is required to create scripts

Punto Switcher

Punto Switcher analyzes and corrects errors that are made "automatically" and regularly take time to correct: accidentally clamped Caps Lock, incorrect layout, two capital letters at the beginning of a word, and similar cases.

Two layout languages are supported - Russian and English. Punto Switcher "accidentally recognizes" other languages as well, but we cannot talk about full-fledged work with alternative layouts. According to the developers, they have such plans.

Corrections are made automatically or manually using hot keys. The shortcuts are not as widespread as in other keyboard managers. They relate to the correction of the above errors, the general settings of the program. For example, you can activate or deactivate the options for automatically correcting abbreviations, capital letters, accidental clicks. Punto Switcher keeps track of your Clipboard, allowing you to convert, transliterate or check spelling of text. That is, it is clear that there is no way to assign a combination for launching applications, system commands.

The program does not cause conflicts with other applications, but in practice it can slow down input in text fields or the like. In this case, you can create a list of exception applications, add switching rules, and disable auto-switching of the layout. One of the recent innovations of the manager is automatic recognition of the password input field (previously, you had to temporarily restrict the Punto Switcher action). At the moment, compatibility with Windows 8 and higher is not guaranteed (beta status), for full operation, you need to run the program as an administrator.

An additional feature of Punto Switcher is keeping a diary. An irretrievably lost - seemingly - record is easy enough to recover, it is enough to play it safe by activating the corresponding option and adjusting the length of the words recorded in the log.

Summary... In short, Punto Switcher is a keyboard manager, not a hotkey manager. Therefore, the program has a wider application, with less functionality than other participants. It is irreplaceable when conducting correspondence, editing texts - especially multilingual ones. Ideally, Punto Switcher requires extended support for hotkeys, autocompletion and custom dictionaries, recognizing languages other than Russian or English.

[+] Correction of input errors
[+] Logging
[+] User friendliness
[-] Relatively low functionality
[-] Support for only two layout languages

Key Switcher

The Key Switcher program is the "heir" of Keyboard Ninja - a well-known alternative to Punto Switcher. Key Switcher also analyzes text input and corrects errors that may occur while typing. Mostly, the "third generation switch", as the author calls the program, attracts attention with its support for 24 switching languages.

The program operates in one of 4 modes: full, safe, manual and inactive mode. Depending on this, Key Switcher reacts differently to text input. If autocorrection needs to be canceled, clever cancellation of switching by backspace helps out; in any case, switching the layout is easy to deactivate.

The Key Switcher can be trained, you can define the list of exclusions yourself, but, alas, you cannot make a list of exclusion programs. Autocorrect rules are added manually, plus autocorrect is worth noting, which allows you to create abbreviations for entering words.

A special storage is provided for entering passwords, where they are stored in encrypted form. There is no journal for storing text in the program. In general, there are not so many options in the Key Switcher (there were many more in Keyboard Ninja), especially the weak support for hotkeys.

Summary... Compared to Punto Switcher, Key Switcher has such advantages as a wide range of supported languages and multiple modes of operation. Punto Switcher, however, has a more flexible exclusion system, customization of hotkeys, more settings in general. Although, in general, both programs are interchangeable.

[+] Support for 24 languages
[+] Operating modes to choose from
[+] Autocorrect and autocorrection
[-] Cannot create a list of exclusion programs
[-] Weak hotkey support

Key Manager

Key Manager is a shell program for assigning actions to mouse buttons, wheel scrolling, keyboard shortcuts, creating pop-up menus and other methods of invoking.

The Key Manager interface is extremely simple, as well as creating actions is not particularly difficult. Instead of writing scripts, visual settings are used, categories and profiles available for selection in the main program window are used to organize actions. Action names are assigned automatically and in a readable format.

When adding a new action, the action when entering is indicated in the settings window: these can be all kinds of variations of clicks, clicks of different duration of clicks. You can also create custom modifiers, pop-up menus that display commands. The actions performed can be described as simple: sending a letter, opening a website, inserting text, starting a program, calling a system command, managing power, sound, etc. Key Manager supports inserting plain or RTF text using variables and templates, as well as imprinting.

Working with data (copying, deleting files) in Key Manager is not possible - but for the keyboard manager, by definition, these are already freelance functions. Rather, macros are needed here to record a sequence of keystrokes and keystrokes. Recording is performed in the "Press sequence" section using the action editor.

The program allows you to fine-tune exclusions from programs and windows that will not be affected by hot keys.

Summary... Thanks to convenient settings, Russian-language interface and, the program is intuitive for the user. Key Manager lives up to its name as a hotkey manager, and the most remarkable thing here is the use of all kinds of keyboard (and not only) keyboard shortcuts to execute commands.

[+] Convenient interface and simple action settings
[+] Working with text templates
[+] Creating custom modifiers

Comfort Keys

Comfort Keys is a suite of applications consisting of an automation utility, an on-screen keyboard, a clipboard manager, a template manager, and an alternative layout switcher.

The initial setup wizard is designed to determine the main parameters of the program. In it, in particular, you can activate hotkeys for common actions: working with a manager, controlling sound, monitor, keyboard options, system actions.

More fine tuning is carried out in the section "Configuring shortcuts" of the main parameters of Comfort Keys. Here you can select a key combination and type of action from the list: starting a program, opening a file, managing devices, and much more that is not in the wizard. It seems convenient to create sets of hot keys, they can be distributed at your discretion and switch between profiles as needed.

You can record a keystroke macro and assign a shortcut to it. Drawing parallels with Key Manager, it is worth noting that you cannot use the mouse when calling, and in general, the scripting capabilities are very limited.

The functions of automatic error correction in Comfort Keys are not implemented, but many operations are available through hot keys, such as: changing the input language of the last typed characters, switching the input language, converting selected characters to upper or lower case, inverting text, and others. A useful function that allows you to significantly save time is auto-completion of words from the drop-down list. Moreover, it is possible to connect one of the list of Russian-language dictionaries or about two dozen foreign-language dictionaries.

When listing other program modules available in the notification panel and through the context menu, we should mention the clipboard manager (see on the topic) and the text template editor. Templates are another way to unify the input of repeated words or phrases, for example, in correspondence. The template editor allows you to connect macros, there is a choice of text format. Templates located on a network share are convenient for use in workgroups - moreover, files can be encrypted.

It is not very convenient to use all the Comfort Keys tools at the same time, since the program, together with the add-ons, occupies a considerable part of the screen. But you can turn off the additional toolbar in the main options.

Summary... Comfort Keys, if we talk about the Pro edition, is a very functional solution for speeding up typing and working at a computer. The program will be useful when working with templates, editing, in everyday work. There are functions in common with Punto Switcher and Key Switcher that allow you to quickly fix text. Flexible reassignment of hotkeys and a wide range of actions.

[+] Excellent functionality
[+] Wide range of actions for hotkeys
[+] Working with templates
[-] Inconvenient interface

Hot Keyboard

Hot Keyboard is a program for creating macros, assigning hot keys to them, as well as the conditions under which they will be executed. In this case, a macro is an action that can be easily configured using options.

The main window of the program is a list where you can add the desired set of actions. There are similarities with the Key Manager interface, although Hot Keyboard cannot group actions by manually created categories and select profiles.

Macros are divided into 3 categories. The general category includes actions such as opening pages, creating menus, applications, files, search functions, and recording button clicks. Separately, it is necessary to note the insertion of text - as it should be, with a choice of format and support for special content: dates, times, variables and even files. Using macros, you can configure text autocorrect.

The settings for each macro are available in a separate window. To perform an action, you can set a condition or set up a scheduled launch. Hot Keyboard has a powerful scripting system. Variables, functions, operators are described in. In AutoHotkey, scripting was virtually the only way to do things, but here all is fair and scripts can be used in addition to actions. Actually, the third category of macros affects the specific functions of building scripts: setting the execution delay, working with expressions, launching another macro.

Summary... The Hot Keyboard utility is located to the user through configuration dialogs with options. Learning the syntax language is not necessary at all. However, if you need more flexibility and functionality, scripts will be of great help.

[+] Scripting
[+] Flexible configuration of actions
[+] Defining conditions for running macros

Pivot table

Program	AutoHotkey	Punto Switcher	Key Switcher	Key Manager	Comfort Keys	Hot Keyboard
The developer	Chris Mallet et al.	Yandex	InteLife Solutions	Atnsoft	Comfort Software Group	Imposant
License	Free of charge	Free of charge	Free / corporate	Paid (from RUB 920)	Paid (from 390 rubles)	Free (non-commercial) / paid (business, from $ 29.95)
Russian language localization	−	+	+	+	+	+
Writing scripts (macros)	+	−	−	+	+	+
AutoCorrect	+	+	+	−	−	+
Clipboard support	+	+	−	+	+	+
Hotkey assignment	+	+	+	+	+	+
Auto switch layout	−	+	+	−	−	+ (macro)
Auto-correction of errors	−	+	+	−	−	−