Comments on: Open apps faster via Windows' command line.

Get instant access to the Command Prompt to launch programs quicker than you can with mouse clicks.

[skyrise85]

nice post. you could expand by talking about the path in environment variables. it's a fairly easy tweak and can be very useful.

also all these commands work from the run... box

[woodythrower]

From experimentation, I've found that defining a 'Shortcut key" only works if the shortcut appears under the Start menu. I've also observed that the more deeply nested the shortcut is, the longer it takes to actually open via the shortcut key. Clavier+ looks like a reasonable workaround to those problems.

[Pachzevel]

Shortcut key also works if the app. is on the desktop.

[justdenny]

all of this is quicker than 2 mouse clicks....how, exactly?

[ddas72]

Calculate the distance travelled by your hand and then by your finger and the trajectory of the focal point of your eyes to click twice. Say, are writing a doc in ms-word. If you want to save as you go on typing, you may be able to do 3 save actions using ctrl+s where as it would take you 3 extra seconds do that using mouse clicks.

[bmx2886]

I was able to create a shortcut of the cmd.exe by right clicking the shortcut in start->programs->accessories (I have XP). Then I just use the "Send to.." option and select desktop. Then when it's on the desktop I assign the shortcut keys. I have used this way on 2 of my work PC and haven't had any problems. But this utility does sound helpful to keep all of your shortcut keys organized.

[AndrewRich]

Another great shortcut key utility is Copernic's WinKey, which is unfortunately no longer officially supported or available. (Or is it? http://www.copernic.com/winkey.exe )

Winkey lets you assign commands and applications to Win+key, Win+Ctrl+key, Win+Shift+key and Win+Ctrl+Shift+key. I've had Win+Ctrl+C mapped to "%windir%\system32\cmd.exe% for quite a long time.

[J H F]

Windows Key+r brings up the run box. This shortcut works out of the box. One real big advantage with this is that it saves your entries so you don't have to type the full string, just put in part of it and you will be presented with all of the choices that you have used in the past, to finish your command. Plus you can use it to open web sites just by entering the URL, or put in a path and open Windows explorer right were you want it to. If you type in 'cmd /k ipconfig' the /k preserves the open window so the ipconfig information stays on the screen in the command window. I could go on but, Oh but you were promoting a product, my bad.

[karl.kranich]

I use Launchy (www.launchy.net) and love it. Just hit alt-space, start typing the app I want, and hit enter when Launchy finds it. I told it to index the extra folders where I install apps, and it finds everything I use.

[nsubbuu]

good

[nsubbuu]

good