To receive tip messages, ensure that 'Display Tip Messages' is checked on the Help menu. Tip messages are displayed when you need them. You may or may not receive tip messages depending on what features of JumpKeys you use.
Some buttons, text boxes, labels and check boxes have ToolTips which describe their function. To view a ToolTip, simply position your mouse over the button, text box, label or check box.
The Window menu has several functions, but it's main purpose is to tag desktop windows for selection. Once a desktop window has been tagged, it will appear on the Window menu along with it's tag number. This information is saved automatically, and is available the next time you start JumpKeys.
Using a system-wide hot key, the Window menu can be displayed at any time (beside the mouse cursor) - even if JumpKeys is not the active window. This is a detached version (a pop-up version) of the same Window menu found in JumpKeys. There are some situations in which you would want to use the Window menu from within JumpKeys, but it is designed mainly to be displayed using it's system-wide hot key. When JumpKeys is installed, the default hot key for displaying the pop-up version of the Window menu is Windows+W. If you wish, this hot key can be changed on the Hot Keys tab of the Options dialog box. Note: If you have an older keyboard without the Windows® logo key(s), then you will have to change this hot key before getting started.
To 'tag a window' is the process of capturing a window's title and adding it to the list of windows on the Window menu. Part of this process involves assigning a Tag number (from 1 to 9) to the window. This allows you to select the window with one of the 1-9 system-wide hot keys.
Ensure the window you want to tag has the focus (it's title bar will be
highlighted) - JumpKeys calls this the target window.
Display the pop-up version of the Window menu using it's system-wide hot key.
The Window menu should now have the title of the target window in square brackets. For example, if the title of the
target window is "Untitled - Notepad", then you will find the following option at the bottom of the Window menu:
"Add [Untitled - Notepad] to Window menu…".
Select this menu option to open the Add Window dialog box. Assign a tag number (from
1 to 9) to the window.
At this point, you can simply press Enter to complete the process - this will identify the window based on it's full
title **.
Alternatively you can edit the title to identify the window based on a partial title
-
"Notepad", for example - or you can choose one of the pre-defined options;
identify the window based on the application name portion of the title, or on the document portion of the title.
** A window is matched based on Title and Class.
The fastest way to select a tagged window...
USING THE 1-9 SYSTEM-WIDE HOT KEYS: For example, if you have
previously tagged a window with the number 1, and the window selection hot key
is the 'Alt' key (as defined on the Hot Keys tab of the Options dialog box); then, from anywhere on the desktop, you can now
select (switch to) the window using
Alt+1 (using the numbers on the main keyboard, not the numeric keypad). If the window is minimized, it will be restored automatically.
An alternative way of selecting a tagged window - which is useful if you forget
the window's tag number...
USING
THE WINDOW MENU: From anywhere on the desktop,
display the pop-up version of the Window menu using it's system-wide hot
key. Select the desired tagged window from the Window menu using your mouse or by
pressing the tag number associated with the window. Note: Unlike the preceding
method, here you can use the numbers on the main keyboard
OR the
numeric keypad.
USING THE 1-9 SYSTEM-WIDE HOT KEYS: You
can cycle through multiple instances of a tagged window ** (with the same title/class
match) by repeating a window selection hot key (e.g. Alt+1). How to cycle through Windows® Explorer windows that do not have "Exploring" in the title bar:
when you tag the window, simply clear the 'Identify Window' text box (on the Add Window dialog box) - this will force
a title match on all windows with class of "ExploreWClass" (Windows®
XP), or "CabinetWClass" (Windows®Vista/7).
** You only have to tag one instance. JumpKeys will find all
other instances for you.
THE WINDOW MENU: The window cycling
feature works with the window selection hot keys only.
TIP: To cycle through all windows on the desktop, use Alt+Esc (provided by the Windows®
operating system). However, this method will not restore any of the windows from
minimized.
USING THE 0 SYSTEM-WIDE HOT KEY: For example, if the window selection hot key is the 'Alt' key (as defined on the Hot Keys tab of the Options dialog box); then, from anywhere on the desktop, you can select (switch to) the Previous Window using Alt+0 (using the number on the main keyboard, not the numeric keypad). If the window is minimized, it will be restored automatically.
USING THE WINDOW MENU: This can be done in the same manner as when selecting a Tagged Window.
Note: This feature is affected by the options 'Recognize windows that have no Title' and 'Recognize Toolbar style windows' on the General tab of the Options dialog box. For example, if the Previous Window that had the focus is "Explorer" (1st window), and you have just used a Quick Launch toolbar (2nd window) to open "Notepad" (3rd window); if 'Recognize Toolbar style windows' is checked, then, selecting the Previous Window will select the Quick Launch toolbar; if 'Recognize Toolbar style windows' is unchecked, then, selecting the Previous Window will select the "Explorer" window.
Ensure the window you want to make Always On Top has the focus (it's title bar will be highlighted) - JumpKeys calls this the target window. Display the pop-up version of the Window menu using it's system-wide hot key. The Window menu should now have the title of the target window in square brackets. For example, if the title of the target window is "Untitled - Notepad", then you will find the following option at the top of the Window menu: "[Untitled - Notepad] Always On Top". Selecting this menu option will make the target window Always On Top.
Caution: Using Always On Top can cause confusion in a couple situations: 1.) If you make a window Always On Top, then later maximize the window (or if it is sized too large), you will not be able to see any other windows on your desktop. Even if you select another window using JumpKeys (or using Alt+Tab, etc.) you will not be able to see the window you just selected. Technically, the window will have the 'focus', and you can type into the window, but you just wont see it! 2.) Some program windows are not designed to be Always On Top. For example, a program may display a pop-up dialog box that you have to respond to before continuing, but you will not see the dialog box because it is covered by the main program window that you have made Always On Top.
MINIMIZING: You can minimize the current window by using a system-wide hot key (as defined on the Hot Keys tab of the Options dialog box).
MAXIMIZING / RESTORING: Using a system-wide hot key (as defined on the Hot Keys tab of the Options dialog box) you can maximize the current window, or, if the window is already maximized, the same hot key will restore the window.
From anywhere on the desktop, display the pop-up version of the Window menu using it's system-wide hot key. Select 'Minimize All' or 'Restore All' from the Window menu.
DISPLAYING THE OPTIONS DIALOG BOX: The Options dialog box can be displayed in one of two ways; from JumpKeys (on the Tools menu), or using it's system-wide hot key. When JumpKeys is installed, the default hot key for displaying the Options dialog box is Windows+O. Note: If you have an older keyboard without the Windows® logo key(s), then you will have to change this hot key before getting started.
GENERAL TAB: The options 'Recognize windows that have no Title' and 'Recognize Toolbar style windows' affect the performance of selecting the Previous Window. These settings determine whether a window should either be recognized by JumpKeys, or ignored. With 'Recognize Toolbar style windows' checked, only toolbars that are designed to be used outside of the main window of an application (desktop toolbars) will be recognized - normal toolbars will not be recognized.
HOT KEYS TAB: This tab is for customizing hot keys.
DISABLING INDIVIDUAL HOT KEYS: All hot keys are located on the Hot Keys tab of the Options dialog box. The hot key identification labels are color coded indicating whether the hot key is enabled or disabled. To disable a hot key, you just have to clear the second part of the hot key (the drop-down list box containing F1-F12, A-Z, and so on). You can do this quickly by pressing the Spacebar while the drop-down list box is selected. To disable one of the 0-9 window selection numbers, simply uncheck the number.
HOW TO SET A HOT KEY: For example, to set a single hot key (e.g. F10) for minimizing windows; 1.) with the Hot Keys tab of the Options dialog box selected, select the first part of the hot key (the drop-down list box containing Alt/Ctrl/Shift/Windows) 2.) press Spacebar to clear it 3.) press Tab to go to the second part of the hot key 4.) press F10. The hot key will take effect when you close the Options dialog box, or click on the Apply button. With the window selection numbers, clearing the first part of the hot key (the drop-down list box containing Alt/Ctrl/Shift/Windows) will allow you to select windows with the numbers alone (using the numbers on the main keyboard, not the numeric keypad).
KEY COMBINATIONS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR USE AS A HOT KEY:
First, ensure that you are not attempting to use a hot key that is in use by another
program that uses system-wide hot keys. Second, you will not be able to use certain key combinations that are reserved by the Windows® operating
system, such as:
| Windows+Pause | (System Properties) | |
| Windows+F1 | (OS Help) | |
| Windows+F | (Find) | |
| Windows+E | (Explorer) | |
| Windows+R | (Run) | |
| Windows+M | (Minimize All) | |
| F12 - alone, as a single hot key | (has no apparent function, but is not available in Windows NT/2000 or later) | |
| Ctrl+Pause | (closes an open file dialog window) | |
| Ctrl+PrintScrn | (screen capture) | |
| Shift+PrintScrn | (screen capture) |
update: Key combinations that are reserved by the operating system in Windows® Vista/7/8/10 has grown to include
Windows+D,E,F,G,L,M,P,R,T,U,X,F1,Pause,UpArrow,DownArrow,0-9
More
than one installation can be used
individually or concurrently if you require
access to more than 9 windows.
Creating a new installation is a two step process.
Step 1 - copy JumpKeys.exe to a folder (directory) of your choice
JumpKeys is designed to be installed in multiple folders
(directories) simply by copying the application file (JumpKeys.exe) to as many folders as you wish. The name of the folder appears in the title bar when
JumpKeys is run.
For example, when JumpKeys is run from the following installations, the title
bar of each will read: "JumpKeys - A" and
"JumpKeys - B".
C:\MyStuff\JumpKeys\A\JumpKeys.exe
C:\MyStuff\JumpKeys\B\JumpKeys.exe
Step 2 - create a Shortcut to JumpKeys.exe
The Windows® operating system provides a variety of Shortcuts you can use to
launch applications. The following is a list of possible ways you can create a
Shortcut to JumpKeys.exe. Please refer to the Windows® operating system help documentation for further instructions.
| Shortcuts (icons) to your JumpKeys installations can be placed... | ||||
| 1. | Directly on the desktop | |||
| 2. | In a desktop folder | |||
| 3. | At the top of the Start menu | |||
| 4. | On the Start menu under Programs | |||
| a. | in a custom folder | |||
| b. | in the Startup folder (this will run JumpKeys when you start/reboot your computer) | |||
| 5. | As a Quick Launch icon on a toolbar on the Taskbar (not available in Windows® 95) | |||
| - | if desired, the toolbar can be detached from the Taskbar and put on the desktop. The desktop toolbar can be made to stay Always On Top | |||
JUMPKEYS MAIN WINDOW: To change the color of a Target Window/Class label; 1.) select 'Customize Colors - C' from the View menu 2.) position the mouse over the label 3.) when the cursor has changed to a 'C' (the letter C within a black circle), click on the label to change it's color. To change the second label to the same color, simply hold down the Alt key while clicking on the label (Alt+Click). When finished customizing colors, reselect 'Customize Colors - C' from the View menu to return the mouse cursor to normal.
OPTIONS DIALOG BOX: To change the color - on the Hot Keys tab of the Options dialog box - that indicates that a Hot Key is enabled; 1.) position the mouse over the colored box (Legend) located in the lower left corner of the dialog box 2.) when the cursor has changed to a 'C' (the letter C within a black circle), click on the colored box to change the color.
WINDOWS: There are a couple confusing situations that can occur when having a window Always On Top. Please read the caution under How to make a window Always On Top.
WINDOWS: With some Windows® operating systems, windows that are displayed automatically - such as with a hot key - are sometimes opened behind another window(s) on the desktop (meaning it is there, but you just can't see it). For example, you may find that this occurs occasionally when displaying the Options dialog box using it's system-wide hot key. When this happens, simply press the hot key again to bring the Options dialog box to the foreground.
MENU/KEYBOARD: When using the Alt key in
a system-wide hot key (*1*) - such as Alt+1 to select a window - sometimes the menu of the
application window just selected will be given the focus (*2*). This can
occur if the Alt key is
released too quickly. When this happens (*3*), simply tap the Alt key to remove the focus from the
menu.
*1* This applies to any hot key operation that, immediately after the hot key is
executed, a window that has a menu is given the focus (selected), or retains the focus (such as
with the hot key for maximizing/restoring the current window).
*2* As a feature of the Windows® operating system, you can
reproduce this behavior simply by tapping the Alt key (alone, without any other key) in any application that has a menu - the menu will be given the
focus (generally the File menu), but it does not open, and you cannot continue typing until the focus is removed from the
menu (by tapping the Alt key again, or after you have finished executing one of
the menu options).
*3* Symptoms: since the menu is not opened (it is just
given the focus) it can be confusing, because you may start typing (not realizing
the menu has the focus) and it will seem as if your keyboard is not working.
HOT KEYS: Hot keys are temporarily suspended when JumpKeys has a message box or a dialog box displayed. If, for whatever reason, you did not see the message/dialog box when it was displayed, it will seam as if the hot keys have stopped working. However, this symptom could also mean that you have accidentally used the hot key that activates/deactivates all hot keys. When JumpKeys is installed, the default hot key to activate/deactivate hot keys is the Pause key.
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