Assigning a Function Key

[Old Dad]

Can you customize the F- keys in WinXP? I'd like to assign some pretty simple things to a couple of them if it's possible.

Thanks!!

[Major Tom]

What you can do is assign a function key (or a combination of function key and shift/alt/control) to a shortcut.

When you have the shortcut created (or a system-generated shortcut), right click and select "properties". Under the "Shortcut" tab you have a "Shortcut key" field.

Major T.

[Will2k]

Can you customize the F- keys in WinXP? I'd like to assign some pretty simple things to a couple of them if it's possible.

Thanks!!

Most of those keys are reserved for various applications. I did a quick test and it looks like assigning a shortcut at the OS level like MT says overrides the application's shortcuts. So be cautious.

[Old Dad]

Thanks guys, I get that. Also, how would I use it to store a long, convoluted password that I could then enter with a single stroke of an F key?

[Elefino]

Thanks guys, I get that. Also, how would I use it to store a long, convoluted password that I could then enter with a single stroke of an F key?

Hu Jerry,
I've been wondering about this myself. On my old dumb terminal attached to an IBM AS/400 midrange I could program a long character string to a [ctrl]+[Fn] key. But now that I think about it that was a hardware function of the terminal, not software.

[weasley]

Thanks guys, I get that. Also, how would I use it to store a long, convoluted password that I could then enter with a single stroke of an F key?

You really want to do that? Doesn't that rather negate the reason for having a long, convoluted password and compromise the security of whatever system it is protecting?

[Old Dad]

Thanks guys, I get that. Also, how would I use it to store a long, convoluted password that I could then enter with a single stroke of an F key?

You really want to do that? Doesn't that rather negate the reason for having a long, convoluted password and compromise the security of whatever system it is protecting?

Yes, I do. My computer (where the password would be stored) is in a locked room (my study/ personal library) in my home and I'm the only one who uses the room. If an outsider breaks into my my house and gets to it, I've got FAR greater things to be concerned about than just that one password. He'll have to get past my dead body first - in which case I won't really care any more.

[_TLP]

Thanks guys, I get that. Also, how would I use it to store a long, convoluted password that I could then enter with a single stroke of an F key?

Google "Windows xp assign macro to function key" it looks like there are a lot of different ways to that.