The Keyboard Shortcuts feature provides the ability to define a library of commands than can be executed through a series of keystrokes in the DashBoard client, DashBoard Connect compatible products, and other DashBoard product plug-ins. The DashBoard client comes with a standard library, but additional commands may be available depending on the plugs-ins you have installed.
This section provides a brief overview of how to manage your library in the DashBoard client. For information on commands available for your specific DashBoard Connect compatible product, refer to its user documentation.
Tip: To view a list of current shortcut commands, from the Window menu, click Preferences, and then in the Preferences dialog box click Keyboard Shortcuts. The list appears.
The following terms are used throughout this section:
•Keystroke — A combination of simultaneous button presses on your keyboard. References to keystrokes state the button on your keyboard to press, followed by the “+” symbol, followed by the next button to press. There are single key strokes (e.g. P), and keystroke combinations (e.g. P + 1). Buttons such as Shift, Ctrl, and Alt are modifier keys and therefore are not considered as button presses.
•Command — An action that is executed whenever the keystroke is performed as defined in the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box.
•Library — A collection of commands currently available in your DashBoard client. You can save your library as an *.xml file on your computer and then import this file to other computers running compatible DashBoard clients.
Overview
From the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box in the DashBoard client, you can change the keystrokes used to trigger commands, delete commands, manage your library, and reset your library to the factory default values.
Figure 1.6 KeyBoard Shortcuts Dialog Box
1.Commands Set Area
This area displays a list of the commands currently enabled in the library for your DashBoard client. The commands are listed in a spreadsheet format with the following columns (left to right):
•Command — Displays the name of the command.
•Shortcut — Displays the keystrokes for the command.
•Active — Defines when the command is executed. There are three standard options but additional options may be available depending on the plug-ins in the DashBoard client.
•Category — Specifies the application element that the command affects.
2.Command Management Area
The following buttons are available in this area:
•Copy Shortcut — Creates another instance of the selected command, however the Shortcut (keystrokes) and Active values are not copied.
•New Command — Enables you to add a command that is not currently listed in the Commands Set area.
•Edit Command — Enables you to change elements of the selected command such as the required keystroke(s), and when to execute the command.
•Delete Command — Removes the command from the Commands Set area.
3.Default Shortcut Button
Resets only the selected command to its default values.
4.Library Management Area
The following buttons are available in this area:
•Import Shortcuts — Imports a library to your DashBoard client.
•Export Shortcuts — Saves your current library to an *.xml file on your computer.
•Restore Defaults — Applies the factory default values to all the commands in your current library.
•Apply — Applies your changes made in the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box. If this button is disabled (grayed out), a conflict is occurring. Refer to the section Resolving Conflicts for details.
•OK — Applies any changes made to your Keyboard Shortcuts library and exits the Preferences dialog box. If this button is disabled (grayed out), more than one command uses the same keystrokes. Refer to the section Resolving Conflicts for details.
•Cancel — Exits the dialog box without applying any changes.
Managing the Keyboard Shortcuts
This section briefly outlines how to perform such tasks as launching the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box, editing commands, and updating the library.
To navigate to the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box:
1.Select Window > Preferences to display the Preferences dialog box.
2.Click Keyboard Shortcuts to display the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box.
To copy a command:
1.Select the command from the list in the Commands Set area.
2.Click Copy Shortcut. The new command is now listed in the Commands Set area.
3.Edit the command as outlined in the section To edit a command:.
To edit keystrokes for a command:
1.Select the command from the list in the Commands Set area.
2.Click the appropriate cell in the Shortcut column.
3.Type the keystrokes you wish to assign to the command. For example, you could press D then press H for the Display Help command. The new keystrokes now display in the cell. In the example given, the cell would now display “D, H”. If you press and hold the Ctrl button and then press D, the new keystrokes would display as “Ctrl+D”.
To add a new command:
1.Click New Command to display the Command Configuration dialog box.
•The Command Selection dialog box displays a list of available commands. This list is dependent on the plug-ins you have installed in the DashBoard client.
2.Select a command from the list.
3.In the Shortcut field, type the keystrokes you wish to assign to the command.
4.From the Active drop-down menu, specify when to execute the command.
5.Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.
6.Click Finish to apply your changes, add the new command to the list in the Commands Set area, and return to the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box.
7.Click OK to apply your changes and exit the dialog box, or click Apply to update the library without exiting the dialog box.
1.Select the command from the list in the Commands Set area.
2.To edit the keystrokes for the command:
•Click the appropriate cell in the Shortcut column.
•Type the keystrokes you wish to assign to the command.
3. To specify when to execute the command:
•Click the appropriate cell in the Active column.
•Select an option from the drop-down menu. The following options come standard:
›Anywhere — Executes the command whenever the DashBoard client is running and active or when a dialog box is active.
›Anywhere except dialogs — Executes the command only when the DashBoard client is active but not when a dialog box is active.
›Only in dialogs — Executes the command only when a dialog box is open and active.
4.Click OK to apply your changes and exit the dialog box, or click Apply to update the library without exiting the dialog box.
A conflict occurs when the same keystroke(s) are assigned to one or more commands. The DashBoard client detects when there are conflicts and flags them in the Commands Set area by displaying a red icon next to the affected command names and setting each name in red. The Apply and OK buttons are disabled until the conflict is resolved, and a message is displayed near the top of the dialog box. Refer to step 2 in the section To edit a command: for details on updating the keystrokes for a command.
Keep the following mind:
•You may elect to keep two or more conflicts active. However, if such commands are triggered, the DashBoard client will prompt you to confirm which command to execute.
•When importing a library, conflicts are also flagged, enabling you to select which command to implement before the library is imported.
Importing and Exporting Libraries
You can save your library to an *.xml file on your computer and then import that library to another DashBoard client. Note that when importing a library from one DashBoard client to another, ensure that the second client is compatible with the first in terms of DashBoard client software version (DashBoard version 5.1.0 or higher) and installed plug-ins.
To save your library to a file:
1.Click Export Shortcuts to display the Export Shortcuts dialog box. Exporting a library also includes any user-defined commands.
2.Follow the on-screen instructions to save the file to your computer.
To import a library to your DashBoard client:
1.Click Import Shortcuts to display the Import Shortcuts dialog box.
•The Import Shortcuts dialog box displays the commands currently used in your DashBoard client (Old Shortcut column) and a preview of the commands that will be in your library after the import (New Shortcut column).
•You can select whether to view only those commands with assigned keystrokes by selecting the Hide commands with no shortcuts check box.
•Importing a library merges commands, including any user defined commands, with the current library.
2.From the Select shortcuts source: area, specify a library to import using one of the following methods:
•Use the drop-down menu to select a file provided by the plugs-ins you have installed.
•Click to display the Import shortcuts from file dialog box and navigate to the file on your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions and click Open to return to the Import Shortcuts dialog box.
3.Click OK to import the library and return to the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box.
Resetting to Default Values
You can choose to reset a single command or your entire library to the factory default values. Note that resetting the library also deletes any commands that do not come standard with the DashBoard client or your DashBoard Connect compatible product. For example, any commands that are copies will be deleted, and any standard commands you edited will be reset.
To reset a single command:
1.Select the command from the list in the Commands Set area.
2.Click Default Shortcut.
To reset the library:
1.Click Restore Defaults.
2.Follow the on-screen instructions.
Restoring Keyboard Shortcut Commands for Copy, Cut, Paste, Undo, and Redo
If you upgraded from DashBoard version 5.1 to DashBoard version 6.0, keyboard shortcut commands for Copy, Cut, Paste, Undo, and Redo may be inactive.
To restore these keyboard shortcuts:
1.In DashBoard, on the Window menu, click Preferences.
The Preferences dialog appears.
2.In the list on the left side of the Preferences dialog, click Keyboard Shortcuts.
3.In the Keyboard Shortcuts area, in the Command list, click Copy, and then click Default Shortcut.
Repeat this step for Cut, Paste, Undo, and Redo.
4.Click Apply.
5.Click OK.