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Law Office Computing Magazine
Review: QuicKeys for Windows, Version 2.5
Oct/Nov 2003
By: Harry W. Salavantis

If you want to save precious time using your PC, then QuicKeys Version 2.5 for Windows from CE Software Inc., will reduce almost any mundane computer task into a single mouse click, keystroke or keystroke combination you define and control.

QuicKeys is the equivalent of supercharging macros or those DOS-based batch files that would run programs or even backup files on your hard drive, but it’s easier. Each shortcut or hot key you define can be “scoped” to only be used within a specific software application or universally throughout the entire system.

Legal assistants and attorneys both will appreciate how the program can significantly reduce the time spent on routine tasks by standardizing functions that might not be available in all software applications, such as spell checking, typing frequently used text, reformatting text, or quickly inserting a date or time stamp into any text field, document or e-mail.

After a straightforward installation, QuicKeys is ready to streamline the tasks you use most often. The QuicKeys interface consists of a series of wizards guiding you through the creation of shortcuts. Each shortcut is referred to as an “Action” that can be defined by assigning a “Trigger” to the shortcut, such as a keystroke or a mouse click from the QuicKeys toolbar or your desktop icon. Actions can be run right away or set to run at a specific date and time.

QuicKeys has more than 30 desktop wizards to choose from that make creating a shortcut or a hot key easy to define with a few clicks of the mouse.

QuicKeys’ numerous typing wizards allow you to spell check or reformat text in any software application. With Advanced Text Tools, you can change the case of text, remove excess carriage returns from an e-mail or document, and strip commas or quotes from a data set. Use the “Quick Type” or “Type Text” function to quickly insert frequently used words, names or phrases into any text field. You can insert frequently used characters such as a copyright symbol with the “Special Characters” utility. There even is a function to date or time stamp within a document or a text area.

The “Files & Folders” wizards allow you to quickly locate files and folders you use most often. A single keystroke combination, for example, could open the folder containing litigation documents, another could access real estate forms.

You also can set QuicKeys Actions to locate all files modified in the last 15 minutes, or any time range you designate, with the “Recent Files” utility. With QuicKeys, I was able to Zip a large file to a smaller size so I could send it in an e-mail. The “File Handler” utility gave me the ability to add a prefix of my choice to a group of files or mark them as “Read Only.” You can use the “Batch Processor” to back up certain files on your hard drive.

QuicKeys has wizards that allow you to capture any screen or window within an application. You also can instantly launch a screen saver, turn off your monitor and change your monitor’s resolution with an assigned hot key. With the QuicKeys “Instant E-mail” wizard, I defined a simple keystroke combination to instantly create a new e-mail in one click. I also assigned keystrokes to open my most frequently used Web sites, rather than cluttering my desktop with numerous icons.

Other QuicKeys wizards let you toggle the sound on or off for your CD player or mute sound on those annoying pop-up ads within Web pages. You can define wizards to shut down your computer in a single keystroke, put your computer in standby or even empty the Recycle Bin. One handy feature is the ability to create permanent Windows Clipboard files that can be accessed anywhere you need them.

If you are having trouble remembering all the shortcuts you have created with QuicKeys, you can create a shortcut that will show you all the functions you defined. You also can create your own toolbars for use in any program you choose.

After you become familiar with QuicKeys, you can minimize the use of wizards and create your own hot keys by defining sequences. Sequences give you the ability to do more complicated tasks such as launching a particular program and launching a set of instructions from within that program.

If you think taking the time to create shortcuts isn’t worthwhile, CE Software would have you believe otherwise. By using the QuicKeys Time Saver Calculator on the company’s Web site (www.cesoft.com), you can calculate the value of time you save by using QuicKeys.

QuicKeys is reasonably priced. The program comes with a comprehensive user manual and access to a helpful Web site. However, the program could benefit from context-sensitive help as well as a multimedia tutorial to demonstrate key features.

I would recommend QuicKeys for anyone who needs a functional and user-friendly utility to simplify routine computer tasks into manageable and efficient shortcuts that can be customized by almost anyone.

CE Software Inc.
(800) 523-7638
www.cesoft.com
Price: $99.95 for single user; $890 for 10 users.
Windows 98 or later

Reviewed by Harry W. Salavantis, a legal software applications specialist and president of Resource Advisors for Computers Corp., in Albany, N.Y.

PROS
The use of wizards through QuicKeys makes it easy for anyone to create timesaving shortcuts in seconds.
CONS
It needs a context-sensitive help system and a multimedia tutorial for the beginner to truly understand all the capabilities of the program.
VERDICT
Firms that use QuicKeys can save thousands of dollars each year on routine computer tasks. It’s on the top of my recommendation list.