FunKeys Version 1.5
Copyright © 1996-97 by Alex Rampell

FunKeys is an incredibly useful utility for the Macintosh.  What FunKeys allows you to do, basically, is "program" those function keys on the top of your keyboard to do things. (The keys F1, F2, F3, F4, etc.  They are only on extended keyboards, which most Macs have).  Most of us Mac users never even use those things, as they are unsupported by many programs; FunKeys not only gives them a use, but it also makes them really useful.

With FunKeys installed, you can program all 15 of them to either open files/applications, execute AppleScripts, envoke macros (FKEYs), or even type text.

For example, F1 can open America On-Line, F2 can open Microsoft Word, F3 can turn off the sound, F4 can quit all open applications, and F5 can type "Sincererely yours."  It's entirely up to you.

In order to take advantage of the AppleScript functions, you will need to have System 7.5 or later installed; otherwise, you can simply use FunKeys to open your favorite applications and FKEYs at a blast.  Hundreds of FKEYs are freely available from sources such as America On-Line, Info-Mac, and other Mac software sites.  FKEYs have normally been installed to Command-Shift-x keys.

FunKeys can also switch over to a certain application if it is already running.

And, best of all, you can still use the Function Keys for their regular uses, at the same time that FunKeys is running.

Version 1.5 adds many new features, such as the ability to open any kind of file, not just applications.  This includes Control Panels, Documents, and Sounds---everything.  It also allows different Function Keys to type text.

Help

In order for FunKeys to work, you have to do two things:
(a)  Put it in your control panels folder.
(b)  Set it up.

The setting it up part is really simple.  Open the FunKeys control panel (which should be in the Control Panels folder, within the System Folder...if it's not, put it there).  Then, click on Settings... button.  See below (under the Settings topic) for more information.  

There are half a zillion AppleScripts all over America On-Line, the Internet, and CompuServe, just to name a few.  So all you have to do is look for them, not write them.  Remember, AppleScript only works with System 7.5 or later.

An AppleScript is something that lets you automate a task (in AppleScript aware applications).  Creating a new document, saving a file, changing the sound volume, and turning off the machine are just a few things you can do.

And there are some applications that function just like AppleScripts.  Check out the programs called MiniApps (look for them at http://www.shareware.com on the internet, or KEYWORD: FileSearch on America Online, to name two sources), a set of free mini applications.  You can assign one to each Function Key.

If you're looking for AppleScripts or applications that complete a certain task, please E-Mail me, arampell@kagi.com  I should be able to either find you one or maybe even write you one!

In order to start using FunKeys, you'll need to restart your computer.  After that, you can hit any of the keys you assigned to invoke the respective function you assigned to the function key.  If you need help remembering which keys do what, then consider printing out a list (see below, under Settings).

Settings

Once you're in Settings (in the FunKeys Control Panel), you can assign an Application/AppleScript/FKEY to a Function Key by clicking on its appropriate button (F1-F15).  Don't actually hit a function key on the keyboard, though.  
Three bullet characters (•••) will appear under the currently selected key.  Then, select from the menu (picture below) what function you want this Function Key to perform.
The menu choices are:

Off-Do nothing.  If this is selected, nothing will happen when the key is pressed, and the choose button will be disabled.

Open File/App-Opens any file, or launches any application.  This includes every single double-clickable file (Control Panels, Sound files, etc.)  Just select this, and click the Choose button to select which application/file to open.

Open External Macro-Executes an 'FKEY' which can be in any document.  Normally these are in the form of a document (like a ResEdit document), a suitcase, or even an application installer.  Simply select the document/program that contains the FKEY you wish to invoke, and FunKeys will pick the first FKEY it finds.  FKEYs are more powerful than AppleScripts (in many regards), because they can act on top of any application, and are also quicker.  Check out America On-Line's Macintosh Utilities Forum's collection of FKEYs, or try http://www.shareware.com.

Type...-This will automatically have the computer type some text that you have previously entered.  For example, I have F6 type:
                  Sincerely,

                        Alex Rampell
                        arampell@kagi.com
for me, instead of having to type that same phrase at the end of every letter.  To choose the "Type..." option, select it from the menu, and then type the text in the box.  Even return and tab characters will get re-typed.

•••
There are also several built-in macros, displayed in the pop-up menu, which are included with the FunKeys control panel.  They are:

sync-©1993 by Allon Stern.  This FKEY flushes your disk cache, so that all unsaved data (that you might have saved, but is currently residing in RAM, not the hard disk) is physically put on your hard disk drive.  Thus, in the event of a crash, no saved information will be lost.  Thanks to Allon Stern for letting me include this with FunKeys---his original documentation is included.

Text Capture 2.4-©1992-1995 by James W. Walker.  This FKEY performs the EXTREMELY useful task of allowing you to copy (and then paste) uneditable text.  Almost anything that you can't highlight, and then copy, is fair game.  It works well with Read-Only Simpletext documents, file names, etc.  Simply click and select the text you wish to copy.  Thanks to James Walker for letting me include this, and the original documentation is included.

Window To Back-©1996 by Alex Rampell.  This FKEY sends the front-most window to the very background, and brings the next window to the very front.  This allows you to "scroll" through all the open windows in an application.  
[Known problems: in applications where there is a floating "palette" or window that resides (permanently) above all other windows, Window To Back will still try to send it to the back.  Sometimes this can mess up the window order, which can be restored by using Window To Back a few more times.  This only happens to me in America On-Line 3.0, but is hardly a problem...]

The Exit button will save all current settings, and close the Settings... dialog box.  Hit this button when you want to exit the settings dialog box.  The Save List button will save all the current settings as a SimpleText file, so you can format them and print them for easy reference.  The Turn All Off button will clear ALL the current settings, and turn every single Function Key off.

Real simple...and really easy.  Once you start using FunKeys, you'll never, ever, want to live without it.

Imagine, one key opens an application or does a daily task.  Pressing F12, for me, opens up my internet connection and starts Netscape.  One key.  And if I'm in another application, then F12 switches me back.

Or your word processor with another Function Key...etc.

VERY Important: If you still need to use the Function Keys, without launching an application (with FunKeys), you can do so by holding down Shift and hitting an FKey.  This makes FunKeys disregard the FKey, so it can work as normal.
And, if you'd like to cancel loading, hold down the Option key on startup.

Shareware & Reminders

Please do remember (there is a message that reminds you when you start up your computer...) that this program is NOT free.  When you register, you will receive a unique code that disables that reminder.

If you use FunKeys and like it, which I'm sure you will, I ask a small registration fee in return.
Please be honest---it's the only way that you will continue seeing good shareware products.

Please use the included "Register FunKeys" program to register.  Kagi Shareware handles all registrations for me, so please send all information to them, (and all methods of payment made out to them, not me) using the Register FunKeys program.

The price of FunKeys goes by the following system:
1- 11 single user licenses, $10 per user
12-23 single user licenses, $9 per user
24+ single user licenses, $8 per user
A Site License costs $500 (roughly equal to 27 users) and covers all locations for your organization within a 160 kilometer radius of your site (100 miles).  An unlimited number of people and machines may use a site license, within the specified site.
A World-Wide License costs $1200 and it covers all locations for your 
organization everywhere.
Paying for FunKeys is fairly simple. Open the Register FunKeys program that accompanies FunKeys. Enter your name, your email address, and the number of single user licenses you desire for each program you wish to purchase (or Site or Word-Wide licenses). Save or Copy or Print the data from the Register program and send the data and payment to Kagi.

If paying with Credit Card or First Virtual, you can email or fax the 
data to Kagi. Their email address is sales@kagi.com and their fax number 
is +1 510 652-6589. You can either Copy the data from Register and paste 
into the body of an email message or you can Save the
data to a file and you can attach that file to an email message. There 
is no need to compress the data file, it's already pretty small. If you 
have a fax modem, just Print the data to the Kagi fax number. 

Payments sent via email are processed within 3 to 4 days. You will 
receive an email acknowledgement when it is processed. Payments sent via 
fax take up to 10 days and if you provide a correct internet email 
address you will receive an email acknowledgement. 

If you are paying with Cash or USD Check you should print the data using 
the Register application and send it to the address shown on the form, 
which is: 

Kagi
1442-A Walnut Street #392-6G
Berkeley, California 94709-1405
USA

You can pay with a wide variety of cash from different countries but at 
present if you pay via check, it must be a check drawn in US Dollars, on a US bank. 
Kagi cannot accept checks in other currencies, the conversion rate for 
non-USD checks is around USD $15 per check and that is just not 
practical, given the small price of FunKeys.
If you have a purchasing department, you can enter all the data into the 
Register program and then select Invoice as your payment method. Print 
three copies of the form and send it to your accounts payable people. 
You might want to highlight the line that mentions that they must 
include a copy of the form with their payment. 
Kagi can not invoice your company, so you need to act on my behalf and 
generate the invoice and handle all the paperwork on your end. 
Please do not fax or email payment forms that indicate Cash, Check or 
Invoice as the payment method. As far as we know, there is still no 
technology to transfer physical objects via fax or email and without the 
payment, the form cannot be processed.
Payments sent via postal mail take time to reach Kagi and then up to 10 
days for processing. Again, if you include a correct email address, you 
will hear from Kagi when the form is processed.

FunKeys has a protection/registration system, and when you pay, you will receive a registration code from Kagi that will disable all reminder messages. If you 
do not have an email address, please enter your complete postal address 
and please remember, I do not know what country you live in, so please 
enter that (your country) into the postal address also. 

If you do not have an email address you should consider selecting the 
Postcard Receipt so that Kagi can inform you of your registration code. 
Kagi transmits the registration codes via email and paid postcard 
receipt only.

Version Information

v1.0
-Initial Release

v1.2
-Re-do of interface for setting functions to keys.
-Added FKEY macro support, including internal macros.
-New graphics.
-Added new FunKeys menu.
-Function Keys can now perform their previous function if not set.

v1.5
-Removed the FunKeys menu.
-Added support for launching of documents, control panels, etc.
-Added "Type Text" feature to type things.
-Added "Save List" button to save current settings for printing.
-Switched registration system to use Kagi Shareware.

What's Coming...

As long as I get some shareware fees, I'll continue working on the newest version; already planned is complete PowerPC native code.  The upgrade will be free to all registered users.
Also, look for my web site, which should be completed by June 18th, 1997:
http://www.rampell.com/software

Credits

This help system uses John W. Walker's excellent show_Help system.
Thanks to those who beta-tested this program, as well.

I-D-E-A-S

This program was created based (loosely) on an idea from a registered user of Voldeps.  Voldeps, another program by me, also has the ability to launch applications with FKeys, but only those FKeys F9-F12.  One user suggested that I expand it to include all the function keys; thus, I did.
If you have any ideas for what would make a good program (in the field of utilities), please send me an E-Mail : arampell@kagi.com.  If I indeed write it, you'll get a free copy.