Perfect Keyboard Help File
 Copyright (c) Pitrinec Software, All Rights Reserved.
 
   




















Overview

Perfect Keyboard is a time saving utility running under Windows 95 and Windows NT operating systems. The program allows a user to create a file of frequently used phrases, paragraphs, e-mail addresses, macros, etc. and invoke them in any application just by typing a short abbreviation (text shortcut) or pressing a hot key (key shortcut). The Perfect Keyboard supports macro recording (keyboard and/or mouse events), has its own script commands allowing to insert time and date, activate a window, launch application and more.

Terminology:

  • Folder view - the left pane of the main Perfect Keyboard window with the tree.
  • Shortcut items view - the right pane of the main Perfect Keyboard window with the list of items.
  • Folder - folders allow to logically organize shortcut items. In folder properties, can be specified some options affecting each shortcut item in this folder.
  • Shortcut item - consists of macro and text shortcut and key shortcut to invoke the macro.
  • Text shortcut - short text a user types to replace it with associated macro.
  • Key shortcut - shortcut (like Ctrl+Alt+F) a user presses to invoke associated macro.
  • Macro - either text a user wants to insert to a document when text shortcut is typed or key shortcut is pressed, or macro (script) the user wants to start. This means that macro can be either plain text with no functionality (doesn't contain any command) or a script with some functionality (contains commands).

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Professional vers. Light

There are two versions of the Perfect Keyboard software: Professional and Light. The Light version is intended for users looking for basic text replacement and macro functionality while professional version provides additional very advanced features. There is list of features available in professional version and not available in the light version:

  • Some advanced commands - see Commands & Keys chapter
  • Batch mode
  • Data sharing
  • Improved macro recording
  • Macros specific to some application - text shortcut and key shortcut can take effect only in specific applications
  • Visual commands editing

All the features available in the professional version only are marked (Pro) in this documentation.

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Main Settings

In Perfect Keyboard menu, select "Tools/Options" to open main settings (options) dialog box.

  • Expand shortcut after pressing - select a keyboard key to press to start macro after a text shortcut is typed.
  • Shortcut keys:
    Find item - when the shortcut key is pressed, the window with list of all macros defined is shown. This can be used when a user cannot remember particular text shortcut (or shortcut key).
    Activate/deactivate - when pressed, the Perfect Keyboard is activated/deactivated. Deactivated Perfect Keyboard ignores all text shortcut typed or key shortcut pressed.
    Start/stop macro recording - when pressed, the macro recording is started/stopped.
    Show/hide Perfect Keyboard - when pressed, the Perfect Keyboard is hidden (so that only Perfect Keyboard icon is presented in tray area of the TaskBar) or shown.
  • Play sound when expanding shortcut - plays specified sound when shortcut expanding (macro playback) is started.
  • Save settings on exit - if checked, some settings (folder expanded/collapsed state, for example) is saved on program exit.
  • Show reminders - if checked, message window with tips and helps is appearing in particular moments (when macro recording is finished, for example).
  • Allow shared items (Pro) - if checked, allows to use shared items saved in the specified file. How to create and maintain shared items file see "Data Sharing" chapter in this help file.

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Shortcut Item Settings

To pop up the shortcut item property sheet double click on the item's text in the shortcut item view or press 'Enter' key. (Note that double click on the icon or pressing space bar will cause the macro is started.)

  • Text shortcut - text shortcut. If text shortcut is not required then leave it empty. The text shortcut (if specified) must be unique.
  • Key shortcut - key shortcut (like Ctrl+Alt+F). If key shortcut is not required then leave it empty. To delete already specified key shortcut press space bar.
  • Macro (text to expand) - macro text. The size of the macro is limited to 5KB. Larger macros must be specified in an external macro file and invoked by <extmacro> command.
  • Insert recorded macro - inserts a macro recorded in the memory to "Macro" field.
  • Remove timing - removes timing from the macro recorded. If the timing is removed then the macro playback speed cannot be controlled.
  • Paste - pastes text from clipboard to "Macro" field.
  • Insert command or special key (Pro) - pops up a window with all the commands and special keys for easy visual command editing.
  • Edit command (Pro) - allows to visually edit commands. When cursor is on the command definition in "Macro" field the "Edit command" button is enabled.
  • Text shortcut:
    Auto-expand - when checked, user doesn't have to press space bar to invoke macro playback but the macro is started immediately when text shortcut is typed.
    Can be part of a word - when checked, the shortcut text doesn't have to start as a new word but can be part of the previous word. For example, if "sct" is a text shortcut and a user writes "startsct" an presses space bar the shortcut is expanded.
  • Paste text through clipboard -
  • Macro playback:
    Speed - specifies the speed of macro playback. Applies on macros previously recorded by Perfect Keyboard recording feature.
    Repeat - specifies how many times the macro is to be repeated.

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Folder Settings

To pop up the folder property sheet double click on the folder's text in the folder view or press 'Enter' key.

  • General - specify the folder label and description of items collected in this folder here.
  • Applications (Pro) - allows to specify a set of applications the shortcut items only work or only don't work.
    "Work in all applications" - the shortcut (both text and key) work in all applications.
    "Work in application listed below only" - the shortcut (both text and key) work only in applications listed. In the application fields fill the application's window title (doesn't have to be exact window title).
    "Do not work only in application listed below" - the shortcut (both text and key) do not work only in applications listed. In the application fields fill the application's window title (doesn't have to be exact window title).
  • Advanced - specify fonts to be used in shortcut item property sheet in text shortcut, description and macro field.

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Commands & Keys

Note: the commands with Pro sign are available in professional version only.

Command or Key   Description
Keys    
<back>   Back space
<enter>   Enter
<shift>   Shift key; the first occurrence specifies the Shift key is pressed (down) and the next occurrence specifies the key is released (up).
<ctrl>   Control key; the first occurrence specifies the Control key is pressed (down) and the next occurrence specifies the key is released (up).
<alt>   Alt key; the first occurrence specifies the Alt key is pressed (down) and the next occurrence specifies the key is released (up).
<capslock>   Caps Lock
<esc>   Escape
<pgup>   Page up
<pgdn>   Page down
<end>   End
<home>   Home
<left>   Left arrow
<up>   Up arrow
<down>   Down arrow
<right>   Right arrow
<insert>   Insert
<delete>   Delete
<tab>   Tab
<F1> ... <F12>   F1 to F12 keys
<break>   Pause (break)
<clear>   Clear
<select>   Select key
<execkey>   Execute key
<lwinkey>   Left Windows key (MS Natural keyboard)
<rwinkey>   Right Windows key (MS Natural keyboard)
<appskey>   Applications key (MS Natural keyboard)
<scroll>   Scroll lock
<numlock>   Num lock
<numpad0> ... <numpad9>   Numpad 0 to 9 keys
<numpad+>   + key on numpad
<numpad*>   * key on numpad
<numpad->   - key on numpad
<numpad/>   / key on numpad
<numpad.>   . key on numpad
<printscreen>   Print Screen key
     
Commands    
<#>   Comment; all the text (including new line) after <#> is a comment; the new line character before <#> is ignored when macro is expanded
<td:d>(num)   The day of the current date; num parameter specifies the date shift (-1 shifts date one day back - yesterday, +1 shifts date one day ahead - tomorrow).
<td:m>(num)   The month of the current date
<td:dlz>(num)   The day (with leading zero) of the current date
<td:mlz>(num)   The month (with leading zero) of the current date
<td:y>(num)   The year of the current date
<ct:h24>(num)   The hour (24 hours based) of the current time; num parameter specifies time shift (in minutes)
<ct:h12>(num)   The hour (12 hours based) of the current time
<ct:m>(num)   The minute of the current time
<ct:h24lz>(num)   The hour (24 hours based; with leading zero) of the current time
<ct:h12lz>(num)   The hour (12 hours based; with leading zero) of the current time
<ct:mlz>(num)   The minute (with leading zero) of the current time
<ct:ampm>(num)   am/pm
<ct:AMPM>(num)   AM/PM
     
<w50>   Wait 50 ms
<w100>   Wait 100 ms
<w500>   Wait 500 ms
<wx>(num)   Wait num ms
<dnds>   Do not delete shortcut. The text shortcut typed by a user (for example ".ff") is deleted before macro is started. This macro causes the text shortcut typed is not deleted.
<pause> Pro Wait for user keyboard input. When a user presses 'Enter' key the macro continues.
     
<mm>(x,y)   Mouse move to x,y position.
<mlbd>   Mouse left button down.
<mlbu>   Mouse left button up.
<mrbd>   Mouse right button down.
<mrbu>   Mouse right button up.
<mmbd>   Mouse middle button down.
<mmbu>   Mouse middle button up.
     
<execapp>("File path",state) Pro Execute (start, launch) application. "File Path" specifies full path to the application or file to open. If you specify an application with additional parameters (file to open within the application, for example) you can close the parameters to the ' quotation (not " quotation!). Some applications may require this.
This command can be also used for opening a web page in web browser or sending an e-mail. To open web page, specify http:// (or ftp://) and web page URL (for example, http://SoftwareUtilities.Com). To send e-mail specify mailto: and e-mail address (for example, mailto:pitrinec@kagi.com).

State determines the window size and has following meaning:
0 - normal
1 - maximized
2 - minimized

<run>("Text Shortcut") Pro Run another macro. This command allows to embed macros. "Text Shortcut" specifies the text shortcut of the macro.
<beep>("File Name", repeat) Pro Play a sound. "File Name" specifies a full path to a sound file. Repeat is a number of repeats.
<actwin>("Window Title",match,state,"Text Shortcut") Pro Activate window (and if window doesn't exist run macro). "Window Title" specifies the title of the window to activate. Match can have following values:
0 - match substring
1 - exact match
State can have following values:
0 - restore window to normal size
1 - maximize window
2 - minimize window
3 - let the window as it is (but if it is minimized then restore it to normal size)
"Text Shortcut" specifies a text shortcut of the macro to run if the window specified by "Window Title" doesn't exist.
<msg>(x,y,"Message Text","Message Window Title",type) Pro Show message window. x,y specify the position of the message window. "Message Text" is a message shown in the message window and "Message Window Title" is the message window title. Type can be one of these values:
0 - there is not OK button in the message window. The message window has to be closed by <msgoff> command.
1 - there is OK button in the message window.
<msgoff> Pro Close message window.
<listbox>("Window Title","Text Shortcut 1","Description 1","Text Shortcut 2","Description 2",...) Pro Show list box window. The list box window allows to select from several options of how the macro execution should continue. "Window Title" is the list box window title. "Text Shortcut 1" is a text shortcut of the macro(1) and "Description 1" is a text describing the macro (1). "Text Shortcut 2" is a text shortcut of the macro(2) and "Description 2" is a text describing the macro (2), etc.
This command allows a user to control the macro execution and drive it in the way he wants.
<extmacro>("File Path",clipboard) Pro Run external macro. "File Path" is a full path to external macro text file. Clipboard option can have one of these values:
0 - do not pass macro (text) through the clipboard. This must be specified if the external macro contains commands or special keys like <alt>, <home>, etc.
1 - pass macro (text) through the clipboard. This can be specified when the external macro contains plain text without any commands or special keys.
<begloop>(Num_of_loops) Pro Allows to repeat the part of the macro specified between <begloop> and <endloop> statements. If the number of loops (Num_of_loops) is greater than 0 then it specifies the number of repetition (llops). If the Num_of_loops is equal 0 then the user is asked to specifies the number of loops in runtime (a dialog to enter the number of loops is shown during macro execution). If the Num_of_loops is less than 0 the user is always asked to permit/refuse continuing of the loop during macro execution.
<endloop> Pro Each <begloop> must be followed by associated <endloop>. See <begloop>.

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Macro Recording

The Perfect Keyboard allows you to record the sequence of keyboard or/and mouse events. To start macro recording select "Tools/Start macro recording" from main Perfect Keyboard menu or "Start macro recording" from the tray icon menu. In the dialog shown specify all the macro recording options and press OK. (Pro: Note that there are more options in the Perfect Keyboard Pro).

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Data Sharing (Pro)

Network users can share items over the LAN network. Shared shortcut items are saved in a special file that has to be located on a network drive (directory) all user can access. Each user wanting to have access to shared shortcut items has to specify the path to the shared items file in the "Options" dialog.

Shared shortcut items file editing

To create a shared shortcut items file create a new file selecting "File/New" menu item. Name the new file so that the name is different than any other Perfect Keyboard file name users use (for example, "SharedItemsFile"). Edit the file (create folders and shortcut items) and save it on shared network drive on the network. When the shared shortcut items file is created all the users (with "Allow shared items" enabled in the "Options" dialog) will see "Shared Items" folder in their folder view.

Note the shared items can be edited only when shared items file is directly opened in the Perfect Keyboard. This means that if a user (administrator) wants to make changes to shared items he has to open shared shortcut items file in the Perfect Keyboard by selecting the file in file open dialog (File/Open).

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Batch Mode (Pro)

The Perfect Keyboard can run also in a "batch mode". If the Perfect Keyboard is started with parameter specifying the text shortcut of the macro to perform and parameter specifying the file of the macro then the Perfect Keyboard just performs the macro and exits.

Syntax:

C:\Program Files\Perfect Keyboard\pk32.exe -run:text_shortcut File_path

For example:

C:\Program Files\Perfect Keyboard\pk32.exe -run:.rn C:\Program Files\Perfect Keyboard\samples.pkd

This feature allows to integrate the Perfect Keyboard program with other applications (especially launchers). An application, for example MS Office toolbar or Perfect Screens, can be used just as a user interface to Perfect Keyboard macros functionality. The result of such integration is a very powerful and easy to use tool.

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License Agreement

Upon your acceptance of this Agreement, Pitrinec Software (Author) grants to
you a nonexclusive license to use the Perfect Keyboard software (Software).

1.Use of the Software.

The Software has been released for distribution as a SHAREWARE and
may be distributed at no cost.

You are granted a license to try the Software for 30 days. After this time,
the Software must be registered or removed from the system.

You may install the Software on a hard disk or other storage device;
install and use the Software on a file server for use on a network for
the purposes of (i) permanent installation onto hard disks or other
storage devices or (ii) use of the Software over such network; and make
backup copies of the Software.

2.Restrictions.

Unregistered use of the Software after the 30-day evaluation period is in violation
of international copyright laws.

You are not allowed to modify, translate, reverse engineer, decompile,
disassemble or otherwise attempt to discover the source code of the Software.

The number of the (licensed) Software instances running at the same time may
not exceed the number of licenses purchased.

You are not allowed to redistribute or provide to 3rd party already registered
versions of the Software as well as you may not publish the registration number(s)
that unlock the Software.

The Software can be distributed only as the package provided by the Author.
This package cannot be change in any way without written Author's permission.

3.No Warranty.

ALL WARRANTIES ARE DISCLAIMED, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED, IN THIS SOFTWARE. THE ENTIRE RISK OF THE USE OR
THE RESULT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE REMAINS WITH
THE USER.

Unpublished-rights reserved under international copyright laws.

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Price List

As stated in "License agreement" part of this document, the Perfect Keyboard is a shareware program and must be registered if a user decides to keep it. There are several ways how to register it.  User can either use on-line registration or send registration form via e-mail or snail mail (in such a case there is a Register.exe program provided with the package allowing user to generate registration form). User can choose among several payment methods including credit cards, cash, money order, etc. 

Professional version (Perfect Keyboard '98 Pro):

License: Price (US $):
Upgrade from version 1.x 5.00
1 User (copy) 29.00
5 Users (copies) 99.00
10 Users (copies) 149.00
25 Users (copies) 299.00
50 Users (copies) 449.00
* Site license  790.00
** World-wide license 2290.00
* Site license (educational organizations) 290.00
** World-wide license (educational organizations) 490.00

Light version (Perfect Keyboard '98 Light):

License: Price (US $):
Upgrade from version 1.x 5.00
1 User (copy) 19.00
5 Users (copies) 65.00
10 Users (copies) 99.00
25 Users (copies) 199.00
50 Users (copies) 299.00
* Site license  520.00
** World-wide license 1500.00
* Site license (educational organizations) 190.00
** World-wide license (educational organizations) 329.00

Multiple users license (e.g., 10 users license) can be either used so that there are several users using the same copy of the program installed on a network server or there are several copies of the program installed on users' workstations (each user has own copy installed on the computer). In any case the number of users using the program (not necessarily at the same time) may not exceed the number of copies licensed. 

* Site license is for unlimited number of users at one organization, and within a radius of 100 miles (160 km) from one central location. 
** An organization that has offices further than that and wants to use the product in these distant locations, should buy a world-wide license 

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Execute (start, launch) application. "File Path" specifies full path to the application or file to open. If you specify an application with additional parameters (file to open within the application, for example) you can close the parameter to the ' quotation (not " quotation!). Some applications may require this. This command can be used also to open a web page in web browser or send e-mail. To open web page, specify http:// (or ftp://) and web page URL (for example, http://SoftwareUtilities.Com). To send e-mail specify mailto: and e-mail address (for example, mailto:pitrinec@kagi.com).

Execute (start, launch) application. "File Path" specifies full path to the application or file to open. This command can be used also to open a web page in web browser or send e-mail. To open web page, specify http:// (or ftp://) and web page URL (for example, http://SoftwareUtilities.Com). To send e-mail specify mailto: and e-mail address (for example, mailto:pitrinec@kagi.com).

State determines the window size and has following meaning:
0 - normal
1 - maximized
2 - minimized