For me, changing the volume on my Mac has always been a pain. Having to open the control panels folder, double click on Sound, and then wait while it loads up. Sure, I could of put an alias of Sound in the Apple Menu, but I still had to wait for it to load. This wait was lengthened when I started using the control panel SndControl (a brilliant program, but not for me). To speed up changing the volume, Vol_FKEY was written.
__WHAT IS AN FKEY
For those of you who don’t know, and FKEY is a small program that is available for use all the time, not matter what you are doing (with certain restrictions). To start it, or invoke it as I prefer to say, all you do is press command, shift and a number key at the same time. The number key you press is most important, since each FKEY has a number, and the number you press will decide which FKEY is invoked. For example, on my computer Vol_FKEY has the number 9, so to invoke it I press command, shift and 9.
__INSTALLING IT
The FKEY is distributed as a ResEdit file, simply because I prefer to use ResEdit. Just remember to work on a backup of the system file when installing it, so that if something goes wrong all is not lost. Also remember that the resource ID is the number that you have to press with command and shift to invoke the FKEY.
__HOW TO USE IT:
Changing the volume is now a simple two step process, and all it involves is pressing four (4) keys.
Step 1: Invoke the FKEY (command, shift & a number). The cursor will change, and prompt you to press a number from 0 to 7.
Step 2a: Press the desired volume level (0..7) using the number keys
OR
Step 2b: Press the space bar, to leave the volume at it’s current setting.
There are a couple of things to note. Firstly, to find out what the current volume setting is, press (and hold) the control key between steps 1 and 2 (the cursor will change to show the current setting, and the computer will beep so that you can actually hear the sound level as well as see it). Note that you must have already released the control key before pressing it again. Secondly, you can’t press a number key while holding down the control key (well, you can, but the computer will ignore the key press). Thirdly, the numbers on the number pad cannot be used to set the volume (which is fair enough, since they can’t be used to start the FKEY anyway).
__POSSIBLE PROBLEMS
As far as I know, the FKEY is bug free (ha!!!) It has been used extensively by both myself and my girlfriend, and as yet has not crashed either of our computers. That being said, there are a couple of things that could go wrong.
1) I use an undocumented trick to save the current cursor when I enter the FKEY (see ‘Blasting Holes in Windows’, MacTutor Vol.3 No.10 to see how it’s done). Because of this, my FKEY may trash the cursor in later systems (I currently use system 7.01, where it works fine). While not a major problem, it could be annoying for applications that don’t update the cursor.
2) I’m not sure about this, but in low memory situations the fkey MIGHT (I repeat, MIGHT) crash the computer. It’s never happened yet, but it might (I think). Then again I could be wrong.
__ROUNDUP
Well, that's all there is to say about my little FKEY. It has proven itself to be very useful, and hopefully other people will think so too. If you have any comments or suggestions, drop me a line at:
Jason Anderson
PO Box 471
Devonport, 7310, TAS
Australia
Finally, while this FKEY is distributed as freeware, I certainly won’t object if you wish to send me money for my creation.
