For me, changing the volume on my Mac has always been a pain. Having to open the control panels folder, double click on the Sound control panel, and then wait while it loads up. Sure, I could of put an alias of Sound in the Apple Menu, but I still have to wait for the control panel to load. To make matters worse, some programs (OK, games) hide the menubar, and so you can’t change the volume at all without quitting the program. To make it easier changing the volume (and to keep my sanity), Volume FKEY was born.
What Is An FKEY?
For those of you who don’t know, an FKEY is a small program that is available for use virtually all the time, no 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 (between 0 and 9), and the number you press will decide which FKEY is invoked. For example, on my computer Volume FKEY has the number 9, so to invoke it I press command, shift and 9.
Installing It
Volume FKEY is distributed in an installer program, which you must have already loaded to be reading this! Installing it is simple. Simply select which “slot” you wish to install it in, and click the “Install” button. The FKEY will be installed into that position, and available for immediate use (no having to restart!)
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 & the number of the slot you installed it in). The cursor will change, and prompt you to press a number from 0 to 7.
Step 2: Press the desired volume level (0..7) using the number keys.
There are a couple of extra features (and one limitation) built into Volume FKEY. 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 (from invoking the FKEY) before pressing it again. Secondly, to leave the volume at its current setting, press the space bar. Thirdly, you can’t press a number key while holding down the control key (well, you can, but the computer will ignore you). Finally, the numbers on the number pad cannot be used to set the volume (which is fair enough, since they can’t be used to invoke the FKEY anyway).
Possible Problems
As far as I know, the FKEY is bug free (famous last words) It has been used extensively by both myself and my girlfriend, and has not crashed either of our computers. However, I use an undocumented trick to save the current cursor when the FKEY is invoked (see ‘Blasting Holes in Windows’, MacTutor Vol.3 No.10 to see how it’s done). Because of this, Volume FKEY may trash the cursor in later systems (I currently use system 7.1, where it works fine). While not a major problem, it could be annoying when used in applications that don’t update the cursor.
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:
Normal Mail:
Jason Anderson
PO Box 471
Devonport TAS 7310
Australia
e-mail:
jason_ga@postoffice.sandybay.utas.edu.au
(could change after 1994)
Finally, while this FKEY is distributed as freeware, I certainly won’t object if you wish to send me money for my creation ;-)
Volume FKEY was written using THINK Pascal 4.0.2.
Version History
• 1.0.2 - Fixed a bug that meant the install dialog wouldn’t show up on machines running System 6 or lower. Also changed the about box so that styled text was used.
• 1.0.1 - Fixed a problem that meant the FKEY wouldn’t install!
