Equivalent of Windows Search Deskbar Shortcuts in Windows 7

1

On my previous Windows XP laptop, I made extensive use of the "Windows Search Deskbar" and specifically the shortcuts you could define in an ini file. Essentially, you could associate a path/URL/search string etc with a keyword. You could then type the keyword into the Windows Search Deskbar and it would execute the associated command.

By way of example, here are a few example shortcuts from my ini file...

[db]
chrome==chrome.exe
ping=cmd /k ping http://www.google.com
dict=chrome http://dictionary.cambridge.org/results.asp?searchword=$w&x=0&y=0
map=chrome http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=$w
wb=C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Workbench 5.2 CE\MySQLWorkbench.exe

Example usage (i.e. by typing keyword in Windows Search Deskbar) and effect...

  • chrome superuser.com -> opened URL in Google Chrome

  • ping -> pinged the specified URL from the command-line

  • dict frustration -> launched dictionary site in Chrome showing definition of "frustration"

  • map SW1A 0AA -> launched Google Maps in Chrome showing location of UK postcode

  • wb -> launch MySQL Workbench application

These deskbar shortcuts I setup were a swift means of getting around my computer and launching websites efficiently. Is this facility available in Windows 7? If not, is there an equivalent (preferably without installing any third-party software)?

w5m

Posted 2014-05-07T16:39:08.670

Reputation: 119

A lot of this works out of the box with the Windows (Start menu) search. – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2014-05-07T16:56:06.580

That's true, but I'm particularly interested in creating shortcuts for commands so that those that take longer to type can be executed using the minimum number of key presses. – w5m – 2014-05-07T19:37:57.393

I agree (and understand what you're looking for) and the search box isn't going to do that in the same way as the old Windows Search bar add-on. That's why I made it a comment and not an answer (and up-voted your question). :) – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2014-05-07T19:42:24.497

Not sure if this will work, but you can create custom shortcuts and add them to the start menu. – None – 2014-05-07T22:01:50.267

Answers

0

I believe AutoHotKey could solve this. You will want a keyboard shortcut to execute an InputBox and have a condition per shortcut you want. It's probably going to be as big of a pain in the butt to set up as simply going where you want each time, but that's your call to make.

Wutnaut

Posted 2014-05-07T16:39:08.670

Reputation: 724

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give it a try when I get a chance. – w5m – 2014-05-08T07:59:05.757

Asked: 2014-05-07T16:39:08.670

Viewed: 100 times

Active: 2014-05-07T21:44:51.743