Foobar2000:Preferences:Keyboard Shortcuts: Difference between revisions

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== Concepts ==
== Concepts ==


Keyboard shortcuts are associated with a menu command. Menu commands include the main menu bar menus, context menus, and sub-menus. There are keyboard shortcuts already defined when you first install Foobar2000. Many of these are familiar shortcuts to users of other Windows applications: ctrl+s for save, ctrl+p for preferences, et cetera.
Keyboard shortcuts are associated with a menu command. Menu commands include the main menu bar, context menus, and sub-menus. Keyboard shortcuts are already defined when you first install Foobar2000. Many of these are familiar to users of Windows applications: Ctrl+S for save, Ctrl+P for preferences, et cetera.


It is helpful to review the full set of predefined keyboard shortcuts by examining the preferences panel.
It is helpful to review the predefined keyboard shortcuts by examining the preferences panel.


Keyboard shortcuts have the possibility of being “global”. This means the keyboard command will take action even when Foobar2000 is in the background. As long as Foobar2000 is running, global shortcuts can be used to control it. There are no global keyboard shortcuts among the set of predefined keys, although one can easily modify this. (Good candidate keys for assigning globally are the volume-controling keys: '''Num +''' and '''Num -''') Global key assignments should be made carefully as they may interfere with your ability to use other applications.
Keyboard shortcuts have the possibility of being defined as “global”. A global keyboard command takes action even when Foobar2000 is running in the background. If Foobar2000 is running, global shortcuts will control it.
 
There are no global keyboard shortcuts among the predefined keys, although one can easily modify this. (Good candidates for assigning globally are the volume-controling keys: '''Num +''' and '''Num -''') Global key assignments should be made carefully as they may interfere with your ability to use other applications.


== Keyboard Shortcut preferences panel ==
== Keyboard Shortcut preferences panel ==
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This preferences panel is where keyboard shortcuts are added, modified, deleted, or simply inspected.
This preferences panel is where keyboard shortcuts are added, modified, deleted, or simply inspected.


A related Foobar2000 preference is located on the "Disaply" preferences panel. A normally-checked box specifies whether keyboard shortcuts should be displayed in the menus. You may wish to uncheck this to prevent menus from becoming unmanageably wide.
A related Foobar2000 preference appears on the "Display" preferences panel. A (normally-checked) box specifies whether shortcuts should be displayed in Foobar2000 menus. You may wish to uncheck this to prevent menus from becoming unmanageably wide.


=== “Assigned Shortcuts” portion: lists and defines shortcuts ===
==== “Assigned Shortcuts” portion: lists and defines shortcuts ====


The top portion of the keyboard shortcut preferences panel contains a list of exiting shortcuts. The list of shortcuts may be sorted by clicking on one of list headers.
The top portion of the keyboard shortcut preferences displays a list of existing shortcuts. The list may be sorted by clicking on one of headers.


=== “Action” portion: menu structure and filter ===
==== “Action” portion: menu structure and filter ====


=== “Key” portion: assignment of keystroke ===
This middle portion of the preference panel shows the menu commands available for assignment. This portion of the panel may be ignored if you are simply reviewing keyboard shortcuts already defined.
 
A filter is available to speed the task of assigning new commands. This filter reduces the number of items displayed in the commands list, assuming the user knows at least part of the command name and enters that. Otherwise, the filter has no effect on Foobar2000's operation. Be sure to remove stray characters that might be entered in this filter—otherwise you may not be able to see the command you're after!
 
==== “Key” portion: assignment of keystroke ===
 
The final portion of the keyboard shortcuts preferences panel shows the keystroke assigned to a given action. To assign a different keystroke, click in the field and press the new keystroke.


== Predefined Keyboard Shortcuts ==
== Predefined Keyboard Shortcuts ==
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!width="30"|
!width="30"|
|-
|-
|  ||            || Num 4  || Seek back by 10 seconds    ||  || Alt        || A      || Always on Top
|  ||            || Num 4 <span style="color:red">&dagger;</span>   || Seek back by 10 seconds    ||  || Alt        || A      || Always on Top
|-
|-
|  || Ctrl      || Num 4  || Seek back by 1 minute      ||  ||            || Num +  || Volume up
|  || Ctrl      || Num 4  || Seek back by 1 minute      ||  ||            || Num +  || Volume up
|-
|-
|  ||            || Num 6   || Seek ahead by 10 seconds  ||  ||            || Num -  || Volume down
|  ||            || Num 6 <span style="color:red">&dagger;</span>  || Seek ahead by 10 seconds  ||  ||            || Num -  || Volume down
|-
|-
|  || Ctrl      || Num 6  || Seek ahead by 1 minute    ||  ||            || =      || Volume up
|  || Ctrl      || Num 6  || Seek ahead by 1 minute    ||  ||            || =      || Volume up
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|  || Ctrl      || F      || Search
|  || Ctrl      || F      || Search
|}
|}
<span style="color:red">&dagger;</span> The above table faithfully reproduces what is shown in Foobar2000. There appears to be an error in nomenclature; the actual keystroke is more correctly termed as right arrow (or left arrow). The appellation "Num 4" only makes sense when you pre-suppose that NumLock is turned OFF (most desktop computer users keep NumLock ON).


== Effect of additional plugins ==
== Effect of additional plugins ==


Installing additional components to Foobar2000 does not affect existing keyboard shortcuts. A component will not add new keyboard shortcuts, nor will it modify existing shortcuts. However, new components often add menu items to the Foobar2000 menu structure. You are allowed to assign keyboard shortcuts to new commands effected by new plugins.
Installing additional components to Foobar2000 does not affect existing keyboard shortcuts. A component will not add new keyboard shortcuts, nor will it modify existing shortcuts. However, new components often add menu items to the menu structure. You are allowed to assign keyboard shortcuts to new commands effected by additional plugins.


In the event a plugin is later removed—and its commands had been assigned to shortcuts—errors will be noted in the corresponding entries of the assignment portion of the keyboard shortcuts preferences pane (i.e. top portion).
In the event a plugin is later removed, and its commands had been assigned to shortcuts, errors would be noted in corresponding entries in the keyboard shortcuts preferences pane (i.e. top portion).


== Removing existing keyboard shortcuts ==
== Removing existing keyboard shortcuts ==


Any and all keyboard shortcuts may be removed. This includes keyboard shortcuts present in the fresh installation of Foobar2000.
Any and all keyboard shortcuts may be removed. This includes shortcuts present in the Foobar2000 installation.


Should you remove a desired shortcut by accident, you may refer to the above table then redefine it. Alternatively, you could reset all keyboard shortcuts to their original state by clicking the “Reset Page” button.
Should you remove a desired shortcut by accident, refer to the above table and redefine it. Alternatively, you might reset all shortcuts to their original state by clicking the “Reset Page” button.
 
It is recommended that you do NOT delete (or redefine) the Ctrl+P shortcut. In the event that you had disabled part of your interface, such as hiding the menu bar, you would want to open the preferences panel using Ctrl+P and restore the interface.


== Defining new keyboard shortcuts ==
== Defining new keyboard shortcuts ==
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== Avoiding conflicts ==
== Avoiding conflicts ==
Foobar2000 does not prevent you from assigning a the same keyboard shortcut more than once. This is a good design decision (in my opinion) in that it doesn't unnecessarily encumber you while redefining shortcuts. When a redundant definition occurs within Foobar2000, you will see a warning below the list of definitions. Correcting this error is straightforward—scan through the list of assignments and delete the obsolete shortcut definition. The warning should disappear after internal conflicts have been eliminated.
It is possible that Windows could interfere with your intended Foobar2000 keyboard shortcuts. Troubleshooting this problem is beyond the scope of this wiki page.
Familiarize yourself with Windows shortcut properties, as well as the particulars of your keyboard driver (such as Microsoft's IntelliType software), and you should be able to track down keyboard assignment conflicts. Most of these conflicts are likely to stem from multimedia key assignments. It is often possible to disable use of the multimedia keys altogether—IntelliType permits this, for example—allowing Foobar2000 to make exclusive use of the key.

Revision as of 11:14, 11 February 2007

This is the Keyboard Shortcuts page. It contains foobar2000 configuration information for keyboard shortcuts.

Concepts

Keyboard shortcuts are associated with a menu command. Menu commands include the main menu bar, context menus, and sub-menus. Keyboard shortcuts are already defined when you first install Foobar2000. Many of these are familiar to users of Windows applications: Ctrl+S for save, Ctrl+P for preferences, et cetera.

It is helpful to review the predefined keyboard shortcuts by examining the preferences panel.

Keyboard shortcuts have the possibility of being defined as “global”. A global keyboard command takes action even when Foobar2000 is running in the background. If Foobar2000 is running, global shortcuts will control it.

There are no global keyboard shortcuts among the predefined keys, although one can easily modify this. (Good candidates for assigning globally are the volume-controling keys: Num + and Num -) Global key assignments should be made carefully as they may interfere with your ability to use other applications.

Keyboard Shortcut preferences panel

This preferences panel is where keyboard shortcuts are added, modified, deleted, or simply inspected.

A related Foobar2000 preference appears on the "Display" preferences panel. A (normally-checked) box specifies whether shortcuts should be displayed in Foobar2000 menus. You may wish to uncheck this to prevent menus from becoming unmanageably wide.

“Assigned Shortcuts” portion: lists and defines shortcuts

The top portion of the keyboard shortcut preferences displays a list of existing shortcuts. The list may be sorted by clicking on one of headers.

“Action” portion: menu structure and filter

This middle portion of the preference panel shows the menu commands available for assignment. This portion of the panel may be ignored if you are simply reviewing keyboard shortcuts already defined.

A filter is available to speed the task of assigning new commands. This filter reduces the number of items displayed in the commands list, assuming the user knows at least part of the command name and enters that. Otherwise, the filter has no effect on Foobar2000's operation. Be sure to remove stray characters that might be entered in this filter—otherwise you may not be able to see the command you're after!

= “Key” portion: assignment of keystroke

The final portion of the keyboard shortcuts preferences panel shows the keystroke assigned to a given action. To assign a different keystroke, click in the field and press the new keystroke.

Predefined Keyboard Shortcuts

There are thirty-one predefined shortcuts in a fresh installation of Foobar2000 ver.0.9.4.2. All predefined shortcuts are “non-global”, or local, shortcuts. These keyboard shortcuts take effect only when Foobar2000 is the active window.

modifier key action/menu-command modifier key action/menu-command
Num 4 Seek back by 10 seconds Alt A Always on Top
Ctrl Num 4 Seek back by 1 minute Num + Volume up
Num 6 Seek ahead by 10 seconds Num - Volume down
Ctrl Num 6 Seek ahead by 1 minute = Volume up
Num Del Remove Shift = Volume up
Z Stop - Volume down
X Pause Ctrl Tab Next Playlist
C Play Shift+Ctrl Tab Previous Playlist
V Next Ctrl N New Playlist
Shift V Previous Ctrl W Remove Playlist
Ctrl P Preferences Ctrl F4 Remove Playlist
Ctrl C Copy Name(s) Ctrl O Open…
Ctrl A Select All Ctrl S Save Playlist…
Ctrl Z Undo Ctrl U Add Location…
Shift+Ctrl Z Redo
F3 Search
Ctrl F Search

The above table faithfully reproduces what is shown in Foobar2000. There appears to be an error in nomenclature; the actual keystroke is more correctly termed as right arrow (or left arrow). The appellation "Num 4" only makes sense when you pre-suppose that NumLock is turned OFF (most desktop computer users keep NumLock ON).

Effect of additional plugins

Installing additional components to Foobar2000 does not affect existing keyboard shortcuts. A component will not add new keyboard shortcuts, nor will it modify existing shortcuts. However, new components often add menu items to the menu structure. You are allowed to assign keyboard shortcuts to new commands effected by additional plugins.

In the event a plugin is later removed, and its commands had been assigned to shortcuts, errors would be noted in corresponding entries in the keyboard shortcuts preferences pane (i.e. top portion).

Removing existing keyboard shortcuts

Any and all keyboard shortcuts may be removed. This includes shortcuts present in the Foobar2000 installation.

Should you remove a desired shortcut by accident, refer to the above table and redefine it. Alternatively, you might reset all shortcuts to their original state by clicking the “Reset Page” button.

It is recommended that you do NOT delete (or redefine) the Ctrl+P shortcut. In the event that you had disabled part of your interface, such as hiding the menu bar, you would want to open the preferences panel using Ctrl+P and restore the interface.

Defining new keyboard shortcuts

Multimedia keys

Avoiding conflicts

Foobar2000 does not prevent you from assigning a the same keyboard shortcut more than once. This is a good design decision (in my opinion) in that it doesn't unnecessarily encumber you while redefining shortcuts. When a redundant definition occurs within Foobar2000, you will see a warning below the list of definitions. Correcting this error is straightforward—scan through the list of assignments and delete the obsolete shortcut definition. The warning should disappear after internal conflicts have been eliminated.

It is possible that Windows could interfere with your intended Foobar2000 keyboard shortcuts. Troubleshooting this problem is beyond the scope of this wiki page.

Familiarize yourself with Windows shortcut properties, as well as the particulars of your keyboard driver (such as Microsoft's IntelliType software), and you should be able to track down keyboard assignment conflicts. Most of these conflicts are likely to stem from multimedia key assignments. It is often possible to disable use of the multimedia keys altogether—IntelliType permits this, for example—allowing Foobar2000 to make exclusive use of the key.