Software Deployment

You need to add the value (the so-called virtual-key value) for that key combination into the Shortcut table's HotKey column. You will probably have to go into 'Setup Editor' (if using Wise Package Studio) or 'Direct Edit' (if using InstallShield) and add it directly to the table.

You could now spend days searching for virtual key codes but I prefer the cheat's way:
- create an IE shortcut to any URL.
- Right-click on it once created and then select 'Properties'
- With the cursor in the 'Hot key' field, press the hot key combination you want, then click 'Apply', then 'OK'

An IE shortcut (URL) is actually a text file in INI file format which means that it can be viewed with any text editor.
- Load the shortcut (the file will have a ".URL" file extension) into your favourite text editor.
- Locate the 'HotKey' key

The value for the HotKey column can be eithr decimal or hex but the hex flavour requires you to specify the low- and high-order bytes correctly. *MUCH* simpler to just use the decimal.
- Copy the value you obtain to the clipboard
- Paste the value in the HotKey column in the appropriate row.

Ctrl+Shift+N = 846 (decimal) = &H214E (hex)

For the hex value, the '21' represents the modifier value for Shift (10) added to that for Control (11) and 4E is the key code for 'N'.

A list of key codes canbe obtained here http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc248947.aspx

Lastly, Microsoft now advises that shortcut hotkeys are NOT used, as you cannot be sure if the hotkey is already in use by another shortcut and also because of accessibility issues.

Thanks a lot ...this is exactly what is required !!

I am not sure this is completely correct.

The docs are a bit sketchy on what the high order word flags are. But
this url: http://makemsi-manual.dennisbareis.com/shortcut.htm
lists them as follows:

• 1 = Shift
  
• 2 = Control
  
• 4 = Alt

These are different to the VK_KEY values of 0x10, 0x11 and 0x12

Shame the docs are so vague. Hope you have some success.

Update: VBScab had the decimal correct (846), but that is actually hex 0x34E (where the 3 equates to 2+1 as above).

Neil