Desktop Search shortcut

Desktop Search shortcut

• install

  "Windows + F" invokes Windows Desktop Search  
  

• Philip Jaques

  Here is the scenario.  When you select Start > All Programs > Windows Desktop Search, a window titled "Windows Desktop Search Results" appears.  On the toolbar at the top of the window, there are several icons.  One of them is the "Search" icon (the one with the magnifying glass next to the word Search).  If you click this icon, it opens a pane on the left side of the window (same place that the Folders view appears in Windows Explorer) titled "Windows Desktop Search".  This pane provides the user the ability to apply filters to searches.

  I am trying to make a shortcut so that when I open the Windows Desktop Search, the window opens with this pane already displayed.  The reason I am trying to do this is so that I can assign this function to my Microsoft Natural Keyboard button, so that when I need to look for something all I need to do is press the Search button on my keyboard and not have to then click on search to make this pane appear.

  
  

• HowardRichards

  Anybody out there that knows how to write a program for this functionality Unfortunately, I'm not a programmer and I don't have a clue about how to do this. I read through the article and reinforced the fact that I really don't know how to do this. Any help would be greatly appreciated...
  

• Stephen Cantoria

  That is the keyboard maco, not a program. The search macro is included in the latest version of the IntelliType drivers.

  Please update to IntelliType Pro 6.1 drivers

  IntelliType Pro 6.1 32-bit for Windows XP
  

  In the control panel, select keyboard -> Key Settings tab
  Select your button to remap and then the "Edit..." button.
  In the next dialog, select "Choose from a list of commands", and then "Next>"
  Scroll the list down and select "Search". 

  
  
  

• milann

  Ok, I understand.

  There is no direct .exe you can run to do this. But, if you know how to program, all you need to do is write a simple C program to call a win32 api. SHFindFiles is what the shell uses to display the search pane from the start menu.

  SHFindFiles(NULL, NULL); 
   

  Other than that, you can use 3rd party programs called "SendKeys". These programs mimic keyboard input, and you would give it "Windows Key"+F keyboard command.
  

  
  
  

• Will Durning

  Not everything in Windows is done by command line nor do they have a command line equivalent. This key input is send to the explorer application via a APPCOMMAND_BROWSER_SEARCH message (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms646275.aspx).

  Internally it calls the SHFindFiles() API that brings up the search window. If you need this functionality, you need to write a small program that calls this API and then assign your application search key to this program.

  
  
  

• EWANAME

  Scott,

  By search filter do you mean that you want to launch WDS with a filter like documents, e-mail, or music pre applied

  cheers,

  Ed

  
  

• dontknow

  Program the macro to launch the search pane: "Windows Key"+F
  
  

• M.N. Ahmed Sahib

  Thanks for the reply. I know the keyboard combination - what I'm looking for is how does that keyboard combination translate to a command line command In other words, when I'm trying to setup the hotkey on my natural keyboard, I can't type "Windows + F" on the command line - that does not work. My question is: What is the command line equivalent for "Windows + F"
  

• learnerplates

  I have already tried that. When setup as you just described - the "Search" button on the keyboard opens the "Search Companion" in Internet Explorer, not the "Windows Desktop Search Results" window with the filter pane displayed. That's what I want it to do, not what it is currently doing...
  

• jwraith

  I tried pasting this into the command window but it does not work.
  
• Desktop Search shortcut