If the touchpad is not working, use these steps to access Touchpad options: Select the Windows logo key + I. How distinguish keys of number pad and keys of keyboard - posted in Ask for Help: Hello, I would like to remapping only the keys of number pad while the usual keys of keyboard stay with the same map.

3.3 Hotkeys

Hotkeys are key combinations, which are bound to certain actions. When talking about hotkeys in Soundpad, then always global hotkeys are meant. Global means, that those key combinations are recognized even if Soundpad is not the active window.

Hotkeys can be

• single keys, e.g. F1, S, Enter
• key combinations consisting of one or more modifiers and a key, e.g. Ctrl+G, Alt+Shift+S
• mouse clicks, e.g. Mouse Mid, Mouse 4
• modifiers and mouse clicks, e.g. Ctrl+Mouse Left
• modifiers and numpad, e.g. Alt+123

3.3.1 Setting hotkeys

You have two options to set hotkeys:

1. Right click a sound and select Set hotkey from the context menu
   or
2. Double click on the hotkey column of the sound.
   

The hotkey dialog will appear:

Now you can press the key combination, you'd like to assign to the sound.

There are some predefined shortcuts to allow an easier and faster workflow.

• Esc: Close the dialog without changes.
• Enter: Close the dialog and save changes.
• Del: Remove hotkey.
• Backspace: Remove hotkey.

3.3.2 Removing hotkeys

Do one of the following to remove a hotkey from a sound:

• Right click a sound and select Remove hotkey from the context menu.
• Double click the hotkey column of the sound to open the hotkey dialog and
  • Click on the X-button next to the input field
    or
  • Press Backspace
    or
  • Press Del.
• Set the same hotkey on another sound.

3.3.3 List hotkeys

There are two options to list all configured hotkeys:

• Select Window ▷ Hotkeys ▷ Hotkey overview from the menu.
• Right-click the H-icon in the status bar and select Hotkey overview from the context menu.

3.3.4 Mouse hotkeys

You may define mouse click hotkeys. Single left or right click hotkeys are not permitted, because they can lead to a very unpleasant experience. But you can use them in combination with modifiers like Ctrl+Mouse Left.

3.3.5 Special hotkeys

You can define some special hotkeys at File ▷ Preferences ▷ Hotkeys ▷ Special Hotkeys.
Special hotkeys can't be overwritten when you define hotkeys for sounds.

Special hotkeys can be used to do the following actions:

• Stop playback
• Start playback
• Pause/resume playback
• Play previous file
• Play next file
• Select previous file
• Select next file
• Play selected file
• Play random file
• Play random file from all categories
• Select previous category
• Select next category
• Start recording
• Stop recording
• Jump back by a configurable amount of seconds
• Jump forward by a configurable amount of seconds
• Lower speakers volume by a configurable value
• Raise speakers volume by a configurable value
• Set speakers volume to a certain value
• Mute speakers
• Set play mode to default (speakers and microphone)
• Set play mode to speakers
• Set play mode to microphone
• Switch to next play mode
• Enable Auto Keys
• Disable Auto Keys
• Toggle Auto Keys
• Enable Hotkeys - works even if hotkeys are disabled
• Disable Hotkeys
• Toggle Hotkeys - works even if hotkeys are disabled

3.3.6 Numpad hotkeys

You can configure numpad hotkeys at File ▷ Preferences ▷ Hotkeys ▷ Numpad Hotkeys.

Numpad hotkeys are really powerful. They make it possible to define an incredibly large amount of hotkeys.

While default hotkeys, like every single key and every possible combination with modifiers, allow you to define many hotkeys, they are still very limited and may also conflict with predefined system hotkeys.

How do they work? - You press and hold a modifier, e.g. Alt as it is predefined, then you type an arbitrary number on your numpad and release the modifier. E.g. Alt+123 or Alt+55.

Numpad hotkeys can be enabled at File ▷ Preferences ▷ Hotkeys ▷ Numpad Hotkeys.

Hotkey Paste Text

Numcode

You can enable this option at File ▷ Preferences ▷ Hotkeys ▷ Numpad Hotkeys. Furthermore, you can specify, which modifier(s) you want to use. Now you can define Numcode hotkeys for particular sounds.

Index

Every entry in the sound list has an index according to its row. If you don't want to set up hotkeys for each and every sound, you can enable Index hotkeys at File ▷ Preferences ▷ Hotkeys ▷ Numpad Hotkeys. Define the modifier(s) you want to use. Now you can press and hold the modifier and type a number on your numpad. After releasing the modifier, the sound with the index equivalent to your entered number will be played.

Hotkey Pdf

3.3.7 Advanced options

You can change these options at File ▷ Preferences ▷ Hotkeys ▷ Advanced options.

Pass hotkeys

The default behavior, when using global hotkeys, is to block the hotkey upon recognition.
Let's say you defined Ctrl+X for a sound. Ctrl+X is the system wide hotkey to cut selected elements, like files or text, on any Windows system. Now, if you select a file in your file explorer and press Ctrl+X, then Soundpad will recognize it, play the associated sound and block further hotkey processing. Your file explorer won't receive the Ctrl+X anymore and your file stays untouched.

By enabling Pass hotkeys the default behavior is changed. Staying with the above mentioned example this means, that Soundpad won't block the hotkey, Ctrl+X will be processed by your file explorer and the selected file gets cut.

Auto stop (recommended)

Automatically stops playback after a sound was played by hotkey even if options to repeat or continue playback are enabled.

Allow left and right modifiers

Allows hotkeys like Ctrl+F1 and RCtrl+F1. Otherwise left and right Ctrl are treated as the same modifier.

Last week, I saw a fascinating post by Christoph Jahn on the SDRplay Facebook page.

Christoph created a custom hotkey pad for use with SDRuno. The project is actually quite simple and his finished product looks amazing:

The steps involve downloading “LuaMacros” a freeware macros utility that allows you to map macros to an external USB device like a cheap numeric keypad. Christoph then designed the key templates and printed them on a strong adhesive vinyl foil.

I asked Christoph if I could post his project on the SWLing Post and he kindly sent me the followed PDF with step-by-step instructions.

Christoph also shared the macros file he used for his project (download .XML file 8.77 KB).

Laptop Number Pad Hotkey

Thank you so much for sharing this, Christoph! Your finished product is so professional, I would have thought it was produced by SDRplay!

This could be a useful tool for a radio friend who is visually-impaired and, of course, could be compatible with a wide range of SDR apps and rig control software that allow keyboard shortcuts.

Readers: Have you done a similar project? Please comment with your experience and any details–especially noting applications and programs you find are compatible with keyboard shortcut mapping. This could be very beneficial for radio enthusiasts with disabilities!