Free the Command Prompt with SlickRun

A great way to improve your productivity at the keyboard is to actually keep your hands on it. I base this on no scientific evidence whatsoever. Still, I feel much more productive when I'm not constantly reaching over for the mouse to start some app or open a browser.

One way to keep your hands on the keyboard is to learn the keyboard shortcuts for programs you use frequently. Another way is to become proficient with entering text commands at the command prompt. In Windows XP, all we get is the very feeble Start | Run. Vista greatly improves on the Run Command by making commands searchable. Still, you cannot extend the commands easily.

To address this, I use SlickRun. It is a free tool from Bayden Systems that gives you a command prompt on demand. Hit your keystroke (I use ctrl + Q) and little text box pops up for you to enter commands. In addition to acting as a command line, it will do things like:

• Enter a DOS command. It's a command line.
  
• Type in a path -- SlickRun will auto-complete in a way that is context-sensitive, just as on the command line itself.
• Setup so-called MagicWords, or little macros to perform various commands. For example, to search Google for a term, you can setup a MagicWord of "g" that takes search terms. From the SlickRun prompt, simply type "g famoushamsandwich" and your search will be performed.
• Auto-complete prior commands. If you have commands, MagicWords, or file locations that you use repeatedly, you can recall them with just a couple of keystrokes.

The tool is very configurable, allowing you to finely control its display properties and behavior. There is even a scratch pad for jotting notes, called up by entering "jot".

SlickRun is not the only tool for the job -- there are many similar tools, but I find that SlickRun offers the most options. To me, the extensibility of MagicWords really sells it. The tool has a loyal user-base and you can even download MagicWord packs from the user community.

Give it a try, and if you really like it, drop a donation or buy something through their Amazon link.