Signo

There are a lot of hidden features in Windows, some of which can even be triggered through hotkeys. Sadly, there’s no built-in option to configure or at least view them. However, you can rely on specialized applications such as Signo to create your own in order to make almost any kind of activity more comfortable.

Before you can enjoy all the application has to offer, you need to be sure that .NET Framework is already on your computer. On launch, the program minimizes to the tray area, and even comes with its own set of hotkeys and command for all groups it can handle, offering quite the example of what can be accomplished.

It’s a good idea to bring up the action configuration panel to view, and manage hotkey commands. There are multiple dedicated types of actions, each with slightly different trigger methods. These are found in individual tabs for text, HTML, open, launch, miniRAM, Windows, grab, and auto. You find existing commands in each, with the possibility to customize, remove, and add your own.

Text, HTML, and Auto rely on specific text strings or abbreviations which you write down to be replaced with actual content. This can come in handy for programming, or creating your own spell-checker which automatically fixes common, frequent typos and such. It’s also handy for inserting large strings by simply writing a couple of characters.

Most of the other categories refer to launching and managing applications and windows. The open and launch tabs help you set files and programs to trigger with the help of hotkey commands, with the possibility to include additional parameters or programs to open with.

The Grab and Windows options mostly rely on some built-in Windows feature, such as snapping windows, or minimizing them, as well as grabbing screenshots either of the entire or portions of the screen and sending them to clipboard or opening in the default editor.

Bottom line is that with the right set of tools, even default Windows features can be tweaked to your advantage. With a little effort, Signo helps you create comfortable hotkey and abbreviation commands for all your daily operations, regardless whether you use the PC at home or in an office.