PKB 2000 Help File
 Copyright (c) PKB Universal Solutions, All Rights Reserved.		  













































Overview

PKB 2000 is a time-saving utility running under Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT operating systems. The program allows a user to create a file of frequently used phrases, paragraphs, e-mail addresses, etc. and invoke them in any application just by typing a short abbreviation (text shortcut) or pressing a hot key (key shortcut). The PKB 2000 supports macro recording (keyboard and/or mouse events), has its own script commands allowing to insert time and date and more.

Use PKB 2000 for:

  1. Automatic text replacement - type text shortcut in any Windows 95/98 or NT application and PKB 2000 will immediately replace it with full, expanded text.
  2. E-mail correspondence improvement - write a set of templates and phrases you can quickly use when responding to clients questions, etc.
  3. Automatic forms filling.

Tips how to save time using PKB 2000:

  • Are you typing your name, address, the same phrases, e-mail addresses, etc. several times a day again and again ? Create shortcuts (three or four characters long) for all this stuff and let PKB 2000 to expand the shortcuts you type to full text.
  • Are you often filling forms ? Create macros with default definition of all those forms you have to fill out (on-line or elsewhere), including date, time, etc.
  • Are you tired by selecting again and again appropriate file paths in Open and Save as.. dialog boxes ? You can create list of your mostly used directories and do not waste time searching or typing them again and again.
  • Are you a programmer ? Write shortcuts for your often used programming constructions and save time, avoid errors and unify your source code.

Terminology:

  • Text shortcut - short text a user types to start associated macro.
  • Key shortcut - shortcut (like Ctrl+Alt+F) a user presses to start associated macro.
  • Macro - a sequence of keystrokes and/or commands. Macro can be either simple text that replaces text shortcut typed or a complex set of command performing desired task. The macro can be, of course, also any combination of a text and commands.
  • Shortcut item - user defined item that consists of macro and text shortcut and/or key shortcut.

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How to create new text replacement item

Let's say we want to create shortcut item that will replace "tus" shortcut by "the United States of America" text.

In the main menu, select "Insert/Item" menu item. In the dialog box shown, follow these steps:

  1. In the "Text shortcut" field specify the shortcut you want to use ("tus" in our example). Note that the text shortcut should be short and easy to remember.
  2. In the "Macro (text to expand)" field, specify the text that will replace the shortcut ("the United States of America" in our case).
  3. Press OK button.

Now start Notepad and type "tus" followed by space bar. The "tus" text typed is replaced by the "the United States of America" text.

For more shortcut item options see Item properties section.

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Create new macro

Let's say we want to create macro that will start Notepad.

In the main menu, select "Insert/Item" menu item. In the dialog box shown, follow these steps:

  1. In the "Key shortcut" field hit the keyboard keys you want to use (For example, Ctrl+Alt+N).
  2. Press "Add" button.
  3. In the menu shown select "Start application...".
  4. In the dialog box shown, specify "notepad.exe" and press OK button.
  5. Press OK button.

Now press the key shortcut (Ctrl+Alt+N) and the Notepad is started.

For more shortcut item options see Item properties section.

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Menu

File\

  • New - creates new PKB 2000 file.
  • Open - opens an existing PKB 2000 file.
  • Save - saves changes to the disk.
  • Save as - allows to save the currently opened file to a different location (floppy disk, another directory).
  • Exit - exits PKB 2000.

Edit\

  • Edit - opens property dialog box of selected folder or shortcut item.
  • Copy - copies selected item to clipboard.
  • Paste - pastes item from clipboard.
  • Delete - deletes selected item.
  • Find text - shows dialog box for searching text over all the items defined.

View\

  • Toolbar - show/hide toolbar.

Insert\

  • Item - inserts new item.

Tools\

  • Options - shows main settings dialog box.
  • Keyboard properties - shows keyboard properties dialog box.
  • Run shortcut - runs selected shortcut item (the same effect as double click on item's icon).
  • Start macro recording - starts macro recording.
  • Stop macro recording - stops macro recording.
  • Test shortcut - a dialog box for testing shortcuts defined.

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Main Settings

In PKB 2000 menu, select "Tools/Options" to open main settings (options) dialog box.

  • Expand shortcut after pressing - select a keyboard key that must be pressed to start macro after a text shortcut is typed (default is space bar).
  • Shortcut keys:
    Find item - when the shortcut key is pressed, the window with list of all macros defined is shown. This can be used when a user cannot remember particular text shortcut (or shortcut key).
    Activate/deactivate - when pressed, the PKB 2000 is activated/deactivated. Deactivated PKB 2000 ignores all text shortcut typed or key shortcut pressed.
    Start/stop macro recording - when pressed, the macro recording is started/stopped.
    Show/hide PKB 2000 - when pressed, the PKB 2000 is hidden (so that only PKB 2000 icon is presented in tray area of the TaskBar) or shown.
  • Play sound when expanding shortcut - plays specified sound when shortcut expanding (macro playback) is started.
  • Save settings on exit - if checked, some settings (folder expanded/collapsed state, for example) is saved on program exit.
  • Show reminders - if checked, message window with tips and helps is appearing in particular moments (when macro recording is finished, for example).
  • Allow shared items (Pro) - if checked, allows to use shared items saved in the specified file. How to create and maintain shared items file see "Data Sharing" chapter in this help file.

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Shortcut Item Settings

To pop up the shortcut item property sheet double click on the item's text in the shortcut item view or press 'Enter' key. (Note that double click on the icon or pressing space bar will cause the macro is started.)

General:

  • Text shortcut - text shortcut. If text shortcut is not required then leave it empty. The text shortcut (if specified) must be unique.
  • Key shortcut - key shortcut (like Ctrl+Alt+F). If key shortcut is not required then leave it empty. To delete already specified key shortcut press space bar.
  • ? - Shows list of all shortcut items defined (in all folders).
  • Macro (text to expand) - macro definition. Consists of combination of text and commands.
  • Insert recorded macro - inserts a macro recorded in the memory to "Macro" field.
  • Copy - copies currently selected command (row) to the end of the macro.
  • Delete - deletes currently selected row (command).
  • Remove multiple commands - removes timing or mouse move commands from the macro recorded.
  • Insert recorded macro - inserts macro recorded to the memory (Tools/Start macro recording).
  • Insert - inserts command to the current position.
  • Add - adds command to the end of the macro.
  • Edit - visually edits selected command.

Options:

  • Auto-expand - when checked, user doesn't have to press space bar (or other key specified in Options dialog box) to invoke macro playback but the macro is started immediately when text shortcut is typed.
  • Can be part of a word - when checked, the text shortcut doesn't have to start as a new word but can be part of the previous word. For example, if "sct" is a text shortcut and a user writes "startsct" an presses space bar the shortcut is expanded.
  • Pass text through clipboard - if checked, the macro text is paste to target application through clipboard (instead of simulating keystrokes). It is usually much faster, especially for longer texts. This option cannot be used if macro contains commands.

Playback:

  • Playback macro- specifies the speed of macro playback. Applies on macros previously recorded by PKB 2000 recording feature.
  • Repeat macro - specifies how many times the macro is to be repeated.

Description:

  • Description - any text to describe macro purpose, functionality, comments, etc.

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Commands & Keys

Note: the commands with Pro sign are available in professional version only.

Command or Key   Description
Keys    
<back>   Back space
<enter>   Enter
<shift>   Shift key; the first occurrence specifies the Shift key is pressed (down) and the next occurrence specifies the key is released (up).
<ctrl>   Control key; the first occurrence specifies the Control key is pressed (down) and the next occurrence specifies the key is released (up).
<alt>   Alt key; the first occurrence specifies the Alt key is pressed (down) and the next occurrence specifies the key is released (up).
<capslock>   Caps Lock
<esc>   Escape
<pgup>   Page up
<pgdn>   Page down
<end>   End
<home>   Home
<left>   Left arrow
<up>   Up arrow
<down>   Down arrow
<right>   Right arrow
<insert>   Insert
<delete>   Delete
<tab>   Tab
<F1> ... <F12>   F1 to F12 keys
<break>   Pause (break)
<clear>   Clear
<select>   Select key
<execkey>   Execute key
<lwinkey>   Left Windows key (MS Natural keyboard)
<rwinkey>   Right Windows key (MS Natural keyboard)
<appskey>   Applications key (MS Natural keyboard)
<scroll>   Scroll lock
<numlock>   Num lock
<numpad0> ... <numpad9>   Numpad 0 to 9 keys
<numpad+>   + key on numpad
<numpad*>   * key on numpad
<numpad->   - key on numpad
<numpad/>   / key on numpad
<numpad.>   . key on numpad
<printscreen>   Print Screen key
     
Commands    
<#>   Comment; all the text (including new line) after <#> is a comment; the new line character before <#> is ignored when macro is expanded
<date>   "Date" command allows to insert date in many of formats available. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<time>   "Time" command allows to insert time in many of formats available. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<td:d>(num)   The day of the current date; num parameter specifies the date shift (-1 shifts date one day back - yesterday, +1 shifts date one day ahead - tomorrow).
<td:m>(num)   The month of the current date
<td:dlz>(num)   The day (with leading zero) of the current date
<td:mlz>(num)   The month (with leading zero) of the current date
<td:y>(num)   The year of the current date
<ct:h24>(num)   The hour (24 hours based) of the current time; num parameter specifies time shift (in minutes)
<ct:h12>(num)   The hour (12 hours based) of the current time
<ct:m>(num)   The minute of the current time
<ct:h24lz>(num)   The hour (24 hours based; with leading zero) of the current time
<ct:h12lz>(num)   The hour (12 hours based; with leading zero) of the current time
<ct:mlz>(num)   The minute (with leading zero) of the current time
<ct:ampm>(num)   am/pm
<ct:AMPM>(num)   AM/PM
     
<w50>   Wait 50 ms
<w100>   Wait 100 ms
<w500>   Wait 500 ms
<wx>(num)   Wait num ms
<dnds>   Do not delete shortcut. The text shortcut typed by a user (for example ".ff") is deleted before macro is started. This macro causes the text shortcut typed is not deleted.
<pause> Pro Wait for user keyboard input. When a user presses 'Enter' key the macro continues.
     
<mm>(x,y)   Mouse move to x,y position.
<mlbd>   Mouse left button down.
<mlbu>   Mouse left button up.
<mrbd>   Mouse right button down.
<mrbu>   Mouse right button up.
<mmbd>   Mouse middle button down.
<mmbu>   Mouse middle button up.
     
<execapp>(...) Pro "Start application" command. Executes (starts, launches) application. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<run>(...) Pro "Run macro" command. This command allows to embed macros. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<beep>(...) Pro "Play sound" command. Plays sound specified by a wav file. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<actwin>(...) Pro "Activate window" command. Activates specified window or runs another macro if window is not found. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<winmove>(...) Pro "Move window" command. Moves specified window to desired position. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<winresize>(...) Pro "Resize window" command. Resizes specified window to desired size. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<msg>(...) Pro "Open message box" command. Shows message window. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<msgoff> Pro "Close message box" command.
<listbox>(...) Pro "List box" command. Shows list box window with selection of actions performed next. This command allows a user to control the macro execution and drive it in the way he wants. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<extmacro>(...) Pro "Run external macro" command. This command allows user to run a macro defined in external text file. This command can be used for handling very large texts. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<begloop>(...) Pro "Begin loop" command. Allows to repeat the part of the macro specified between <begloop> and <endloop> statements. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<endloop> Pro "End loop" command. Each <begloop> must be followed by associated <endloop>. See <begloop>.
<varset>(...) Pro "Set variable" command. The command allows to define variable that can be later used with <if> or <varout> commands. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<varout>(...) Pro "Print variable" command. The command prints the variable value. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<if>(...) Pro "If" command. The command allows to control macro flow. The <if> command compares (== or !=) variable value with a constant string. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<else>(...) Pro "Else" command. Specifies part of macro that will be performed if the <if> command does not succeed.
<endif>(...) Pro "Endif" command. Specifies the end of the part of macro conditioned by <if> command.
<fileopen>(...) Pro "File open " command opens specified file. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<filecopy>(...) Pro "File copy" command copies specified file(s). The command can be used to copy multiple files using wildcard characters (*?). Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<filemove>(...) Pro "File move" command moves specified file(s) to desired location. The command can be used to move multiple files using wildcard characters (*?). Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<filedel>(...) Pro "File delete" command deletes specified file(s). The command can be used to delete multiple files using wildcard characters (*?). Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<diropen>(...) Pro "Directory open" command opens Explorer showing specified directory. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<dircopy>(...) Pro "Directory copy" command copies specified directory (including subdirectories) to desired location. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<dirmove>(...) Pro "Directory move" command moves specified directory (including subdirectories) to desired location. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<dirdel>(...) Pro "Directory delete" command deletes specified directory. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<dircreate>(...) Pro "Directory create" command creates specified directory. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<wwwopen>(...) Pro "Open www page" command opens desired web page within the default web browser. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<email>(...) Pro "Send e-mail" command opens new mail form using default e-mail client. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<clpsave>(...) Pro "Save clipboard content to file" command allows to save clipboard content to a specified file. This file can be later used to restore clipboard content calling <clpload> command. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<clpload>(...) Pro "Load clipboard content from file" command allows to restore clipboard content from file previously created by <clpsave> command or by "Tools\Save clipboard to file" menu item. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.
<clppastetext>(...)   "Paste text" command allows to insert text using clipboard. Use "Insert", "Add" and "Edit" buttons to add and edit the command.

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Macro Recording

The PKB 2000 allows you to record the sequence of keyboard or/and mouse events. To start macro recording select "Tools/Start macro recording" from main PKB 2000 menu or "Start macro recording" from the tray icon menu. In the dialog shown specify all the macro recording options and press OK.

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License Agreement

Upon your acceptance of this Agreement, PKB Universal Solutions (Author) grants to
you a nonexclusive license to use the PKB 2000 software (Software).

1.Use of the Software.

You are granted a license to try the Software for 10 days. After this time,
the Software must be registered or removed from the system.

You may install the Software on a hard disk or other storage device;
install and use the Software on a file server for use on a network for
the purposes of (i) permanent installation onto hard disks or other
storage devices or (ii) use of the Software over such network; and make
backup copies of the Software.

2.Restrictions.

Unregistered use of the Software after the 10-day evaluation period is in violation
of international copyright laws.

You are not allowed to modify, translate, reverse engineer, decompile,
disassemble or otherwise attempt to discover the source code of the Software.

The number of the (licensed) Software instances running at the same time may
not exceed the number of licenses purchased.

You are not allowed to redistribute or provide to 3rd party already registered
versions of the Software as well as you may not publish the registration number(s)
that unlock the Software.

The Software can be distributed only as the package provided by the Author.
This package cannot be change in any way without written Author's permission.

3.No Warranty.

ALL WARRANTIES ARE DISCLAIMED, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED, IN THIS SOFTWARE. THE ENTIRE RISK OF THE USE OR
THE RESULT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE REMAINS WITH
THE USER.

Unpublished-rights reserved under international copyright laws.

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Support

You have elected to purchase a product for which there is no support but if there is a bug in PKB 2000 (other than the minor one wherein one has to sometimes enter the shortcut again a second time) support such can be aquired and if the bug presents a bad enough problem then you would also qualify for a new copy of PKB 2000 or a patch when said bug was fixed or said patch was developed. PKB Universal Solutions ( the software
development company that put PKB 2000 together and which owns PKB 2000) will at its sole discretion make the determination as to what is a bad problem / bug and what is not. However you can be sure that customer satisfation is a major concern at PKB Universal Solutions.

If there is a bug please send the information to tech@7777777.org And if you already qualify for tech support please send the question or concern to techplus@7777777.org. ( Those who have support should have received a code word. That code word must be in the subject field of the email message that you send.) For general questions that aren't related to technical support please send them to misc@7777777.org.  

If you want to add you're email address to a list of others that have this product and possibly contact them should you have a question or concern about this product please send you're email address to users@7777777.org. The subject should be 'pkb user' and nothing but you're email address should be in the body.

 

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