The quickest way ever to launch any application or website

This tip is part of an automation series I’m running to showcase 24 of my most useful computer automation tips.

In the first post of this series, I’ve talked about how you can find and access any file in a split second using Google Desktop. While Google Desktop can also be used as an application launcher, it doesn’t do a very good job at that.

If you’re unfamiliar with what an application launcher is, here is a short description:

Application Launcher is a fancy term for a simple tool - a piece of software that stays in the background and, when you type a given key combination, gets up and helps you find the right application, file or action you want to execute. Instead of moving your mouse around, aiming and clicking at things, you just type a shortcut (usually Ctrl+Space), start typing the name of the program you want to execute and hit Enter. Simple and fast, and takes a tenth of the time you’d have needed to search the shortcut with your mouse.

Now if you’re wondering whether the title of this post is somewhat exaggerated, then let me break it down for you:

I did my homework: I’ve surveyed most of the popular Windows application launchers, including my all-time favorite one, ENSO. It turns out that the application launcher I’m presenting today requires by the far the least amount of keystrokes to do the job. Why? Simply because it doesn’t require you to type any shortcut (like the Ctrl+Space mentioned above) before you start typing the name of the application you want to launch. So let’s see how that’s possible.

Automation tip #2: Quickly launch your favorite applications and websites using Direct Access
Level: Intermediate
Approximate time saving: 8+ seconds per application or website
Tools required: Direct Access

Setup

1. Download and install Direct Access (works on Windows XP and Vista, requires .NET Framework 2.0)
2. The default application screen will look something like this:
   
3. For this example, I’m going to show you how to launch Internet Explorer. Assuming you’re running Windows Vista (this also works on XP), find Internet Explorer shortcut in the Start Menu. Right click on the shortcut and select: Add a New Abbreviation to Direct Access.
   
4. You will now get the Add New Command screen. Direct Access has already filled some of the details for you and all you have to do is type an abbreviation that sounds natural to you for the application you want to launch (in this case, Internet Explorer). I’ve chosen simply ‘ie‘. Click Save when done.

Usage

1. Once you’ve set up your abbreviation for any applicaiton you commonly use, you can type that abbreviation from anywhere, anytime (literally speaking!) to launch the application.Suppose you’re working on a Word document, and you had to Google something, the fastest way now to launch Internet Explorer is to simply type ‘ie’ in your Word document or wherever you are. Here is what you will get:
   
2. That red square is a little unobtrusive hint that says if you meant to launch Internet Explorer, then would you please just hit the Shift key. When you do that, Direct Access will remove the ‘ie’ abbreviation you typed and .. wait for it ..launch Internet Explorer :)

Tips

1. If you happen to choose one freakishly odd abbreviation that you wouldn’t normally type anywhere, you can launch your application even faster by telling Direct Access to ignore the confirmation pop up (that red square). To do that, simply uncheck Confirm in the Add New Command dialog (see the screen shot above). Now anytime you type that abbreviation, your application will automatically launch without bothering you to confirm with the Shift key (which by the way is configurable).
2. To add a command to launch your favorite website, copy the website address from the location bar in your browser and add it to Direct Access by clicking New Command > Open Website on the toolbar:
   
   Paste the address of the website in the address field and type any abbreviation you would like to use for this website:
   
   Click Save. That’s all. Now you can use type the word ‘face‘, as in the example above, anywhere and anytime followed by Shift to access Facebook.
3. By now, you’ve probably seen something new in your desktop: an orange ball setting on the bottom right:
   
   Play with this ball for a while. Try right clicking on it and see what options you get (hint: anything you drag to this magic ball can be magically turned into a wicked command!)

Side Notes

1. The power of Direct Access doesn’t stop here. As a matter of fact, I’ll be using it to demonstrate another automation tip in the coming days. So stay tuned!
2. There’s a hefty price tag on Direct Access: $40. Yeah I know, too much! But hey, I’ve found this piece of software so useful that it made sense to invest that amount of money in something that would save me cumulatively hours of clicking labor. Incidentally, Direct Access goes as far as calculating really how much time it has saved you so far!