Possible to define shortcuts for Skype?

English Applications
1

Skype for Linux is pretty annoying application, it lacks lots of the good stuff from Windows while not really fitting in my Linux environment either. Best example are the (lack of) shortcuts, it is essentially the only application where I always have to go on a mouse clicking spree in order to get things done i.e. contact people, while all the other applications kindly and quickly respond to my little keyboard shortcut invitations … >:(

Long story short: Is there a way to, somehow, define shortcuts for Skype related actions (e.g. open the application in the foreground; contact people; set / change one’s online presence)? Of course I’m aware that Skype itself doesn’t offer anything along those lines, but perhaps there’s another way?

(Of course in an ideal universe, there would be a great application that worked just like Skype, that everyone would be using, and that was FOSS/Linux based instead, but oh well … ) :sarcastic:

2

> it lacks lots of the good stuff from Windows

no one here controls the code for Skype…therefore, best place to
impact it is not to post here, but kindly to the skype developers…

similarly, the best place to ask questions about Skype is also not
here…but i’ll do what i can:

> Long story short: Is there a way to, somehow, define shortcuts for
> Skype related actions (e.g. open the application in the foreground;

mine always opens in the foreground, with focus…
i can’t imagine why yours would not…

you can make a keyboard shortcut to achieve that…here, i figure out
the path for you:

Personal Settings > Configure Desktop > Regional & Accessibility >
Keyboard Shortcuts > Command Shortcuts > Internet > More Programs >
Skype > and set the shortcut you wish to launch Skype…[careful to not
assign an already used shortcut]

> contact people; set / change one’s online presence)? Of course I’m aware
> that Skype itself doesn’t offer anything along those lines, but perhaps
> there’s another way?

reading the info provided in the doc may give you something useful…

from the automatically installed along with Skype documentation in
/usr/share/doc/packages/skype/README i find

HOTKEYS

Main Window:
Ctrl+E Switch between Events History and Contact List
Ctrl+U Show/Hide Offline Contacts
Ctrl+W Hide Main Skype Window
Ctrl+Q Quit Skype

Chat Window:
Ctrl+F Find/Search this Chat
F3/Shift-F3 Find Next/Previous Match (use after Ctrl+F)
Ctrl+W Close/Hide Chat Window

Quickfilter:
F6 Jump to Quickfilter
Escape Clear Quickfilter

and, in the same file i find an address where you CAN impact the Skype
community: http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showforum=18

and even file a bug (though i don’t personally think not having a hot
key to call an individual is a bug):
https://developer.skype.com/jira/browse/SCL

–
goldie

3

Thanks for the post, goldie. Apparently, I didn’t make my question clear and/or specific enough since you got the wrong end of the story, so let me rephrase it:

Is there a way in KDE to set up / define (global) shortcuts for carrying out tasks in applications that don’t themselves offer the functionality (using Skype as an example)?

Being nothing more than a humble bits & bytes amateur, there might for instance be some kind of ‘task automization’ routine / functionality I’m not aware of. I am aware of the regular built-in shortcuts, though, thank you very much. :sarcastic:

4

homoludens1000 wrote:
> Thanks for the post, goldie. Apparently, I didn’t make my question clear
> and/or specific enough since you got the wrong end of the story, so let
> me rephrase it:
>
> Is there a way in KDE to set up / define (global) shortcuts for
> carrying out tasks in applications that don’t themselves offer the
> functionality (using Skype as an example)?
>
> Being nothing more than a humble bits & bytes amateur, there might for
> instance be some kind of ‘task automization’ routine / functionality I’m
> not aware of. I am aware of the regular built-in shortcuts, though,
> thank you very much. :sarcastic:
>
>
unfortunately, i think what you are asking for is impossible,
today…but, read on…i mean, if you want a “global” short cut that
means, for example:

-launch skype in the foreground
-dial George’s number
-mark me online by away

to do that skype would have to add some command line switches so
that you could stuff into a little batch file something like this:

skype --where:top_center --call:George --status:away

THEN you could name that little batch file “skypeGeorge” and assign it
a keyboard short cut (say) Shift+Ctrl+G…

see, Linux and KDE supports your want, but Skype does not…and, no
there is no way i know of to just whip up a way out of thin air today
(keep reading)…

i can tell you that Windows 3.1 had a batch file builder program
that allowed you to “record” mouse movements and click events, and
then play them back…so, you could like turn on the ‘recorder’ move
the mouse over the Skype icon, left click it, move the mouse over the
status icon, select on line and then move the mouse over George’s
name, double click it…click to stop the recorder and give that
routine a name (like SkypeGeorge)…then you could play it again Sam…

as far as i know, none of Linux, Mac, or Windows has anything like
that today…

however, my idea is for you to make it a personal project to find a
copy of Win3.1, take a good look at the Recorder (i think it was
called) and start teaching yourself to program…

i am NOT kidding…

–
goldie
Give a hacker a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach need fulfillment, and you feed him for a lifetime.

5

thanks for the post, goldie. interesting what you said about win 3.1. i’ve heard of something called ‘automization software’, never used it, but sounds similar. hmmm, so there’s nothing like that under linux, too bad :frowning:

right … i think for the time being i’ll try to get along without shortcuts. bit of clicking seems still less time consuming than me trying to learn programming … :wink:

cheers

6

homoludens1000 wrote:
> thanks for the post, goldie. interesting what you said about win 3.1.
> i’ve heard of something called ‘automization software’, never used it,
> but sounds similar. hmmm, so there’s nothing like that under linux, too
> bad :frowning:

In Java, there is a Robot class that allows you to control/simulate clicking
and typing.
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/java/awt/Robot.html

I hope it helps.

-G-

7

-G-,

thanks, that’s interesting stuff!

homoludens