Alt_Key

Alt_Key is an application and a library used to instantly show where keyboard accelerators should go in menu option texts and dialog labels. It is very fast because it uses the Kuhn-Munkres algorithm, easily outperforming all the naive algorithms.

This tool is no longer being developed or maintained.

The program makes it straightforward for developers to find the right characters to use as accelerators for menu option texts and for dialog labels. This helps make GUI programs more usable by catering for users who can't use the mouse and for fast typists who don't want to use the mouse.

It is also possible to #include the C++ module and have accelerators created automatically at runtime—for example, at the end of each form's constructor: this is what the Alt_Key program itself does. For further examples of use see the Advanced Qt Programming book and its accompanying examples. See also the Alt_Key Library documentation.

Alt_Key is licensed under the GNU General Public License v 3 open source license. The C++/Qt 4 version can be downloaded from here: alt_key-2.2.6.tar.gz (43K; SHA1: 719bce30feb98a4bf103f83008f049e88f5aab21). (Contact us if you are interested in Python or Java SWT versions.)

To build Alt_Key you will need a modern C++ compiler and the Qt 4 libraries (at least Qt 4.4; 4.6 or later recommended).

Installation is easy:

tar xvfz alt_key-XXX.tar.gz # Unpack the archive file, alt_key-XXX.tar.gz
cd alt_key-XXX # Change to the source directory
lrelease alt_key.pro # On some systems, run lrelease-qt4
qmake # On some systems, run qmake-qt4
make # Build the program
Windows users might like to add alt_key.exe to the Start menu or add a shortcut to it on the desktop
Unix users might like to copy or soft link the alt_key executable to a directory in the PATH
The CHANGES file lists the changes for each version

Image alt_key_M1.png Image alt_key_M2.png

If you like Alt_Key, you might like to buy one of my books. I also provide training in Python, PySide, and PyQt.

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