Equivalent of Windows Search Deskbar Shortcuts in Windows 7

Question

On my previous Windows XP laptop, I made extensive use of the "Windows Search Deskbar" and specifically the shortcuts you could define in an ini file. Essentially, you could associate a path/URL/search string etc with a keyword. You could then type the keyword into the Windows Search Deskbar and it would execute the associated command.

By way of example, here are a few example shortcuts from my ini file...

[db]
chrome==chrome.exe
ping=cmd /k ping http://www.google.com
dict=chrome http://dictionary.cambridge.org/results.asp?searchword=$w&x=0&y=0
map=chrome http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=$w
wb=C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Workbench 5.2 CE\MySQLWorkbench.exe

Example usage (i.e. by typing keyword in Windows Search Deskbar) and effect...

• chrome superuser.com -> opened URL in Google Chrome

• ping -> pinged the specified URL from the command-line

• dict frustration -> launched dictionary site in Chrome showing definition of "frustration"

• map SW1A 0AA -> launched Google Maps in Chrome showing location of UK postcode

• wb -> launch MySQL Workbench application

These deskbar shortcuts I setup were a swift means of getting around my computer and launching websites efficiently. Is this facility available in Windows 7? If not, is there an equivalent (preferably without installing any third-party software)?

Answer 1

I believe AutoHotKey could solve this. You will want a keyboard shortcut to execute an InputBox and have a condition per shortcut you want. It's probably going to be as big of a pain in the butt to set up as simply going where you want each time, but that's your call to make.