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.

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 Advanced Qt Programming. The book's examples includes the most up to date version of the C++/Qt version of the Alt_Key library. See also the Alt_Key Library documentation.

Java/SWT and Python (PyQt4) versions of the Alt_Key library which can be used for creating accelerators automatically at runtime are also available; contact us for details.

Alt_Key is licensed under the GNU General Public License v 3 open source license.

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:

  • Unpack the archive file, alt_key-XXX.tar.gz
  • cd alt_key-XXX # Change to the source directory
  • qmake # On some systems, e.g., Fedora, 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
 Alt_Key

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

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