Copy and Paste

I want to be able to use the F1 key to copy and the F2 key to paste information between different Windows programs
The reason for wanting to use the F keys is that this is a very repetitive function and we want the operator to be able to do this with their left hand from the keyboard while leaving the right hand free to navigate with the mouse

Not going to happen. The F1 key is hard set for the help system for both Windows and whatever program is open. F2 is hard set to Rename a selected file.

With the left hand hold down the Ctrl key and then the C key (no Caps, "c") for copy and Ctrl+v for paste. If they can't do or remember that key combo you need more competent operators.

Have you used Google ?

Assign macro or function to keys on your keyboard

That would work well if you were using a Microsoft keyboard but we have different brands of keyboards

bigshop said:

That would work well if you were using a Microsoft keyboard but we have different brands of keyboards

Every keyboard has the left ctrl on the leftmost edge, and really close are both C and V and unless users have some disabilities anyone should easily be able to press both together with the left hand.

Besides, Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V are universal shortcuts in every system, users are used to those keys and changing them will only confuse them. Not only the worldwide standards of copy-paste will cease to work, but also will disable another widely known standard, F1 for help. F2 has many different uses depending on the program and you may as well override that. I would not touch those keys at all, really.

If you still want to tamper on the user's keyboards, I think AutoHotKey may be able to do that with a proper script.

I find using the CTRL key and the c or v keys one-handed to be very awkward. If I were to do so repeatedly, it would actually slow me down and fatigue would quickly set in. An easier combination might be to use CTRL F1 and F2 as long as it didn't interfer with the use of the F keys without the CTRL key.

At the moment we use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to copy and paste
This is a function that is done all day long by our operators and I’m looking for a way to make it easier for them
Thinking a single button click within the reach of the left hand will make this easier
It doesn’t have to be F1 and F2, could also be F3 and F4
These operators don’t use any of the F keys right now so this seemed a logical way to go

very easy to do it for any keyboard:

Code:

AutoItSetOption ("TrayIconDebug", 1)

HotKeySet ("{F1}", "_copy")
HotKeySet ("{F2}", "_paste")

While 1
    Sleep(1000)
WEnd

Func _copy()
    Send("^c")
EndFunc

Func _paste()
    Send("^v")
EndFunc

See the bottom of this post...
SysTray Icons of some programs don't re-appear after Explorer restart
...for info on the free software [AutoIt3] needed to make the code above work.