Outlook Keyboard Key - Change ?

[tom982]

Yes it does, just not from Jerome's shortcut key.

You are right here. I wasn't thinking, those shorcut keys do only open the e-mail client so my statement would be invalid. But using option 2 should work with both the key and e-mail links and with links there will be no need to copy the address.

You're also right, we just meant different things

I not sure if your talking about using Thunderbird or just the steps for using your exe. I still think using a client that can setup Hotmail and GMail accounts and set it as the default for e-mails would be the best idea if it launches using his key but that is my opinion.

EDIT: There's the added benefit I forgot you don't need to browse to two pages, just have to put in both passwords to check mail or one if you only want to check one.

The steps for your exe is just a precaution. If the shortcut keys are using his default programs and your replacing Outlook.exe then making sure Outlook is still the default e-mail program can't hurt. The main thing is that Jerome makes sure a original Outlook.exe file exist where he places yours.

Yeah, good idea. I hadn't considered that. I don't really know much C#, but I wanted to have a go at making this little console application as a little practise, I don't mind if it gets used or not. I think it would be better if he used a mail client - of which I would also recommend Thunderbird.

I'm not sure as to why other than what I said above. As for an Outlook launcher built into the program, well theres no program/software and I would think it's unlikely it's hard coded in the keyboard to only work with Outlook, but maybe your right.

With Outlook set as my Default client and using your exe it works for me when I click a e-mail address in Firefox or change Setpoint to use it for my key or launch it from the start menu. His couldn't be hard coded, not all home users use Outlook. This would be a big mistake on Logitech's behalf.

So if he trys to click a e-mail address and your exe fails to launch we know somethings wrong with either the location, the default programs or it hard coded some way. I tested it with Firefox and IE9. He will need the client set correctly in the browsers settings though.

Sorry, I must be missing something here (I've never had to deal with this before as I don't have these buttons on my keyboard), but isn't Setpoint a program? I thought that perhaps a launcher could come bundled with that.

No way, you politely address the issues you had with my post and pointed out my mistakes.

Thanks, I'm glad you said that It's easy to interpret things the wrong way when it's just text on a screen.

Well I hope that all makes sense, but you will need to refer to the above post for the original quotes though.
I've also edited my last post to note the invalid statement and the Option 1 line.

It all made perfect sense, thanks for furthering my understanding of it all!

 

[Duzzy]

Sorry, I must be missing something here (I've never had to deal with this before as I don't have these buttons on my keyboard), but isn't Setpoint a program? I thought that perhaps a launcher could come bundled with that.

Setpoint is a program and the Default Programs do have no affect on it, but Jerome's keyboard does not use it going by Logitech's website or any other program other than a simple connection utility in case of connection loss.

Two quote's from Logitech's website,

The MK320 desktop does not require Logitech’s SetPoint software.

This product does not ship with software. It uses the native USB drivers already present in your operating system.

The first quote does say "not required" but it doesn't say it won't work with it.
Alpha did post a link to the Setpoint software in Post #29 but Jerome has not mentioned if he has tried it or not and I'm not sure which version he would be best trying.

EDIT: Changing Button Functions on Mk320? - Logitech Forums

You are not able to change the functions on the F-Keys as the keyboard does not have SetPoint support.

Well I guess that rules out Setpoint as an option.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Therefore the only option is to program it, I told you, I saved myself the explaining as the end result turned out what I expected.

 

[Duzzy]

Therefore the only option is to program it, I told you, I saved myself the explaining as the end result turned out what I expected.

Program what?
Explaining what? If you don't explian things the best you can then we can't help you to our best.

There's two options, use a e-mail client if it works or use Tom's exe. Make a choice and let us know what you have tried to get it to work.

For example if you choose Tom's exe have you tried this

If you want to go with Tom's exe the first thing I would try is open Default Progams from the Control Panel then,
Select "Set your default programs".
Select Outlook.
Click "Set this program as default".

The place you copy the Tom's exe to should require you to overwrite the original Outlook.exe (I would rename it to Outlook.exe.bak) so check that it's the right location. If your using Office 2010 64bit it will be in
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\OUTLOOK.exe"
32bit in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\OUTLOOK.exe".

If the keyboard button still does not launch it try clicking a e-mail address in your web browser and let us know what happens.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I don't use outlook or have it installed.

 

[Duzzy]

I have a Logitech keyboard that has a email button on it, many of you are probably aware of these keyboards. The key is pre-programmed for Outlook only, is there any way to change it, so it works with gMail or Hotmail ?

Sorry the OP quoted above suggested you did have Outlook.
What told you it was pre-programmed for Outlook only?

Open Control Panel -> Default Programs, click "Associate a file type or .....", scroll to the bottom and look for the MAILTO protocol.

What is associated with the MAILTO protocol?
Did you manually set this at any time?

 

[alphanumeric]

Sorry, I must be missing something here (I've never had to deal with this before as I don't have these buttons on my keyboard), but isn't Setpoint a program? I thought that perhaps a launcher could come bundled with that.

Yes, Setpoint is a program, it came bundled with my Logitech keyboard. My Logitech keyboard has some custom keys for launching Word, Excel, Power Point, and some Programmable Hot Keys. They are special function keys like what you might find on a laptop. They don't work without the Setpoint software. My guess is the MK320 keyboard doesn't have them and thus doesn't need Setpoint. The Media keys like Volume up and down, pause, play etc will work with or without the Setpoint software. Without Setpoint they are locked into what ever windows assigns them. With Setpoint I can change what some of them do. The only way to know if Setpoint will work with the MK320 is to install it and see if the keyboard shows up under the keyboard tab when you run it. I have several different models of Logitech keyboards, Mice and a Trackball and run the latest version for all of them. If it doesn't work just uninstall it and try something else. Before Setpoint Logitech used iTouch for Keyboards and Mouseware for mice.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I have a Logitech keyboard that has a email button on it, many of you are probably aware of these keyboards. The key is pre-programmed for Outlook only, is there any way to change it, so it works with gMail or Hotmail ?

Sorry the OP quoted above suggested you did have Outlook.
What told you it was pre-programmed for Outlook only?

Open Control Panel -> Default Programs, click "Associate a file type or .....", scroll to the bottom and look for the MAILTO protocol.

What is associated with the MAILTO protocol?
Did you manually set this at any time?

The MailTo protocol is associated with Thunderbird and I can only change it to Chrome, odd why only that program, that is the only option given to me.

 

[Duzzy]

The MailTo protocol is associated with Thunderbird and I can only change it to Chrome, odd why only that program, that is the only option given to me.

I would assume Thunderbird is the only e-mail client you have installed or the only one that registers itself properly as a e-mail client.

Does Thunderbird open when you press the e-mail key on your keyboard?

 

[alphanumeric]

Have a look in Control Panel > Default Programs > Set your default programs. I don't know if these settings affect the keyboard buttons but you could play around with the settings to see. I'd keep track of what they were before you change them so you can go back if need be. I don't have any alternative browsers or e-mail clients installed so I may not see options you do. I'd go with the custom section. If you already tried this and I missed it, then just ignore it.

 

[Duzzy]

If the key doesn't open Thunderbird open Control Panel > Default Programs > Set your default programs, click Thunderbird in the list, click "Choose defaults for this program" and make sure both MAILTO and Send Mail are checked, if not check them and click save then try your key again.

This is basically what Alpha said above.

You could just click "Set this program as default" for Thunderbird as it only has these two options and two for it's own file types. You won't have to do anything if it says "This program has all of it defaults".

Let us know if if your key opens it when it is the default for both protocols.

And do you have any other e-mail clients installed you wish to use at any time?

If Thunderbird opens with the key are you happy enough to setup your GMail and Hotmail accounts in it and use that as your solution?

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I can't use the key, I don't have outlook or Thunderbird, installed.

 

[alphanumeric]

Thinking about this again, I don't think going into Default Programs is going to work. Web Mail clients aren't an installed program so they likely won't show up like Outlook does.

JerometheGiraff, did you try installing the Logitech Setpoint software?

 

[JerometheGiraff]

The Sitepoint software is a failure, won't work on my keyboard. It doesn't seem that I can change the default keyboard keys configuration.

 

[alphanumeric]

OK, thats a shame, thats a newer Logitech keyboard too. Maybe they are going to faze out Setpoint or something. I'm not sure who to blame for your problem. I'm leaning towards Microsoft though. I do believe its the OS that determines what those keys do and there just isn't an easy way to change it without a third party app. Just about every keyboard out there has those keys on them and they work with the basic Windows drivers. What you are trying to do is made even harder because in essence you are trying to make it open a web page and windows wants to tie it to an actual program. I'm sure there is a reg key for that somewhere but I have no idea where it is. I'm sorry to say that i don't have any other suggestions at this time.

 

[Duzzy]

I can't use the key, I don't have outlook or Thunderbird, installed.

The MailTo protocol is associated with Thunderbird and I can only change it to Chrome, odd why only that program, that is the only option given to me.

Sorry again. I thought because it shows up under the MAILTO protocol you must have it installed.

You could try installing Thunderbird and if your key opens it then that would be the easiest answer.

There is a reg hack I tested that works with Tom's exe when you click a e-mail address but I don't know if it'll work with you keyboard and because you don't have Thunderbird installed I don't if it'll work for you.

 

[Duzzy]

Did you give up on this or install Thunderbird?

 

[JerometheGiraff]

No, cause I use gMail.

 

[Duzzy]

I guessing you mean no you didn't install Thunderbird but have you givin up?
I did say previously that Thunderbird can use GMail accounts.

Because Thunderbird shows under the MAILTO protocol in Default Programs you could also try renaming Tom's exe to Thunderbird.exe and placing it in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\Thunderbird.exe".

I don't think this will work though as Thunderbird is not installed so you won't have all the required registry entries but it'll only take a couple of minutes to try it. Try clicking an e-mail address from your web browser first.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I didn't install Thunderbird, and have given up, because I use gMail. I know that I can use Thunderbird with gMail, I don't want to install any software for a email client. I'm going close this issue as this keyboard short-cut keys cannot be modified, specifically the one key, the rest I have no complaints with.