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Tips & tricks

Hints and tips for getting the most out of Executor.

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Note: Check out the videos section, the videos contain some of the same tips & tricks as listed here. Also these tips assume you are running the latest version of Executor. This page is updated periodically.

General

  • Executor has an old presentation page, it can actually be quite inspiring and informative. Product and marketing would probably find it "too wordy" check it out here!
  • Press Ctrl+Space to open the Input Assist feature. Check out the videos and docs for more info on the Input Assist feature.
  • Executor ships with handy extra keywords not installed by default. Go to Keywords editor (Ctrl+K), right-click the list -> "Import keywords from file". Look for windowkeywords.exc and extras.exc in the Executor program folder. You can also type imports to browse these and more online.
  • If input isn't valid, pressing Enter defaults to launching the first list item. Change this in Settings -> Misc to "do nothing" or "open text in browser".
  • Annoyed by autocomplete suggestions while editing mid-input? Enable "Only autocomplete when cursor is at end of text, or at start of suggestion" in Settings -> Input, typing & autocompletion.
  • If using suggestions (short form detection), the "Only list suggestions in list" option prevents them from appearing directly in the input field, which can be useful with "Contains text" search and launching the first list item via Enter.
  • Consider enabling "Switch 'tab' behavior" (Settings -> Input, typing & autocompletion) if using the list view. Tab will then move to the next parameter (e.g., type g for google, then Tab to enter search query). Ctrl+Tab will then cycle suggestions.
  • Want to spell check your input? Press Ctrl+Enter or F10 to expand input, here you can enable spell checking by pressing F7 or using the right-click context-menu.
  • Assign hotkeys to frequently used keywords for even faster access via the Keyword editor.
  • For some skin types (scale, small, mini) you can resize both the input window (width) and the list (width, height) by dragging the borders.
  • Type time to get the current time, date, and week number.
  • Type "imports" to browse all official imports. If you don't have the "imports" keyword you can imported it from -i executor.dk/default.exc
  • If your media player supports global hotkeys, use keywords like play, stop, next, previous, mute, volup, voldown, setvolume, media (opens player). Enable "Global Hotkeys" in your player's options if needed.
  • Import windowkeywords.exc (via Keyword editor) to get commands for centering, resizing, maximizing, etc., the active window. See docs for details.
  • Going AFK for ~30 mins? Type ?monitor to put your monitor(s) into standby (move mouse/press key to wake).
  • Need to lock your computer? Type ?lock.
  • Need to put your computer to sleep? Use ?standby, ?shutdown, or ?hibernate.
  • Quick math? Start input with # (e.g., #12*500/5). See docs for calculator specs.
  • Organize keywords using tags (assign in Keyword editor). Type tag name to list its keywords. Use tags keyword to see all tags.
  • Mute/unmute system sound by typing mute.
  • Accidently hit "Win" key while gaming? look into gaming1,gaming2 and gaming3 keywords from import file "extras.exc.
  • List running applications with apps. Select an app to focus it. Right-click list items for options (close, kill, center). Use Del key to try closing, Shift+Del to kill (use with caution).
  • Access a more extensive recent documents list than the Start Menu by typing recent.
  • Lost text copied earlier? Type clipboard to list text copied since Executor started. Right-click items for options.
  • Type something and press Ctrl+R for a wildcard search (*searchtext*) across keywords, history, scanned items, etc. Example: type .doc then Ctrl+R to find launched/indexed Word documents.
  • Alternatively, enable wildcard search always via Settings -> List -> Search type -> "Contains text".
  • Took a screenshot (PrtScn)? Type ?saveclipboard to save it directly to a file without opening an image editor.
  • Window lost off-screen? Type apps, right-click the lost window in the list, select "Center".
  • Delete specific history items: highlight in list, press Del. Delete current input from history: press Shift+Del in input field.
  • Executor detects URLs without www or http:// prefixes (e.g., maps.google.com).
  • Run specific keywords/commands on Executor startup via Settings -> Misc -> "Startup these keywords...".
  • Explore default keywords (try typing ?). Check docs for commands (e.g., -s opens settings, -a mykeyword adds "mykeyword"). Right-click Executor for context menu shortcuts (Ctrl+K=Keywords, Ctrl+S=Settings).
  • Keywords can be set to run hidden (option in Keyword editor's "Open as" dropdown).
  • Need a 15-minute reminder? Type timer 15. See docs for full timer syntax.
  • Track break times? Use stopwatch (no params = start/show time; params = start, stop).
  • Set an alarm for 11 AM? Type alarm 11am Time for a snack!. For 11 PM (23:00)? alarm 11pm or alarm 23:00. See docs for full alarm syntax.
  • Just need a reminder with timing? use the reminder keyword (with reminder text as parameter), a dot will show to remind you.
  • You can also use the pin keyword to pin an image as a reminder.
  • Pressing Tab (or Ctrl+Tab if behavior switched) on an indexed item in the input field expands it to its full file path. For Control Panel items, it expands in the list.
  • Copy text from a webpage, run keyword textclean, then paste to get plain text without formatting. See $TEXTCLEANPASTE$ below for hotkey version.
  • Paste the *previous* clipboard item: Create keyword "pasteprevious", command $PASTE2$, assign hotkey (e.g., Ctrl+Alt+V). $PASTE3$, $PASTE4$ also available.
  • Option to have the global hotkey also hide Executor if pressed while focused: Settings -> General -> "Hotkey also hides when focus".
  • Force index refresh: use keyword refreshindex.
  • Copy full path of current item to clipboard: press F8 or right-click -> "Copy full path of input".
  • Expand current item (folders, etc.) in list: press Ctrl+E.
  • Open folder containing current item: press Ctrl+D.
  • Auto-import keywords from a URL on startup for sharing: Settings -> Misc -> "Auto import keywords...". See "Adding Keywords" docs for details.
  • Hide sensitive parameters from history/input: Uncheck "Allow add to history" in keyword properties and add $CLR$ to the keyword's Command field (clears input after launch).
  • Trouble starting Executor? Try command line parameter -safemode.
  • You can trigger global hotkeys of other programs by using the $KEYS$ command
  • Import more keywords from extras.exc (in Executor program folder).
  • Exclude paths/files/apps from history/index/list via Settings -> Misc -> "Exclude list".
  • Is some keyword being autocompleted that you never use before one that you frequently use? Rearrange the order of the keywords in the keyword editor, or consider removing the unused keyword.
  • Tweak automatic indexing targets via hidden setting indexextraitems (see hidden settings docs).
  • Manipulate mouse position/clicks via keywords using commands like $GETMOUSEPOS$, $SETMOUSEPOS$, $MOUSECLICK$ (see main docs).
  • Opening a website or program that does not support sending parameters like a search query, making you unable to use $P$ or $U$? Look into the $PS$ and $PSE$ command. For example make a keyword called windowssearch with the keyword.command = $SEARCH$$PS$. Now typing windowssearch bluetooth will open windows search and search for bluetooth. Another example keyword.command = https://gemini.google.com$PSE$. $PSE$ unlike $PE$ will also sent a "enter" after the text. It's also possible to set define a delay yourself in milliseconds, example $PSE1000$ default is 750ms.
  • If you want emoji support in Expand Input you need to select the font "Segoe UI Emoji" (Settings > Visuals/skin > Font button), they will still be monotone though as Windows is still a bit of a nightmare with colored emojis in native input controls.

List

  • Enable icon caching (Settings -> Indexing & cache -> "Build cache...") for faster list performance (uses more RAM).
  • Right-click list items for Windows context menu, or press F9.
  • Quick Launch enabled, but want to select without launching? Highlight item, press Left/Right arrow, or Ctrl+Enter / Alt+Enter.
  • Customize list appearance (row size, font) via Settings -> List -> "Run list appearance wizard".
  • Mimic other launchers (list only appears with results)? Enable "Hide list when input is empty" and "Auto size to fit number of items" in Settings -> List.
  • You can delete list items by highlighting it and pressing the delete key.
  • If you have a large list because you also use the list window for the internal browser, you can make it more fast by limiting the number of items in Settings and "List". There you can modify "maximum number of items", and NOT the "maximum visible items at a time" because that will reduce the list window height (to fit that number of items), you can leave that at a higher value, so the list will remain the same height.

Keyword editor

  • You can make the keyword editor full screen or resize it to see more information.
  • In the keyword properties input fields you can press ctrl+space (or right-click) for suggestions. Type the following and then press ctrl+space examples:
    • Example: @letsgo will show all keywords starting with "letsgo" or "letsgo" as part of the keyword description or tags.
    • Example: $ will list all commands.
    • Example: $b will list all commands starting with "$b".
    • Example: $browser will list all comands starting with "$browser" or has "browser" as part of it's description.
    • Example: % will list all Windows variables.
    • Example: %win will list Windows variables starting with "%win" or has "win" as part of it's description.
    • Example: || will list all keywords, commands and Windows variables" (assuming you are using the default command separator ||).
    • Example: ||browser will show all keywords, commands and Windows variables starting with "browser" or "browser" as part of description.
  • Type -k to open editor. Type -k keywordname to open that specific keyword (e.g., -k google).
  • Press Ctrl+O or CTRL+K with a keyword in the input field to open it in the editor.
  • Have something in the input field that you want to make into a keyword? Press CTRL+ALT+K and it will open the keyword editor with the current input as default command (if Executor can resolve the current input). You can also right click Executor instead of pressing the hotkey and select "Add keyword..."
  • Scan for keywords pointing to non-existent files: right-click list in Keyword editor -> "Scan for dead keywords".
  • Enable auto-sorting of keywords alphabetically via Settings -> Misc. (Note: disables manual sorting for suggestion priority).
  • Find it annoying to move keywords? Use "Cut" and "Paste" to move (from right-click menu). You can also multi-select keywords when doing this.

Starting multiple keywords/urls/files/programs etc. with one keyword or text input

  • Use || to separate items in the input field (e.g., notepad||calc).
  • Use || in a keyword's Command field to launch multiple things.
  • Pass parameters to multiple commands: Keyword "supersearch", Command google $P$||wiki $P$. Input supersearch term searches both. Consider $W$ for delays between web launches.
  • Triggering is not nested (keyword A -> keyword B is okay; keyword A -> keyword B -> keyword C is not).
  • Autocomplete works on the part after the last ||.
  • Customize the separator via hidden setting separator.

Power users

  • Use $CE$ (Clipboard Extended) in a hotkey keyword (e.g., name "textlaunch", command $CE$, hotkey Win+\). Select text anywhere, press hotkey: opens URL/path if detected, otherwise searches default keyword (fastsearch in INI, defaults to google) with the text.
  • Use $C$ (Clipboard content) in parameters. Example keyword "bcompare", command firefox $C$ || ie $C$ (requires firefox and ie keywords). Copy URL, trigger keyword via hotkey to open URL in both browsers.
  • Hotkey to paste plain text: Keyword "strippaste", command $TEXTCLEANPASTE$, hotkey Ctrl+Alt+V (or similar).
  • Make a keyword that use the command $CI$ and assign it a hotkey, with this you can select some text or a file/folder, press the hotkey and it will be send directly to Executors input field (and show Executor).
  • You can dismiss internal browser by double clicking in Executor's input window.
  • You can run Executor input from command line, connecting it to other tools. See command line parameters here
  • Check out the cheatsheet here.
  • Explore hidden settings here.
  • Edit executor.ini directly: type -edit (closes Executor first).
  • Use the close keyword (import windowkeywords.exc) frequently to close the last focused window.
  • Check community for scripting tips and integrations.
  • Send predefined text to active window using $SENDTEXT$ (see main docs).
  • Explore integration options
  • Quickly open Executor's data folder: Keyword "datafolder", command $DATAFOLDER$.
  • Master clipboard history: Enable saving (Settings -> Misc), use $PASTE1..4$, $CLEARCLIPBOARD$, $CLIPBOARDTONOTES$, $ALLCLIPBOARDTONOTES$.
  • Use built-in Notes (-n / keyword notes). Sync via cloud using custom location (Settings -> Notes). Use $COPYTONOTES$.
  • Review all $ commands in the main documentation.
  • Review all settings descriptions here.
  • Want to launch something specific in Windows Setting in Windows 10+, use for example keyword command ms-settings:bluetooth see full list here.
  • Maybe you are part of the "true power users don't use indexing!" club. In this case the start menu importer can help you build your own index by typing "-is". A compromise is to use auto indexing, and adjust settings to not do any auto refreshing, and only trigger the index update yourself when needed by using the refreshindex keyword.

Inspiration for making keywords

Think of Executor having a set of building blocks (some supporting parameters, arguments, prompts and queries), that you can mix up and launch with one or more commands and hotkeys. These building blocks are: applications, websites/webservices, files, folders and commands. The following is a list of words to spark some inspiration for building keywords that can speed up your workflow.

Work and projects
Work related apps, code editors, AI tools/services, UI/UX related apps/services, project management, source control, calendar, mail, messaging/chat, cloud management, scrum, team space, whiteboards/canvas, dashboards, analytics, test client, planning, research, backlog, build tools, ci/cd, localization tools, storage/file manager, system/project files and folders, virualmachines/containers VPN, screen capture, human resources, backup

Daily
Mail, calendar, search, AI prompting and more, social media, todos/planning, finance, traffic, research, photos, messaging/chat, browsing work or private, news, weather, fitness/health, music/audio/podcasts, entertainment, sports, travel/maps, routines (morning, work, home, evening, research, gaming etc.), leisure, food/drink, smart home/automation, study, communities, VPN

Gaming
Games, game hubs, community clients/services, streaming/recording/hud tools, online services, gaming software for hardware

Randomly mentioning apps and services to jog your mind for "building blocks":
vscode, google products (mail, calendar, drive, keep, docs, music etc.), slack, atlassian/jira, microsoft/teams, miro, figma, canva, trello, asana, monday, airtable, confluence, sharepoint, adobe products, google studio AI, firebase studio, gemini, chatgpt, claude code, google-antigravity, cursor, windsurf, copilot, midjourney, aws, google cloud, azure, github, bitbucket, docker, obsidian, notion, postman, fiddler, wireshark, charles, grafana, kibana, watkins, datadog, n8n, express vpn, virtualbox, wmware, sourcetree, chrome, tor, firefox, thunderbird, notepad++, youtube(music), sonos, spotify, steam, battlenet, obs, twitch, discord, stream deck, xbox, vlc, nvidia, logitech, razer, zoom, outlook, tiktok, dropbox, facebook, whatsapp, instagram, stackoverflow, visual studio, android studio, jetbrains products, translate, reddit, photos, maps, weather, news, ifttt, zapier, home-assistant, smartthings, davinci-resolve, affinity, gimp, photopea, photoshop, pdfgear, lokalize, crowdin, analytics, mixpanel, sentry.io, bitrise.io, teamcity, zendesk, bamboohr, powertoys, pageant, putty, (neo)vim, powershell, cmd, filezilla, file explorer, onecommander, duckduckgo, ifttt, zapier, picpick, sharex, plex, audacity, studio one, protools, cubase, live, flstudio, strava, garmin

Optimization

  • Using indexing? Enable "Build index cache (for quick start)" for faster startup (Settings -> Indexing & cache). Avoid if using portably across different PCs.
  • Enable icon caching ("Build cache...") for faster list display (uses more RAM) (Settings -> Indexing & cache).
  • Per default indexing is set to "On startup and on focus". This means Executor will reindex programs etc. in the background every time the Executor window has focus. You can reduce CPU usage and potential lag when typing/using Executor, by changing the "Auto index" setting (Settings -> Indexing & cache) to "Only on startup" or some other "non-focus" option. You can also use the refreshindex keyword to manually start indexing.
  • Memory/performance concerns? Minimize: Number of indexed items/paths, enabled caching options, complex skins, history size, number of keywords, number of items in list, number of visible items in list.
  • In Settings and "List" reduce the "Maximum number of items". Often the good results are in the top of list anyway, then Executor won't have to lookup/load as many icons etc.
  • The internal browser is a resource hog, specially for memory (any browser is). When closing the internal browser you can make sure to really unload it by using the browserend keyword, or pressing Shift+F2, or enable the setting to always end the browser when dismissed. You can also enable a setting that shows a green dot that will show if the internal browser is active in the background.

Portable (running from an usb-flash drive etc.)

  • Executor program folder can be copied freely; no registry keys used.
  • Place executor.ini (copy existing or create empty) in the same folder as executor.exe to use it instead of the AppData location.
  • Use $D$ (drive letter) and $H$ (full home path) variables in keywords/settings for portability.

The main documentation also provides lots of useful information, often overlapping with these tips but described more formally. Also check out the videos and and cheatsheet

Hope you have now leveled up as an Executor user

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