Since I’ve had my tx2000, I’ve wanted a way to customize the QuickPlay buttons that are on the unit, but HP certainly doesn’t make it easy. After doing some reading online and stumbling on to the forum thread at TabletPCReview.com, along with doing a little research of my own (and thanks to the user "danegreat"), I’ve been able to figure out a method of using two programs Launch and AutoItv3 to assign any functionality within Windows Mobility Center (for Windows Vista) to the keys. In this example, I will be assigning the keys to control the screen brightness. Interested in how to do this for yourself? Well, read on!
- The first step you have to complete is to install the QuickPlay program from HP if you haven’t already.
- Download the programs I mentioned earlier, and for your convenience, here are the links to the download pages for Launch and AutoItv3.
- Extract the Launch program to your QuickPlay directory. I’m using Windows Vista x64 so my path is: "C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\QuickPlay\" yours will be similar.
- Rename launch.exe and launch.ini to QP.exe and QP.ini, respectively, and also copy the "C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\AutoIt3.exe" (32-bit) or "AutoIt3_x64.exe" (64-bit) into the HP QuickPlay directory.
- Now into QP.ini, type and save the following (replacing AutoIt3_64.exe with AutoIt3.exe if you are running a 32-bit version of Windows):
[my_dvd]
program=AutoIt3_x64.exe "C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\QuickPlay\AutoIt.au3"[root]
program=AutoIt3_x64.exe "C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\QuickPlay\AutoIt2.au3"Once the QP.ini is saved with these commands, when the DVD QuickPlay button is pressed, the first AutoIt script (which I will be talking about shortly) "AutoIt.au3" will be run, while if the other QuickPlay button is pressed, the second script "AutoIt2.au3" will be run. This assumes that the scripts are located in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\QuickPlay\" directory.
- Now all that is left to do is to create the scripts so open up notepad and type in:
Run("mblctr.exe")
WinWaitActive("Windows Mobility Center")
ControlSend("Windows Mobility Center", "", "[CLASS:msctls_trackbar32; INSTANCE:1]", "{PGUP}")
WinClose("Windows Mobility Center")Save this file as "AutoIt.au3" and copy it into the "C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\QuickPlay\" directory. Next, replace the {PGUP} in the script with {PGDN} and save the new file as "AutoIt2.au3" and put it in the directory.
- At this point, you should be able to press the QuickPlay buttons and adjust the screen brightness! Woohoo! There is a slight delay while the Mobility Center window flashes by, but overall it works like a charm. So how does the script work, you may ask? Well, each line in the script performs a different function. Line 1) Opens the Windows Mobility Center, Line 2) Waits for the window to become active, Line 3) Sends a keyboard command (either PGUP or PGDN) to the screen brightness slider, while Line 4) Closes the Windows Mobility Center.
Using the AutoIt Window Info tool allowed me to find the values I needed to fill in for the "ControlSend" function, which sends a keystroke {PGUP} or {PGDN} in this case, to the targeted windows control i.e. the brightness slider. If you are interested in learning more about customizing the QuickPlay buttons to suit your needs and edit other settings in the Windows Mobility Center, or to do other tasks, I suggest taking a look at the documentation for AutoIt3.
12 Comments
hi,
i wanted to know how to change the quick play dvd button to open windows media player as i cannot play video or audio from my hard disk in quick play dvd and it gives a msg. insert dvd… can u please help me out wit this!!!!!!!!!
I can’t bypass the “Open File - Security Warning”
That warning message occurs every time I press the quickplay button after following your method.
HI, My problem is similar to the topic: I want to be able to turn my monitor on and off from quick play button on my hp dv2000 laptop. If you could send any instructions I would appreciate it so much. Tnahk you.
If anyones wondering about Ted’s problem with overiding his error, right click the QP.exe file and select run as admin.
Stops the annoying pop-up between pressing the button and performing the action.
thank you for this!, I use Archicad and other design programs and I wanted to hold down shift while being in a specific position (that’s why i couldn’t just use the on-screen keyboard) while being on tablet mode.
example: I want to draw a line, i click the line tool, then click on the start point, then hold down shift to constrain it’s movement in one angle then usually press tab to write a lenght and then enter.
the last two i can do with the on-screen keyboard but not the Shift hold.
I used Autohotkey to create the Script instead of Autoit, cause that’s the one i know how to use best. ( i just changed the QP.ini)
if anyone wants to know:
in QP.ini i wrote
[my_dvd]
program=AutoHotkey.exe “C:\archivos de programa\HP\QuickPlay\Shift.ahk”
show=8
(my system is in spanish, that’s why it’s says “archivos the programa” wich is = to “program files”)
then for the Autohotkey:
GetKeyState, state, Shift
if state = D
Send {shift Up}
else
Send {Shift Down}
So, the first time I push = it holds down Shift.
The second time = it releases shift.
for Scabby:
I did run as admin QP.exe, but the pop up still occurs…why could it be?
Hi.
Great tip - thanks a lot. The problem is that the brightness control doesn’t appear in my mobility center anymore. I really do not have a clue why this is missing. Any idea?
Hey, I’ve been using “Launch” to configure my DVD and QuickPlay buttons to switch between Power Plans in Vista. So, pressing DVD would bring me to High Performance, while QuickPlay would switch to Power Saving. It’s quite neat, considering the fact that I can now do this using the IR remote controller too.
The drawback in using “Launch” is that it pops up a command prompt for a fraction of second. I also built an executable myselfe, parsing the parameters “my_dvd” and “root”, but while I am running this executable from the command line is working, well, the situation changes when pressing the buttons. It simply ignores me. Nevertheless, I may be doing something wrong in writing the code to that executable [dunno exactly what 8-| ].
Anyways, thanks for the tips I’ve learnt here and at the Tablet PC Forum [I needed to sign up for an account there to speak my joy out
so it kinda blew me off :P].
Yours.
HaHa! thank you! I’ll try that after the school ^^
hum.. i just wanted to do my own macro..
i wanted the Mediasmart button to work as this:
press : play/pause media
press for .75 seconds: next track
Some of you guys might be interested in this info, http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/create-a-shortcut-or-hotkey-to-switch-power-plans/