Executor Cheatsheet

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Basic Interaction Keys

SHIFT+WIN+Z
Show/Hide Executor (Default Hotkey - configurable)
Esc
Clear input field; if empty, hide Executor (if auto-hide enabled).
Shift+Esc
Force hide Executor.
Enter
Execute current input or selected list item.

Keyboard shortcuts and navigation

Ctrl+Space
Use Input Assist feature.
Up / Down
Scroll suggestions / history.
Tab / Shift+Tab
Cycle suggestions OR move between delimiters (behavior switchable in settings).
Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab
Cycle suggestions OR move between delimiters (opposite of Tab).
Ctrl+Left / Ctrl+Right
Move text cursor to next/previous delimiter.
Shift+Enter
Execute as Administrator.
Alt+Enter
Open in internal browser.
F1
Show online documentation / Open Start Page (if enabled).
F2
Toggle internal browser (if active).
Shift+F2
End internal browser (if active).
F3
Set focus in input field.
F4 / F10 / Ctrl+Enter
Expand input (multiline text editor).
F9
Show Windows context menu for item.
Ctrl+K
Open keywords editor.
Ctrl+S
Open settings.
Ctrl+N
Open built-in notes.
Ctrl+Alt+K
Add a keyword using current input.
Ctrl+O
Open the currently entered keyword in the keyword editor.
Shift+Del
Delete current input text from history.
Delete (in list)
Delete highlighted history item.
Left / Right (in list)
Select item without launching.
Ctrl / Alt (in list)
Hold and mouse click to select item instead of launching.
Ctrl+E
Explore/Expand current input item in list (show folder contents).
Ctrl+D
Open folder containing the current item.
F8
Copy full path to clipboard of current item in input.
Shift+F8
Expand path of current current item in input.
F11
Center Executor on current screen.
Shift+F11
Center Executor on the primary screen.
Ctrl+I
Open start menu importer.
Ctrl+U
Import keywords from a URL.
Ctrl+R
List "contains" matches on current input (can be toggled in settings to be always on).
Alt+Down / F4 (if setting enabled)
Open suggestion list (if hidden).
Shift+Down / F5
Open full history/keyword list (if hidden).
Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V / Ctrl+X
Standard Copy / Paste / Cut.
Ctrl+A
Select all text in input.
Ctrl+Space (keyword editor)
Open suggestions.

Internal Browser shortcuts

F1
Open start page.
F2
Toggle Internal Browser.
Shift+F2
End internal browser.
F3
Search.
F4
Open Expand input.
F5
Reload page.
F8
Send current URL to Executor.
Shift+F8
Open in default browser.
Shift+F9
Expand to external window.
F10
Open Expand Input in Executor.
Shift+F10
Expand to external Executor window.
F11
Expand to fullscreen external Executor window.
F12
Developer tools.

External WebView window shortcuts

F3
Search.
F5
Reload page.
F6
Open in Internal Browser and close.
Shift+F6
Open in Internal Browser.
F8
Send current URL to Executor.
Shift+F8
Open in default browser and close.
Shift+F9
Expand to external window.
F10
Open Expand Input in Executor.
Shift+F10
Expand to external Executor window.
F11
Expand to fullscreen external Executor window.
F12
Developer tools.
Escape
Close window.

Fixed input commands

  • # (prefix): Calculator (e.g., #5*10)
  • -s,-settings: Open Settings
  • -k,-keywords: Open Keywords editor
  • -a [name] [command],-add: Add a new keyword
  • -x,-q,-quit: Close Executor
  • -?: Open documentation
  • -n [add-text],-notes: Open Notes
  • -i [url]: Import from URL
  • -is: Import start-menu
  • -if: Import from file
  • -export: Open exporter
  • -v: Show Executor version info
  • -m: Open context menu
  • -ab: Show about screen
  • -edit: Open executor.ini
  • -f,-folder: Open Executor data folder
  • -ef: Open Executor program folder
  • -report: generate bug report

Default keywords

General

  • clipboard: List and search clipboard history
  • apps: List and search running applications
  • notes [txt]: Open built-in notes
  • recent: List and search recent documents
  • tags: List and search keyword tags
  • refreshindex: Force index rebuild
  • time: Show current time/date/week
  • textclean: Strip clipboard text formatting
  • launchtext: Select any text and launch (via hotkey)
  • pasteprev: Paste previous clipboard item (via hotkey)
  • pin [on/off/change]: Pin an image to list
  • kw: Only list keywords in history
  • imports: Browse Executor imports
  • wintools: List and open Windows tools etc.

Internet

  • define [txt]: Google search
  • wiki [txt]: Wikipedia search
  • g,google [txt]: Google search
  • y,youtube [txt]: YouTube search
  • imdb [txt]: IMDb search
  • translate [txt]: Google translate
  • email [email]: Open mailto: client
  • ie [url]: Open Internet Explorer

Windows common use

  • task: Open Windows task manager
  • settings: Windows Settings
  • mycomp: Open "This PC"
  • mydocs: Open documents folder
  • find [txt]: Windows explorer search
  • search: Open Windows search
  • volume: Open Windows volume mixer
  • sound: Open sound settings
  • recycle: Open recycle bin

Windows commands

  • ?sleep: Enter sleep mode
  • ?shutdown: Shut down computer
  • ?restart: Restart computer
  • ?lock: Lock computer
  • ?standby: Enter standby mode
  • ?logoff: Logoff current user
  • ?hibernate: Enter hibernation
  • ?monitor: Turn off monitor(s)
  • ?emptyrecyclebin: Empty recycle bin
  • screensaver: Start screensaver
  • mute: Mute/Unmute sound
  • volup: Volume up
  • setvolume: Get, set or adjust volume

Windows system and config

  • settings: Windows settings
  • control: Legacy control panel
  • addremove: Open Add/remove programs
  • display: Display settings
  • updates: Windows updates
  • system: Open system properties
  • devices: Device manager
  • admin: Open admin tools
  • services: Windows services
  • printers: Printers and scanners
  • msconfig: System configuration
  • gaming1,gaming2,gaming3: Adjust Win key

Network

  • ip: Show local IP address(es)
  • remote: Remote desktop connection
  • network: Network connections
  • hood: Browse network
  • ipconfig: Open ipconfig via cmd
  • ping: Ping an IP address via cmd
  • tracert: Trace route via cmd
  • netstat: Open netstat via cmd
  • firewall: Windows firewall

Small internal tools

  • timer [m]: Set timer (minutes)
  • alarm [h:m]: Set alarm (time)
  • stopwatch [start,stop]: Stopwatch
  • reminder [text]: Text reminder
  • password: Generate password
  • dice: Roll a dice
  • flipcoin: Flip a coin

System media player commands

  • media: Open default media player
  • next: Play next
  • previous: Play previous
  • play,pause: Play/pause media
  • stop: Stop media
Note: Besides these default keywords, Executor will index a lot of other apps and Windows items.

Special inserted commands ($)

$P$
Parameter text.
$P1$, $P2$...
Individual parameters.
$U$
URL-encoded parameter text.
$U1$, $U2$...
URL-encoded individual parameters.
||
Separator for multiple commands.
$W$ / $W5$ / $W500ms$
Wait 1 second / Wait 5 seconds / Wait 500 milliseconds.
$M$
Minimize all windows.
$R$
Undo minimize all.
$DEF$..$DEF$
Default if no parameters.
{BR}
Send a line break.
$D$
Drive letter Executor is on.
$H$
Full path to Executor folder.
$C$
Current clipboard text.
$CU$
Current clipboard text URL encoded.
$CLR$
Clear input after execution.
$B$
Open in internal browser.
$BN$
Like $B$ but keep input focus.
$BCONNECT$
Allow internal browser webpage connecting with Executor.
$PS$
Write parameter as text in Windows.
$PSE$
Like $PS$ but also press enter.
$SOUND$..$SOUND$
Play a sound file.
$ASYNC$
Run multiple commands async
$NOHIDE$
Don't hide after doing multiple commands
%VAR%
Environment variables (e.g., %windir%).

Tool and tasks commands ($)

Clipboard and text

$CE$
Launch text or get file/folder path.
$CX$
Like $CE$ but if not URL/path, replaces $CX$ with clipboard text.
$CI$
Text or file/folder to input field.
$CC$
For hotkey keywords. Triggers copy, then replaces $CC$ with clipboard text.
$CCU$
Like $CC$ but text is URL encoded.
$TEXTCLEAN$
Strips formatting from clipboard text.
$TEXTCLEANPASTE$
Like $TEXTCLEAN$ and will paste.
$PASTE1$,$PASTE2$,$PASTE3$..
Paste older clipboard items.
$COPY$,$CUT$,$PASTE$
Trigger these actions.
$SENDTEXT$
Write text to active window.
$KEYS$
Press a combination of any keyboard keys.
$CLEARCLIPBOARD$
Clear Executor clipboard history.
$CLIPBOARDTONOTES$
Copy clipboard text to Notes.
$ALLCLIPBOARDTONOTES$
Copy all Executor clipboard history to Notes.
$COPYTONOTES$
Copy selected text to notes.
$EDIT$
Open expanded input edit.

Internal browser

$BROWSER$,$B$
Launch in internal browser.
$BROWSERNOFOCUS$,$BN$
Like $B$ but keep focus at input.
$BCONNECT$
Allow webpage connecting with Executor.
$BROWSERFLUSHALL$
Clear internal browser data.
$BROWSERTOGGLE$
Show/Hide internal browser.
$BROWSEREND$
End internal browser session.
$BROWSERCLEAR$
Clear and hide current internal browser page.
$BROWSERURL$
Get URL of internal browser.
$BROWSEREXPAND$
Open current page in a full browser.
$BROWSERWIN$
Open current page in a popup window.
$BROWSERWINEXE$
Open current page in a Executor popup window.
$BROWSERWINFULL$
Open current page fullscreen.
$BROWSERBACK$,$BROWSERFORWARD$
Navigate back or forward.
$BROWSERREFRESH$
Refresh/reload the current web page.
$BSETFOCUS$
Move focus to internal browser.
$BCLICK$
Click a webpage (if allowed permission).
$BNORELOAD$
Don't reload if already active from same keyword.
$BNEWWIN$
Launch a URL in a window using a WebView.
$BNEWFULL$
Launch a URL fullscreen using a WebView.
To import browser example keywords, use -i executor.dk/browser.exc

Show raw content from a URL

$URLTOINPUT$
Show text from URL in input.
$URLTOLIST$
Show text from URL in list.
$URLTOLISTNOFOCUS$
Like $URLTOLIST$ but keep focus at input.

Show output from command line tools

$GRABTOINPUT$
Show text from cmd tool in input.
$GRABTOLIST$
Show text from cmd tool in list.
$GRABTOLISTNOFOCUS$
Like $GRABTOLIST$ but keep focus at input.

System related

$SETPOS$
Set Executor's position
$SETDEFBROWSER$
Set Executor's default browser
$SETDEFEXPLORER$
Set Executor's default file explorer
$WOPEN$, $WCLOSE$, $WMAXIMIZE$, $WMINIMIZE$, $WRESTORE$, $WRESIZE$, $WMAXWIDTH$, $WMAXHEIGHT$, $WCENTER$, $WADJUST$, $WARRANGE$, $WEXECUTOR$, $WLEFT$, $WRIGHT$, $WTOP$, $WBOTTOM$$WINFO$$WFINDACTIVE$$WFINDCLOSE$$WHANDLE$
Manipulate the active window. Import from -i executor.dk/windowkeywords.exc
$GETMOUSEPOS$, $SETMOUSEPOS$, $MOUSECLICK$, $MOUSELEFTCLICK$, $MOUSERIGHTCLICK$, $GETMOUSEPOSCOLOR$
Mouse manipulation commands. Import from -i executor.dk/extras.exc
Note: See docs for more info on these. Some of these only makes sense when used with a keyword that has a hotkey assigned.

Command line parameters

Example: executor.exe -s, another example: executor.exe -r google best new series. There's a shortcut using runexe.cmd, runexe google best new series

  • "[filepath]": Add keyword
  • -exit: Close Executor
  • -r [input]: Run Executor input
  • -s: Start hidden
  • -safemode: Start in safemode
  • -wizard: Start setup wizard

Keyword and input formatting notes

Prefix keyword URLs
When using URLS in keyword commands you should prefix them with https:// or similar. Else Executor could identify it as something else than a URL.
Double quoting file location when several things in input, or keyword command
Direct input example: c:\program files\editor.exe
Direct input example: "c:\program files\editor.exe" c:\projects\secret
Single keyword example: keyword.command = c:\program files\editor.exe , keyword.parameter = c:\projects\secret
Single keyword example: keyword.command = "c:\program files\editor.exe" c:\projects\secret , keyword.parameter = empty
Multi keyword example: keyword.command = "c:\program files\editor.exe" c:\projects\secret||https://myprojects.com/secret , keyword.parameter = empty
As for parameters and double quoting, thats up to the program you are running, if double quotes are required or not.

Examples of composing keywords

Keyword name: vscode Keyword command: the-path-of-vscode-executable , keyword parameter $P$
This is handy for other keywords to then open VSCode with one or more parameters.
Keyword name: project-letsgo Keyword command: $M$https://miro.com/board/uX6VI||vscode "C:\projects\letsgo"||C:\Users\projects\letsgo||vscode "C:\projects\websites\letsgo"||ps "C:\projects\letsgo\assets"||https://figma.com/projects/32432||https://letsgo.atlassian.net/jira/project/LG
A keyword to work on the project called "project-letsgo". Does the following: 1 Minimize all, 2 open project whiteboard in Miro, 3 open VSCode with project, 4 opens project folder in Windows, 5 Open project website in VSCode6 Open Photoshop in projects assets folder7 Opens Figma project specifications.8 Open project KanBan board in Jira.
The Miro, Figma and Jira URLs could also be wrapped in keywords, if you tend to open them a lot on their own (e.g. miro-letsgo, figma-letsgo, jira-letsgo-board).
Keyword name: morning Keyword command: news||weather||stocks||traffic||todo||calendar||mail
Calls a bunch of other keywords. These could also all be the full URLs instead of other keywords.
Keyword name: chatgpt Keyword command: https://chatgpt.com/?q=$U$
Prompt ChatGPT (URL encode parameter with $U$)
Keyword name: aicompare Keyword command: chatgpt $P$||claude $P$||grok $P$||copilot $P$||perplexity $P$
Calls a bunch of other keywords with a parameter to compare the results of each AI response..
Keyword name: g Keyword command: $DEF$https://google.com$DEF$https://google.com/search?q=$U$
Google search, if no parameter is send $DEF$..$DEF$ will be used.

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. See tips section for more inspiration.

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