I know this is an old piece of hardware, but is it possible to execute a file, such as an exe or bat file, with the Belkin nostromo n52? For example, pressing button 1 would bring up notepad, and pressing button 6 would run a batch script to compile a java project. I can do this with my Microsoft Sidewinder x6 keyboard, but I didn't know if it's possible with this older hardware. If not, is there some special software that would emulate this?

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2 Answers

If it's just a USB HID device with a bunch of buttons, this seems doable. You'd probably want to start with AutoHotKey, and perhaps add JoyToKey if AutoHotKey didn't support the buttons on it natively.

AutoHotKey supports joystick input from a variety of devices, so it's likely to just work. You may have to do some configuration in the drivers to map the buttons to either "joystick" buttons or some other key combination that is generally unused.

Once you get AutoHotKey to recognize the buttons on the Nostromo, you can write arbitrary scripts to launch or macro whatever it is you want the buttons to do. If you're experienced enough as a coder to need a hotkey to compile a Java app, I'm sure you can do serious damage with the AHK scripting engine.

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You could in a way.

You would have to create a macro that would execute a series of commands which would allow you to open the intended program.

For example to open up notepad you would create a macro that did this order:

• Windows Key + R (opens up run window)
• Type the letters 'n' 'o' 't' 'e' 'p' 'a' 'd'
• Hit the enter key.

Each of the above key presses would be registered in the macro, you can lower the delay times of each key press for your macro as needed to make it as fast as possible.

Next you would assign this macro to a key on the n52, save the profile and off you go!

Edit: You would do all of this from within the Nostromo n52 software.