Method and system for providing integrated hot key configuration

A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions for providing a hot key corresponding to a particular function in a computer system, the computer system having a graphical user interface (GUI) and including a pointing device enabling a user to select items displayed in the GUI, the particular function provided for a context of an application program, the user providing input within the context, the program instructions for:

• integrating a hot key configuring function into the GUI such that a user can access the hot key configuring function from within the context and without leaving the context, wherein the context includes a displayed item displayed in the GUI corresponding to the particular function, and wherein the particular function is performed in response to the displayed item being selected by the pointing device;
• and
• mapping the hot key to the particular function and storing the mapping, the mapping and storing performed without the user leaving the context and in response to the user utilizing the hot key configuring function in the context, wherein the mapping causes the particular function to be accessed by the computer system when the mapped hot key is selected, and wherein the mapping includes:
• receiving an indication of the particular function to which the hot key is to be mapped, the indication provided by the user moving the pointing device over the displayed item to indicate the particular function corresponding to the displayed item for the mapping, wherein the same displayed item is selectable by the pointing device to perform the particular function and is indicatable by the pointing device to indicate the particular function for the mapping;
• and
• receiving a key combination as the hot key in response to the user selecting the key combination using a hardware input device, the key combination being received after the indication of the particular function to which the hot key is to be mapped has been received.

A computer system comprising:

• a hardware mechanism that provides an application, the application providing a context and having a particular function available therein, the particular function provided for a context of an application program, a user providing input within the context;
• a graphical user interface (GUI);
• a pointing device enabling a user to select items displayed in the GUI, wherein the context includes a displayed item displayed in the GUI corresponding to the particular function, and wherein the particular function is performed in response to the displayed item being selected by the pointing device;
• and
• a hot key configuring function integrated into the GUI such that a user can access the hot key configuring function from within the context and without leaving the context, the integrated hot key configuring function utilized by the user to designate a mapping of the hot key to the particular function and store the mapping without the user leaving the context, wherein the mapping causes the particular function to be accessed by the computer system when the mapped hot key is selected, and wherein the mapping is created by receiving an indication of the particular function to which the hot key is to be mapped and receiving a key combination as the hot key in response to the user selecting the key combination using a hardware input device, the key combination being received after the indication of the particular function to which the hot key is to be mapped has been received, wherein the indication is provided by the user moving the pointing device over the displayed item to indicate the particular function corresponding to the displayed item for the mapping, wherein the same displayed item is selectable by the pointing device to perform the particular function and is indicatable by the pointing device to indicate the particular function for the mapping.