Direct Access Press Reviews

What I love about Direct Access is its mnemonic potential. Though I might forget the key sequence Ctl + Shift + U for launching Notepad, especially if I don’t use it that often, I will remember to type "note". I have taken this a step further by typing "dj" (which stands for Distrito Judicial) so the program will type "Judicial District". This way, I don’t even have to think of the English word before typing the command.
In short, combining launching applications, expanding text and visiting web sites without taking your fingers off the keyboard makes Direct Access a must have tool for translators.

- Reed D. James, Pro Spanish Translations

If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time hunched over the keyboard. Anything that makes me more productive is well received.

Direct Access integrates two basic functions into a slick package. First, it’s a text expander. Enter a pre-defined abbreviation and Direct Access will replace that abbreviation with a chunk of text. Second, it’s an application launcher. Enter an abbreviation (such as “goo” for Google), and Direct Access will launch the app. Everything is easy to customize, and you can add your own text and applications in a flash.

- Andrew Flusche, Legal Andrew blog

Wow! Every now and then I come across software that really impresses me. Nagarsoft’s Direct Access 1.5.0 is one of those. This is absolutely a must have program for anyone who wants to use their personal computer more efficiently.

Direct Access has been designed to speed up the user’s personal computing experience by reducing time consuming, repetitive task through the use of abbreviations. Imagine typing a piece of correspondence in your favorite word processor, and then typing the abbreviation "sign" to affix your closing and signature to the document. That’s not all. You can use the abbreviation shortcuts to open applications, websites, and even your email client.

Direct Access has a user friendly and very organized interface that gives you access to the key applications of your computer. By simply typing the command for the action and pressing F12 you will be opened the desired application. I guess this will be fast enough for me from now on and I will not complain about time anymore (at least for a while).

- Charles Akin, reviewer at Free-downloads.net

Best rating and Editors Pick at Softpedia software repository
Direct Access has a user friendly and very organized interface that gives you access to the key applications of your computer. By simply typing the command for the action and pressing F1 you will be opened the desired application. I guess this will be fast enough for me from now on and I will not complain about time anymore (at least for a while).
The software proves its flexibility by allowing the user to edit the commands and add new actions. If you are not content with the default applications included in Direct Access you can edit or delete them and customize Direct Access to your personal needs. One of the software’s features is defining commands not only for the applications themselves, but also for the entire group. To give an example I placed a screenshot (next to last one). For that to appear I defined the Special Folders command “folders”. After typing it the whole Special Folders directory appeared and I could choose the desired option in there.
 

A Love Note To My Favorite Productivity App. Ever.
I just downloaded the Direct Access program from Nagarasoft today. It lets you type words to act as shortcuts to essentially anything you want on your computer. In default mode, its “type your keyword, then hit F1″ and you get your action. I call that the BANG key because in the Linux world typing a BANG (exclamation point) after the first few letters of a command gets you completion for it if you’ve done it recently. For example, out of the box fireBANG gets you a browser opened… from any place you can type text on your system.

15 minutes of setting up keys which are more useful to me and I had a configuration which I was happy with. I also remapped the BANG key to Alt-Enter, which I can quickly hit without having to move a hand and which I’m used to from Java IDEs. My productivity has not increased so much since I learned to Alt-Tab.

- Patrick McKenzie, founder of Bingo Card Creator

I’ve seen a bunch of generalized keyboard macro packages over the years. Direct Access does a nice job of putting shortcuts and commands at your fingertips while you’re typing, but still staying out of the way when you don’t want a macro to expand. For me, at least, it strikes the right balance between being unobtrusive and being useful, and that’s enough that I’ll most likely leave it running on my machine.

- Mike Gunderloy, editor of Larkware

by SnapFiles
Direct Access enables you to define shortcuts commands that you can use to launch programs or websites, send emails, or insert text snippets from anywhere on your desktop. Unlike may other command based launchers, this program does not depend on any input box, but allows you to simply left-click anywhere on the desktop or active window and type the command on your keyboard to launch the associated program or file.

PCNet File Catch
I thought I’d squeezed out the last drop of productivity and easy of use out of my computer. And then I ran into Direct Access.
Direct Access not only cures the ills of easily launching programs but a whole lot more as well. It’s the single biggest productivity boost I’ve found for Windows and, for that matter, computers since cut and paste. Read more…

- Don Watkins, Editor of PC-Net Online