Accelerator Editor –

An accelerator editor is a specialized tool or component within a software development environment (typically in IDEs or resource editors) that allows developers to manage keyboard shortcuts, also known as accelerators, for commands in a graphical user interface (GUI) application.

Key Features:

• Add new keyboard shortcuts for menu commands or actions.
• Delete existing accelerators that are no longer needed or conflict with others.
• Modify key combinations to improve usability or meet localization needs.
• Browse or view current accelerator assignments to understand or document existing behavior.

Purpose:

Accelerator editors help streamline user interaction by allowing frequent tasks to be performed via keyboard shortcuts rather than mouse clicks. This can enhance both accessibility and productivity for end users.

Common Use Cases:

• In Windows desktop application development, especially using frameworks like MFC (Microsoft Foundation Class) or Win32 API, where accelerators are stored in resource files (.rc).
• In UI design tools that allow customizing menus, toolbars, and shortcuts for an application.
• When localizing software to ensure shortcut keys make sense in different languages or cultures.

Examples of Environments with Accelerator Editors:

• Microsoft Visual Studio (especially older versions with MFC projects)
• Borland C++ Builder
• Resource Hacker (a utility for viewing and modifying Windows resources)
• Delphi IDE