Tooler is a small program that can generate shortcuts for special Windows functions and place them on your Desktop or in your Start Menu. These include shortcuts for shutting down or restarting the system, running a screensaver, changing the system volume, ejecting the cd tray, and others.

Rating: 5

Version tested: 1.00

This no-install program is as straightforward as can be. Choose where you want the shortcut created from the first drop down menu, choose the type of shortcut function you want from the second, and – voila – your new shortcut is created. You can now rename the shortcut, change its icon and/or move it to a new location if you want to. Here’s what you need to know about this software:

• Screensaver-related: you can create the following shortcuts: Run Screensaver, Disable Screensaver, and Enable Screensaver.
• CD-tray: you can create an Eject CD-ROM and a Close CD-TRAY shortcuts.
• Volume: this one is my favorite. Create different shortcuts that can set the volume to the desired level (in % of total volume).
• Display Monitor: a shortcut to turn off the monitor (monitor must support power save mode for this to work; turn on using the enter key)
• Disable mouse and keyboard: will disable mouse and keyboard for a user-defined number of seconds. Author suggests cleaning your mouse as a situation where you might want to use this. I’m not sure what other uses it may have.
• Shutdown functions: Shutdown, Restart, and Log-out current users are supported. These work instantly when you double click the shortcut without any “are you sure you want to do this” prompts.

Overall an interesting little program. Somehow the “stand by” and “hibernate” functions did not make it here, which is unfortunate (I use standby rather than shutdown 90% of the time). The deal-maker for me (and the reason I decided to post this) are the volume shortcuts. Definitely check out this lightweight and useful freebie.

Compatibility: Windows 95, 98, 98 SE, ME, NT 4, 2000, XP, 2003.

Go to the program pageto get the latest version (approx 50K).