It is possible to control other programs such as Word, Internet Explorer and Skype from The Grid 2.  A new command "Run program for file type" in The Grid 2.7 makes this even easier.

Launching the program

You can make your program launch (or regain focus if already launched), change to your keyboard and dock with the keyboard all from the same cell. Typically, a cell that does this contains a sequence of commands. For example, a cell that launch and controls Windows Word contains the following commands in the Edit Cell window:

1.    Run program for file type.

2.    Jump to - a grid designed to support the Word functions, in this case an on-screen keyboard.

3.    Dock - a dock command that sits the Grid beneath the application that has been launched.

The Run program for file type command means that you don't have to find the Program Files for Word.  You just want a program to open, that will allow you to look at files with extension ".doc".  It may be that you don't have Word on your computer, but Open Office or WordPad instead.  With this command, it will find a program that will allow you to read and edit your documents.

It is also useful because Program Files are saved in different places, depending on whether your operating system in XP, Vista or Windows 7.  If you used the standard Run program command, you would need to locate the Word executable on your computer.