Just started using KDE recently, and am quite excited about the overall interface. However, I seem to have run into a little wall trying to get the keyboard to map to programs automatically. I happen to have a windows style keyboard (with the windows key between ctrl and alt) Over the years, I have come to really appreciate the windows+e (explorer) and windows+m (minimize) features, and am quite sure KDE can easily incorporate these key mappings to function the same way.

Perhaps someone has a good suggestion about how to make this work. I've read and looked for answers, but somehow came up short.

Thanks!

Go to your start menu and click on preferences/look&feel/shortcuts. A dialog will open where you can assign your "windows" keys to operations like resizing windows or walking through desktops, but I don't think you can use them to launch an specific application.

Thanks for the reply... My use of KDE is through the default that comes on Knoppix, so I'm not sure if the feature is disabled, but I can't seem to find a "preferences" location in my menubar... I've dug pretty deep into the start menu and through a number of config/settings style apps, but can't seem to find. Please advise is you get a chance.

you have to go to control centre. you will find preferences there.
also if you want to bind keys to specific application.....right click on the KDE start menu icon go to menu editor, select the application...click on the rectangular box on the bottom right and then press the keys you want to open that application with.
this is good for apps that you use very often like mozilla or the konsole.
i am giving advise to those using KDE 3.1...i do not know how to do this with anyother version of KDE...however you can go check it out if it is the same.

I thought you were using Redhat 8.0 just like me...

Rmanocha knew better. The reply was very useful to me too, I had always wondered how to edit those menus. And I wanted a key for a pop-up console. Thanks rmanocha!

For what its worth you helped me rmanocha. So thanks