Hi,

In the older BlackBerry, there used to be a "C" keypress to allow to compose a message to a recipient. For example, I could type Crej<enter> to compose a message to the first person containing "rej" in their name, such as Mark Rejhon. The first keypress starts "Compose" mode, and the Enter keypress goes into email editing mode.

The best shortcut I've found was to assign "Messages" to one of the convenience key. So pressing Convenience key followed by T followed by Enter, puts me into a similiar quick compose mode.

On my BlackBerry 7280:
Crej<enter>

On my BlackBerry 8700r:
<convenience>T<enter>rej<enter>

(Where <convenience> is the convenience key that the Messages application is now assigned to, via Options on BlackBerry)
(Where "rej" can be replaced by the first few letters of any first or last name for an instantaneous addressbook lookup)

As you can see, the number of steps have increased for me to compose an email to someone without touching the thumbwheel.

Is it possible for somebody write a little BlackBerryTools style application that simply launches the "Compose Email" interface. I like the little new OS 4.1 feature that allows you to begin typing any name in a blank "To:" field, VERY nice 4.1 improvement over 4.0 -- but I miss the one-keypress "Compose Email".

Ideally, a main screen application (with an assignable keypress) that brings up a blank email with blank To/CC fields similiar to Messages->"Compose Email". Even better if I can assign this to a convenience key.

I miss the convenience of quickly and blindly firing off short berry messages without needing to use the thumbwheel much, such as
"Csmith<enter>Hello Smith I will be late for appointment. Thanks. See you soon.<doubleclick wheel>"
Since I am a blackberry thumb touchtypist, it's an absolute series of steps to compose an email message without needing to look at the blackberry unit except brief glances to verify steps done right.

Wirelessly posted (8700c: BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

See my tips link. Yes its gone. If you have Dial from Home Screen turned off you can use M, C for the same effect and still keep a convenience key.

Yup Mark...Stinsonddog is right...it adds only one more keystroke...I wonder myself why they couldn't leave well enough be? What harm would it have caused to leave that "C" key alone??? They have obviously created a subsection in the message area and are forcing users to go to the message area before using any shortcuts...makes me wonder whose mandate that was at RIM. It was the best shortcut they had...at least for me anyway. RIM should allow all shortcuts from the home screen to be modified/user assigned so that advanced users who really understand the product could assign features/shortcuts as they wish...

Btw...Stinsonddog...holding down the phone key while already in the phone screen also brings up the dial by name feature...not sure if that was documented in your shortcut list...if it is, sorry for not reading it!

---

This works from most screens, not just when you're in the Phone App.

Hope this helps.
Rcbjr

Yup...that's very true.

I know that was nice to compose mesg startight from desktop. But I was used to using MT[Enter]<John> and it will do the same thing. You might have seen that it you selection is focussed and then hit enter key will compose the mesg. works fine for me.

I know I made a big deal of this in my 7100 tips. Page 3 of the 8700 tips called Access Shortcuts indicates this. Hold down the green send key to Dial by Name.

God, how we old dogs hate new tricks!

ruff ruff

It actually adds two extra keypresses, not one extra keypress - but now that there is the convenience key feature, as well as the fact that the programming APIs make it possible to write a custom app assigned to a key in the main screen, I was thinking perhaps a tiny BlackBerry program could be created whereupon pressing one key instantly goes into the blank message compose mode (the new 4.1 feature of being able to edit To/Cc fields without needing to go into the addressbook), and this could even be assigned to a convenience key for quick compose of email messages too.

Also, if anyone gets into that level of programming, perhaps they could writre "just a leetle program" to assign the "send" function to one of the convenience keys so you don't have to use the trackwheel to send a message. They would be my hero !!!

Yup...I'll take em both!! Where do we sign up for them??

I second that!

Free copy of IM+ for the first person to help me develop this "Compose" email shortcut mini-utility for 8700 series. (It is believed that the necessary API's exist)

Developers, please see:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?p=155199

Mark,
I am not a developer, so won't even address the challenge, but for a moment I thought I found a two key solution to your wishes. Turns out it only works if you're as anal as I am about keeping an empty message box. (Every thing must be filed. )

If you have an empty screen in the message scree then from the home page pressing M then Return opens the compose. Screen.

But it only works from an empty mesage screen.

Hope this helps., but I know it don't.
Rcbjr