SmartKey was the first macro processing program of its type, and the first

terminate-and-stay-resident program A terminate-and-stay-resident program (commonly TSR) is a computer program running under DOS that uses a system call to return control to DOS as though it has finished, but remains in computer memory so it can be reactivated later. This techni ...

for PCs and

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s, their eight bit predecessors. Smartkey's "keyboard definitions" were first used with the early word-processing program

WordStar WordStar is a discontinued word processor application for microcomputers. It was published by MicroPro International and originally written for the CP/M-80 operating system (OS), with later editions added for MS-DOS and other 16-bit computing, ...

for such things as changing margins of

screenplays A screenplay, or script, is a written work produced for a film, television show (also known as a ''teleplay''), or video game by screenwriters (cf. ''stage play''). Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writ ...

. Thousands of other uses were made for the program. SmartKey was originally written by Nick Hammond, an admiral in the

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the navy, naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (Australia), Chief of Navy (CN) Vice admiral (Australia), Vice Admiral Mark Hammond (admiral), Ma ...

, and originally published by Software Research Technologies, founded by Stan Brin and Reid H. Griffin. SmartKey received two Editor's Choice awards from ''

PC Magazine ''PC Magazine'' (shortened as ''PCMag'') is an American computer magazine published by Ziff Davis. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009. Publication of online editions started in late 1994 and continues . Overview ''PC Mag ...

'' due to its tight code and powerful features, but was never able to counter the marketing muscle of its largest competitor, SuperKey, a product of Borland International. SmartKey 6.0, the final version, was released in May 1990, with the Program Design credited to Nick Hammond and the actual program to Nick Hammond and Bill Dunn; Executive Services Inc. published that final version for No Brainer Software in two editions, "SmartKey Junior" and "SmartKey Advanced," which added additional features, including custom screens, programming and branching logic, context-sensitive macros (based on screen condition, time of day, and so forth), as well as calling DOS functions.

References

DOS software CP/M software {{DOS-stub