When you’re working on multiple Windows machines, it can be difficult to keep track of which one is doing what. To make life easier, you can use a keyboard and mouse to control them all at the same time. Here’s how:

  1. Choose the task that needs your attention. If you’re working on a document in one window and want to open it in another window, select the document in the first window and then use the mouse to drag it into the second window. This will keep your focus on what you’re working on.
  2. Use shortcut keys to get around Windows’ limitations. Windows offers a variety of shortcut keys that can help you get around its limitations. For example, if you need to close all windows but one, press CTRL+SHIFT+CMD together (or just type “cmd” into the Windows search box). This will close all windows except for the one you’re working on.

Using Input Director

We will look at setting up Input Director on a couple computers on a home network.  To start out install it on each Windows machine you want to control through Input Director.

First after installing set up the Master system, under the main tab click on “Enable as Master”.  Keyboard Ninja’s … notice the customizable Hotkeys you can set up as well.

Arrange the monitors how you like on the Master system, where here the Master has two monitors.  Then click on Add under Slave Systems to add the other machines.

 

Add the other machines in Slave Configuration by entering in the hostname or IP address of the ones you want to control.  Here you can set up a hotkey, amount of monitors on the slave machine, and security.

Go back to the Master Configuration tab and you will see the Slave system and again here you can drag the monitors around so there is a nice continuity.

In Global Preferences you can decide how each computer will behave.  Run input director on startup for each of the machines and enable them as either Master or Slave on start.  This way you will not have to go back and reconfigure them after a reboot.

When you transition between screens ripples are shown around the pointer to help keep track of the screen you’re on.

This utility is free, easy to use, and works like a charm on Windows systems.  If you have multiple Windows computers and want an easy way to control them all with one keyboard then definitely check out Input Director.  If you’re running a mixed OS network environment you might want to check out Synergy.

Download Input Director for Windows