Open Photoshop

note this font means working from the top PS navigation bar...

1. Create the shortcuts file

Window>Workspace>Default Workspace
Window>Workspace>Reset Keyboard Shortcuts

Window>Workspace>Keyboard Shortcuts and Menus
Make sure the Keyboard Shortcut tab is chosen
Click on the icon to create a new set
Call it SwaPalShortcuts and Save
Click on OK to close the window

2. Set up the workspaces

Set up the workspace the way you normally use it with all your usual palettes visible
Window>Save workspace
Call it SwapalA put a tick in the box Palette Locations .
DO NOT put a tick in the box which says Keyboard Shortcuts.
You can choose whether or not you put a tick in the box Menus.
Save

Click Window and close all open palettes
Window>Workspace>save Workspace
Call it SwapalB put a tick in the box Palette Locations .
DO NOT put a tick in the box which says Keyboard Shortcuts.
You can choose whether or not you put a tick in the box Menus.
Save

If you wish to use the third workspace set up your palettes as you would wish to see them
Window>Workspace>save Workspace
Call it SwapalC put a tick in the box Palette Locations .
DO NOT put a tick in the box which says Keyboard Shortcuts.
You can choose whether or not you put a tick in the box Menus.
Save

3. Link to the shortcuts file

Now you have to return to the Keyboard Shortcuts and Menus main page.

Window>Workspace>Keyboard Shortcuts and Menus
Make sure the Keyboard Shortcut tab is chosen

Make sure that SwapalShortCuts is chosen and Shortcuts for Application Menus shows in the dropdown box

Click on the arrow to the left of the word Window to expand the Window set
Scroll down until you see your new workspaces (SwapalA and SwapalB and (if used) SwapalC)

Click on SwapalA
With your cursor in the box which appears hold down Ctrl+Shift+Alt+A
Click on the Accept button

Click on SwapalB
With your cursor in the box which appears hold down Ctrl+Shift+Alt+B
Click on the Accept button

If you've decided to use the third workspace option
Click on SwapalC
With your cursor in the box which appears hold down Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C
Click on the Accept button

Click on the Save icon and then on OK

4. Now it's time to test your setup.

Hold down Ctrl+Shift+Alt and press A on your keyboard
Your first workspace should appear.

Test Ctrl+Shift+Alt+B and then Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C

The workspace should change accordingly without any warning boxes appearing asking if you want to save your shortcuts.

If a warning box does appear you have not saved your workspace properly and there is a danger that the new shortcuts to your workspaces will be over-written.

When you save the workspace DO NOT tick the box which says Keyboard Shortcuts.
If you have done this we would suggest (unless you really know what you are doing) that you delete your new workspaces SwapalA, SwapalB and SwapalC. Delete your shortcuts file SwapalShortCuts and start again.

5. Hey who needs a program ?

Now that you've set up your workspace shortcuts you don't really need the Swapal program at all - except of course it's easier to click the program buttons with a mouse than entering the shortcut keys all the time.

Download the program here. Click on the Swapal icon and the program will run. The program bar should appear at the top of the screen. It should float above your other programs and taskbars.

You can drag the program bar with the mouse to a different location. The space to the right of the ? (Help) button is the easiest part to grab.
The program bar is not resizable.
Clicking on the program's icon in the taskbar will minimise the program window.

6. My Brain Hurts

Remember that the program only works when you choose the workspaces SwapalA, SwapalB or SwapalC because these are the only workspaces set up to use the SwapalShortCuts settings.