# How do I get a HOTKEY to trigger a counter?
**URL:** https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/how-do-i-get-a-hotkey-to-trigger-a-counter/7568
**Category:** Module Design
**Created:** [March 6, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/how-do-i-get-a-hotkey-to-trigger-a-counter/7568 "2015-03-06T16:04:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@starfish](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/starfish)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/how-do-i-get-a-hotkey-to-trigger-a-counter/7568/1 "2015-03-06T16:04:42Z")
I am trying to understand how to use a Action Button to trigger action for a specific counter. When I add the button, I have the option to send a Hotkey, and chose “CTRL R” as the action to send. I know this is being sent as I also have a die (Add Dice Button) and when I have this triggered by CTRL R, the die rolls. Great. But what I want to do, is have a counter on my map called “Rolls Remaining” to “run”. By run, I mean I want the TRIGGER command (currently set to CTRL R) to trip and it to do its thing, one of which is to set the global property of the value Rolls\_Left to -1.
I am thinking that the issue is that the counter is not “SELECTED” and thus is not getting the CTRL R. If I hit CTRL R on my keyboard, nothing happens.
I know that I can get this to work by building a “ROLL” counter and putting it on the map, but I kinda was hoping to do this via the menu bar.
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### Author:  [@Tim\_M](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/Tim_M)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/how-do-i-get-a-hotkey-to-trigger-a-counter/7568/2 "2015-03-06T17:41:24Z")
Instead of trying to make your “Rolls remaining” counter to run why dont you just add a Change Property directly to the Global property that fires on the CTRL R hotkey (note the Change Property function has a hotkey field) reducing it by one directly. Your “Rolls Remaining” counter should be displaying the value of the Global property only is all it needs to do
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### Author:  [@starfish](https://forum.vassalengine.org/u/starfish)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://forum.vassalengine.org/t/how-do-i-get-a-hotkey-to-trigger-a-counter/7568/3 "2015-03-09T14:55:25Z")
Hmmmm. Had not thought of that. Sounds like a better plan. Thanks!