If you're talking about launching the programs AFTER you have made hotkeys (throught thier respective shortcuts) for them, you will need to keep in mind that (at least in win98SE) it says that the short cut with the hotkey must be on the desktop or in your start menu (which you can just drag it to). If you're unclear on this then just:
1. Create a normal short cut to the program you want.
2. Right click on the short cut and select properties.
3. In the Shortcut Key box make up a key. (Note: you can just press a single number or letter as Win will put in the CTRL ALT for you. Also, be SURE you dont put in a shortcut combination that is already used for Win or IE (such as Crtl V for Paste) or Win will NOT recognize your shortcut)
4. Place the short cut either in your Start menu (the one on the lower left of the desktop) or on the desktop itself.
5. No just make a StrokeIt with a hotkey the same as the short cut key you gave the short cut you made to the program you wanted.
That should be it.
Like
<APP name="Default">
Illustrator [UP] {
gesture = UP
Illustrator = keys, hotkey [CTRL_DOWN][ALT_DOWN]7[ALT_UP][CTRL_UP]
}
</APP>
I think that should be it.