custom hot keys?

In system preferences > mouse&keyboard > keyboard shortcuts there is a section at the bottom that allows you to add your own shortcuts to applications. How do you get this to work? It hasn't worked for me.

has anyone ever messed with it before?

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=152140

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1651

see if this helps.

You can also use Quicksilver. I have hotkeys that enable me to open specific document (F4 for a particular Excel file, for example), add to text files without opening them, open new Mail messages to different people, rate my iTunes tracks... You can do whatever you want.