So much has been written about this automation software that this article seems almost anticlimactic. But every time I launch AutoHotkey, I can’t help but find a way to use this freeware to automate many of my repetitive tasks. If this is your first time using this software, let me help you get used to it because after a few days of use it can prove to be indispensable as you begin to remove every second from your files. your usual Windows tasks.
AutoHotkey is a 1.95 MB download. Free and Open Source software that uses a custom scripting language that allows you to modify the way you launch any Windows program. As the name suggests, AutoHotkey uses keyboard shortcuts (and mouse clicks) to handle Windows events quickly. And don’t worry – the learning curve isn’t steep at all. It starts with a sample script that you can quickly scan at program launch.
Hotkeys and Hotstrings are shortcuts
hotkey are keyboard shortcuts that trigger a specific action. Modifiers (like Win key) can be used with hotkeys. For example, Win+F can be used to launch Firefox.
We write a specific hotkey in a plain text file called Script. Scripts are text files saved with a .ahk extension in a local directory. When we run the AutoHotkey program, these scripts will be loaded and perform the special actions we have specified in them.
A script file may also contain hot wire. Hotstrings are mainly used to expand acronyms as you type them (automatically replace). For example, typing ys will expand it to Sincerely. They can also be used to launch any scripted action. In this respect, they are similar to hotkeys except that they usually consist of more than one character (that is, a string).
Consider a basic hotkey script
The screen above is an example of a very simple AutoHotkey script. The # symbol is a modifier – in this case the Windows key. The :: symbol starts a hot chain that will trigger a Google URL. So when you press Windows key and spacebar, AutoHotkey will trigger default browser and open Google search page. The simple code is written in a new Notepad text file and saved with the .ahk extension. When you click on the script file, AutoHotkey is activated and it appears as an icon in your system tray waiting for you to press the keyboard shortcuts you specified.
As a result, you can create combinations of hotkeys and hot strings to handle all your usual PC functions. For example:
- Open your favorite folders.
- Open your bookmarked web pages.
- Open specific document.
- Perform a quick web search in any search engine(s) of your choice.
- Open any application with keyboard shortcut.
- Set the acronyms you use to expand into full-length regular expressions in emails and documents.
- You can use the same auto-replace feature to set different signatures that can be inserted using only the abbreviation.
- You can fill out the standard expressions form for your contact details.
- In addition, AutoHotkey also recognizes feedback from game controllers and mice. They can also be remapped using keyboard shortcuts.
- AutoHotkey and its Macro recorder (AutoScriptWriter) can be used to record a sequence of steps as you perform them, which can then be replayed on demand when you need to repeat similar actions. on one’s own.
The above ten features are just common ways you can use AutoHotkey. The possibilities for setting shortcuts and increasing your productivity are almost limitless with this free program. But where do you start?
No coding knowledge required
Start with the first demo text file that is launched when you first start the program. AutoHotkey has comprehensive Help and Tutorial files. Then there’s the Active Forum that helps you dig deep into the tool.
I hope this introduction has piqued your interest enough to install AutoHotkey. Let us know your impressions of this automation software and program launcher.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
