AutoHotkey

AutoHotkey
Developed by	Chris Mallett
Latest release	1.0.48.01 / April 15, 2009
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Type	Automation GUI utility
License	GPL
Website	http://www.autohotkey.com/

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AutoHotkey is a free, open source macro-creation and automation software utility which allows users to automate repetitive tasks. Any application user interface can be modified by AutoHotkey (for example, with EMACS style ^[1]). It is driven by a custom scripting language that is aimed specifically at providing keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys.

[edit] Features

AutoHotkey scripts can be used to launch programs, open documents, send keystrokes and send mouse clicks and movements^[2]. AutoHotkey scripts can also assign, retrieve, and manipulate variables, run loops and manipulate windows, files, and folders. These commands can be triggered by a hotkey, such as a script that would open an internet browser whenever the user presses Ctrl+Alt+i on the keyboard. Keyboard keys can also be remapped or disabled, such that pressing the letter q, for example, might result in the computer receiving an r, or nothing at all^[3]. AutoHotkey also allows for 'hotstrings' that will automatically replace certain text as it typed; the most typical use for hotstrings is expanding abbreviations, such as assigning the string "btw" to send the text "by the way" when typed^[4].

AutoHotkey has been used by doctors in the radiology world ^[5].

More complex tasks can be achieved with custom data entry forms (GUI windows), working with the system registry, or using a window's own API by manipulating certain DLLs. The scripts can be compiled into an executable file that can be run on other computers that do not have AutoHotkey installed. The source code is in C++ and can be compiled with Visual Studio Express.

Memory access through pointers is allowed just as in C^[6].

Common AutoHotkey tasks:

Remapping the keyboard, such as from QWERTY to Dvorak or other alternative keyboard layouts.
Using shortcuts to fill in frequently-used filenames or other phrases.
Controlling the mouse cursor with a keyboard or joystick.
Opening programs, documents, and websites with simple keystrokes.
Adding a signature to e-mail, message boards, etc.
Monitoring a system and automatically closing unwanted programs.
Scheduling an automatic reminder, system scan, or backup.

[edit] History

Autohotkey was started on November 10, 2003^[7] and the most recent update of the software was on April 15, 2009^[8]. Programmers within the AutoHotkey community have also begun development on their own versions of the program, such as AutoHotkey_L and IronAHK.

[edit] Examples

The following script will allow a user to search for a particular word or phrase using Google. After copying text from any application to the Clipboard, pressing the configurable hotkey Win+g will open the user's default web browser and perform the search.

#g::
Run http://www.google.com/search?q=%clipboard%
return

The following is an example of the script required to create the hotstring "afaik," which is automatically replaced by "as far as I know":

::afaik::as far as I know

The following is an example of a simple function in AutoHotkey. When a URL is copied to the Clipboard, the hotkey Alt+x will check the URL for any/all parenthesis and replace them with alternate characters before pasting the URL from the Clipboard:

!x::
URLReplace()
Send ^v
return

URLReplace() {

   StringReplace, Clipboard, Clipboard, (, `%28, All
   StringReplace, Clipboard, Clipboard, ), `%29, All

}

In this example, once the contents of a user name or IP Address link have been copied from anywhere on Wikipedia's site to the Clipboard (using Firefox), the following script allows a user to perform the function CopyUser on the Clipboard's contents and save it to a variable designated by either the hotkey Ctrl+Shift+W or the hotkey Ctrl+Shift+E. The hotkey Ctrl+Shift+R utilizes the resultant variables to produce a revert edits summary.

^+w::last := CopyUser()
^+e::edit := CopyUser()

CopyUser() {

   Clipboard =
   StringReplace, Clipboard, Clipboard, http://en.wikipedia.org/
   StringReplace, Clipboard, Clipboard, wiki/
   StringReplace, Clipboard, Clipboard, w/index.php?title=
   StringReplace, Clipboard, Clipboard, Special:Contributions&target=
   StringReplace, Clipboard, Clipboard, User:
   StringReplace, Clipboard, Clipboard, &action=edit
   StringReplace, Clipboard, Clipboard, _, %A_Space%, All
   return, Clipboard

}

^+r::Send revert edits by [[Special:Contributions/%edit%|%edit%]] to last version by %last%

More examples of what can be done with AutoHotkey can be found in the Scripts and Functions section of Autohotkey's online forum. Many of these scripts have also have been placed into an AutoHotkey wiki based on the purpose of the script.