A Beginner's Guide to AutoHotkey, Absolutely the Best Free Windows Utility Software Ever! (Third Edition) Create Power Tools for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10
By Jack Dunning
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About this ebook
Create Power Tools for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. AutoHotkey is the most powerful, flexible free Windows utility software available. Anyone can instantly add more of the functions that they want in all of their Windows programs, whether installed on their computer or while working on the Web. AutoHotkey has a universality not found in any other Windows utility--free or paid.
For this third edition, numerous tips, updates, and comments (most marked as Third Edition notes) give more insight into both AutoHotkey techniques and the state of the AutoHotkey language while still targeted at the beginner level. (Only one glaring error was found—which is now corrected.) Most chapters in this book have at least one or two new tips or updates. In the second edition, more chapters were added. In this third edition, the entire book was scoured and updated with more helpful information while ensuring greater accuracy.
The second edition updated the entire book adding an "Index to Chapter Topics and AutoHotkey Commands", plus two new chapters on using AutoHotkey for gaming and common newbie AutoHotkey message and errors.
Chapter One: How to Become a Windows Computer AutoHotkey Superhero
“The best way to keep your job (or get a new one) is to make yourself more valuable.”
Chapter Two: Programming Is for Everyone
“Don't think you can program? Think again! Writing software scripts is not just for nerds.”
Chapter Three: Installing AutoHotkey and Writing Your First Script
“AutoHotkey, an often overlooked utility program, could become your best friend for your PC.”
Chapter Four: More Basic AutoHotkey Techniques
“Changing the case of text from upper to lower and back again.”
Chapter Five: Sharing AutoHotkey Scripts
“Compile your AutoHotkey scripts into an executable (EXE) file, plus restoring the original clipboard contents.”
Chapter Six: Instant Search and Replace
“StringReplace to search and replace any text, anywhere, anytime using Loop and If.”
Chapter Seven: Cool Date Tricks with AutoHotkey
“Enter the current date into any Windows program automatically.”
Chapter Eight: Powerful Screen Object Controls in AutoHotkey
“Using the Graphic User Interface (GUI) controls in AutoHotkey to build simple gadgets.”
Chapter Nine: Automatically Resizing Windows with AutoHotkey and User-Defined Functions
“Write a user-defined function for resizing windows to exact dimensions on your desktop.”
Chapter Ten: Make Any Window Always-on-Top Anywhere, Anytime, Plus More "If" Statements
“Using AutoHotkey to make a window always-on-top.”
Chapter Eleven: Opening Useful Hidden Windows Folders with AutoHotkey and Making a Help Pop-up
“An easier way to open hidden Windows folders, such as Startup...plus more AutoHotkey and an AutoHotkey help pop-up!”
Chapter Twelve: Cleaning up the Desktop
“A tip for organizing Windows Desktop clutter and more power with AutoHotkey Replace.”
Use AutoHotkey for e-mail addresses and adding "boilerplate."
Chapter Thirteen: Disabling Annoying Windows Hotkeys
“It's easy to Delete All when the Control key is next to the Shift key.”
Chapter Fourteen: AutoHotkey for Copying and Moving Files
“If copying files become tedious with a mouse, it may be time for AutoHotkey.
New in Second Edition! Chapter Fifteen: How to Cheat at Computer Games and Restarting with AutoHotkey Action Recorders
“AutoHotkey is great for empowering your avatar, plus automatic script creators for beginners.”
New in Second Edition! Chapter Sixteen: Common AutoHotkey Messages and Errors Encountered by the Novice
“Here are a few issues every beginner should understand.”
Jack Dunning
May 15, 2016 Four years ago I wrote my first AutoHotkey article as part of a Windows column for ComputorEdge Magazine. I was first introduced to AutoHotkey by a ComputorEdge reader. The more I dug into the scripting language, the more I realized how much it could help almost any Windows user with very little effort. My path became one of studying the online AutoHotkey documentation, searching AutoHotkey forums for ideas and techniques, testing various ways to write the code, then chronicling my insights in what eventually became a number of (mostly) beginning books. I’m not a professional programmer, although I have written applications for running a Web site and converting those Web pages to e-books. Therefore, my books do not come from the point of view of an expert, but rather someone who’s learning how to write an AutoHotkey script from scratch. That means I ran into the same missteps and foibles in those columns that many beginners tend to encounter. As I learn what seem to be best practices, I pass them on—although it’s taken years to reach some of those inflection points. At times, I look back and wonder what I would have written if I knew then what I know now. There is a tremendous temptation to go back and reexamine my previous efforts in an attempt to add my latest epiphanies. While I have added many tips, the problem with that idea is the introduction of some of my recent insights—rather than clarifying—would probably cause more confusion for the noobie. They tend to be more advanced techniques. There are a number of mostly beginner AutoHotkey pages available through ComputorEdge.com. I will continue to add to those pages and update them. One of the most important is “Free AutoHotkey Scripts and Apps for Learning Script Writing and Generating Ideas” which doubles as the AutoHotkey scripts download page. This is a collection of free AutoHotkey scripts I’ve made available to any AutoHotkey user. The scripts can be downloaded at the ComputorEdge download site. I wrote most of these short script and have included descriptions and how-tos in my AutoHotkey e-books which are available at both ComputorEdge E-Books.
Read more from Jack Dunning
AutoHotkey Tricks You Ought To Do With Windows Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Why AutoHotkey? How Free AutoHotkey Adds Power to Your Windows PC and Provides You Important Brain Food Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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