Have you ever written the same repetitive phrases in emails to customers or instructions during code development? Do you have an amount of boring tasks that could become a little faster and automated? If so, give AutoHotkey a try!
AutoHotkey is a free and easy to use tool for Windows that allows you to create custom shortcut and automate tedious tasks with a simple script.
Usage examples
This a set of very simple tasks, AutoHotKey can do a lot more!
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#NoEnv ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases. ; #Warn ; Enable warnings to assist with detecting common errors. #SingleInstance force SendMode Input ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability. SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir% ; Ensures a consistent starting directory. ; This is a comment ; Help Syntax Shortcut: ^!Numpad9 = Ctrl + Alt + 9 num pad (or AltGr + 9 num pad) ; ^j = Ctrl + j ; Send command simulate pression of keyboard keys ; Attention!! ; `r or `n (new line) or {space} may work as confirm for a Windows popup ; If you want to send a text with more rows, use sendUsingClipboard method ; Special Char {space}{tab} ; ########## VARIOUS ########## ; Ctrl + Alt + Numpad1 Write your telephone number ^!Numpad1:: Send 333 1234567 Return ; Write Current Timestamp ^!Numpad2:: FormatTime, currentDateStr,, yyyy-MM-dd-HHmmss Send %currentDateStr% Return ; Use an object prefix in your emails: ; Ctrl + Alt + 1 writes '[BENZ W124 Issues] ' ^!1:: Send [BENZ W124 Issues]{space} Return ; Launch Windows calculator ^!NumpadAdd:: Run calc.exe Return ; ########## SQL ########## ; Ctrl + Alt + 9 writes SELECT * FROM ; moving the cursor before the ; ^!Numpad9:: Send SELECT * FROM{space};{Left} Return ; Copy a table name, then run this macro, it will compose: ; SELECT * FROM [paste_text] WHERE ^!Numpad8:: string = SELECT * `nFROM %Clipboard% `nWHERE `; SendUsingClipboard(string) Send {Left} Return ; Paste the Oracle TO_DATE function ; "TO_DATE('2020-03-26 00:00:00','yyyy-mm-dd hh24:mi:ss')" ^!Numpad7:: FormatTime, currentDate,, yyyy-MM-dd tempStr := "TO_DATE('" currentDate " 00:00:00','yyyy-mm-dd hh24:mi:ss')" SendUsingClipboard(tempStr) Return ; Send a long query with more rows ^!7:: string := " ( SELECT a, b, c FROM TAB_A JOIN TAB_B ON (TAB_A.ID = TAB_B.ID) WHERE TAB_A.NAME like '%testName%'; )" SendUsingClipboard(string) Return ; ########## COMPLEX ########## ; Open URL in Browser ; Default browser: Run http://issues.it:8080/browse/%clipboard% ; Browser in new window: ; Run chrome.exe "https://mail.google.com/" " --new-window " ; Run, firefox.exe -new-window https://mail.google.com/ ; Copy selected test, compose URL, open in Chrome new tab ^!j:: clipboardSaved := ClipboardAll Clipboard := "" Send, ^c ClipWait, 1, 1 ; Wait for the clipboard to contain the copied text. Run http://mysite.it:8080/browse/%clipboard% ; default browser Clipboard := clipboardSaved ; keep previous cliboard content return ; Another way, activating Chome and sending keys ^!k:: clipboardSaved := ClipboardAll Clipboard := "" Send, ^c ClipWait, 1, 1 ; Wait for the clipboard to contain the copied text. IfWinNotActive, ahk_exe chrome.exe WinActivate, ahk_exe chrome.exe Send, ^t ; Ctrl + T -> New Tab Send, http://mysite.it:8080/browse/%clipboard% Clipboard := clipboardSaved ; keep previous cliboard content return ; Run cmd and type the ping command to ping an URL ^!p:: Run, cmd.exe WinWait, ahk_class ConsoleWindowClass WinWaitActive, ahk_class ConsoleWindowClass Send ping{space} Return ; Launch windows bat script with PAR1 parameter ^!6:: Run, C:\utils\deployEar.bat PAR1 Return ; ########## METHODS ########## SendUsingClipboard(string){ ; Save previous clipboard prevClipboard := ClipboardAll Clipboard := "" ; Empty the clipboard first Clipboard := string ClipWait, 1, 1 ; Wait for the clipboard to contain text SendInput, ^v ; Paste ; Wait paste happend before resotring clipboard Sleep, 250 ; 500ms is hopefully more than enough ; Restore clipboard content Clipboard := prevClipboard return } |
How to install
- Download AutoHotkey, there’s also the portable version if you aren’t system administrator (Download AutoHotkey .zip)
- Create a new text file with .ahk extension, e.g. myScript.ahk and write your commands
- Set the .ahk extension to be opened by default with AutoHotKey: right click myScript.ahk – Properties – Open with: AutoHotkey
- Set AutoHotkey to be always active:
- create a shortcut to myScript.ahk (right click – > Send to desktop, create shortcut)
- copy the shortcut in the Windows startup folder (Usually C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup OR C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup)
- Double click myScript.ahk to run AutoHotKey
Documentation
- Intro autohotkey.com/docs/Hotkeys.htm#Intro
- KeyList autohotkey.com/docs/KeyList.htm
- Instruction Send autohotkey.com/docs/commands/Send.htm
This post is priceless. Where can I find out more?