Month: February 2018

Jack’s New Beginner’s Guide to AutoHotkey

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Beginning, Book Updates, Version 2.0 , , ,

Completely Rewritten, Jack’s New Beginner’s Guide to AutoHotkey Includes Peeks at AutoHotkey Version 2.0

In July of 2012, I first starting digging into AutoHotkey. Originally, I put AutoHotkey in the class of “just another Windows scripting language.” But as I delved deeper and deeper, I soon realized that it had assumed the mantle of probably “the best utility software to ever DeprecatedRobothit Windows.” Not only does AutoHotkey immediately automate many simple Windows tasks, but it includes the powerful commands and functions you might find in any programming language—and much more. Six years later, nothing has changed my mind. In fact, as I learn more about AutoHotkey through my blogging and books, I get even more convinced that AutoHotkey offers “absolutely the best free Windows utility software ever!” Continue reading →

Recent AutoHotkey Online Documentation Display Problem

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Reference

You May Need to Clear Your Browser Cache to Resolve the Issue

Over the past few days, I experienced a problem with the AutoHotkey Online Documentation pages not displaying properly. The pages appeared corrupted. I suspected a problem with the server which would quickly get corrected. Continue reading →

Preparing for AutoHotkey Version 2.0 (Even If You Don’t Need It)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Functions, Intermediate Level, Version 2.0, Windows scripting ,

Many AutoHotkey V1.1 Commands Offer Parallel Functions Which Run in Both V1.1 and V2.0—It Makes Sense to Use Them Now

I recently noticed an evolution in the online AutoHotkey documentation. Over the past number of years, the powers-that-be have added new functions which serve the same purpose as the traditional command. Yet, they have made no particular effort to highlight the significance of those functions. That has changed. Continue reading →

A Quick Tip for Matching Something Inside a Variable (AutoHotkey Tip)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Hotstrings, Intermediate Level, Loops, Regular Expressions (RegEx), Version 2.0, Windows scripting , ,

With Many If Comparison Commands on the Chopping Block in V2.0, Here’s a Trick for Both AutoHotkey V1.1 and  V2.0

RobotMakeSenseWhile driving with her girls buckled in the back seat of the car, my daughter informed her attentive three-year-old and five-year-old of some important details about the day’s activities. After finishing up her explanation, she asked, “Now, does that make sense?” Both girls responded in unison, “Yes, Mommy!” That seemed to settle things until she overheard the three-year-old while leaning over toward the five-year-old whisper, “That doesn’t make any sense!”

Continue reading →

Comparing Today’s AutoHotkey Version 1.1 and the Future Version 2.0 (Part 5—Replacing V1.1 gLabels with V2.0 GuiControl.OnEvent())

Jack Dunning %Var%, AutoHotkey, GUI (Graphical User Interface) Pop-ups, Intermediate Level, Labels, Version 2.0, Windows scripting , ,

AutoHotkey Version 2.0 Drops the GUI gLabel in Favor of the Object OnEvent() Function

In AutoHotkey V1.1, the primary method for adding action to GUI pop-up windows employs the gLabel inserted into a GUI control’s options. As AutoHotkey moves to object-oriented programming in V2.0, the Gui.OnEvent() function replaces gLabels.

Launch Window V2In AutoHotkey V2.0, each GUI control responds to different Gui Events. For example, with the Gui Button control, you can register OnEvent() functions for Click, DoubleClick, Focus, and LoseFocus, while the Edit control directly supports Change. You register each type of initiating action you use with the OnEvent() function. In fact, you must register an event before AutoHotkey will respond. Continue reading →

Comparing Today’s AutoHotkey Version 1.1 and the Future Version 2.0 (Part 4—Fixing %Var% Variable Replacements)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, AutoHotkey GUIs, GUI (Graphical User Interface) Pop-ups, Intermediate Level, Regular Expressions (RegEx), Version 2.0, Windows scripting , , ,

With the Removal of Most Forms of %Var% Variable Replacement from AutoHotkey V1.1, Expressions in V2.0 GUI Functions Require Special String Concatenation Attention

In the previous part of this series on “Comparing Today’s AutoHotkey Version 1.1 and the Future Version 2.0 (Part 3—RegExs for Converting to V2.0)“, I introduced Regular Expressions (RegEx) for converting certain AutoHotkey V1.1 commands into V2.0 functions. While generally effective, the conversions left any %var% variable replacements untouched. Continue reading →