Month: March 2019

Fixed the InstantHotstring.ahk Script Slow Hotstring Loading Problem

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Data Files, DropDownList Control, Hotstring() Function, Script Speed, Script Structure ,

New Version of InstantHotstring.ahk Script Now Available!

I’ve rewritten the LoadHotstrings subroutine in the InstantHotstring.ahk script (alternate download) to overcome the slowdown created by using the pre-existing routines found in the original script, “AutoHotkey Script Speed Problems (Scripting Insights).” I simplified things by limiting the subroutine to:

  1. Adding Hotstrings directly from the file without extra processing—no interaction with the DropDownList GUI control.)
  2. Checking for duplicated or changed Hotstrings within a single variable.
  3. Activating each Hotstring as its added.

AutoHotkey exports the DropDownList GUI control contents just once into a single variable and only writes the new DropDownList after processing the entire target file. The test file of over 1000 Hotstrings loads in one to two seconds—depending upon the weather. (The old routine could take up to 70 seconds for that same file.)

You can find the new code (InstantHotstring(FastLoad).ahk) and the old code (InstantHotstring(SlowLoad).ahk) at the InstantHotstring.ahk section of the ComputorEdge Free AutoHotkey Scripts page.

I’m currently working on blogs which discuss both the philosophical and technical aspect of rewriting the subroutine.

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jack

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Formatting Fonts and Colors in AutoHotkey GUI Window Controls

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, AutoHotkey GUIs, GUI (Graphical User Interface) Pop-ups, GUI Fonts and Colors, Script Structure, Windows scripting , ,

Guidelines for Setting Text Styles in AutoHotkey GUI (Graphical User Interface) Controls—You Can Make Your GUI Windows Easier to Read by Changing the Text Font and/or Color of Individual Controls

While AutoHotkey doesn’t offer the same detail control of color, font, and text style that you get in graphics programs, you can enhance your GUI pop-up windows with well-placed style changes. But to get the most from your adjustments, you need to understand how AutoHotkey executes these modifications.
Continue reading →

AutoHotkey Script Speed Problems (Scripting Insights)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, DropDownList Control, GUI (Graphical User Interface) Pop-ups, Hotstrings, Loops, Parsing Data, Script Speed , ,

When Debugging AutoHotkey Script Speed Problems, Look at Loops First

A number of scripting techniques can cause apps to run slowly. These slowdowns might occur when running long loops, doing extensive searches, or making numerous hard drive reads and writes. But the primary culprit tends to hide within loops or redundant operations of any type. However, you may need to look deeper to find the real source of the problem.

Tip: If you like to keep numerous other programs open, then that alone can cause significant slowing as your computer shares processing time. For example, Google Chrome runs an independent process for each browser tab. Multiple Google Chrome tabs can put a heavy load on the CPU and memory causing delays in any other apps. To optimize time tests, minimize interference by closing all other programs.

Continue reading →

Use Progress Bars When Loading Large Data Files (InstantHotstrings Feature)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Loops, Progress Bar , ,

Long Load Times Make Us Wonder If Our Computer Has Crashed—Progress Bars Help Us Stay Patient

In the blog, Use the FileSelectFile Command to Save Instant Hotstrings to an AutoHotkey File, I discussed how the InstantHotstring.ahk script saves a set of newly created Hotstrings to a data file. The flip side of the coin reads those same (or any other) Hotstring data files into the InstantHotstring.ahk script, (Loading Hotstrings into the InstantHotstring.ahk Script from Any AutoHotkey (.ahk) File). The solution to reading Hotstring files introduced the problem of the long load times for large files (Timing Script Speed). Continue reading →

Update to IPFind.ahk World IP Address Location AutoHotkey Script

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Clipboard Routine, Regular Expressions (RegEx), Web Pages, Windows scripting , , ,

The Original Stopped Working; The New Web Page Offers Better IP World Location Information

IPFind New

I plan to write a more detailed blog on the topic, but I recently discovered the IPFind.ahk script not working.

I’ve updated the IPFind.ahk world IP address location script with a different Web page. The original site stopped working and provided less information. (The image at left shows the new IPFind message box.) I’ve added the change to my list of future blogs. Continue reading →