Version 2.0

AutoHotkey Tip of The Week: Evaluating Deprecated AutoHotkey Commands

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Deprecated Commands, Forcing Expressions, If statements, Loops, Version 2.0 , , ,

As Time Passes, You May Notice More and More Deprecated AutoHotkey Commands in the Online Documentation—When Should You Rewrite Your Scripts and When Should You Ignore the Changes?

While working on the latest version of the QuickLinks.ahk script, I saw that the syntax for the Loop (files & folders) command for the reading the names of directories and files had changed in the online AutoHotkey documentation. (It’s about time that I noticed since it changed back in 2015.) In the original program I used:

Loop, C:\Users\%A_UserName%\QuickLinks\*.*, 2 , 0

and

Loop, %A_LoopFileFullPath%\*.*, 1 , 0

The powers-that-be deprecated that form of the command substituting:

Loop, Files, C:\Users\%A_UserName%\QuickLinks\*.*, D

and

Loop, Files, %A_LoopFileFullPath%\*.*, FD

While the new syntax seems a little clearer, it appears to act in the same manner as the original (still operational) form of the command. A person may ask, “Why the change the command at all?” Continue reading →

Wrapping Up the DateStampConvert.ahk Script (AutoHotkey Tips)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Dates and Time, Functions, Version 2.0, Windows Utilities , ,

In Previous Blogs, I Used Regular Expressions to ID Dates Formats in Documents and Simulated Case/Switch Statements to Convert Month Names to Numbers. Now, I Build the Standard DateTime Stamp, Check for Valid Dates, and Deal with Two-digit Years, Plus Use the Function ByRef Method to Bypass Local Variables.

While in conversations with a reader who uses AutoHotkey to calculate the time span between two dates for figuring out new leases, I realized that a tool which captures formatted dates from any document and converts them into the DateTime Stamp format (yyyymmdd) would make using the HowLongYearsMonthsDays.ahk script even easier. That prompted me to write the DateStampConvert.ahk script. Continue reading →

A Trick for Inserting Next Friday’s Date into Any Document (AutoHotkey Tip)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Beginning, Functions, Hotkeys, Hotstrings, If statements, Input Command (Hotstrings), Intermediate Level, Menus, Send Command, Version 2.0, Windows scripting , , , ,

An AutoHotkey Technique for Determining Date for Any Coming Day of the Week, Plus a Pop-up for Picking Future Weekdays

“Do You Know Next Friday’s Date?”

We record upcoming events on our monthly calendars, but we live one week at a time. Most people work Monday through Friday and relax on Saturday and Sunday. If someone gives us a date for an occasion, we ask, “What day is that?”—meaning “Give me the day of the week.”

Continue reading →

A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding AutoHotkey If Statements

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Beginning, If statements, Version 2.0, Windows scripting , ,

It Can Get Pretty Confusing When Considering Which AutoHotkey If Conditional to Use

Occasionally, when updating or modifying a script I run into a problem where an If conditional just stops working. At first, I experience the usual confusion, but, eventually, it occurs to me to enclose the subject of the conditional in parentheses. The code starts working again. How does this happen? Continue reading →

Use BoundFunc Object [Func.Bind()] to Pass GUI Control Data (An AutoHotkey GUI Revelation)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Functions, GUI (Graphical User Interface) Pop-ups, INI Files, Intermediate Level, Labels, Script Structure, Version 2.0, Windows scripting ,

Added as a Special Feature to AutoHotkey V1.1, You Can Quickly Bind Unique Data to GUI Controls for Passing to Functions—It’s Even Easier in V2.0. Add This One to Your Bag of AutoHotkey Tricks!

Sometimes in my explorations, I come across an unexpected gem. I dig into many aspects AutoHotkey merely because they exist—having no idea how a technique might affect my scriptwriting. Whenever I uncover a feature that switches on a light, I must admit I get a little excited. Interestingly, if I had not been rummaging through AutoHotkey V2.0, I may not have ever understood the significances of this latest revelation for GUI pop-up windows in V1.1 scripts.

*          *          *

GraphicSoundsIn a GUI (Graphical User Interface) pop-up window, passing the right data to a gLabel subroutine (or function) from a GUI control can get complicated. A couple of the more common methods includes calling the Gui, Submit command to store control values or using a technique for capturing control information, such as the MouseGetPos command or the special gLabel alternative function:

 CtrlEvent(CtrlHwnd, GuiEvent, EventInfo, ErrLevel:="")

While I can usually find a way to solve the data passing problem, I often find the answer awkward. Continue reading →

Write Less Code with Database Driven Apps (AutoHotkey Script Design)

Jack Dunning Arrays, AutoHotkey, AutoHotkey GUIs, Children's Educational Apps, Functions, GUI (Graphical User Interface) Pop-ups, INI Files, Intermediate Level, Loops, Version 2.0, Windows scripting , , , , ,

Use Simple Database Files to Both Write AutoHotkey Code and Create Flexible Scripts

GraphicSoundsIn the last blog, I introduced a simple AutoHotkey app I call PictureSounds.ahk. When the user clicks on an image, AutoHotkey seeks the name of the sound file in an INI lookup table, then plays it. The script uses the image file name as the INI file Key. After loading a series of images, the script plays a different sound for each image. (It even plays videos!)

Using the INI file as a lookup table saved me from writing a different subroutine (or at least If condition) for each Picture control in the GUI window. Now, I show how to use that same data file to write the command code lines for adding the images to the pop-up files. Continue reading →

Building a Lookup Table with an INI File (AutoHotkey Reference Tip)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Children's Educational Apps, INI Files, Intermediate Level, Reference, Regular Expressions (RegEx), Version 2.0, Web Pages, Windows scripting , , ,

In AutoHotkey, You Can Use an INI File as a Database for Relating Lookup Table Items

Admittedly, AutoHotkey lacks sophisticated database tools for storing, sorting, and reporting sets of information. While you can piece together commands to create pretty good database file systems, AutoHotkey does not hold a candle to specialized data handling software packages which use SQL and other high-powered relational tools. However, AutoHotkey does support a simple form of a database called an INI file with built-in commands which make it easy to read and write data. These features give us a method for building a lookup table to relate our AutoHotkey Version 1.1 commands to 2.0 functions references. Continue reading →

Accessing Web Pages (AutoHotkey Tips)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Beginning, Clipboard Routine, Reference, Version 2.0, Web Pages, Windows Clipboard, Windows scripting , , ,

Find a Consistent Relationship in URLs to Redirect Web Pages

A while back I wrote a script which accessed the AutoHotkey online documentation quickly bringing up information about commands and variables. It took advantage of a hidden index in AutoHotkey.com which loaded key pages. However, as happened at the time, relying upon that index does not guarantee access. As with any Web page, things change.

The online documentation is currently going through some modifications. Possibly, in preparation for future use with the coming AutoHotkey version 2.0, we see a number of new revisions. With those alterations, the secret index has once again disappeared. That means much of my earlier work no longer functions as designed. I’ve decided to completely redo my AutoHotkey reference app with the following goals:

  1. Drop reliance on any hidden index to quickly return AutoHotkey command and variable information.
  2. Add simultaneously support for both AutoHotkey V1.1 commands and the parallel V2.0 functions.
  3. Add support for locating changes in V2.0 not directly correlating with V1.1 commands.

Continue reading →

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 →

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 →