Finding AutoHotkey Answers

Sometimes Finding the Right Answer to an AutoHotkey Problem Depends Upon Where and How You Look for It—Plus, a Free Reference Guide for Jack’s Books

When working on my blogs, I often encounter AutoHotkey problems requiring new approaches. I always wonder if someone else has already created a solution. I usually start with a Web search which includes a short description of the desired result and, of course, the word “AutoHotkey.” It surprises me how often this simple approach takes me directly to the right place—commonly a post in either the current or archived AutoHotkey Forum. I use that method for new techniques but when I need to refresh myself on topics I’ve previously discussed, I go to either my blog or one of my books.

AutoHotkey AutoHotkey Library Deal!

Searching my blog only requires entering keywords in the box in the upper right-hand corner. However, finding information in one of my eight primary books presents a more complex problem. I’ve written so much on so many topics that even I can’t remember where to find everything. That’s why I added the “Table of Contents” and “Index” from each book to the freebie book AutoHotkey Tricks You Ought To Do With Windows. When refreshing my memory about various techniques found in my books, I regularly consult this book. Continue reading

Errata to the Motley Assortment of AutoHotkey Tips Book

If you’ve purchased (or plan to purchase) the Motley Assortment of AutoHotkey Tips book, you will want to see these comments/corrections from Rick Corbett:

Hi Jack,

I’m slowly ploughing my way through Motley AutoHotkey Tips – First Edition October 4 2018… and loving it. 😄

A couple of things… Continue reading

Second Edition of the New Beginner’s Guide Includes More Windows Program Automation

Two New AutoHotkey PC Software Automation Chapters in the Second Edition of Jack’s New Beginner’s Guide to AutoHotkey

AHKNewCover200In the course of editing Jack’s Motley Assortment of AutoHotkey Tips, I discovered two chapters discussing Windows program automation which long ago I had intended to add to the AutoHotkey Beginner’s Guide. My bad. I have now fixed that omission and added them to the Second Edition. The new chapters appear as follows:

Chapter Seventeen: Automate Any Program in Windows, Part I (New in Second Edition)

  • Use AutoHotkey to Automate Your Favorite Windows Programs
  • AutoHotkey Works with Any Program
  • Automating Program Menus
  • Using Menu Shortcut Keys
  • Cascading Menus
  • Navigating Pop-up Windows
  • Click to Success!
  • Finding AutoHotkey Key Names

Chapter Eighteen: Automate Any Program in Windows: Part II (New in Second Edition)

  • Find the Hidden Names of Program Controls to Automate Windows Applications
  • Using Control Names to Automate Programs
  • Finding Control Names
  • Control Commands
  • Less Code with ControlSetText Command
  • Save As… Dialogue

Continue reading

New Book of Jack’s Motley Assortment of AutoHotkey Tips

 

Jack’s Motley Assortment
of AutoHotkey  Tips

A Living Book

CoverImage200This first edition of my new book Jack’s Motley Assortment of AutoHotkey Tips includes more than 80 chapters of AutoHotkey tips, tricks, and techniques. But, that only reflects the starting point for this Living book. Every six months to a year, I will add 30 or more new chapters based upon my current explorations of AutoHotkey. If you purchase this book, you will get all of these new editions free. You only need to buy this book once.

To review the “Table of Contexts” and “Index”, see this Motley Tips page. Continue reading

Old ComputorEdge E-Books Customers Get New AutoHotkey Book Bundle Discounts

Have You Ever Purchased Any AutoHotkey E-Books at ComputorEdge E-Books?

You Can Recycle Those Same Dollars When
Upgrading to the AutoHotkey Mega Library Bundle!

Any dollars you previously spent on AutoHotkey books at ComputorEdge E-Books qualify as discounts toward the current complete AutoHotkey Mega Bundle. Whether you purchased only one AutoHotkey book four years ago or last year’s seven-book bundle, you can get a dollar-for-dollar reduction on the price of the entire nine-book AutoHotkey Mega Bundle—all books, all e-book formats. Continue reading

Jack’s New Beginner’s Guide to AutoHotkey

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

Jack’s AutoHotkey E-Book Library

 

If You Seek a Wealth of Information about AutoHotkey and How It Works, You Can’t Go Wrong with Jack’s AutoHotkey E-Book Library. See the Benefits! Plus, Coming Soon!—More on the Future AutoHotkey Version 2.0 Release

“They threw me out of the library for processing too loud.”

I currently maintain a number of irons in the fire—all AutoHotkey. With three books in the works (two new and one major rewrite), plus regular blogging about AutoHotkey on this site, I find no shortage of things to do. Right now, you’ll find nine AutoHotkey books available at the ComputorEdge E-Books site on topics ranging from an introductory level Beginner’s Guide to a little more complex AutoHotkey Windows scripting, such as, AutoHotkey Applications and Using Regular Expressions in AutoHotkey. By years end, that number should reach eleven books—hopefully. While continuing with the new books, I’ve shifted part of my focus to updating the older books by adding examples of the new AutoHotkey Version 2.0. I plan to increase the versatility of the library regardless of whether readers ultimately decide to upgrade to V2.0 or stick with the current reliable V1.1. If you own one of the AutoHotkey Library Bundles, then you can get these new rewrites with V2.0 examples absolutely free.  Continue reading

More E-Book Bundles for Beginning and Intermediate AutoHotkey Users

New E-Book Bundles for Making Your Journey into AutoHotkey Scripting Easier

JacksLibraryBookDeal250Every programmer suffers moments where he or she achieves a breakthrough and the code actually works. Their first impulse—tell someone…anyone. “Look what I just did!” Alas, they find no one nearby to praise the accomplishment. At least, no one who either understands or cares about their success. Maybe that’s why I write about my AutoHotkey journeys. I need to tell someone when (ironically?) some code I wrote does what it’s supposed to do. Continue reading

Beginning Tips for Writing AutoHotkey Scripts

Exploring the Existential Mysteries of AutoHotkey Code and How It’s Often Misunderstood

AutoHotkeyInsightsI’ve just published my latest book, Beginning Tips for Writing AutoHotkey Script, which endeavors to clear up some of the mystery surrounding the way AutoHotkey works. You’ll find grasping how AutoHotkey processes AHK scripts a tremendous help. Quite a bit of the confusion encountered by novice AutoHotkey scriptwriters occurs through misunderstandings about the manner in which everything (life, the universe, and AutoHotkey scripts) fits together. I wrote the book with that muddiness in mind. Continue reading

Working on a New AutoHotkey Book

Compiling Material for My Biggest Book Yet!

I’ve started bringing together the parts for my next AutoHotkey book. I have over thirty AutoHotkey tips in the form of previous (no longer published) articles I wrote for the old ComputorEdge Magazine and another thirty, or so, I thought there would be pie!I’ve written since that time on various topics without a specific theme. As I organize the chapters, I see various motifs running through them. I plan to include numerous recent insights as I rewrite and edit each piece.

None of the above repeats work previously published as chapters in my other books. However,  I’m also considering including, with proper emphasis, my most important AutoHotkey epiphanies and “best practices” which do appear in the other books. This new, heavier e-book should be a good reference for almost anyone. Continue reading