Children’s Software

Searching Data Files and Other Scripting Ploys with Emojis (Secret AutoHotkey Tricks)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, AutoHotkey GUIs, Children's Educational Apps, Emojis, GUI (Graphical User Interface) Pop-ups, Hotstrings, Intermediate Level, Labels , , , , ,

Who Knew That You Could Use Emojis in AutoHotkey Scripts Just Like Any Other Computer Character? More Emoji Magic! 😏

Emoji unicornAs I played around with the EmojiMenu.ahk script from my last blog, I tested highlighting an emoji as a search key. I inserted the unicorn emoji (🦄) into a document, highlighted it, then hit CTRL+ALT+E. To my pleasant surprise, it worked! As shown on the right, AutoHotkey searched the EmojiInsert.ahk Hotstring file, located the emoji character for a unicorn, then inserted it into the pop-up menu. (I added the ::!fantasy::🦄 Hotstring—which doesn’t appear in the original EmojiInsert.ahk Hotstring file—after posting the file.)

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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 →

Why AutoHotkey for Teachers and Educators?

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Children's Educational Apps, Cool Scripts, Windows scripting, Windows Utilities , , , , ,
AutoHotkey Library Deal
AutoHotkey Library Deal

The varied computer situations of educators present a particular problem for AutoHotkey use. AutoHotkey works only on Windows computers. Fortunately, 90% of the desktop and laptop computers currently in use run Microsoft Windows. On the downside for teachers, they may or may not RobotWordProcessorCartoonhave access to Windows machines in the classroom. Plus, even if students have a computer available at home, not all of them are Windows PC. This makes it difficult to create consistent computer-dependent lesson plans covering everyone in the class.

Noting the difficulties with applying a Windows-based program to schooling, I forge on with the possibilities for those instructors in a position to take advantage of AutoHotkey. Continue reading →

Why AutoHotkey for Grandparents?

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Children's Educational Apps, Cool Scripts, Hotkeys, INI Files, Intermediate Level, Windows scripting , , , , ,

Remember All Your Grand Kid’s Birthdays and Their Ages! There’s No Limit to the Number of Ways You Can Amuse Your Grandchildren with AutoHotkey, Plus It Gives Your Brain a Much Needed Workout!

If you only have one grandchild, then you probably won’t have much trouble recalling his or her birthday or age. In that case, you may not have much interest in the grandbotslittle AutoHotkey GrandKids.ahk script. However, AutoHotkey offers much more which can enrich your offspring’s offspring’s education and entertainment—including a one-line script which verbalizes out loud the letters and numbers on the computer keyboard. But more importantly, learning to write AutoHotkey scripts exercises your mind—something everyone needs.

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Some of the scripts in this blog may not make AutoHotkey look easy, but you’ll find the first steps to AutoHotkey literacy quite simple. For a comfortable startup, check out this Introduction to AutoHotkey.

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New Hotkey Book! (AutoHotkey Tips and Tricks)

Jack Dunning #Directives, AutoHotkey, Beginning, Children's Educational Apps, Forcing Expressions, Graphic Editing Tools, Hotkeys, Intermediate Level, Menu, System Tray, Reference, Scan Codes, Tooltip Pop-ups, Virtual Key Codes, Window Spy, Windows Clipboard, Windows scripting , , , , , , , , ,

AutoHotkey Techniques and Best Practices E-Book for Automating Your Windows Computers with Hotkey Combinations—Includes Something for Everyone!

Whether you’re a noobie to AutoHotkey scripts or an advanced programmer, of all my books, AutoHotkey Hotkeys may be the most important for new little-known tricks and useful ideas. It’s not that the other books don’t cover significant features of AutoHotkey, but this book includes some of the most practical tips for adding power to your scripts. I didn’t plan it that way. Continue reading →

AutoHotkey Scan Codes, Speech, Sound, and Splash Images in Children’s Apps (Beginning Hotkeys Part 13)

Jack Dunning #Directives, AutoHotkey, AutoHotkey GUIs, Children's Educational Apps, Hotkeys, Scan Codes, Windows scripting , , , , , ,

Write Toddler Educational Hotkey Scripts by Combining AutoHotkey Scan Codes, the SoundPlay Command, the SplashImage Command, and ComObjectCreate() for Speech

I started digging deeper into the weeds of identifying and using AutoHotkey Scan Codes and Virtual Key Codes (introduced last time), when I decided to take a diversion into a little fun, but practical approach to using Scan Codes for educational programs. Sink your AutoHotkey scripting teeth into this educational example. It covers a simple approach for teaching little ones keyboard numbers and letters by combining Hotkey techniques from earlier blogs, plus speech, sound, and SplashImages from chapters in the AutoHotkey Applications book.

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