INI lookup tables

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 →