Tooltips

AutoHotkey Tip of the Week: Channeling Text to a Tagged Window

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Clipboard Routine, EditPaste command, MsgBox Techniques, Reference, Tooltip Pop-ups, Window Manipulation, Windows Automation, Windows scripting , , , ,

When Collecting Information from Various Sources, Send the Text Directly to an Unseen Text Editing Field

Last time in “Tricks for Tracking and Activating Target Process Windows“, I demonstrated a technique for tagging and tracking a window using its Unique ID. After tagging any window with one Hotkey combination, you can instantly recall it with another. While a pretty cool trick, the question of when would you ever use it arises. This time I offer a practical tool for gathering information from various digital sources (Web pages, documents, e-books, etc.) into one text editor window—without jumping back-and-forth while doing cut-and-paste operations. Continue reading →

AutoHotkey Tip of the Week: Use ToolTips to Make Apps User-Friendly—August 26, 2019

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, AutoHotkey GUIs, Functions, GUI (Graphical User Interface) Pop-ups, If statements, OnMessage Function, Tooltip Pop-ups , , ,

Tip: By Applying the OnMessage() Function, You Can Include Windows ToolTip Notes in Your AutoHotkey GUI Window Scripts to Add Hints and/or Instructions Which Pop-up When Mousing-Over the Controls

Light Bulb!People might find some cleverly-designed AutoHotkey scripts confusing. Wouldn’t you like to add hints and tips which explain each control in your AutoHotkey GUI window? You can do just that with the ToolTip command and the OnMessage() function.

coverepub-250In the book AutoHotkey Applications, “Chapter Thirty-four: Pop-up Labels for All Your Programs (ToolTip Command)”, the Tooltip command highlights each control in an AutoHotkey GUI (Graphical User Interface) window. Use the ToolTip command to add helpful little informational notes to your AutoHotkey applications. Once you implement this tip, whenever you hover the mouse cursor over controls in an AutoHotkey GUI, the ToolTip command will identify the control’s function or give instant instructions (as shown below).

(Extra Tip: You can use this same technique with other non-AutoHotkey Windows application by identifying window and control names with Windows Spy or the WindowProbe.ahk script, then writing a short companion AutoHotkey script to work with the Windows program.)

ToolTipHelp
An AutoHotkey GUI shows three different ToolTips as the cursor is moved over each control.

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Recognize Running Scripts with System Tray Icon Techniques (AutoHotkey Tip)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Beginning, Icons, Menu, System Tray, Tooltip Pop-ups, TrayTip Message, Windows scripting , , , ,

If You Run a Number of AutoHotkey Scripts Simultaneously, Distinguish Each Icon in the Windows System Tray with These Menu Commands

At times, I’ve found that I have six or more AutoHotkey scripts running at the same time. Each one adds the little green icon with an embedded “H” to the Windows System Tray. This gets confusing. I can only tell them apart by hovering the mouse cursor over an icon and reading the script name in the Tooltip pop-up message. Sometimes the Tooltip alone doesn’t do an adequate job. Continue reading →

Turn AutoHotkey System Tray Icons into One-Click Action Buttons (AutoHotkey Tip)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Menu, System Tray, Mouse Tricks, Tooltip Pop-ups, Windows scripting , ,

Rather Than Using Hotkey Combinations, a Simple Click of the Icon in the Windows System Tray Launches Your App

One of the features I added to the InstantHotkeyArrays.ahk script turns the Windows System Tray AutoHotkey into a one-click button for launching new Instant Hotkeys. The new hot-button made from an existing icon works out well—especially since I can never remember the Hotkey combination for creating a new Instant Hotkey. Continue reading →

Quick Fix for Inserting Color Data into Windows Paint (AutoHotkey Tip)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Clipboard Routine, Graphic Editing Tools, Hotkeys, Intermediate Level, Menu, System Tray, Regular Expressions (RegEx), Tooltip Pop-ups, TrayTip Message, Windows scripting , , , ,

Auto-Fill Windows Program Data Fields Using RegEx—Plus, Alternative for Pop-up Messages

While the Coloretta Viva script copies pixel colors, transferring codes to Windows Paint gets awkward. This AutoHotkey data filling technique for multiple fields works in any Windows program. Plus, we look at another method for popping up user messages.

I recently highlighted the AutoHotkey Coloretta Viva color picking app at ComputorEdge Software Showcase. As a color matching tool, I consider the script an excellent start. However, I offer a couple of observations. Continue reading →

Check Window Status with WinGet, ExStyle (AutoHotkey Tip)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Forcing Expressions, Hotkeys, Intermediate Level, Mouse Tricks, Tooltip Pop-ups, Window Manipulation , , , ,

ExStyle Settings Help to Polish AutoHotkey Window Manipulation Scripts, Plus a Couple of Tricks

Each window in Microsoft Windows includes style settings (Style and ExStyle) which control its appearance and action. You can view these settings with the CheckStyles.ahk script discussed in the blog “The WinSet, ExStyle Command for Mouse-Click Transparent Windows (Intermediate AutoHotkey Tip).” If you build AutoHotkey window manipulation tools, then you’ll find CheckStyles.ahk indispensable both as a quick reference and a tester. The CheckStyles.ahk script displays the settings for any window under the mouse cursor. Continue reading →

Change Script Features on the Fly with the Windows System Tray Icon Context Menu (AutoHotkey Tip)

Jack Dunning AutoHotkey, Cool Scripts, Intermediate Level, Menu, System Tray, Programming, Tooltip Pop-ups, Windows scripting , , , ,

Dynamically Switch the Actions of a Running AutoHotkey Script with a Simple Click of a System Tray Right-Click Menu Item

From Rick Corbett:

Hi, Jack,

Talking of “Adding Actions to Windows System Tray Icon Menu“, perhaps you would consider writing about using—for example—ToggleCheck, MenuItemName to amend a running script dynamically, i.e. change something (like toggling logging to a file versus a MsgBox), then reload.

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AutoHotkey Library Deal
AutoHotkey Library Deal

That’s an excellent question, Rick! Often, after loading a script,  we want to either turn features off and on or change how they function. Adding separate Hotkeys or rewriting scripts becomes wearisome. But, what if we could add a feature to the Windows System Tray Icon Context Menu (right-click) which either toggles an action on and off or completely changes how it works? AutoHotkey offers a straightforward way to get it done. Continue reading →

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 →

Tips for Smoothing Out AutoHotkey Scripts with #If, Tooltip, and Quick Release Hotkeys (Beginning Hotkeys Part 19)

Jack Dunning #Directives, AutoHotkey, Beginning, Hotkeys, Tooltip Pop-ups, Windows scripting , , , , ,

Enhancing the MousePrecise.ahk AutoHotkey Script with the #If Directive, the Tooltip Command, and a Quick Release Hotkey

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