OverView
Downloading and installing AutoHotkey
AutoHotkey Homepage. https://autohotkey.com
How to create a script
Give the script a new name. Note: It must end with a .ahk extension. Ex. MyScript.ahk
Hotkeys & Hotstrings
What is a Hotkey?
It is a key or key combination that the person at the keyboard presses to trigger some actions.
^j:: Send, My First Script Return
What is a Hotstring?
Hotstrings are mainly used to expand abbreviations as you type them (auto-replace), they can also be used to launch any scripted action.
::ftw::Free the whales
:*:btw:: MsgBox You typed "btw". Return
esc:: MsgBox Escape!!!! Return
Keys and their mysterious symbols
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| # | Win (Windows logo key) |
| ! | Alt |
| ^ | Control |
| + | Shift |
| & | An ampersand may be used between any two keys or mouse buttons to combine them into a custom hotkey. |
Window specific hotkeys/hotstrings
1 ; Notepad 2 #IfWinActive untitled - Notepad 3 !q:: 4 MsgBox, You pressed Alt and Q in Notepad. 5 Return 6 #IfWinActive 7 8 ; Any window that isn't Untitled - Notepad 9 !q:: 10 MsgBox, You pressed Alt and Q in any window. 11 Return
Examples
::btw::By the way ; Replaces "btw" with "By the way" as soon as you press an EndChar. :*:btw::By the way ; Replaces "btw" with "By the way" without needing an EndChar ^n:: ; Ctrl & n Hotkey run, notepad.exe ; Run the program notepad.exe when you press Ctrl & n Return ; This ends the hotkey. The code below this will not get triggered. ^b:: ; Ctrl & b Hotkey send, {ctrl down}c{ctrl up} ; Copies the selected text. ^c could be used as well, but this method is more secure. SendInput, [b]{ctrl down}v{ctrl up}[/b] ; Wraps the selected text in bbcode (forum) Bold tags. Return ; This ends the hotkey. The code below this point will not get triggered.