AutoHotKey
AutoHotKey allows me to automate nearly any task on my PC (it's Windows-specific). With AotoHotKey I can create shortcuts for almost any action by presetting keystrokes and specifically located mouse clicks. I can also automate a series of actions. I’ve never seen anything that reduces monotonous computer tasks or works across different programs this well.
Since I adopted AutoHotKey about two years ago, anything that I do in a consistent way on my computer is automated. An example of a frequent set of inputs and commands I’ve automated through AutoHotKey: Often when I'm on IM, a friend will use a word I don't know. In the past I used to copy the word, go to my browser, paste the word in Google, hit return and search. With AHK, I simply highlight the word, regardless of the software I'm using when I encounter it, and hit Ctrl+Win+G.
I also use AHK to expand abbreviations as I type them. For example, typing “btw” can automatically produce “by the way.” The program’s functionality goes much further than these examples. It's a great way to harness the power of your computer without being restricted by software.
-- Dominic Duncombe
While there are a number of other “always on” help programs for loading apps, mouse gestures, shortcuts, etc., I've ended up uninstalling them all for performance reasons. AutoHotKey, on the other hand, is very lightweight. It uses only a few MB of RAM and has never caused any CPU load or affected any other programs for me.
The app itself works flawlessly. I created some simple scripts to aid repetitive text entry and to load frequently used files. These two items have replaced a mess of shortcuts and text files on my desktop.
The sample scripts are where it starts to get really cool. There is one that allows you to middle click and select from a list of frequently used folders. Another lets you find and delete empty folders automatically. One lets you automatically delete files older than a certain date, which is great for log files.
-- Mark Groner
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A cool tool is anything useful that is superior to comparable items. If you think this tool is inferior suggest a better one. You are welcome to insult a tool, but comments containing insults to individual people will be deleted. Corrections of fact are always welcomed, if stated politely. Recommendations of better tools are dearly wanted and may be elevated to the front page.
Jim Biancolo
I'm very happy to see AutoHotkey appear here, such a great tool! I've written a few scripts for it that I think serve as good, simple examples of what's possible:
- A "universal autocorrect" that enables autocorrect in any application, not just in applications that support it natively.
- Shortcut for converting selected text to upper, lower, or title case.
- Remapping the insert key to append to the clipboard instead of toggling between insert and overstrike modes.
- Standardizing the F3 key to "find next" in programs that offer that feature, but map it to a different key.
I apologize, it always feel like like bad form to link to my own site, but posts regarding all these are at my weblog under the "autohotkey" tag here:
http://www.biancolo.com/tag/autohotkey
Take care,
Jim
Daniel Howard
Although, technically speaking, a Mac is a "personal computer" I own several non-Mac PCs on which this tool will not run. (Because I run Linux.)
I would encourage you to refer to Windows-only applications as Windows apps. The PC label is horribly vague and grossly inaccurate. Thanks.
Sincerely,
-daniel
Steve Tiffany
Even without AutoHotKey you can change what your mouse buttons do, using the Control Panel. My thumb button is now "Copy" and pressing the scrollwheel is "Paste." This arrangement makes editing much easier.
Jonathan Ploudre
Autohotkey is easily my favorite windows program. Although it's a little work to recognize that something is repetitive, it's easy to go from there. Just making abbreviations for typing makes people much more effective with computers. Because it's open source/free, you don't have to worry about it being available on a random computer you encounter. You can compile your macros into a small program that you keep on a thumbstick or e-mail yourself. Then wherever you are, you have your personal utility.
Evan "JabberWokky" Edwards
Daniel - For Linux there is AutoKey. There are a few others, but I've found AutoKey to be the best for my needs. I heavily edit content for various groups, and it is incredibly useful.
It operates directly from X, so it works with any program running under X. (If you're a console junkie, there's so much more flexibility with pipes and screen, it makes AutoKey and AutoHotKey look like jokes).
(Oh, and I agree with the wording -- please note early on that this is a Windows OS specific Cool Tool that is of no real use to some of the audience!)
cc
Thanks for the tips, Daniel, Evan - I've added a note about the Window's requirement.
Timothy Mueller-Harder
There is another great tool similar to this for Macs, it is called Keyboard Maestro. It is very handy and runs unobtrusively in the background until needed. http://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/
Rex Kipper
I was going to mention Jim Biancolo's excellent universal autocorrect script, but he's clearly on the ball with his Google Alerts...
I've been using TextExpander on the Mac to perform a similar autocorrect function, but while it works pretty well, it can be slow and I often out-type it and seem to spend more time correcting fumbled auto-corrections that I would correcting mispellings... Text substitution is now built into Mac OS 10.6, of course, but it's pretty basic.
Steve Coallier
Nice snarky comment, Daniel, but the term "PC" is a far cry from horribly vague and has been fairly widely accepted and understood as shorthand for "IBM PC Compatable" since the first IBM PCs came out way back in the early 1980s. Heck, even Apple commercials refer to them that way.
Mentioning that a tool only supports Windows is a great idea and Dominic actually does so in the very same sentence - the very first sentence of the post, mind you - but I seriously doubt you refer to your Mac as a PC, and most Linux wonks I have ever met refer to their machines as "Linux boxes."
Dominic, thanks very much for the post! Free tools rule!
elon
"Mentioning that a tool only supports Windows is a great idea and Dominic actually does so in the very same sentence."
So there's no further confusion, the clarification that AutoHotKey is Windows-specific was added after this review was initially posted.--es
Mike Everett-Lane
I haven't used AutoHotKey to compare, but I've been very happy with ActiveWords which has similar functionality.
As for the term "PC" -- everyone now knows that it refers to any computer that is, anthropomorphically, John Hodgman.
Charlie
Reading this from a linux PC.
Anthropomorphically, it is John Hodgman wearing a penguin suit.
Krt
Thanks - I've used AutoHotkey for a while, primarily with Quicklogger (another great free tool!!!), but always a little slow to move to other things -
In Mark's comment - "The sample scripts are where it starts to get really cool." - where are these found?
Thanks and love the site.
Kurt
Dduncombe
Hi Kurt,
The best sample scripts are in the 'Script Showcase'. It is one of the top menu items in the AutoHotKey help program that you get when you download the software from this link: http://www.autohotkey.com/download/
Also Kurt, all the scripts uploaded by users are available in this section of the AutoHotKey forum here: http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/forum-2.html. The search feature allows you to search by forum. So you can check the Scripts and Functions section for something like 'autocorrect', 'volume control', et cetera.
Daniel - A sincere thank you for the correction. I'm glad the post was amended to eliminate any ambiguity as I did not want anyone to get their hopes up and be disappointed. I hope that did not happen to you.
Evan "JabberWokky" Edwards - Thank you for the post about Linux. I would not have been able to address that. I"m curious about 'pipes and screen' now.
Steve Coallier - Thanks for the support and pointing out that I was making an effort to be clear. I agree very much that 'Free tools rule'.
Lol at Mike Everett-Lane and Charlie. I'm so glad that there are comments on this post. I choose passion over apathy most days and I wanted more than anything to put some attention on AutoHotKey. I have a real soft spot for people who provide useful tools for free, even when they are not perfect.