Keyboard & Mouse Automation

AutoHotKey is a really useful software, but I am sure at some point you have felt irritated about launching the scripts manually every time you re-start your system.

After all, how are you supposed to remember to run all the scripts each time you re-start your PC or even where you stored each one of them. But there is a very simple solution to this. All you really need to do is to add a shortcut to the scripts in your startup folder.

Just follow these easy steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and in the list that pops up, look for the Startup Folder. Right-click on the Startup Folder and, then click Open. This will open the Startup Folder in a new window.

2.  Now open the location where you have the script saved. Right-click on your script file, and click on Create Shortcut in the menu that appears.

3. Drag this shortcut to the Startup Folder window. Alternatively, you can cut the shortcut, and then paste it in the startup folder. (Note: The Shortcut File has a small curled arrow on its icon.)

Now, each time you restart your PC, your scripts will launch automatically, the ones in the startup folder, that is.

Meghna

This is the day and age of abbreviations, thanks to IMs and SMS. While academicians worry about its adverse effects on the English language, you should be worrying about its effects on your career.

It may be acceptable to type BTW, IIRC, FYI etc. in the virtual world, but it’s not looked kindly upon in the corporate world, and I am sure all of us have some time or the other made the mistake of using these abbreviations in our official emails.

Now you can of course choose to attend the email etiquette classes conducted by your organization or be smart about it and do what I do.

A simple AutoHotKey Script will fix this problem.

::BTW::By The Way

::IIRC::If I remember correctly

::FYI::For your information

To learn how to use these scripts, click here

Whenever you type these abbreviations, they will automatically get expanded, and in every application you use. Cool, right!

And the best part, you do not need to make a different script file for each abbreviation. You can just put all the abbreviation scripts in one and keep adding to them as and when you require. Just compile and run the file after each change.

Have Fun!!

Meghna

Let’s admit it; we all spend a lot of time googling whether it be for personal reasons, professional reasons or just for fun. So this simple script is probably the most useful one you will ever come across. (It is definitely my favorite, so maybe I am biased).

#g::Run www.google.com

To know how to create a script file, click here: First AutoHotkey Script

How It Works:

The # symbol denotes the Windows key.

:: symbol means that the action defined on its right will be executed when the hotkey defined on its left is pressed.

Run command is used to launch a program, in this case, the google web page.

So, when you press the windows key and the letter ‘g’ on your keyboard simultaneously, it will launch the google web page in a new window/tab.

You can of course personalize the hotkeys according to your preferences.

Meghna

The fact that we constantly have to type the same commands over and over again is time-consuming. Do you remember all those complicated sequences like when you want to access your log files, restart apache, open and edit your configuration files in your dedicated Web Server? How many times do you have to type “nano /var/log/apache2/access.log” without making a mistake? Wouldn’t it be a dream to have something else type all this for you?

Well, someone thought about it and it’s completely free. Mark my words, AutoHotkey is the answer. This program is what we call an automation program. With the help of “hotkeys”, it types whatever sequence you want it to type. Too good to be true? Yes, it is wonderful and yes, it’s true.

Give it a try. Just log on to their Website at http://www.autohotkey.com/ and download the small program.

Sonia