Every single computer user – beginner or savvy – will experiment someday the benefits of using keyboard shortcuts, and adopt them fast enough. The good old copy-and-paste, used with the Ctrl combination key, allows saving precious seconds in the lives of both a programmer and a secretary.
I have already used the Run command in two of my previous posts: Launching Google and Launching Calculator using AutoHotKeys.
In my opinion, one of the most useful applications included with Windows is their calculator. But the one thing that always chafed was the long access path.
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.
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.
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).
A PuTTY terminal is a good example of situation in which you might have to type the same fairly complex commands repeatedly. If you have to manage a LAMP server with Ubuntu, like I do, you are familiar with commands like these:
With a little search, you’ll find a lot of script examples on the Internet but what most of them won’t tell you is how to create and use them.
Well… lets start with the basics then.
For a first-time user, AutoHotkey can be an intimidating experience.
While its benefits in saving time and preventing RSI are undeniable, the general first reaction from users is “Hey.. I am not a programmer.. I can’t do this… It’s too tough… What a waste of time.”