Imagine you have a friend named Joe who likes to write AutoHotkey scripts. He thinks he is very good at it, but his scripts all imitate a human and do not utilize an API approach. Joe also thinks AutoHotkey is “buggy” because his scripts often don’t work (especially when he shares them with other people.)

Joe thinks that other people who write AutoHotkey scripts are not very good and take overly-complicated approaches to make more money.

He thinks he is the best script-writer in the world.

This is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect.  The Dunning-Kruger effect is when people think they know more than they really do.  They are not very good at something, but they don’t realize it. They also don’t accurately evaluate how good other people are.

They believe they are better than average, or even experts (Yikes!), when they are not. This can make them act overconfident and make mistakes and often blame the instrument instead of themselves.

The Dunning-Kruger effect happens because some people don’t have enough knowledge or skill to judge themselves or others correctly.

Often People don’t know what they don’t know❗

The more you learn about something, the more you realize how much you still need to learn. You become more humble and realistic about your abilities.

To avoid the Dunning-Kruger effect, you should always try to learn more about the things you are interested in or need to do. You should also ask for feedback from others who are more experienced or knowledgeable than you. This is one of the best benefits of the AHK hero group.  We have 3 hours of Zoom calls each week where we help provide guidance to Hero members.   Not to mention the private Telegram group where people can ask for help during the week.   Give it some thought.  If you’re not sure, check out these objections that many people think.  You’re probably a better-fit for the group than you think!

Now on with the show…

HotStrings & Hotkeys that paste: Images, Text, and Hyperlinks / Rich text

For several years now sending keystrokes with AutoHotkey has been problematic.   It got so frustrating I asked Irfan to adapt many of my HotStrings to paste the text (instead of sending keystrokes).

This is a much more reliable way to get the text where you want it.   Nothing too special here…   But I also realized it is super easy to trigger them with either a Hotkey or a HotString.   Still, nothing too “wow” leveled (other than having automations that worked reliably).

Then I realized why don’t we kick it up a notch by making it easy to paste Rich text / Text with Hyperlinks and/or pictures.  Wow Now we’re on to something!

The function parameters are very easy to follow.  We share how to use them in this video.

Easily sending text, HTML or pIctures with Clipster

We’re also considering wrapping the whole thing in a GUI to allow non-AutoHotkey users a way to have this functionality.  😊

Easily Adjusting your DPI

We just released two scripts that do (basically) the same thing.   They both make it super-simple to assign a hotkey to change your DPI.  One of them allows you to assign the monitor the hotkey will be applied to while the other just looks at the monitor your mouse is over.  You can see them in use in this video.

Two AHK scripts to easily change your Monitor’s DPI Scaling

How to Create & Use Custom functions

Last week I mentioned this video extracted from Intro to AHK v2 that explains how you can use the built-in AHK functions.    This week I’m following up by sharing this video which helps you see how you can write your own functions.  Functions are a crazy-powerful way to level you up!

Defining custom functions in AutoHotkey v2

Don’t forget, all of our courses come with an amazing 200% money back guarantee!

Pinning Files / Scripts in Windows 11

I have to say I’m not loving Windows 11❗ Granted, I wouldn’t even be using it if I hadn’t found this app that allows me to put the Taskbar on the side.  In this video I walk through a work-around on how to pin non-executables to the Taskbar.

How to Pin a non-executable file to Taskbar in Windows 11

How to create a File Installer with InnoSetup

A while back Jean Lalonde, author of Quick Access Popup, gave us a great tutorial on how to use InnoSetup.  In this video Jean walks us through many of the settings and how it can be configured to give your script a “level-up”.

💻 Take file installation to the next level – Use Inno Setup like a pro!

Incidentally I spoke with Jean last week and he’s been hard at work on his other “clipboard” tool.  You can see an overview of it’s functionality in this video.

💥 Supercharge your productivity with this Amazing Clipboard Tool!😲

New YouTuber: Easily set windows locations

I was watching YouTube the other day and stumbled upon this video from Inthekhud.  He did a pretty good job.  He walks through using WinGet to detect where a window is located and then how to set it’s location.  I hope he continues to make AutoHotkey videos.  The more the better!

STOP manually adjusting windows | Use AUTOHOTKEY!

**********************

📚 What we’re reading

• 7 ways to Improve Notifications on Android
• Windows 11 Might Break Some Old Apps
• 2022 Lastpass Security Breach just got worse
• How to See Which Group Policies Are Applied

🤖 AI / Chat GPT-3 News / Usage

• The Case Against AI Everything, Everywhere, All at once
• ai is pretty cool for cranking out pictures
• Clean up audio for free with Adobe Podcast AI
• HeyGen Video Translations
• HUGE Bard Update: The Future of Google is Now AI NO ONE Talks About

HUGE Bard Update: The Future of Google is Now AI

⚡️Productivity tips: Setting Goals

Setting Daily, Weekly, Monthly and annual goals are a great way to make sure you achieve what you want.   Having said that, goals only take you so far, in the Atomic Habits book, he explains how habits are what truly drive action!

🤣 A spot of Humor This would freak me out!

Our Most Chaotic Prank Of ALL TIME | Just For Laughs Gags

AHK Hero 🦸

Consider joining the 🦸AHK Hero club! Members receive 25% off courses, consultations, tutoring, done for you project work, etc.

They also have access to exclusive & pre-released content and a 3 hours a week where we help people with their AHK issues (the Saturday calls are geared towards people new to AutoHotkey.)

🗣️ 💭 Quotable quotes

• How you deal with failure determines whether or not you ever get to deal with the success — Dan Kennedy
• A major reason for procrastination and lack of motivation is vagueness, confusion, and fuzzy minded thinking about what you are trying to do and in what order and for what reason. — Brian Tracy
• You must stop expecting perfection — either from yourself, or your employees, or your customers and clients. It will never happen. — John Carlton
• History is just new people making old mistakes — Sigmund Freud

⏩SHARE WITH A FRIEND⏩

Do you know someone that would benefit from learning useful automation tips like the gems in today’s issue?  Take a second and forward this newsletter and bask in the glow of their undying gratitude.  Was this email forwarded to you?

Sign up for this Newsletter here.  We never share your email with anyone.  Ever!

The-Automator

Joe, Isaias, Irfan, and staff

P.S. Are you one of those people that don’t know what you don’t know?  One of the best ways to safeguard against this is to regularly meet amongst others that know more than you.  The AHK Hero group is a great place to learn from others and ensure you’re accurately assessing your skills.  Do yourself a favor and sign up.   The only thing you’ll regret is that you waited so long!