AHK News 2025-07-24 ✅ Why Checklists Matter MORE Than the Task Itself! (AutoHotkey Tips)

AutoHotkey Newsletter

Howdy %Name%,

Ever notice how even the most experienced pilots still go through a checklist before takeoff? I mean, these folks have thousands of hours in the air, yet they don’t just wing it (pun totally intended ). Nope—they sit there, side by side, reading out loud each step like it’s their first flight. And you know what? That’s exactly what I want from them.

Sure, if something crazy happens mid-flight, I hope they’ve got mad skills like Captain Sully. But for every other moment? I want structure. Routine. Predictability. Not creativity. Not improvisation.

And it’s the same thing when I release our AutoHotkey scripts.

We’ve all been there—rushing to start a project, forgetting a step (or three), and then spending more time troubleshooting than doing the actual work. That’s why I use a launch checklist for my scripts. Just like pilots, we need that mental “pre-flight” to make sure everything’s ready to go.

To make your AutoHotkey flights (a.k.a. script launches) smooth and uneventful, I shared our time-tested 41 point AutoHotkey Pre-Release checklist
BTW- if you have your own checklist, you might use our Checklist tool to keep track of your tasks.

Trust me—once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.

Now on with the show…

Learn how to Master VSCode Make the switch to v2 Intro to AutoHotkey Intermediate AutoHotkey Intermediate ObjectsGUIs are Easy w/AutoHotkey Access all our Courses; Quit when you want

itWorked


VS Code Extensions for AHK v1 and v2

In this AHK Hero Extract, Isaias walks through some of the best VS Code extensions for both AutoHotkey v1 and v2.

AutoHotkey v2 has been the official version for over 2 years now so I hope you are not still using it to developing new projects with it (especially since it is deprecated and not expecting any updates).

Remember, we have 3 hours of calls a week in the AHK Hero club!

VSCode extensions for AutoHotkey v1 and v2
VSCode extensions for AutoHotkey v1 and v2


Quickly Record Your Desktop

Being able to join on Zoom and “share your screen” is pretty-much the norm these days however, sometimes, the other person isn’t available or you don’t have access to the Internet.

That’s where simply recording your desktop is a great alternative❗

Our ffmpeg driven tool, Quick Desktop Record, makes that super-simple!   Check it out in this video.

Easily Record your Primary Desktop with this great AHK V2 Script
Easily Record your Primary Desktop with this great AHK V2 Script


Ever wonder why your script is slow❓

During an AHK hero call Dale, a long-term AHK hero member, asked about figuring out why a given script is slow.

We walk through some of the simple ways to identify these problems in this video

Troubleshooting a Slow Script – AHK Hero Extract
Troubleshooting a Slow Script - AHK Hero Extract


Improving People’s Lives: Story #57

Steve, an AHK Hero Member, asked about using Excel to compare rows between files.

Specifically he wanted to identify any rows that are in one file but not in another.

They have highly educated people doing this manually and he knew there was a better way…

I created a simple tool that streamlines the process.  This will greatly reduce human mistakes, take a fraction of the time, and let them focus on analyzing instead of doing the “grunt work”


What we’re reading


AI / Chat GPT-3 News / Usage


⚡️Productivity tips:  Zoom

  • Alt+F1 – Switch to Speaker view
  • Alt+F2 – Switch to Gallery view

A spot of Humor:  I’m not the Assman!

Cosmo Kramer – The ASSMAN (Seinfeld)
Cosmo Kramer - The ASSMAN (Seinfeld)


What we utomated this week with AutoHotkey #94

This week’s episode was shorter than usual.  We had 168 AutoHotkey files that we worked on but the majority was client work.  I did show a cool Error Logging script that helps pushing runtime errors into your favorite AI tool.  You can check out the video here.


Client’s say…

I’m astonished at what we’ve done! — Michael N. (Radiologist)


Cartoon superhero mascot in green costume beside the bold text AHK Hero on a yellow background AHK Hero

Consider joining the AHK Hero club! Members receive 25% off courses, consultations, tutoring, done for you project work, etc.    Currently we have over 439 hours of recordings teaching AutoHotkey that is exclusive to AHK Hero members❗

During this Friday’s call we’re planning to discuss:

  • Help AHK Hero Members with their Questions & Code
  • Finish Suspender Class
  • Update to Clipster– wait for clipboard format
    • Need to fix the file copy and RTF
  • Debug configuration – Switching between scripts in VS Code
  • Hotkey Loop & msgbox issue
  • Making a non-Editable field, editable
  • Aggregating Time (hours, minutes, seconds)

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

  • Whatever Your Mind Can Conceive and Believe; We can create it for you! — Joe Glines
  • Hire people that are over-performing in crappy jobs — Dan Kennedy
  • Failure is not the opposite of success; It’s a part of it!

AHK Newsletter⏩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, Denilson and staff


P.S. If you’re overwhelmed going through your checklist, reply to this email and we’ll plan a call to see how we can help!

AutoHotkey News 2025-06-19- The Price of Doing Things “The Way We’ve Always Done It”

AutoHotkey Newsletter

Howdy %Name%,

Once upon a time there were Two villages and one well.

Every day, villagers trudged out from each city with buckets to get water.

It worked… kinda.

But if someone was sick, if it rained, or if the well ran low—tough luck.

Summers? Multiple trips just to keep crops and animals alive.

Then one village had a bright idea:

Build a system to pipe in water

It’d take time and effort, sure—but once done, they had fresh water on tap.  No more buckets!

Under significant costs this village built their water system.

When done:

  • Their crops thrived
  • Animals were healthier
  • People were happier
  • The city grew because residents had time to do other things

They even built sanitation systems to improve health.

Life got easier and way better (in ways they had not anticipated ❗)

The other village?

They stuck with the bucket system.  “Too much work” they said.  “Too expensive.”

Over time, their best people left for the smarter village.  Progress passed them by…

but hey, they still had their buckets

Does this Sound familiar %Name%?

A lot of businesses do the same.  They keep doing things the hard way because “it works,” even though it’s draining them.

The truth? Real growth takes up-front work—but the payoff is massive (and long-term).

This is exactly why I’m so big on AHK!

AutoHotkey is your water system.

Yeah, there’s a learning curve—but once it’s set up? You save time, reduce errors, cut stress, and unlock crazy productivity.

Are you ready to ditch the bucket?

Check out some of the free resources I’ve got over at the-Automator.com or dive into one of the thousands of videos on my YouTube channel.  Or check out my calendar and schedule a call.

Now on with the show…

Learn how to Master VSCode Make the switch to v2 Intro to AutoHotkey Intermediate AutoHotkey Intermediate ObjectsGUIs are Easy w/AutoHotkey Access all our Courses; Quit when you want

Feeling Good


How to Update a Running Script

Have you ever wanted to let your users click a “check for update” option and not only detect a new version is available but also have the new version replace the current running script❓

Isaias walks through how we do this in this video.

But, be forewarned, it is fairly complicated…

How to Update your Running AutoHotkey Script / Program | AHK hero Extract
How to Update your Running AutoHotkey Script / Program | AHK hero Extract


Use AI to help Document your Programs

I realized that, with Google’s Gemini, you can share your screen (and now with Copilot also) and have AI explain your script for you.   You can check out this video.

Use AI to help Document your AHK Scripts
Use AI to help Document your AHK Scriptsv

Of course you can also use it to help you learn how to use tools and accomplish your goals.

The future truly is here!


Fixing Timing of your script

Don’t forget that, if you’re having issues with the timing of your script, you NEED to check this video out!   We explain how you can make a minor tweak that will affect 48 AutoHotkey functions!

Fix AutoHotkey Timing Issues FAST with This Simple Trick!
 Fix AutoHotkey Timing Issues FAST with This Simple Trick!


Interrupting your AHK Scripts

During an AHK Hero call we discuss some of the cool ways to Suspend, Un-Suspend, and Pause your AutoHotkey scripts.  I extracted the topic and put it in this video.  We also discuss the #SuspendExempt directive.

Suspending, Unsuspending and Pausing – AHK Hero Extract
Suspending, Unsuspending and Pausing - AHK Hero Extract


Improving People’s Lives: Story #52

I recorded a short video for a client and used our Window Snipping tool.  While he loved the work we did, he also so just how powerful (and easy to use) the Snipping tool is.

BTW I also had a cool idea.  Why not incorporate AI into the tool and have it auto-redact personal information.

I manually uploaded an image to Chat GPT to see how it would work.   It did an amazing job!

Redacted chat screenshot showing timestamps and messages with black bars covering names, a YouTube thumbnail with a ChatGPT logo, and a GitHub thread

Is this something you’d be interested in❓

If so, let me know and we’ll try and get it done sooner rather than later.


What we’re reading


AI / Chat GPT-3 News / Usage


⚡️Productivity tips:  The following work in MS Excel

  •  Ctrl+Space – Select entire column
  •  Shift+Space – Select entire row

A spot of Humor:  She’s pretty funny

He Took Me To The Back

He Took Me To The Back | Aiko Tanaka (Full Set) | Chick Comedy
He Took Me To The Back | Aiko Tanaka (Full Set) | Chick Comedy


Client’s say…

I am so thankful for all you are doing to help us in this conversion and our mission to produce a solid product. — Stephanie Holland


Cartoon superhero mascot in green costume beside the bold text AHK Hero on a yellow background AHK Hero

Consider joining the AHK Hero club! Members receive 25% off courses, consultations, tutoring, done for you project work, etc.    Currently we have over 423 hours of recordings teaching AutoHotkey that is exclusive to AHK Hero members❗

You can watch 1 hour a day for a year and not repeat content! That’s a lot of AHK Learning!

During this Friday’s call we’re planning to discuss:

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

  • Whatever Your Mind Can Conceive and Believe We can create it for you! — Joe Glines
  • Hire people that are over-performing in crappy jobs — Dan Kennedy
  • Time spent alone in silence can yield breakthrough insights — Dave Dee

AHK Newsletter⏩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, Denilson and staff


P.S. Don’t wait for a “perfect time” to start.

Start now, and soon you’ll wonder how you ever lived without AutoHotkey.

Don’t forget, our courses come with a 200% money-back guarantee!

200% Money Back Guarantee badge with a yellow and green starburst seal for AHK courses