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🚀Boost productivity with AutoHotkey HotStrings! 💻Unlock the secret to effortless workflow🔥 39 examples provided

AutoHotkey HotStrings10 Reasons Why AutoHotkey HotStrings Will Revolutionize Your Workflow – The Ultimate Productivity Hack!

AutoHotkey is a powerful tool that allows users to automate repetitive tasks and increase productivity. One of the most useful features of AutoHotkey is the HotStrings function.

AutoHotkey HotStrings allow users to create custom shortcuts and abbreviations that can be used to quickly and easily type out common phrases or responses. In this blog post, we will be discussing 10 reasons why HotStrings are a valuable tool for anyone looking to increase efficiency and streamline their workflow. From increasing productivity and reducing errors to being easy to use and cost-effective, HotStrings have a wide range of benefits that make them a must-have tool for anyone looking to increase their productivity.

  1. Increased Productivity: HotStrings allow for the automation of repetitive tasks, such as typing out common phrases or responses, which can save a significant amount of time and increase overall productivity.
  2. Customizable: HotStrings can be customized to suit the specific needs of the user, allowing for the creation of personalized shortcuts and abbreviations.
  3. Error Reduction: HotStrings reduce the risk of typos and other errors, as the phrases and responses are pre-defined and automatically inserted, rather than manually typed out.
  4. Improved Efficiency: HotStrings can be used to streamline workflows by automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks.
  5. Easy to Use: HotStrings are easy to set up and use, making them accessible to users of all skill levels.
  6. Versatile: HotStrings can be used for a wide variety of tasks, such as typing out common phrases, inserting images, and even running scripts.
  7. Cost-effective: HotStrings are a cost-effective solution for increasing productivity, as they do not require any additional software or hardware.
  8. Expandable: HotStrings can be expanded upon and modified as needed, allowing for continued improvement and increased efficiency over time.
  9. Compatibility: HotStrings are compatible with a wide range of applications and programs, making them a versatile tool for any user.
  10. Increased Accuracy: HotStrings can be used to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, which can help to improve accuracy and reduce errors.

HotStrings is a powerful tool that can be used to automate repetitive tasks, increase productivity, and streamline workflows. With its versatility, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness, it’s no wonder that many users find it to be an invaluable tool. Whether you’re a busy professional, a student, or anyone in between, HotStrings can help to make your work easier and more efficient.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to unlock the full potential of AutoHotkey HotStrings and take your productivity to the next level. Enroll in our exclusive HotStrings course today and start seeing results in no time!

Here are 39 examples of AutoHotkey HotStrings to get you started

  1. ::btw::by the way
  2. ::gov::government
  3. :r:lu::Love you too!
  4. ::ctn::Sorry, I can’t talk right now I’ll get back to you in a few minutes
  5. ::pjz::Please join zoom for a few minutes.  I have a couple of questions I need to ask you
  6. ::rty::Spasiba  ;Thank you in Russian
  7. ::jty::Domo arigato ;Thank you in Japanese
  8. ::tq::thank you
  9. ::pls::please
  10. ::wdyt::what do you think
  11. ::idk::I don’t know
  12. ::np::no problem
  13. ::brb::be right back
  14. ::afk::away from keyboard
  15. ::yw::you’re welcome
  16. ::omw::on my way
  17. ::ty::thank you
  18. ::lol::laugh out loud
  19. ::lmao::laughing my ass off
  20. ::rofl::rolling on the floor laughing
  21. ::haha::laughing
  22. ::jk::just kidding
  23. ::btw::by the way
  24. ::ftw::for the win
  25. ::imo::in my opinion
  26. ::tbh::to be honest
  27. ::gtd::get things done
  28. ::adrs::address
  29. ::phn::phone number
  30. ::dob::date of birth
  31. ::email::email address
  32. ::sig::signature
  33. ::bd::birthday
  34. ::cp::company
  35. ::prjct::project
  36. ::rpt::report
  37. ::mtg::meeting
  38. ::cmp::compliment
  39. ::sug::suggestion

These are just a some examples, you can customize and make your own Hotstrings for phrases, words, sentences or even paragraphs that you use frequently.

AutoHotkey Webinar- Intro to AutoHotkey

In this webinar we cover an Intro to AutoHotkey.

Video Hour 1: High-level overview: Hour 1
Video Hour 2: Q&A: Hour 2

Script Highlight: Minimize to tray–  This is an “old” AutoHotkey script but is super-cool!   When running you simply press the Windows Key & H and the active program will “disappear”.  It works on multiple windows.  Then, when you want them back, press Windows & U and the windows will be visible again.

Intro to AutoHotkey

  • AutoHotkey is free, open-source, Windows scripting language
  • Created in 2003 from Chris Mallet it was an off-shoot of AutoIt
  • AHK is user-friendly for non-programmers but is also used by programmers as it “hooks” into Windows & windows programs very well
  • The core language is very descriptive and typically isn’t too hard to grasp
  • Scripts are easily “compiled” into an executable which can be easily shared
  • You do not need to install AutoHotkey to run it. (It can be run from a thumb-drive)

What can AutoHotkey do?

You can automate virtually anything on a Windows computer!  Here are some uses:

  • HotStrings: think text expansion on your phone or spell-check in MS Word
  • HotKeys: Launch programs with a click of a button
  • Files & Folders: Manipulate, read, move, delete etc.
  • Automate programs : Outlook, Word, Excel, SPSS, VLC, Adobe, etc.
  • Connect to Windows API: Programmatically affect Windows & other programs
  • Web Scrape: Reliably download data from webpages &/or manipulate /complete forms
  • Web Service APIs: Many vendors allow you to query their services
  • Create GUIs: Simplify interacting with scripts by creating a GUI to manipulate
  • Regular Expressions: use pattern matching on text files to extract or re-arrange the text
  • Audio & Image Manipulation: Screen clipping, OCR, extract audio, Video recording, etc.
  • So much more!!!

AutoHotkey Resources

Installation of AutoHotkey

Go here and download the current version of AutoHotkey https://www.autohotkey.com/download/

During installation, we recommend installing the Unicode 32-bit version of AutoHotkey

Installing a Default AutoHotkey Editor

AutoHotkey code is “plain text” and pretty easy to read

Having said that, using an editor / IDE, instead of notepad, is very helpful!

Below are links to the three most popular AHK editors.  Are all equally good as are many others).  For our demonstration we are going to use SciTE (pronounced ‘sight’)

  • SciTE4AutoHotkey  is a great editor for AutoHotkey.  Here are a bunch of videos demonstrating how to Customize SciTE
  • AutoHotkey Studio  Great editor specific to AutoHotkey.  Check out the demo in this webinar
  • Notepad ++  Another great editor which is customized for working with AutoHotkey

Before Your First AutoHotkey Script

Before we start coding, here are some basics which will help you

  1. #SingleInstance, Force: Put in all scripts. This Forces 1 instance of the script
  2. The Green icon with white H   in system tray shows you the script is running
  3. Every time you make changes to your script, you need to Reload / Launch it for the changes to take affect
  4. Frequent Modifier keys (for HotKeys) are: ^=Control #=Windows +=Shift  !=Alt
  5. Frequent Special Characters (for HotStrings) are:#,!,+,;  Wrap them with {}
    1. For a New Line, use `n, for a tab use `t

 

Your First AutoHotkey Script

Hotkey

Copy & Paste to Excel

Troubleshooting & Debugging

  • Watch our AutoHotkey webinar on Troubleshooting & Debugging (or join a future webinar and ask questions in the second hour)
  • Work through our HotStrings Udemy course
  • Is script running / Green icon with white H in system tray
  • If Green H Icon, Restart script
  • Double-click icon & look at: last lines run, Variables & their contents, Hotkeys & their methods, Key history
  • Close all other scripts & programs & retry
  • If still not working, start using msgbox to “walk through” the script
  • Try using ListVars & ListLines
  • Read documentation on specific command/function you’re having issue on. Search forum/StackOverflow for examples
  • Try running your script as Admin
  • Temporarily turn-off UAC (User Account Control)
  • Is your issue after the Auto-Execute Section?
  • If Context-sensitive, remove context sensitivity & run general
  • Reboot the computer (hey, it’s Windows…)
  • Search the AutoHotkey Forum, Stack Overflow for similar issues
  • Is the problem consistent & repeatable?
  • Does it happen on other computers?
  • What, specifically, isn’t working? Break down the part that isn’t working into it’s-own script. Provide specific example to AHK Forum, StackOverflow, or friend after spending at least 30 minutes on it yourself. You can also check Discord for live feedback/support.
  • For SciTE debugging, you can check out videos on this post

 

Great AutoHotkey script to URL Encode/Decode and parse URL parameters

parse url parameters

Working in email marketing and Website design I frequently need to URL Encode / Decode and parse URL parameters.  This short AutoHotkey script makes doing so a breeze!  I watch my colleagues struggle through trying to read encoded URLs or try and find every parameters in a given URL.  With this script you can see just how easy it is to decode a URL and then parse it on the “?” then by every “&” putting them on new lines.

A second usage is to help examine how websites use URL Parameters to serve-up a webpage.  This can be very helpful when doing Web Scraping as you can automate generating the page from a given website.

Video demonstrating how to Parse URL Parameters

AutoHotkey script to Parse URL Parameters

 
#SingleInstance, Force
;***********Encode URL******************* 
!e:: ; alt+e encodes highlighted text
gosub Store_Clipboard_Copy_Selected_Text ;backup original clipboard
Clipboard:=UriEncode(clipboard)  ;convert to URL encoded
Gosub Paste_and_Restore_Stored_Clipboard ;restore clipboard
return

;***********Decode URL******************* 
!d:: ;Alt+d will Decode highlighted text
gosub Store_Clipboard_Copy_Selected_Text
Clipboard:=URiDecode(clipboard) ;Decode URL
Gosub Paste_and_Restore_Stored_Clipboard ;restore clipboard
return

!w:: ;Decode URL and Wrap on parameters
gosub Store_Clipboard_Copy_Selected_Text
clipboard:=URiDecode(clipboard) 
StringReplace,clipboard,clipboard,?,`r`n`t?,All ;Line break and tab indent <strong>parse URL parameters</strong>.
StringReplace,clipboard,clipboard,&,`r`n`t`t&,All ;Line break and double tab indent
Gosub Paste_and_Restore_Stored_Clipboard
return

;****************************** 
;*******Store Clipboard- save for restoring, and copy selected text to clipboard****************
Store_Clipboard_Copy_Selected_Text:
Store:=ClipboardAll  ;Store full version of Clipboard
  clipboard = ; Empty the clipboard
  SendInput, ^c ;changd from Send  11/23
  ClipWait, 1
    If ErrorLevel ;Added errorLevel checking
      {
        MsgBox, No text was sent to clipboard
        Return
      }
return

;**********************restore clipboard*********************************
Paste_and_Restore_Stored_Clipboard:  ;put back original content
SendEvent , ^v
Clipboard:=Store
return


;***********https://autohotkey.com/board/topic/17367-url-encoding-and-decoding-of-special-characters/******************* 
uriDecode(str) {
    Loop
	If RegExMatch(str, "i)(?<=%)[\da-f]{1,2}", hex)
	   StringReplace, str, str, `%%hex%, % Chr("0x" . hex), All
	   Else Break
	Return, str
}

UriEncode(Uri, RE="[0-9A-Za-z]"){
    VarSetCapacity(Var,StrPut(Uri,"UTF-8"),0),StrPut(Uri,&Var,"UTF-8")
    While Code:=NumGet(Var,A_Index-1,"UChar")
    Res.=(Chr:=Chr(Code))~=RE?Chr:Format("%{:02X}",Code)
    Return,Res  
}

If this interested you, you might also want to investigate using web scraping with AHK.