AutoHotkey

I love macros. I love being able to have the computer quickly do repetitive tasks for me. Early on I learned to use macros in Excel and when I started using Access I began using more and more macros in that program.  Soon, however, I realized that I needed something more, something independent of just one program. I needed something that could even switch between programs.  That's when I discovered AutoHotkey.

If you aren't familiar with AutoHotkey you owe it to yourself to check it out. It's an open-source macro and automation program for Windows. As it says on the website, "It is driven by a scripting language that was initially aimed at providing keyboard shortcuts, otherwise known as hotkeys, that over time evolved into a full-fledged scripting language."

Features

The scripting language gives you a lot of options. In addition to sending keystrokes, the feature I first wanted, you can check to see if certain windows are open and switch to them, conditionalize steps based on the window being open or wait until that window opens. You can minimize and maximize windows. You can change the transparency of windows.You can also control the mouse with the position being relative to a window or the screen. You can move the mouse and click either button. You can change the system volume and even play sound files. The last option is particularly helpful when you want to be sure that certain steps are taking place, that you hit the right hotkey.

I have been amazed at what I've been able to write and accomplish with AutoHotkey. Just about every time I've thought, "I wonder if I could do that with AutoHotkey?" I've been able to make it happen. I can't imagine how much time I've saved at repetitive tasks by being able to use it.

Little did I know when I started with it that I was beginning to learn a scripting language. In addition to the helpfulness of the program itself, I've also learned from writing script in it.

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