How to Skyrocket Your Windows Productivity with AutoHotKey

So much has been written about this automation software that this article seems almost anti-climatic. But every time I launch AutoHotkey, I can’t help but figure how to use this free software to automate more of my repetitive tasks. If this is your first time with the software, let me help you get acquainted with it because with a few days of usage it could prove to be indispensable as you start shaving off seconds and minutes off your regular Windows tasks.

AutoHotkey is a 1.95 MB download. The free and Open Source software uses a custom scripting language that enables you to modify the way you launch any Windows program. As the name suggests, AutoHotkey uses keyboard shortcuts (and also mouse-clicks) to handle Windows events quickly. And don’t worry – the learning curve isn’t steep at all. It starts with a sample script which you can quickly scan when you launch the program.

Hotkeys and Hotstrings Are Shortcut Keys

Hotkeys  are shortcut keys on your keyboard which trigger a specific action. Modifiers (like the Win key) can be used with hotkeys. For e.g. Win+F can be used to launch Firefox.

We write a particular hotkey in a plain text file which is called a Script. Scripts are text files that are saved with an .ahk  extension in a local folder. When we run the AutoHotkey program these scripts get loaded and perform the special actions which we have specified in them.

A script file may also contain hotstrings. Hotstrings are mainly used to expand abbreviations as you type them (auto-replace). For instance, typing ys will expand it to Yours Sincerely. They can also be used to launch any scripted action. In this respect, they are similar to hotkeys except that they are typically composed of more than one character (that is, a string).

Let’s Look At A Basic Hotkey Script

The above screen is an example of a very simple AutoHotkey script. The symbol # is a modifier – in this case the Windows key. The :: symbol starts a hotstring that takes activates the Google URL. So, when you press the Windows key and the spacebar, AutoHotkey activates the default browser and opens the Google search page. The simple code was written in a new Notepad text file and saved with the .ahk extension. When you click the script file, AutoHotkey is activated and it appears as an icon in your system tray waiting for you to press the shortcut keys that you have assigned.

You can therefore create a combination of hotkeys and hotstrings to handle all your regular PC functions. For instance:

1. Open your favorite folders.
2. Open your bookmarked websites.
3. Open specific documents.
4. Do quick web searches in any search engine(s) of your choice.
5. Open any application with a keyboard shortcut.
6. Set abbreviations that you use to expand into full length regular expressions in emails and documents.
7. You can use the same auto-replace feature to set different signatures that can be inserted with just abbreviations.
8. You can populate forms with standard expressions for your contact details.
9. Plus, AutoHotkey also recognizes feedback from game controllers and mouse. They too can be remapped with shortcuts.
10. AutoHotkey and its Macro recorder (AutoScriptWriter) can be used to record a sequence of steps as you perform them, and then these can be played back on demand when you need to repeat the same actions again.

The ten features above are just the regular ways you can use AutoHotkey. The potential to set shortcuts and boost your productivity is almost limitless with this free program. But where do you start?

No Coding Knowledge Required

Start with the first demo text file that is launched when you start the program for the first time. AutoHotkey has a comprehensive Tutorial and Help files. Then there is the active Forum that helps you get into the nitty-gritty of the tool.

I hope this introduction has piqued your interest enough to go and install AutoHotkey. Do tell us your impressions about this automation software and program launcher.