Mastering Windows Automation with AHK 2.0

Section 1: Introduction to AutoHotKey v 2.0......................................................14

History and Background....................................................................14

Evolution to AHK 2.0....................................................................14

Key Features of AHK 2.0.................................................................14

Applications and Uses...................................................................14

Getting Started with AHK 2.0..............................................................15

Hands on AHK v 2.0.0.....................................................................15

AHK Installation.......................................................................15

Step 1: Download AutoHotkey v 2.0.0.....................................................15

Step 2: Install AutoHotkey v 2.0.0........................................................16

Step 3: Configure AutoHotkey v 2.0.0.....................................................16

Additional Tips.....................................................................17

Using the AutoHotkey v 2.0 Program:........................................................17

Creating a Script....................................................................17

Editing a Script.....................................................................18

Running a Script....................................................................18

Tray Icon.........................................................................19

Main Window......................................................................20

Command Line Usage...................................................................20

Portability and Installation................................................................21

Section 2: Quick Start with AHK v 2.0...........................................................22

1. The Basics.........................................................................22

2. Hotkeys & Hotstrings..................................................................22

3. Sending Keystrokes..................................................................24

4. Running Programs & Websites..........................................................24

5. Function Calls with or without Parentheses..................................................25

6. Variables..........................................................................25

7. Objects............................................................................27

8. Other Helpful Goodies.................................................................27

Section 3: The AutoHotkey v 2.0.0 Dashboard.....................................................31

Using the AutoHotkey v 2.0.0 Dashboard.....................................................31

Step 1: Opening the AutoHotkey v 2.0.0 Dashboard..........................................31

Step 2: Exploring the Dashboard Interface.................................................31

Step 3: Creating and Running a Script....................................................32

Step 4: Using Window Spy.............................................................33

Step 5: Compiling a Script.............................................................33

Step 6: Accessing Help and Documentation................................................34

Section 4: The Window Spy Utility..............................................................35

Step-by-Step Instructions................................................................36

Example Usage in a Script...............................................................37

Explanation of the Script:.................................................................37

Section 5: General Conventions and Syntax......................................................38

General Conventions...................................................................38

Examples............................................................................38

Case Sensitivity and Naming...........................................................38

No Typed Variables..................................................................39

Optional Declarations................................................................39

Ignoring Spaces....................................................................39

Line Breaks and Continuation..........................................................39

Comments...........................................................................39

Examples............................................................................40

Single-line Comments................................................................40

Multi-line Comments.................................................................40

Expressions..........................................................................40

Examples............................................................................40

Simple Expressions..................................................................40

Complex Expressions................................................................41

Strings/Text.......................................................................41

Variables............................................................................41

Examples............................................................................41

Using Variables.....................................................................41

Concatenation......................................................................41

Operators............................................................................42

Examples............................................................................42

Unary and Binary Operators............................................................42

Precedence.......................................................................42

Function Calls.........................................................................42

Examples............................................................................43

Calling Functions....................................................................43

Function Call Statements..............................................................43

Control Flow Statements.................................................................43

Examples............................................................................43

If Statements.......................................................................43

Loops............................................................................44

Exception Handling..................................................................44

Challenge 1: Variable and Function Names...................................................44

Solution..........................................................................45

Challenge 2: No Typed Variables...........................................................45

Solution..........................................................................45

Challenge 3: Optional Declarations.........................................................45

Solution..........................................................................45

Challenge 4: Ignoring Spaces.............................................................45

Solution..........................................................................46

Challenge 5: Line Breaks and Continuation...................................................46

Solution..........................................................................46

Challenge 6: Comments.................................................................46

Solution..........................................................................46

Challenge 7: Expressions................................................................47

Solution..........................................................................47

Challenge 8: Using Variables..............................................................47

Solution..........................................................................47

Challenge 9: Operators..................................................................47

Solution..........................................................................47

Challenge 10: Function Calls..............................................................48

Solution..........................................................................48

Challenge 11: Control Flow Statements......................................................48

Solution..........................................................................48

Challenge 12: Exception Handling..........................................................48

Solution..........................................................................48

Section 6: Scripting Along with AHK V 2.0.......................................................50

Introduction..........................................................................50

Script Startup (The Auto-execute Thread).....................................................50

Splitting a Long Line into Shorter Ones......................................................51

Script Library Folders...................................................................51

Convert a Script to an EXE (Ahk2Exe).......................................................51

Passing Command Line Parameters to a Script................................................52

Script File Codepage....................................................................52

Debugging a Script.....................................................................53

Section 7: Variables & Arrays Explained.........................................................54

Clearing Variables.....................................................................54

Retrieving Variable Contents..............................................................54

Using Sub-Expressions..................................................................55

Boolean Values.......................................................................55

Empty Strings.........................................................................55

Literal Strings and Quotes................................................................56

Assigning Results of Expressions..........................................................56

Built-in Variables.......................................................................56

Logical and Comparison Operators.........................................................57

Arrays and Objects.....................................................................57

Handling Special Characters..............................................................57

More About Variables.......................................................................59

Storing Values in Variables...............................................................59

Clearing Variables.....................................................................59

Retrieving Variable Contents..............................................................59

Using Sub-Expressions..................................................................60

Boolean Values.......................................................................61

Empty Strings.........................................................................61

Literal Strings and Quotes................................................................61

Assigning Results of Expressions..........................................................62

Built-in Variables.......................................................................62

Logical and Comparison Operators.........................................................63

Arrays and Objects.....................................................................63

Handling Special Characters..............................................................64

But, what is an array?......................................................................64

Creating an Array......................................................................64

Accessing Array Elements................................................................64

Modifying Array Elements................................................................65

Adding Elements to an Array..............................................................65

Removing Elements from an Array..........................................................65

Looping Through an Array................................................................66

Associative Arrays (Objects)..............................................................66

Accessing Object Properties..............................................................66

Modifying Object Properties...............................................................67

Adding Properties to an Object............................................................67

Removing Properties from an Object........................................................67

Looping Through Object Properties.........................................................68

Multi-Dimensional Arrays.................................................................68

Combining Arrays and Objects............................................................68

Practical Example: Managing a To-Do List....................................................69

Section 8: Hotkeys - Modifier Symbols..........................................................71

Definition & Usage........................................................................71

Dynamic Hotkeys and Named Function Hotkeys..................................................71

Dynamic Hotkeys......................................................................71

Detailed Examples of Dynamic Hotkeys:...................................................72

1. Creating Dynamic Hotkeys:..........................................................72

2. Modifying Dynamic Hotkeys:.........................................................73

3. Removing Dynamic Hotkeys:.........................................................73

Named Function Hotkeys................................................................74

1. Creating Named Function Hotkeys:.....................................................74

2. Combining Multiple Named Function Hotkeys:.............................................74

Practical Use Cases....................................................................75

Summary of Benefits.................................................................75

More Examples of Dynamic Hotkeys........................................................76

1. Context-Sensitive Hotkeys:...........................................................76

2. Creating and Deleting Hotkeys on the Fly:................................................78

More Examples of Named Function Hotkeys................................................79

1. Direct Function Assignments:.........................................................79

2. Multiple Hotkeys for the Same Function:.................................................80

Advanced Use Cases...................................................................80

1. User-Configurable Hotkeys:..........................................................80

2. Mode-Specific Hotkeys:.............................................................81

Practice Section - Hotkeys - Modifier Symbols Definition & Usage...................................84

Hotkey Modifier Symbols.................................................................84

Section 9:  Sending Keystrokes................................................................90

Key Points...........................................................................90

Basics of Sending Keystrokes:..........................................................90

Rules of Quoted Strings:..............................................................90

Sending Key Combinations:............................................................91

Hotkeys vs. Send:...................................................................91

Blind Mode:........................................................................91

Modes and Options:.................................................................92

Timing and Delays:..................................................................92

Sending Large Amounts of Text:........................................................92

Advanced Usage Tips...................................................................93

ControlSend for Background Applications:.................................................93

Adjusting Send Modes:...............................................................93

Error Handling:.....................................................................94

Script Efficiency:....................................................................94

Section 10: Scripts: Multiple Scripts in a Single File................................................95

Here's the analysis of the above AHK v 2.0.0 scripts:............................................96

Script Overview.......................................................................96

Detailed Breakdown.................................................................96

Example: Accessing Google.com Search........................................................98

Explanation:..........................................................................98

Section 11: Managing Windows...............................................................100

Key Points..........................................................................100

Examples...........................................................................101

Basic Window Management:

AHK Code

; Open a new Notepad window and move it................................................101

Using Window Class:

AHK Code

; Open Notepad and manipulate using its class.............................................101

Using Process Name:

AHK Code

; Open Notepad and manipulate using the process name......................................101

Using Process ID:

AHK Code

; Open Notepad and manipulate using its process ID.........................................102

Handling Timeouts:

AHK Code

; Open Notepad with a timeout for waiting.................................................102

Using Last Found Window:

AHK Code

; Manipulate the last found window......................................................102

Moving Active Window with Hotkeys:

AHK Code

; Move the active window by 10 pixels with arrow keys........................................103

Deep We Go!...........................................................................103

Key Points..........................................................................103

Advanced Window Manipulation:.......................................................103

Advanced Identification:..............................................................104

Handling Multiple Windows:...........................................................104

Interacting with Controls:.............................................................104

Window Styles and Extended Styles:....................................................104

Examples...........................................................................104

Example 1: Setting a Window to Always Be on Top.............................................104

Example 2: Changing Window Title........................................................104

Example 3: Setting Transparent Color......................................................105

Example 4: Using Multiple Criteria for Identification.............................................105

Example 5: Handling Multiple Windows.....................................................105

Example 6: Interacting with Controls.......................................................105

Example 7: Retrieving Text from a Control...................................................106

Example 8: Changing Window Styles.......................................................106

Example 9: Changing Window Extended Styles...............................................106

Advanced Usage Tips.....................................................................106

Section 12: Alphabetical Function Index........................................................108

Key Points.............................................................................108

Math Functions:......................................................................108

String Functions:......................................................................108

File Functions:.......................................................................108

GUI and Window Management:...........................................................109

Clipboard Functions:...................................................................109

Examples...........................................................................109

Using Math Functions:

AHK Code

num := -5........................................................................109

String Manipulation:

AHK Code

str := hello world..................................................................109

File Operations:

AHK Code

FileAppend(Hello, World!, example.txt)...................................................110

Creating a Simple GUI:

AHK Code

gui := GuiCreate().....................................................................110

Window Management:

AHK Code

WinActivate(Untitled - Notepad).......................................................110

Clipboard Handling:

AHK Code

clipboard := Hello, Clipboard!.........................................................110

Section 13: Basic and Advanced Object Oriented Programming......................................111

Understanding Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)..............................................111

Key Concepts of OOP:.................................................................111

OOP in AutoHotkey v 2.0.0..............................................................111

Creating a Class...................................................................111

Creating an Object..................................................................112

Inheritance.......................................................................112

Encapsulation.....................................................................113

Polymorphism.....................................................................113

Practical Example: Simple Bank Account Management.............................................114

Advanced Object-Oriented Programming Concepts in AutoHotkey v 2.0..............................116

Properties and Methods..............................................................116

Class Methods vs. Instance Methods....................................................117

Inheritance and Method Overriding......................................................117

Encapsulation with Private Methods and Properties..........................................118

Using Constructors and Destructors.....................................................119

Polymorphism with Interfaces..........................................................121

Section 14: GUI Objects.....................................................................123

Creating and Managing GUI Windows:........................................................123

Common Methods:.......................................................................123

Properties:.............................................................................123

Examples..............................................................................124

Creating a Simple GUI:

AHK Code

MyGui := Gui(, Simple Input Example).....................................................124

Using Different Controls and Methods:

AHK Code

MyGui := Gui(, Example GUI)...........................................................124

Setting Window Options:

AHK Code

MyGui := Gui(, Window with Options)......................................................125

Handling Window Events:

AHK Code

MyGui := Gui().......................................................................125

Modifying Window Appearance:

AHK Code

MyGui := Gui(, Customized Window)......................................................125

Additional Remarks....................................................................126

Article 15: AHK Keys for the Keyboard, Mouse, and Controller.......................................127

Mouse.............................................................................127

Keyboard...........................................................................127

Game Controller (Gamepad, Joystick, etc.).....................................................129

Special Keys and Custom Keys..............................................................129

Example Usage......................................................................129

Explanation:.........................................................................131

Section 16: Compiling an AHK Script..........................................................133

The AHK V 2.0 Compiler Ahk2EXE for AutoHotkey.............................................133

Download and Install AutoHotkey v 2.0.0:....................................................133

Prepare Your Script:...................................................................133

Locate the Compiler:...................................................................134

Open Ahk2Exe:......................................................................134

Compile Your Script:...................................................................134

Verify the Executable:..................................................................134

Section 17: AHK v 2.0 Weekly Bootcamp........................................................135

Day 1: Getting Started..................................................................135

Day 2: Hotkeys and Hotstrings............................................................135

Day 3: Sending Keystrokes..............................................................136

Day 4: Running Programs and Websites....................................................137

Day 5: