Cool software.

[timmymayes]

Even though this is about software I don't feel it belongs in the technology section, at worst in both.

I have some software that some of you might find usefull. Its called autohot key. I initially got it to use for rearanging hotkeys for video games but it can be used for so much more.

Here's a link: AutoHotkey - Free Mouse and Keyboard Macro Program with Hotkeys and AutoText

Whats cool about it is it can be used to create hotkeys for specific programs easily. For example if I would like to make it so that my windows key + n openend notebook all I put this command in my default script:

#n::Run Notepad

Quite simple and powerful. If you want to remap a key like make it so that when you press a it types z you do this:

a::z

If you want F1 to open www.stevepavlina.com

F1::Run www.stevepavlina.com

It can even do multiple things with one key, a macro:

F1::
Run ww.stevepavlina.com
Run Notepad
return

The run function works with anyprogram you can call from the windows run prompt (winkey + r). However ifyou wanna run winamp:

F1::Run C:\Program Files\Winamp\Winamp.exe

If you'd like to bind an email signature to a key

#s::
Send Sincerely,{Enter}John Smith
return

If youa re a more advanced windows user with a little understanding of how scripting works in general this program is very powerful:

IfWinExist Untitled - Notepad
{
WinActivate
}
else
{
Run Notepad
WinWait Untitled - Notepad
WinActivate
}

That script will check to see if notepad is running and if it is it will switch to it, if it is not it starts it.

Or create a msg box for user input:

MsgBox, 4, , Would you like to continue?
IfMsgBox, No
return
; Otherwise, the user picked yes. This is a comment
MsgBox You pressed YES.

Simple stuff really.

Its super powerfull you can manipulate files and folders, use variables, pull from the clipboard or send to it, repeat actions several times, it also has a nifty mouse capture feature that allows you to record mouse movements and clicks to replay on a button press. It even has two modes for the recording, one is interprogram meaning all recordings are within that program only, which was usefull for my video game. And they also have one that is global and would be able to switch between different windows and programs.

There are also tons of user released scripts for common stuff. There are mouse gesture sets, smart dragging for windows (you don't have to click the title bar to drag them click anywhere).

This is the ultimate in hotkey usage softare and its totally free. If you find your self doing any task in windows 5 or more times why not set it up to be automated? Have a program that you run frequently but doesn't have a built in scheduler? This is your answer.

Hope you guys like it,
Cheers
Timothy

[RT Wolf]

^ That's awesome. I've recently been using a program called Launchy, which is similar but that looks way more powerful. Still, I'd recommend checking out Launchy. Thanks!

[ditto]

I second both of those.

[ZenDude]

For Mac users I can recommend Quiksilver, I've never used it (I have a PC) but there's almost a cult surrounding this program. It's that good.

Autohotkey indeed is extremely powerful.

[Milo Riano]

Cool, I can't find time to write or search for one. Something I would need in the near future.

[dpvtank]

I too must recommend Launchy. Its such a useful little application I don't know how I got by without it.

[andrew]

Yes, quicksilver is absolutely AMAZING. It's the first thing I ever install on any mac. It can do soooo much more than launch programs though, but that seems about all I use it for.

[Alvin]

I love Launchy. AutoHotKey (and Launchy) I read about from Lifehacker but seems a tad more complicated.

[ditto]

Another useful tool I use is WikidPad.

Originally Posted by WikidPad Homepage

WikidPad is a wiki-like notebook for storing your thoughts, ideas, todo lists, contacts, or anything else you can think of to write down. What makes WikidPad different from other notepad applications is the ease with which you can cross-link your information. Links in a wiki are created by typing in WikiWords. A WikiWord is any case word (also called CamelCase) typed into the editor. TodoList or JohnDoe are example WikiWords. The term wiki means "quick" in Hawaiian, and wikis are all about quickly linking your information together. Wikis are not a new concept, in fact there are many web based wiki servers available.

[soulusion]

you might want to try ac´tivAid as wellac'tivAid. it is autohotkey combined with some predifined scripts that enhance the usability of winxp. the site of this link is in german but after download you can change the language to english.

it´s very good imho and you can give it a try. theres also a portable version of it - so you dont need to worry about registrytrash.

[alexander.kharlamov]

Question to all of you who use these programs... by your estimate, how much time does it actually save? I used to have a similar program a while ago, and I noticed I was actually wasting a lot of time thinking of new ways to use the program and invent cool shortcuts

And compared to the actual time I saved by installing these shortcuts, I wasted a lot more time creating them

So I'm just curious.. you guys had different experiences?

[andrew]

I save a lot of time and space in my dock. I don't need to go anywhere to launch a program or have the icons in my dock. I simple ctrl space and type the first letter or two of the program I want and hit return. It's a god send.

[Alvin]

I also use a dock emulator for the PC, it's a wonder. It's not only pretty eye candy, I set it to appear if I mouse over it (even if it's under another window) and I can click direct to any other program without going to the Start menu or desktop.

Find out more here:

Mac Emulation Articles » Emulation Manuals - Chapter 5: The Dock

[b5fish]

Sounds useful, but if your main use for it is to run programs, I prefer my solution.
I make a folder on my desktop, and all I store in this folder are links to things that I run often.
Firefox, MSN, QQ (Chinese MSN), Windows Explorer, 千千静听 (Chinese WinAmp), MS Paint, AVG, Spybot, a link to my download folder, Notepad, and then all of my documents in a subfolder.
My Firefox is also set up with a custom homepage, showing all of the links I use the most frequently, and a few different search bars.
To write the homepage you need to know HTML, but all you need to know to make the folder is how to make shortcuts (hold Ctrl+Shift while dragging a file), then drag the folder onto your status bar.

Hopefully that helps someone who wants a way to tweak their efficiency without running yet another program.

[Saidin]

I've been using Slickrun (for windows) for a long time. It's as powerful as it looks simple.

You asign a shortcut (mine's alt+space) to the program. It pops up as a single line command line. You then type a name you assigned to any program or an url and enter to launch it.

The big advantage is that you don't have to remember any hotkeys, you just remember a name that's logical for you. You can even assign multiple names to one program and multiple programs to one name.

This program has been my single biggest computer time saver.

[timmymayes]

Originally Posted by Saidin

I've been using Slickrun (for windows) for a long time. It's as powerful as it looks simple.

You asign a shortcut (mine's alt+space) to the program. It pops up as a single line command line. You then type a name you assigned to any program or an url and enter to launch it.

The big advantage is that you don't have to remember any hotkeys, you just remember a name that's logical for you. You can even assign multiple names to one program and multiple programs to one name.

This program has been my single biggest computer time saver.

It wouldn't be too much trouble to write a script to do the same thing with Autohotkey. It has a built in gui interface. The thing I find most usefull is that I can automate mouse movements and clicks. If you have any tasks you repeat often its a huge time saver. A practical example is ripping cd's. I often go on cd buying splurges and buy upwards of 10+ then rip them immediatly to my pc. Well my favorite encoder doesn't have any automation (other than the ability to set up automatic directories based on the cddb entries for artist/title/album etc. Well I have a script that will automatically decect an audio cd and open the ripping program it will then automatically rip it. Pretty nifty for me. I can spend ripping time reading forums or whatever else I want.

Cheers,
Timothy

[JKuehl]

I also use Launchy since a friend of mine brought it to my attention - and i haven´t seen my start-menu, program files or games folder for about half a year ;=)

you can also add extensions like .mp3 to its index - although it could decrease speed of launchy seriously if you have way to much mp3s on your hdd.