Editing AutoHotkey (section)

==Features==
AutoHotkey scripts can be used to launch [[Computer program|programs]], open documents, and emulate [[keystrokes]] or [[Mouse (computing)|mouse]] clicks and movements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Tutorial.htm |title=AutoHotkey Tutorial: Macro and Hotkey Creation |publisher=Autohotkey.com |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> They can also assign, retrieve, and manipulate [[Variable (programming)|variables]], run [[Program loops|loops]], and manipulate [[Window (computing)|windows]], [[Computer file|files]], and [[Directory (file systems)|folders]]. They can be triggered by a [[Keyboard shortcut|hotkey]], such as a script that opens an [[internet]] [[Web browser|browser]] when the [[User (computing)|user]] presses {{key press|Ctrl|Alt|I}} on the keyboard. Keyboard keys can also be remapped and disabled—for example, so that pressing {{key press|Ctrl|M}} produces an [[Dash|em dash]] in the [[active window]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/Remap.htm |title=Remapping Keys and Buttons |publisher=Autohotkey.com |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> AutoHotkey also allows "hotstrings" that automatically replace certain text as it is typed, such as assigning the string "btw" to produce the text "by the way", or the text "%o" to produce "percentage of".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Hotstrings.htm |title=Hotstrings and Auto-replace (similar to AutoText and AutoCorrect) |publisher=Autohotkey.com |date=2005-01-09 |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> Scripts can also be set to run automatically at computer startup, with no keyboard action required—for example, for performing file management at a set interval.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://autohotkey.com/docs/FAQ.htm#Startup |title=Hotkeys, Hotstrings, and Remapping |publisher=Autohotkey.com |access-date=2018-05-23}}</ref>

More complex tasks can be achieved with custom data entry forms ([[Graphical user interface|GUI windows]]), working with the [[Windows Registry|system registry]], or using the Windows [[Application programming interface|API]] by calling functions from [[Dynamic-link library|DLLs]]. The scripts can be [[Compiler|compiled]] into standalone [[executable]] files that can be run on other computers without AutoHotkey installed. The [[C++]] source code can be compiled with [[Microsoft Visual Studio Express|Visual Studio Express]].

AutoHotkey allows memory access through pointers, as in [[C (programming language)|C]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autohotkey.com/changelog/ |title=AutoHotkey Changes and New Features, v1.0.47 - June 19, 2007 |publisher=Autohotkey.com |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref>

Some uses for AutoHotkey:
* Remapping the keyboard, such as from [[QWERTY]] to [[Dvorak Simplified Keyboard|Dvorak]] and other alternative [[keyboard layout]]s
* Using shortcuts to type frequently-used filenames and other phrases
* Typing punctuation not available on the keyboard, such as [[Quotation mark#Curved quotes within and across applications|curved quotes]] ('''“'''…'''”''')
* Typing other non-keyboard characters, such as the sign {{char|×}} used for dimensional measurement (e.g. 10′×12′)
* Controlling the mouse cursor with a keyboard or [[joystick]]
* Opening programs, documents, and websites with simple keystrokes
* Adding a [[signature block|signature]] to [[e-mail]], [[Internet forum|message boards]], etc.
* Monitoring a system and automatically closing unwanted programs
* Scheduling an automatic [[Reminder software|reminder]], system scan or [[backup]]
* Automating repetitive tasks
* Filling out forms automatically
* [[Software prototyping|Prototyping]] applications before implementing them in other, more time-consuming programming languages