Editing AutoHotkey

{{Short description|Automation-focused scripting language for Windows}}
{{for|the use of AutoHotkey by Wikipedia editors|:Wikipedia:AutoHotkey|selfref=y}}
{{Infobox software
| name = AutoHotkey
| logo = Modern AutoHotkey Logo (no text).svg
| screenshot = 
| caption = 
| developer = Chris Mallett, Steve Gray
| released = {{Start date and age|2003|11|10}} (Chris Mallet)<ref name="2003to2004changelog">{{cite web|url=http://www.autohotkey.com/changelog/2004.htm |title=AutoHotkey Changelog for Years 2003-2004 |publisher=Autohotkey.com |access-date=2011-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104142142/http://www.autohotkey.com/changelog/2004.htm |archive-date=2011-11-04 }}</ref><br/>{{Start date and age|2008|7|18}} (Steve Gray)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/AHKL_ChangeLog.htm#L4|title=Changes & New Features &#124; AutoHotkey|website=www.autohotkey.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/Lexikos/AutoHotkey_L|title=Lexikos/AutoHotkey_L|website=GitHub}}</ref>
| latest_release_version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}
| operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows]]
| genre = [[Scripting language]] [[Automation]] [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] [[Utility software|utility]]
| license = [[GPLv2]]<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/license.htm| title=Software License| publisher={{PAGENAME}}| accessdate=2022-06-08| quote=GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2, June 1991}}</ref>
| website = {{official URL}}
}}

'''AutoHotkey''' is a [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source]] custom [[scripting language]] for [[Windows|Microsoft Windows]], primarily designed to provide easy [[keyboard shortcut]]s or hotkeys, fast [[Macro (computer science)#Keyboard and mouse macros|macro]]-creation and [[software]] [[automation]] to allow users of most computer skill levels to automate repetitive tasks in any Windows application. It can easily extend or modify user interfaces (for example, overriding the default Windows [[control key]] commands with their [[Emacs]] equivalents).<ref>{{cite web|author=Contact Erica Sadun: Comment |url=http://lifehacker.com/software/software/download-of-the-day-autohotkey-118270.php |title=Ericasadun 2005 Life Hacker |publisher=Lifehacker.com |date=2005-08-19 |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> The installation package includes an extensive help file; web-based documentation is also available.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/AutoHotkey.htm|title=Quick Reference &#124; AutoHotkey|website=www.autohotkey.com}}</ref>

==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

==History==
The first public [[beta version|beta]] of AutoHotkey was released on November 10, 2003,<ref name="2003to2004changelog" /> after author Chris Mallett's proposal to integrate [[hotkey]] support into [[AutoIt]] v2 failed to generate response from the AutoIt community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=20176#20176 |title=Author Chris Mallett's post on the AutoHotkey Forums |publisher=Autohotkey.com |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://paperlined.org/apps/autohotkey/autoit_and_autohotkey.html |title=An AutoIt / AutoHotkey nonfunctional comparison |publisher=Paperlined.org |access-date=2011-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208181846/http://paperlined.org/apps/autohotkey/autoit_and_autohotkey.html |archive-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mallett built a new program from scratch basing the syntax on AutoIt v2 and using AutoIt v3 for some commands and the compiler.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=19710#19710 |title=Author Chris Mallett's post on the AutoHotkey Forums |publisher=Autohotkey.com |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> Later, AutoIt v3 switched from [[GPL]] to [[closed source]] because of "other projects repeatedly taking AutoIt code" and "setting themselves up as competitors".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7204 |title=Licensing Opinions - AutoIt Forums |publisher=Autoitscript.com |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref>

In 2010, AutoHotkey v1.1 (originally called AutoHotkey_L) became the platform for ongoing development of AutoHotkey.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63474 |title=Forum post by Chris, announcing AutoHotkey_L now main platform |publisher=Autohotkey.com |access-date=2011-12-02}}</ref> In late 2012, it became the official branch.<ref name="ourhistory">{{cite web |url=http://autohotkey.com/foundation/history.html |title=Our History |publisher=The AutoHotkey Foundation |date=2014-05-26 |access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref> Another port of the program is AutoHotkey.dll.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hotkeyit.github.io/v2/docs/AutoHotkeyDll.htm |title=AutoHotekey.dll Module |website=github.io |access-date=2017-05-13}}</ref> A well known fork of the program is AutoHotkey_H,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/HotKeyIt/ahkdll-v1-release |title=Hotkeyit's AutoHotkey_H fork |website=GitHub}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/thqby/AutoHotkey_H |title=Thqby's AutoHotkey_H fork |website=GitHub}}</ref> which has its own subforum on the main site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewforum.php?f=65&sid=0c0df0bbedf6f0f896d40ff67119d7c0 |title=AutoHotkey_H subforum |website=AutoHotkey.com}}</ref>

===Version 2===
In July 2021, the first AutoHotkey v2 beta was released.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.autohotkey.com/v2/ |title=AutoHotkey v2|publisher=AutoHotkey.com |access-date=2021-07-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=AutoHotkey v2.0-beta.1 - AutoHotkey Community|url=https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=93011|access-date=2022-01-11|website=www.autohotkey.com}}</ref> The first release candidate was released on November 20, 2022, with the full release of v2.0.0 planned later in the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=110696 |title=AutoHotkey v2.0-rc.1|publisher=AutoHotkey.com |access-date=2022-11-20}}</ref>
On December 20, 2022, version 2.0.0 was officially released.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=111779 |title=AutoHotkey v2.0.0|publisher=AutoHotkey.com |access-date=2022-12-20}}</ref> On January 22, 2023, AutoHotkey v2 became the official primary version. AutoHotkey v1.1 became legacy and no new features were implemented, but this version was still supported by the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=24&p=503457#p503457 |title=AutoHotkey v2 Official Release Announcement|website=AutoHotkey.com}}</ref> On March 16, 2024, the final update of AutoHotkey v1.1 was released. AutoHotkey v1.1 has now reached its end of life.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=127382 |title=End of Life: v1.1|website=AutoHotkey.com}}</ref>

==Examples==
The following script searches for a particular word or phrase using [[Google Search|Google]]. After the user copies text from any application to the [[Clipboard (computing)|clipboard]], pressing the configurable hotkey {{key press|Win|G}} opens the user's default [[web browser]] and performs the search.

<syntaxhighlight lang="autohotkey">
#g::Run "https://www.google.com/search?q=" . A_Clipboard
</syntaxhighlight>

The following script defines a hotstring that enables the user to type ''afaik'' in any program and, when followed by an ending character, automatically replace it with "as far as I know":

<syntaxhighlight lang="autohotkey">
::afaik::as far as I know
</syntaxhighlight>

== User-contributed features ==

AutoHotKey extensions, interops and inline script libraries are available for use with and from other programming languages, including:

{{div col}}

* [[Visual Basic .NET|VB]]/[[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] ([[Net Framework|.NET]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/23884-net-framework-interop/|title=.NET Framework Interop - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/40690-ahk-lua-interop-stdlib-proof-of-concept/|title=AHK + LUA Interop (stdlib), proof of concept - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* [[Lisp (programming language)|Lisp]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/39620-ahklisp-lisp-on-win32-with-cffi-sbcl-and-autohotkey/|title=ahklisp: lisp on win32 with cffi, sbcl, and autohotkey - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* [[Embeddable Common Lisp|ECL]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/33182-ahkecl-embedded-common-lisp-in-ahk/|title=ahkecl : Embedded common lisp in ahk - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* Embedded [[machine code]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/19483-machine-code-functions-bit-wizardry/|title=Machine code functions: Bit Wizardry - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* [[VBScript]]/[[JScript]] ([[Windows Scripting Host]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/19963-embedded-windows-scripting-vbscript-jscript-and-com/|title=Embedded Windows Scripting (VBScript & JScript) and COM - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>

{{div col end}}

Other major plugins enable support for:

{{div col}}

* [[Aspect-oriented programming]]
** Function hooks<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/36560-function-hooks/|title=function hooks - Suggestions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* [[Component Object Model|COM]] wrappers<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/21142-com-standard-library/|title=COM Standard Library - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* Console interaction<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/96895-libcon-autohotkey-library-for-console-support/|title=LibCon - AutoHotkey Library For Console Support - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* Dynamic code generation<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/23984-lowlevel-dynamic-code/|title=LowLevel & dynamic code - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* [[Human interface device|HIDs]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autohotkey.net/~Micha/HIDsupport/Autohotkey.html|title=Human Interface Device(HID) Support}}</ref>
* [[Internet Explorer]] automation<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/27950-automation-ie7-navigation-and-scripting-with-tabs/|title=Automation IE7 Navigation and Scripting with Tabs - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] creation<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/738-smartgui-creator/|title=:: SmartGUI Creator :: - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* [[Synthetic programming]]<ref name="auto"/>
* [[Web service]]s<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/33020-sparrow-ahk-webserver-w-ahk-in-html-support-sources-incl/|title=Sparrow: AHK WebServer w/ AHK in HTML support (sources incl) - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>
* Windows event hooks<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://autohotkey.com/board/topic/32662-tool-wineventhook-messages/|title=[tool] WinEventHook Messages - Scripts and Functions|website=AutoHotkey Community}}</ref>

{{div col end}}

==Malware==
When AutoHotkey is used to make standalone software for distribution, that software must include the part of AutoHotkey itself that understands and executes AutoHotkey scripts, as it is an [[interpreted language]]. Inevitably, some [[malware]] has been written using AutoHotkey.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cybereason.com/blog/fauxpersky-credstealer-malware-autohotkey-kaspersky-antivirus|title=Fauxpersky: CredStealer malware written in AutoHotKey masquerades as Kaspersky Antivirus, spreading through infecting USB drives|last=Research|first=Cybereason Nocturnus|access-date=2018-03-29}}</ref> When [[Antivirus software|anti-malware]] products attempt to earmark items of malware that have been programmed using AutoHotkey, they sometimes falsely identify AutoHotkey as the culprit rather than the actual malware.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [[AutoIt]] (for Windows)
* [[AutoKey]] (for Linux)
* [[Automator (software)|Automator]] (for [[Macintosh]])
* [[Bookmarklet]] (for web browsers)
* [[iMacros]] (for Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer)
* [[Keyboard Maestro]] (for Macintosh)
* [[KiXtart]] (for Windows)
* [[Macro Express]] (for Windows)
* [[Winbatch]] (for Windows)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.autohotkey.com/foundation/ AutoHotkey Foundation LLC]
* [https://the-Automator.com The Automator Community and Resources]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Autohotkey}}
[[Category:Automation software]]
[[Category:Free system software]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in C++]]
[[Category:Windows-only free software]]
[[Category:Software using the GNU General Public License]]