AutoHotKey is a scripting language that has caught on in a big way because it enables large boosts in productivity often with only a few lines of code. This is a list of 10 pre-built scripts I find invaluable–combined they automate the majority of my administrative tasks.

To run any of the scripts, you’ll need to download and install AutoHotKey first. Also, I’ve only tested these scripts in Windows XP.

The list

10. Alarm Clock – to remind you of important moments during the day.

9. Joystick Mapping – gamers will appreciate this feature, transposing Joystick inputs to keyboard commands allows you to control games without keeping your hands glued to the keyboard. I may post a detailed tutorial on this later, it requires some customization and mild programming.

8. Minimize to Tray – send any application to the Windows XP tray. Incredibly useful if you have a couple of applications that always run, but don’t need to take active taskbar space. Has the capability to remember minimization rules for specific applications.

7. Tetris – because everybody needs a break once in a while to keep their morale up.

6. MyNotes – add notes to any file on your system to keep track of its original purpose. It’s a great way to create a basic metadata structure.

5. Swept Away – minimizes inactive windows after a user-specified amount of time, it keeps your workspace uncluttered and focused.

4. Work Break Timer, Task Logger, ScreenCapture – record your breaks and monitors how well you’re accomplishing tasks. This script takes screenshots periodically so you can check in with yourself later to see if you stayed on task.

3. Universal AutoCorrect with AutoHotKey and Wikipedia – provides a set of corrections for often misspelled words that works cross-application.

2. Making the INSERT Key Useful Instead of Annoying – replace the insert key’s default overstrike/insert toggle function with a clipboard aggregator action. That means you can keep adding more text to the clipboard just by pushing insert. It’s useful for pulling together lots of text.

1. Texter – a text replacement tool created by LifeHacker that allows you to create shortcuts usable in a myriad of places every day. As an example, consider typing “sig” followed by the [Enter] key to add your primary signature to an e-mail. It’s also possible to paste in clipboard data (using %c variable) and place the cursor (%|) when creating a new shortcut.

I use it to store frequently used conference call information, various folders I’m always accessing in Windows Explorer, and shortcuts for URIs. Firefox has built in keyword support but using Texter enables those shortcuts in all the browsers installed on my system.

Related:

Entry was posted on Monday, February 4th, 2008 at 6:35 pm under Open source, Technology, Tips and advice.

Read more entries by Matt Jansen.
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