AutoHotkey Community

Introduction

Since using WinAPI requires general knowledges of programming. beginners never gets a chance to use WinAPI although it's possibly most powerful extension of AutoHotkey. When i'm not familar with WinAPI, i've so impressed by Lexikos's StructParser which helps novice to use structs without much Knowledge. so i tried to make something similar that would help beginners to use WinAPI easily. it may not so helpful to experts but at least it'll save your time. Finally, i would like to thank PhiLho for providing useful information about data types between WinAPI and AHK. (i've forgot the link at the moment. i'll add later)

Briefing

This script will automatically parse MSDN's WinAPI function definition to AHK's DllCall form even with single hotkey.

Showcase

Usage

1) Connect to MSDN with any browser (double clicking tray icon will do this)
2) go to any function definition page
3) select function definition as shown above then press Win + C
4) parsed text will be stored in clipboard

Features

1) Data types will be converted from WinAPI to AHK automatically
2) If a function requires pointer suitable operator will be inserted automatically.
3) Right DLL File name will be inserted automatically (see list at the bottom)
4) Entry point (Ansi/Unicode) will be treated too. (always Ansi)
5) If a function has return value, variable assignment will be inserted by hugarian notation.

Limitations

1) You have to input arguments manually depend on MSDN definition.
2) Parser will handle pointers automatically but it's not accurate always. so read MSDN's definition carefully!
3) It does not parse structs. use Lexiko's StructParser or corrupt's ahkStructLib2 together
4) It does not lookup Constants, use SKAN's Win32 Constants lookup together

Known Issues

1) Gdi+ functions are not supported and will not. Take a look at tic's Gdi+ Library
2) If a function contains CALLBACK, CONST will not work properly.
3) This script is not perfect. This script does not guarantee at all though will work properly on most functions

Download EasyWinAPI_Rev_004.zip


i'd not post source code for now but later. included free MSDN icon borrowed from Here. Thanks to author
If you've encourtered that script doesn't parses properly report me the function name Thanks.


Supported Dll Files (If you call function that is in any other dll file, you have to type manually)
ADVAPI32.DLL / COMCTR32.DLL / COMDLG32.DLL / GDI32.DLL / GDIPLUS.DLL / IPHLPAPI.DLL / KERNEL32.DLL / MSVCRT.DLL / NTDLL.DLL / PSAPI.DLL / SHELL32.DLL / USER32.DLL / WININET.DLL / WINMM.DLL.

_________________
Easy WinAPI - Dive into Windows API World
Benchmark your AutoHotkey skills at PlayAHK.com

great

_________________
                                  [ profile | ahk.net | ahk.talk ]

wow, very nice!! Maybe this will help me understand Dllcalls etc...

Basically, understanding Dllcall/WinAPI needs knowledge of C/C++. i spend about 3 months to understand Dllcall and WinAPI without C/C++ knowledges which is inefficiency. i believe this script will bring you to Dllcall/WinAPI world as quickly as possible even if you never experienced C/C++ before. all you need to do is reading MSDN carefully for arguments and using Lexikos or corrupt's structures helper and SKAN's constants look up tool.

_________________
Easy WinAPI - Dive into Windows API World
Benchmark your AutoHotkey skills at PlayAHK.com

C++ isn't necessary.
Only to better understand COM internals, but Win API is only C.

Thx for this script.

_________________

@majkinetor
Thanks for the clarification majkinetor.

@Everyone
i've added a poll to decide adding prior VarSetCapacity() or not for the case that the DllCall requires pointer to return something. but the problem is that i have no idea to determine the optimal buffer size for each functions. sometimes it'll waste of memory sometimes returned Strings will be truncated due to the unoptimal capacity of the Var. however i think it'll be helpful to beginners. it'll look like below. let me hear your opinion about this issue.

_________________
Easy WinAPI - Dive into Windows API World
Benchmark your AutoHotkey skills at PlayAHK.com

I vote Yes!

This is probably the best tool here on AHK imo.

With this script i can easily use the Windows API something i could now do before!

Thanks!!!

Thank you Fry, i'm glad that it helped you so. i'd like to see more opinions about VarSetCapacity() until i have clear solution. This tool can be more useful when used with SKAN's constants lookup tool and Lexikos's StructParser tool. with these tools, you can parse almost everything of Win32 API.

anyone have seen any parsing failure. please let me know

_________________
Easy WinAPI - Dive into Windows API World
Benchmark your AutoHotkey skills at PlayAHK.com

Ooh. Definitely like this script! DllCalls have always been tricky for me... =x

Also, vote is yes. I hate having to set variable capacity

Thanks for your opinion Krogdor. i might add On/Off trigger for adding VarSetCapacity(). cause some people doesn't like it.

_________________
Easy WinAPI - Dive into Windows API World
Benchmark your AutoHotkey skills at PlayAHK.com

Very nice!

Any idea of releasing the code in near future?

_________________
URLGet - Internet Explorer based Downloader
StartEx - Portable Shortcut Link

Nice one Heresy.

As Skan asked, would you mind sharing code ?

For vote : Yes with ability to disable through right click on systray icon.

Further suggestion, I know it's not officially supported, but digging deeper might help : parsing WDK.

Try parsing this :

_________________
Assembler-coded MCode.ahk ASCII85.ahk library

http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=222648

I hope moderators won't move this one too.

_________________
AHK tools by Drugwash (AHK 1.0.48.05 and Win98SE)

Am I allowed to ask what the idea behind that is?

this is ridiculous

where is the source?

you really expect us to run your exe?