AutoHotkey Community

AutoHotFile
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Note: AutoHotFile requires Windows 2000/XP or later.
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Introduction

AutoHotFile is a fast and smart keyword launcher for windows.
It offers many different ways to open/edit/show your files and programs as well as a few other useful features.

- You will have immediate access to your programs, files and folders regardless the amount of your files.

- Browsing trough your file system will be faster than ever.

- You can set up different web searches to find things on the web much faster.

- Using ToolTip for all actions AutoHotFile works even in full screen applications without interrupting those.

Features

- Ultra fast file access and file search

- Plenty of hotkeys, AutoHotstring, chording keyboard with creative combinations

- Files and Folders browser

- Supports quick selecting of files and folders in Open/Save dialog

- Web search

- Hide and unhide windows

- Quick calculator

- Dynamic AutoHotkey script launcher

- Windows Command Interpreter (ping, ipconfig...)

- AutoHotkey process terminator

- Automatic update of new, renamed or deleted files

- Automatic reload of AutoHotkey scripts after saving changes

Get started

Let's take a look at most powerful feature in AutoHotFile, access of files and programs.

Go to Settings -> File pattern to define your directories, AutoHotFile will search and watch for files in those directories and creates alias (keyword) for found files.


About Keywords/Aliases

- Keyword is build out of file name. In settings window you can set characters that will determine end of Keyword.


- For exmaple a file called "Sound Recorder.lnk" will be given a keyword "Sound"
- - this is only when Space is one of KeyWordEndChars
- - for example if KeyWordEndChar=. (instead of space) KeyWord would be Sound Recorder

- Keyword group


- A group is build when different files create same keyword.

- For example "p.Paint.lnk" and "p.Program Files.lnk" will create same keyword "p"
- So keyword "p" will contain both files and you can choose which file to use or open all.

These aliases can be typed in Keyword launcher and different actions can be performed:


- Launch the file using assigned program. (press Enter or Tab)
- Open the file in defined editor (Ctrl+E or F1-24)
- Show file in explorer or apply to a Open/Save dialog (Alt+E or F1-24)
- Copy path of the file (Ctrl+C or Ctrl+Alt+F1-24)

Automatic update of files

In background AutoHotFile watches for changes of file names in defined directories and apply changes automatically.

- If a new file is created, a new keyword will be created for it
- If a file is deleted, the keyword will be deleted as well.
- If a file is renamed, old keyword will be destroyed and new created
- If an AutoHotkey script file is changed while script is running, it is reloaded automatically.

- To use reload AutoHotkey scripts feature you need to enable it in settings window.

Chording keyboard

- If this option is enabled, you can open, edit, show your file by typing the keyword without any launcher.
- Difference to AutoHotstring is that you do not need a starting and ending character
- Instead you need to hold down for example the first letter in your keyword
- - For example keyword=ahk, you press and hold a, type hk and release a.
- - You can also hold down any, but not the last letter. This is used to avoid executing files when typing.

- Hold down CTRL while typing to open that file in your editor
- Hold down Alt to show file in explorer or take over in Open/Save dialog
- Hold CTRL + ALT to copy path to Clipboard

AutoHotString

Using this feature all found files will become a hotstring and can be opened/edited/shown by typing only.

- So if you file is called "Sound Recorder.lnk" hotstring can be "sound recorder"

To perform different actions without interrupting your typing following typing structure is used:

- "Starting character"+"filename"+"Ending character"

- By default following starting characters are present and {TAB} for ending character is used


- # to open the file
- ' to edit the file
- ? to show the file (apply to a Open/Save dialog)
- < copy full path of the file
- > copy full path of directory containing that file

- For example your file is sun.bmp and you would like to open it in Paint


- Open Paint and press CTRL & O to display Open dialog
- Type ?sun{TAB} and your file will be opened.
- Typing same while no Open/Save dialog is present will open you file in Windows Explorer and select it.

Press CapsLock & TAB to start Launcher

Press CapsLock & F9 for more Help

Enjoy

If you have any suggestions, find any bugs, would like to have another good feature or you know a way to do something faster and easier, please post

Download:
AutoHotFile.exe (Standalone custom AutoHotkey.exe solution which extracts and uses unformated script +AutoUpdate )
AutoHotFile.ahk (formated version)




_______________________

• Many thanks to:

o Chris
- I love AutoHotkey

o SKAN
- FolderSpy v0.96 Synchronous
- ColorPicker GENIE 1.00

o Lexikos
- How to: Run Dynamic Script... Through a Pipe!
- FileExtract / FileExtract_ToMem (counterpart of FileInstall)
- Menu Icons v2 (stdlib)

o Laszo
- Simple script for evaluating arithmetic expressions
- Morse()
o heresy
- Run AHK scripts with less (half or even less) memory usage

o Sean
- StdoutToVar

o DerRaphael
- [function] sTooltip - colored standard tooltip with timeout

o majkinetor
- [module] IPC 1.0
- [module]RemoteBuffer 2.0

o TheGood
- Wrapper to catch Power Management events (like standby)

o olfen
- UrlDownLoadToVar
_______________________


Update / Change Log:
V1.0.00.12 - 08.06.2009
- Improved input for KeyWord Launcher
- ToolTip can be shown at TrayIcon now (Balloonip)
- Minimum letters for chording fixed
V1.0.00.11 - 03.06.2009
- Fixed Chording. (did not work for a group of files)
V1.0.00.10 - 02.06.2009
- New ToolTip functions, Link click, ToolTip close, faster...
- Chording Keyboard
- KeyWordEndChars added
- Full filename support -> Keyword will contain same characters like filename
V1.0.00.07 - 14.05.2009
- Auto update fixed
- Using new ToolTip() function. so you see your entry straight away.
V1.0.00.05 - 09.05.2009
- Fixed some problems with FolderSpy
- Fixed autoupdate
- Fixed AutoHotFile.ahk to be extracted in the right place.
08.05.2009 - Version 1.0.00.00
- AutoHotFile.exe includes version now.
- Automatic update of AutoHotFile.exe (check AutoUpdate - Advaced Tab)
04.05.2009
- Folders can be included now by using * as extension or /* as file pattern
- Parameters for programs can be used now, e.g. "explorer /e,/select,C:\Temp"
28.04.2009
- Fixed selecting profiles (watch folders was not turned back on)
- Fixed ToolTip to display correctly when using A_Caret (sometimes it was shown far outside of screen area and hanged)
-Removed zip download

26.04.2009
- AutoHotFile Hotkeys can be changed now to your preference
- Quick Profile selector added (by default press Capslock & F2)
- AutoHotfile will now show associated icon when a file is found

13.04.2009
- Improved Process Terminator (now you need to hold shift to see hidden processes)
- Fixed not to close AutoHotString on saving settings
- Little fix in UrlDownLoadToVar to keep your entry not website when F1-12 key was pressed
- UrlDownLoadToVar should launch website properly now
06.04.2009
- Fixed to resume watching directories on resume from standby
- AutoHotString will now start up / close when settings changed.
- Fixed starting scripts as *.exe to appear as scriptname.exe in task manager.
05.04.2009
- Some fixes and improvements
- Standalone AutoHotFile.exe (custom AutoHotKey.exe, script is extracted on first use.)
28.03.2009
- Preload for web search functions trough UrlDownloadToVar (does not works in all websites)
- Some fixes in Fileexplorer
22.03.2009
- Enchanced AutoHotFile Explorer

23.02.2009
- Fixed WebLauncher and display subfolder right.
18.02.2009
- Add custom WebLauncher options (using another additional prefix)
31.01.2009
- Several fixes
- AutoHotString - hotstring options can be changed now!
- Change KeyWord laucher search timer (postpone search to not interrupt typing)
- Fixed Profile adding
- Fixed Position of ToolTips after moving it with mouse
28.01.2009
- Fixed to update files array when a watched folder is deleted
- CapsLock can be used optionally as a multi-hotkey
- - (Press CapsLock once to open Launcher, twice for SpeedHotkey...)
25.01.2009
- New look of ToolTip using icons and title
- AutoHotString can now display a ToolTip for defined seconds before launching a file.
- AutoHotFile File Explorer starts faster now.

20.01.2009
- AutoHotString will now display a Tooltip before opening a file for 1 second and you can press Escape to cancel.

19.01.2009
- I have created a GUI for settings (CAPSLOCK + F9, CAPSLOCK + RBUTTON = Settings Menu).
- ToolTip and ToolTipText colors can be changed now.
- Press Capslock twice to enable KeyWord Launcher or three times to start SPEEDHOTKEY.
- File Explorer and StdoutToVar are now launched in separate AutoHotkey.exe to be able to cancel these!

10.12.2008
- New function: run cmd command from launcher use # prefix for that + a valid cmd command e.g. #ping www.google.de. (Many thanks to Sean for StdoutToVar)
- Files will be loaded 2 times faster now
- Entering only the prefix will show its function
- Open group, you can now open several files at once
- Several fixes for profiles

03.12.2008
- You can now use a network path as well as a directory, just type in the network path into FileSelectFolder edit control.

30.11.08
- - FileGroup, files having same keyword will be loaded in a group
- - AutoHotString maximal characters setting added
- - Profiles, you can now define profiles with separate group of directories
- - File and Folder explorer can be now canceled while searching by pressing Esc
- - Favorits, you can have favorite entries now, like :Run %comspec% /K or http://www.autohotkey.com/...
- - Capslock & Shift to activate Speedhotkey
- - Add #NOPROCESS to your file name to hide process in Process Terminator

13.11.2008
- New AutoHotString functions (edit file in editor, show file in explorer, copy file path to clipboard, copy file dir to clipboard)
- - find further information in Settings Menu: CAPSLOCK & F9 choose AutoHotString choose Help

06.11.2008
- Copy File/Folder full path feature for found keywords and AutoHotFile explorer.
- You can type much quicker in keyword launcher now.

03.11.2008
- Fixes for keyword launcher and file reminder.

28.10.2008
- Fix launching files in AutoHotFile Explorer
- Menu includes help now. (CAPSLOCK + F9)

22.10.2008
- Some fixes

18.10.2008
- New feature, File Reminder
- New feature, Auto Reload AHK scripts

15.10.2008
- Fixed adding new extensions
- Added new web launcher prefix (?) for maps.google (write for example "?from london to bristol")

14.10.2008
- Fixed "SHOW FILE IN EXPLORER" function to work even when several explorer windows are opened.
- CAPSLOCK & F5 will launch clipboard as AHK script trough dynamic scripting

13.10.2008
- Use CTRL & F1-12 to edit files
- Use ALT & F1-F12 to show files in explorer
- Use CTRL & ALT & F1-F12 to display keyword info in Keyword Launcher

08.10.2008
- Display drive info in Keyword Launcher ( CAPSLOCK & TAB, type c:, press and hold ALT)
- No need to reload when new folder is added

06.10.2008
- Fixed some errors
- Use PgDn/PgUp to call up previous enteries.

keywords: launcher launch programs autostart starmenu start menu file files launchy tar slickrun explorer

What does this do?

_________________
GitHub • Scripts • IronAHK • Contact by email not private message.

I've updated the post.

Did anyone had a try?

Any comments?

Please Feedback.

I tried it but I don't understand how to use it.

How far did you get?

In other words whats the whole point of this script.

"I don't get it either"

I try to explain.

This program will speed up your work.
If you have 100 folders and 1000 files, how quick could you call up your file/program?

With AutoHotFile you can run programs, files, links, websites in a few seconds even if you have 10000 files and more.

When I use Windows Explorer and Startmenu and shortcuts on desktop it all gets very unhandy, very slow and just annoying, I want to have my file or program immediately.

Does it make it clear now? If not, please ask.

Could someone get it to work?

Can you give any feedback?

iexplore.exe not exist

dude what can I say your sick
Thanks alot for that

I am still in a testing phase ,but I am kinda loving it already.

some downsides maybe

Die websuche ist auf Deutsch. {google.de}
Und die hilfe file auch, aber meinem .htm ist zerstort?
{.htm scrambeld some how}

I used the .ahk


Leroxy

RUN DYNAMIC SCRIPT

How to: Run Dynamic Script... Through a Pipe!




TRY IT NOW, Run AutoHotFile and press CAPSLOCK & LBUTTON onto Code (Copy) link:

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