AutoHotkey Community

[ribbet.1]

Can this file be made into an .exe? And can you please critique it and advise. I would really like to make an executable that works like this, but I'm not sure it's possible based on this, because it's a script that writes another script, and subsequently requires the AHK.exe, i guess. Pls. advise.

Check out the pics below to understand what I'm doing here. The objective is to make a set of moveable buttons based on a list of speakers, which would then send timestamped strings to a logfile. You place the buttons in the semblance of a seating chart, and then during proceedings you click the buttons for each speaker to log them. This can be very handy for large meetings etc. You can even superimpose these buttons over an existant seating chart if one exists.

If a speaker list doesn't exist, the first part of this script is to create one. Then you customize it, restart, and select the list you've created. This script will then generate and execute another script that will create a set of GUIs based on the list, each one with one button and nothing else. You arrange the GUIs in a semblance of a seating chart based on the location of the actual speakers and the room layout. When a button for a speaker is pressed, that speaker is logged, and the log can then be the basis for a transcript later. Regard the pics:



When the buttons are first created, at present they are all the same size and location, as above, and you then move/resize them. (I've made a scrap of code to get and save all their positions, but it's not in this example.) Any item in the speaker list containing a "@" symbol generates no button, but just a gui. They can then be moved to provide the semblance of a seating chart, including tables or a lectern, whatever. Regard below:



This is after they have been moved to suit my purposes. And the text to the left of them is the speaker log displayed in Notepad++, which is the default viewer in this script. You can just change that to Notepad in the code if you like I guess.

The script follows:

[animeaime]

I might be missing something, but there seems like there is no need to create an extra AHK file - doing so is overkill. Also, by doing so, this script requires 1) AHK, and 2) AHK to be the program associated with .ahk files.

For example, this script would not run on my comptuer as I don't have ahk files associated with autohotkey - I have them associated with notepad. I have my laptop setup to mimic my flash drive; this way, whether working on my own computer, or another computer, all my programs that I need are on my flash drive, and they behave like they would on my own computer. I need to move my library folder to my flash drive, because right now they get loaded from my My Documents library folder, but that's a story for another day. I have a copy of AHK on my flash drive, and I use a universal bat file to run AHK with the script (it's actual quite nice).

This system allows me to use my scripts on any computer, by running them off my flash drive. I have a partion of my hard drive which I sync with my flash drive. This way, whether on my computer or another computer, everything runs the same way. However, it seems I got sidetracked; sorry about that - back to topic.



So, because your script would have a limited audience if you require AHK to be on the computer and to have .ahk files associated with AHK, instead of creating a .ahk file and running it, why not just save settings to an ini file and load them? Then, create the guis and position them using the settings in the config file. You will still be able to run multiple instances; each will have a tray icon, etc. Also, this way, there is no dependecy on AHK.


I haven't checked the specifics of what you append to the created ahk file, but this is my guess.

1) You create guis; these guis have certain settings
2) You position / resize these guis
3) You give each of the guis a title, and add a button.
4) This button does some action (probably the same action for each button). Since you mentioned a log, this would imply that the button's is to create a "buzzer" / walkie talkie kind of system. You press the button to talk, and it gets loged... Like I said, I only briefly checked the code, so I might be off.

In review, it sounds like a giant loop is what you need. Add some functions to do the different tasks (e.g. create button, setup gui, etc.). Then, there would be a load function, which would perform the tasks that you currently do when creating the other ahk file. This load function would create the guis and handle creation of this system of yours; it would read the settings from a configuration file, and apply them.
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As always, if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask.

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[hd0202]

I think, there is a very simple solution:

[Lexikos]

[ribbet.1]

[ribbet.1]

[ribbet.1]

I have been playing with it some more, and Hubert's improved version has got the right stuff. But I had to put back a couple of things you stripped out.

I've also added the functionality of storing the positions of a set of speakers to the speakerlist, with lines prepended with a $ and of restoring the GUIs to those positions later, using the ^+#m and ^+#l keys, respectively.

I once again ask you would check out my work and tell me how it could be improved. I spent a long time trying to use expressions to perform the ^+#l function but couldn't get it, and wound up using a stringsplit. I really appreciate your contributions, all!

[ribbet.1]

Hubert, can I attrib you when I distribute the exe as freeware from my site? Check your PMs pls.

[Drugwash]

I'd go with the following GUI; unfortunately got little spare time to pursue this project but nevertheless it does inspire me - too bad there are some limitations in regard to pictures and transparency, on my system:

-->
(picture links fixed - July 23, 2011)

[ribbet.1]

Well why can't you post a script then? Or is that just a graphic you made?

[Drugwash]

I do have a relatively working script but it needs some small fixes. Haven't been able to work on my computer today so it'll take a little while before I post something usable.

Just to clear any misunderstanding: all the script should do is send timestamp and speaker name to the log file, nothing else? That is almost acomplished, but I still need to create the alias layer between variables and actual speaker names as well as the actual names input.

Also, positioning is not very comfortable; I'm still considering the best way of switching "people" around. I'd try drag'n'drop but my prior research on this matter (for another project) is not finished yet.

[ribbet.1]

Well no, it does more. The first iteration was just a skeleton. Here is my more complete script. It takes times from actual clock time, as well as time in a recording, saving those times as vars that it can use as bookmarks in the recording. And now thanks to D-Man and Tseik's advice, you can Ctrl-click on each speaker to have an alternate text string sent as well. This version will work without Total Recorder installed, but doesn't really provide the functionality I was after without at least some recording application. It could be done with MCI commands, though.

I'd appreciate if you would test it. take a look at the comments for more info about it.

And BTW, the script is designed so you can move the furniture around, resize or reshape it, or add more tables, lecterns, etc. , as well as any of the speakers, so you can accomodate ANY arrangement. Your purposes may be different, but the single long boardroom table is just one of the seating arrangements my script will accommodate. The pretty graphics are nice but I'm more interested in functionality than how it looks. One nice feature about how I've done it also is that you can open a scanned seating chart, or draw one in a graphic app, and superimpose the speakers' GUIs over their location in the graphic.

[Drugwash]

I see... Well, I was afraid you'd say it's more than meets the eye.

For now I'll just say I did/do intend to make the arrangement as flexible as possible but there has to be a limit somewhere. Until I devise (or find) a good function that allows quick drag/resize of controls in place, my version of the script will be less flexible.

Anyway, currently the table auto-adjusts itself according to the number of speakers; initially I chose a separate GUI for settings but I feel you'd want quick access to seating, number of speakers, etc. so I might have to put everything in one GUI, although IMHO it would overload it.

There's also layout save/load in plan, something I thought could speed things up - just haven't got around coding it (as well as other features).

Right now I'm dead tired (almost 7AM and haven't had any sleep yet) so I'll just post the script as is (so you see it's not just empty talk) and hit the sack. Will get back to you as soon as possible, after I look through your code.

Here's the link to the script and bitmap resources: download

P.S. Settings are not bound yet so to adjust table size you need to adjust number of speakers directly in the code (the speakers variable at the beginning of the script).
(link fixed - July 23, 2011)

[ribbet.1]

Well I look forward to you examining my code. I am not that proficient at it yet, maybe never will be. I try not to be too embarrassed when I learn I could have done things a much simpler way, such as in this thread.

But with a little help from my compadres here at AHK I've managed to get it so it's all one script that can be compiled, and cleaned it up a little bit. And for that tiny population who may have use for it, this script should be very good for recording and transcribing large meetings and hearings etc. But it could perhaps still stand improvement. Oh, BTW, I had it using Notepad++ as default viewer mostly, and the main drive may need to be changed to C:\.

[Drugwash]

Don't worry, I'm no guru either, just a nosy non-standard user.

That Total Recorder doesn't fit in the open-source picture; I'd definitely use MCI or BASS for audio recording purposes. In that regard, the ultimate log manipulation would be to have control signals embedded in the recorded track that - on playback - would automate the log presentation.

I still have present in mind the old Z80 days when we had to load the applications from the tape and the sounds they made while loading; similarly, a compressed stream of data containing accurate timing (generated by the clicks in the GUI) and speaker info, would be embedded in the recording. On playback, the decoded data would automatically trigger the generation of the log data: date, time, speaker name, pause period, whatever.

BTW, in my script, when you click the table it records "Pause" in the log. Nice, huh?

I must apologize for not being able to check your script yet; got sidetracked by other urgent matters and tomorrow I'll be out for the day so the feedback will be delayed. Oh and I'm sworn to never again use Notepad++ after a series of crashes some time ago; will have to modify the script accordingly before testing.