trouble with script I am trying to develop for Morse Code

spexnut · Post by **spexnut** » 27 Nov 2014, 06:27

I am a complete beginner with AutoHotKey, ( For that matter, apart from a very little experience with BASIC, any programming language)

however I have completed the basic tutorials, viewed many YouTube videos about using AHK, and searched the various Forums for

information as I try to progress with this deceptively powerful language.
I am trying to write an AHK script, which will, when each key (a through to z) on a computer keyboard is pressed, the appropriate Morse Code

sound for the key is produced by the computer speaker, and display the key pressed in a MsgBox.

The relationship between Morse dots and dashes (Usually known as dits and dahs in Ham Radio) from the ITU Morse Code recommendations,

Dit = basic unit length
Dah = three Dits
Space between the elements forming the same letter = one Dit
Space between letters =three Dits
Space between words = seven Dits

I would prefer not to use MIDI or .wav files to produce the sounds

Based on the above information I have used the SoundBeep command as follows'
; For the letter "a"

Dit, SoundBeep, 1500, 200
Sleep, 80
Dah, SoundBeep, 1500, 600

and my code, so far is
;
;
;

Loop, {
Input, Key, L1 ; Read a key from the keyboard
if (Key = "a" ) ;Morse dit dah . -
SoundBeep, 1500, 200 ; Beep for a dit
Sleep, 80 ; delay for timing correction
SoundBeep, 1500, 600 ; Beep for a dah
break
}
MsgBox, % "The key was """ Key """."

Loop, {
Input, Key, L1
if (Key = "b" ) ;Morse dah dit dit -...
SoundBeep, 1500, 600
Sleep, 80
SoundBeep, 1500, 200
Sleep, 80
SoundBeep, 1500, 200
Sleep, 80
SoundBeep, 1500, 200
break
}
MsgBox, % "The key was """ Key """."

Loop, {
Input, Key, L1
if (Key = "c" ) ;Morse dah dit dah dit

.
SoundBeep, 1500, 600
Sleep, 80
SoundBeep, 1500, 200
Sleep, 80
SoundBeep, 1500, 600
Sleep, 80
SoundBeep, 1500, 200
break
}
MsgBox, % "The key was """ Key """."

return

ExitApp

;
;
;
Apart from the fact that the above script does not work properly, there must be a more efficient way of getting the correct result.
(It only works in the order of the list in the script, not randomly, and only once).
Can I create a variable for Dit and Dah which contain (Or reference in some way) the SoundBeep and Sleep values?

How do I do this? The more I read the Docs about variables, the more confused I become.
I am using SciTe4AutoHotkey, latest version, and QuickAHK for trying snippets.(Big Thanks to the Developers of these Tools), an a laptop

running Windows 8.1 64 bit, fully updated.
I am a great believer in Benjamin Franklin's "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn" maxim, so will

somebody please help or point me in the right direction.
Thanks.

kon · Post by **kon** » 27 Nov 2014, 12:10

Here's one way this could be approached. I'll describe the process, instead of just writing the code, as per Benjamin Franklin's preference.

The general idea is this: Write a function that can be given any letter. Based on the letter the function receives, it will play the appropriate sequence of sounds and pauses.

basic function example: