Sometimes in quotes, sometime not

[jkeks]

Code: Select all

if !FileExist("counter.txt")
 FileAppend, 0, counter.txt

Where is logic ?
Why in first case we need to use quotes
second time not

[gregster]

First one is a function (which always requires expression syntax), second one is a command.

In essence, functions and commands are the same thing, so the concepts explained here apply to both. However, the long history of AutoHotkey v1 and an emphasis on backward-compatibility have resulted in a divide between commands, which require legacy syntax, and functions, which require expression syntax.

Btw, AHK v2 tries to bridge this duality by focusing on functions, and giving up backwards compatibility.