AutoHotkey Community

When I move to a company that doesn't allow third party software, my wrists burn due to imbalance on the standard control keys. I work with unique geometry that is not easily automated.

Would anyone please suggest an alternate program and possibly a simple block of code as an example? Can Visual Basic do this?

Thank you...

Do a search for remap keys c++

or c#

You will need visual studio

ahk is open source, they can see exactly what you are running, maybe they can make an exception?

TictonicDruid wrote: ↑

05 Dec 2019, 11:11

When I move to a company that doesn't allow third party software, my wrists burn due to imbalance on the standard control keys. I work with unique geometry that is not easily automated.

Would anyone please suggest an alternate program and possibly a simple block of code as an example? Can Visual Basic do this?

Thank you...

Usually when an IT Department or company locks down the computers, you will not be able to sneak install anything without getting detected or in trouble. I think your best bet is to take your case directly to management or head of the IT department and make a request to get admin rights, use your own computer/notebook, or to specifically use AHK.

What users or employees might be able to do, is figure out which manager would be most sympathetic to their cause, and then get their permission. Probably best to go to management or company ownership first, before the head of the IT department, because their decision often carries more weight and the IT people often have to obey. Also, it might be easier to get admin rights to a computer you use at the company or to a notebook computer, then to get 3rd party software approval. Depends on the company. With admin rights, you can then install whatever. You might want to ask or check around first, to see if other people were given admin rights (and ask them what's the process or how they did it), as being able to point to others can possibly boost your chances.

Some companies might even allow you to use your own notebook computer, and the employee can connect to resources at work via WiFi and/or the IT people will install VPN software to allow you to remote in.

Interesting
couple things. making a case to leadership is the right move only if you can imply and convince that it is based on ROI.
for example, easier keystrokes less likely to induce carpal tunnel. increased performance

AHK requires neither admin rights nor to be installed

For clarification, Tank is of course correct, that the AutoHotkey executable and compiled programs can be run without installing and without admin rights. Though there is a slight possibility of certain Anti-Virus software programs sending a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) alert or sending the executable to quarantine, that the IT Dept finds out about, and this might become an issue.

This is one of the reasons why I mentioned about getting permission from management or admin rights beforehand, because it can avoid trouble based on any company policies, and with admin rights you are usually free to install whatever 3rd party program or you can then configure the Anti-Virus software to make an exception for AutoHotkey. On the flip, there is the argument of just going ahead and using the utility, and then try to explain it to IT or your manager, if you get caught. There are plenty of people that have used various software at their jobs for years, without asking and without any issues. It all depends on the type of company that you work for. Some places are more strict than others.

I also think that if you have any documented medical evidence of your wrist problems or carpal tunnel syndrome, especially if known before your company hired you, then you might have a strong case to be allowed to use software that helps alleviate the condition. It might be easier than expected to get an exemption to use automation software like AutoHotkey, or for a script you have already written for the purpose.

Unfortunately, leadership and administrators are usually at a different location and it hasn't been worth raising such an issue early in a new position.
This time around didn't require the admin rights as compared to a small time ago. It's nuts this way.
I will continue studying to configure blocks, lines, terms, and symbols for this.
Thank you.

There are possibilities to do the stuff with python instead of AHK.
https://automatetheboringstuff.com is a good starting point.
Probably you can convince your IT to let you install python and then write your automation there.

Kobaltauge wrote: ↑

06 Dec 2019, 13:49

There are possibilities to do the stuff with python instead of AHK.
Probably you can convince your IT to let you install python and then write your automation there.

I strongly disagree. Python usually requires loading a bunch of files, 75 Mb to 250 Mb (expanded on disk), which would be way more problematic than simply running the AutoHotkey.exe (to include making an Anti-Virus exception for just 1 .exe) with scripts created with notepad or a compiled AutoHotkey executable. If an IT Dept is going to allow you to install and run Python, they are even more likely to let you run an AutoHotkey script. Unless we are talking very advanced projects or almost professional programmers, an AutoHotkey user (add non-programmers in there too) on the Windows OS can pretty much do anything they could have done with Python, and often the AutoHotkey user can do it quicker or easier.

Hi @SOTE
you don't have to disagree. I'm totally with you regarding the complexity and data quantity.
I know a few IT security employees. They read something about AHK and viruses and are totally against it, not thinking a moment about it. On the other hand they read about Python and how flexible it is. The possibility is high, that you can install python without any concerns of the IT security.

It is unfortunately true that python is easier to convince than ahk

I will have to respectfully disagree, based on my experiences. Unless Python is already installed on the computers or in widespread use at the job, which is unusual outside of a school or software related company, I've never known or seen an IT Dept or management for any significantly sized company be receptive to an employee wanting to install Python on their computer. The request would be met with a high amount of suspicion or confusion as to how it relates to their job. If the employee could justify needing some type of automation or scripting solution, they can just as easily win with AutoHotkey, AutoIt, WinBatch, etc... And add in the cases of the employee(s) just going ahead and installing or using something without telling anybody or they don't need permission, as it's do whatever as long as the job gets done.

So I guess it's all based on the situation that the person is in, as to what they can do or get away with.