Subscribe to our Best Free Hotkey / Macro Recorder Utility
|
In a Hurry?
|
 Go straight to the Quick Selection Guide |
|
Introduction
|
| Do you find yourself doing the same thing over and over again? Do you open the same program, then start another utility to help with that program, time after time, day after day? Are you visiting the same websites, or checking your email so many times a day that you lose count? Do you type the same text information so often that you could do it in your sleep? For those of you who answer “Yes” to any of those questions, there are programs that make those tasks fast, simple, and easy to perform called Hotkey and Macro Recorder utilities. Real time-savers, and let’s face it, who has enough time to do everything we want nowadays? With the right utility and a small amount of effort to learn and set up the program to suit your needs, you can enjoy your computing experience in a much more pleasant and productive way, and never be bored with those repetitive tasks again! |
|
Discussion
|
|
AutoHotkey needs to be mentioned up front, and separated from the rest of the pack. It is not a hotkey utility, technically it is a macro utility. What this means is that it automates tasks by playing back a 'recorded' sequence of inputs, either directly into the OS or by controlling the behavior of HID(Human input devices) such as your mouse, or keyboard. It is built around the AutoIt scripting language which enables users to write a script, or download an modify anothers to their use. Its technical learning curve is somewhat steep for complex use, but for basic automation it's very useable, requiring only a little patience, and some willingness to practice. In good concience it can't be recomended as a simple hotkey utility, because it's like using a bazooka to swat a fly. However, at the same time for those looking for a much more powerful solution to their needs that cannot be solved with any of the more conventional hotkey utilities, then so long as you can do it by hand AutoHotkey can do it through a script. For average users a good choice is PS Hot Launch VVL. This is a free utility that allows you to define your own hotkeys so that a single key press can launch an application, insert commonly used text, change your audio volume, or just about anything else. The program requires Win95/98/ME or WinNT/2000/XP, and is an excellent performer even on slow machines. PS Hot Launch is the perfect alternative to the Start menu and the Quick Launch panel. A second option for average users is Qliner's Hotkeys. It's strength is ease of use, wide support for international keyboard layouts, plus a handy reminder key that flashes up your current hotkey assignments. Just hold the Windows key for three seconds and up pops an on-screen keyboard display with icons on the keys that are configured. You can use this not only to remind you of hotkey combinations, but also for Drag and Drop configuration. On the minus side, it's not quite as flexible as PS Hot Launch. It runs under Windows 2003, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, but requires that Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 be installed. Still another choice, which is not really a hotkey utility at all but achieves the same result by using "magic words", is SlickRun. SlickRun does what some users have always used a simple Windows hack to do. It enables defining aliases in Windows. It's possible to edit the environment variables to add a special folder to the paths variable, and the lnk extension to Pathext variable. Then you would just put links named intuitively into that directory, and executed them from the run dialog. For example dls could take you to your download directory, and docs to your My Documents folder. This program does all of that for you, without having to edit environment variables, and with autocomplete thrown in for good mesure, nor is it restricted to things you can create links to within the OS. If you're looking to speed up your ability to access to common parts of your computer or websites, and are keyboard oriented, then this is a great program to look into. Other Products to be Reviewed
|
|
Related Products and Links
|
|
You might want to check out these articles too: |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
1.0.48.03 
Freeware 
Windows 95-Vista
|
Editor
|
|
This software category is in need of an editor. If you are interested in taking it over, please email Elizabeth, our editorial co-ordinator with a little bit about your background and in particular, whether you have any commercial affiliation with products in this category. If you are currently logged in, you can contact Elizabeth directly by clicking here, if not then click here. |
|
Tags
|
|
hotkey, hot key, macro recorder, macro utility, free launcher, freeware |
Back to the top of the article
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Please rate this article
I just found out about macro recorder utilities and came across your website. Thank you for compiling this list. It's very useful. Keep it up!
You may want to look into Signo as well (www.kerkia,com). This is a hotkey manager which includes tons of built-in actions such as auto-correct, Windows management (switch between monitor, snap to borders, hide, tray, etc.), screen capture, magnify, etc.
What about PowerPro?
I'll take a look.
Sorry for the delay in getting all the new software reviewed. It's a little hard since I want to do more than just test them out, I want to see if they really integrate well enough to become everyday use.
At the moment I am using HotKeyz, its a freeware program that I am very impressed with, very light on system resources and you can edit/add any number of hot keys, and also does stuff like turning monitor off, volume control, launch program, etc, check it out.
Gl.
I'll take a closer look, but a quick look at it's features indicates it'll probably fit nicely into the category.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Also try HotkeyP. I really like safely remove drive(s) hotkey command.
As long as it's a hotkey utility and not just a hotkey program launcher, I'll consider any program.
There's a lot of them out there, so I'm a little backed up at the moment.
Once I finish my complete testing cycle I'll probably set up a list of my top picks with a quick nod to any other honorable mentions.
________________________________________________________________
PROGRAM (pro'-gram) n. A magic spell cast over a computer allowing it to turn one's input into error messages. v. To engage in a pastime similar to banging one's head against a wall, but with fewer opportunities for reward
What about Actionaz?
I'll take a look and add it to the review once I have some thoughts on it.
Thanks for the heads up about it.
AutoHotKey - can do so much more than just record macros.
It is a programming environment.
I am not a programmer and once you get the hang of it, it is really easy to make programs of your own.
If you don't want to do that, there are tons of scripts available on the forum usable as is.
Check it out, much worth the effort.
I have several hotkeys set up to load and login to frequently visited websites.
Check the email...
Load up a preset workflow for whatever you do.
Try it... it takes a little to "get it" but once there, you will not turn back.
Has anyone tried the Gizmo Toolbar? It is free, comes with the ability to mount ISOs and works reallly well.
I'll take a look at Gizmo, but just based on the summary of features it looks like something that should go in the Program Launcher section instead.
How do you get PS Hot Launch VVL to add "commonly used text" and "change your audio volume?" I can't get it to do these things.
SuperLauncher rules! I have used the Windows launchers above and some of them are pretty good but the problem with all launchers is that either they make it difficult to input new shortcuts or they go ahead and index my entire PC. The indexers do not support hotkeys, and the ones that do support hotkeys make me type in URLS, or browse my PC in order to add new shortcuts.
With SuperLauncher I drag and drop what I realize is becoming repetitive. I simply drag, drop, and either assign a hotkey or list it on the one-click popup menu. Plus I can group shortcuts which means I can open two folders for backup reasons, or I can open all the files that I need to complete a step-by-step procedure, all with one keystroke.
I guess I really love it because of the drag & drop. It is just simple like software should be. Overall it allows me to work fast, and I mean really fast.
I recommend it and it is not because I am the developer. It is because it is great!
Regards,
Alex Ferri
PCWinSoft Systems Ltd
Just a quick look, but SuperLauncher looks like it should be in the program launcher section, rather than in the hotkey section. If a program does something more than launching folders and programs, some other OS hook, then it belongs here, such as a hotkey to automatically trigger the safely remove device for a removable device, or increase and decrease volume with a hotkey.
I'll take a closer look as I go through my stack of programs to review.
Alex this page is for free software only. A look at your page announced trialware and 50% off so I can only assume it's not free.
HoeKey
HotkeyP
Clavier+
qliner and win98 do not mix.
I was asked for a missing dll, got it.
Then framework.net was called for, even though it was not needed for win98, and on and on, you know the drill, so I am all about the ps hotlaunch, which works fine.
AutoHotkey seems to be portable...
How about remotekeys?
http://www.freewarehits.de/RemoteKeys.htm
comfort keys properietary but nice and easy and has macros..text replacement
Since long months ago I use Qliner's Hotkeys. It become indispensable to me. It is very simple and fiable. Sure I recomend'it!
Diamantino
Actually AutoHotkey started out as a forking of AutoIt.
AutoIt is, nowadays, IMO, more powerful and pleasurable to write scripts in than AutoHotkey.
Although AutoHotKey is tricky to use (had xp revert to default desktop settings after simply remapping keyboard) when programmed correctly, it does get the job done.
It was the only remapper that "stuck" within an xp application (non-native). All others I've tried lose any remaping applied when in the app.
For a scenario;
What I needed seemed fairly simple. I wanted the number keys (above the letters) mapped to the keypad when in the PC game "Oblivion" and unmapped when back at the desktop. AutoHotkey was the only one so far that allowed this. Now I have one shortcut that launches the game, remaps what's needed, and unmaps everything upon game exit.
You know, John, IF you are going to use my verbage, exactly as I wrote if for Gizmo, then I would at least appreciate a mention of the hard work I put into making this review. There is not one word in this review, that I did not author! Fair is fair, after all...
Oblias
ex-site Coordinator
I personally recommend Clavier+
I've never seen I recommended anywhere before, but a little while ago I was looking around for a macro/hotkey programme and I stumbled upon it.
I tried pretty much all the popular ones, and found them either bulky, awkward to use or limited.
First, it is opensource (GPL), which is always a good thing in my book. Second, it is tiny (354Kb). But most importantly it does what it sets out to do intuitively, and with with a minimum of fuss. The method of limiting shortcuts to specific applications is brilliant.
Maybe it is because it is of French origin it is so little known (it is on a site called "UtilFr"), but the English language version is perfect.
I personally recommend making shift+enter "I'm feeling lucky" in google :)
http://utilfr42.free.fr/util/Clavier.php
One more, of perhaps limited interest: AutoApp.
http://www.bsoutham.org/AutoApp/index.html
(I couldn't get a response from the site, however.)
The official description, (extracted from Google's cache)
===
AutoApp is a Win32 console application that allows to to control DOS applications.
With AutoApp implements a simple scripting language that has the following features:
* Activate specific DOS windows
* Start executables
* Set the title of a DOS window
* Send keystrokes to the application
* Delay for specific periods
* Preform action while text does exsist in the window
* Preform action while text does not exsist in the window
===
Basically, if you have a DOS app that you want to be able to start up and pass info to, this is the only way I ever found to do it. (I use it to start a specific program, then press a key, wait for the userID prompt and enter my userID, wait for the password prompt and then enter it, then hand control back to me. Works perfectly.
Post new comment