Two Easy Ways to Make Your Computer Work For You - With an Overlay Keyboard and AutoHotkey
Do you spend too much time working your computer instead of having your computer work for you? Anyone running a home business knows the value of time. There is never enough of it! Computers are sold as a great time savings device. But are they really?
Two simple things you can do to increase your productivity on the computer is use the Autohotkey program combined with an overlay keyboard.
AutoHotkey is a free program which allows users to create macros to automate repetitive tasks with Windows software. The user assigns the macro to a hotkey. A hotkey is the Ctrl or Alt keys combined with another character that activates the macro. A user can easily create over 100 macros with AutoHotkey.
The problem quickly becomes remembering which hotkey combinations activate which macro. An overlay keyboard can easily solve this problem!
Each of the keys on an overlay keyboard allows for the reproduction of any series of characters available on a regular keyboard. The user creates a configuration file corresponding to their needs and downloads it into the overlay keyboard. They also create a graphic template that represents the function of each key.
To combine AutoHotkey and an overlay keyboard first create the macros in AutoHotkey. Next create a configuration file and template for the overlay keyboard where each key will send a hotkey. A good overlay keyboard will have over 100 keys which will keep all but the most crazed macro creator happy.
A more advanced strategy is to use the two capabilities of AutoHotkey. The first is the ability to pause a macro to read keyboard input. The second is to jump to a different part of the macro based on the input.
Create one big macro in AutoHotkey that is activated by pressing a function key. The macro waits while a code is entered and based on the code jumps to that part of the macro. Now configure each key on the overlay keyboard to send the function key followed by a code the key represents.
This method gives maximum flexibility. Few Windows programs use F11 or F12 so assigning one of them to activate AutoHotkey keeps all the standard hotkey in Windows programs are available
To learn more about overlay keyboards visit http://www.pmkidder.com/enterpad and using AutoHotkey with an overlay keyboard visit http://www.cedeq.com/enterpad-p120/autohotkey-english.html
Philip Kidder has worked with computers for over 35 years. He worked for the Defense Department as a programmer and system analyst. After leaving the government he has worked in computer sales owning his own store. Upon leaving the retail side he is currently a programmer and consultant to businesses. He also works with individuals helping them solve their computer problems. With his broad experience he truly joys is helping others solve their problems and make the computer less of a demon and more of a friend.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Kidder
Two simple things you can do to increase your productivity on the computer is use the Autohotkey program combined with an overlay keyboard.
AutoHotkey is a free program which allows users to create macros to automate repetitive tasks with Windows software. The user assigns the macro to a hotkey. A hotkey is the Ctrl or Alt keys combined with another character that activates the macro. A user can easily create over 100 macros with AutoHotkey.
The problem quickly becomes remembering which hotkey combinations activate which macro. An overlay keyboard can easily solve this problem!
Each of the keys on an overlay keyboard allows for the reproduction of any series of characters available on a regular keyboard. The user creates a configuration file corresponding to their needs and downloads it into the overlay keyboard. They also create a graphic template that represents the function of each key.
To combine AutoHotkey and an overlay keyboard first create the macros in AutoHotkey. Next create a configuration file and template for the overlay keyboard where each key will send a hotkey. A good overlay keyboard will have over 100 keys which will keep all but the most crazed macro creator happy.
A more advanced strategy is to use the two capabilities of AutoHotkey. The first is the ability to pause a macro to read keyboard input. The second is to jump to a different part of the macro based on the input.
Create one big macro in AutoHotkey that is activated by pressing a function key. The macro waits while a code is entered and based on the code jumps to that part of the macro. Now configure each key on the overlay keyboard to send the function key followed by a code the key represents.
This method gives maximum flexibility. Few Windows programs use F11 or F12 so assigning one of them to activate AutoHotkey keeps all the standard hotkey in Windows programs are available
To learn more about overlay keyboards visit http://www.pmkidder.com/enterpad and using AutoHotkey with an overlay keyboard visit http://www.cedeq.com/enterpad-p120/autohotkey-english.html
Philip Kidder has worked with computers for over 35 years. He worked for the Defense Department as a programmer and system analyst. After leaving the government he has worked in computer sales owning his own store. Upon leaving the retail side he is currently a programmer and consultant to businesses. He also works with individuals helping them solve their computer problems. With his broad experience he truly joys is helping others solve their problems and make the computer less of a demon and more of a friend.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Kidder
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