Get Started with AutoHotkey: Your Ultimate Guide to AHK Scripting!

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In this article, we will analyze the most powerful platform for automating tasks - AutoHotkey, learn how to work with it, see how this tool can be useful in games, and try to create simple AHK scripts and macros. Guide for beginners.

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What is Autohotkey?
AutoHotkey v2 (AHK) is an automation-oriented scripting language for microsoft windows that allows users to create scripts to perform various actions. The language is easy to learn, especially for beginners, as its syntax is clear and does not require deep programming knowledge. At the same time, Autohotkey v1 and v2 has powerful features that allow you to create complex and flexible solutions for various tasks.


AutoHotkey main features include:

• automating keystrokes and mouse movements;
• creating hotkeys (hot combinations) to execute commands;
• automating interaction with windows and interface elements;
• management of file systems and processes;
• creation of graphical interfaces for users.

Auto Hotkey is used not only for more convenient work at the computer, but also for creating bots, cheats, scripts for games, we will definitely talk about it below.


How to work with AHK scripting language?
The process of installing is simple and consists of only a few steps:

1. you need to download Autohotkey for free from the official website;
2. run the installation file and follow the instructions;
3. after installation, an executable program AutoHotkey.exe will appear on your computer, which will execute the scripts you created.

To write scripts, simply create a text file with the .ahk extension, or by clicking “New Script” in AutoHotkey Dash. These files can be edited in any text editor, such as Notepad++, Sublime Text, or Visual Studio Code. We will also discuss text editors in more detail below.


How do I create AHK scripts for automation?
To start using AutoHotkey, create a new text file with the extension .ahk in any directory on your computer. Name it, for example, yougame_ahk_guide.ahk, then open it using any text editor. You can open it in Notepad, which is installed with Windows.

In order to create the simplest automation script we will use the msgbox command:

MsgBox, My first script

Let's learn how to interrupt command execution using return. As long as the previous command is not completed, the next command will not be executed. An example of correct usage:

MsgBox, First window
Return
MsgBox, Second window
Return

Now let's add hotkey triggering (^2 = Ctrl+2) and a 3 second delay between windows:

^2::
MsgBox, First window
Sleep, 3000
MsgBox, Second window
Return

If you want to continue learning how to write your own scripts, you can check out the tutorials on the AutoHotkey website.


Best text editor for AHK
In my opinion, the best editor for AHK is Notepad++, because it is the lightest among its competitors and has all the necessary features for working with Autohotkey, for example, syntax highlighting. Good alternatives are Sublime Text, whose license, alas, costs money, or free Visual Studio Code, which, of course, is quite heavy for ordinary work with scripts.

Download Notepad and the syntax file:

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Notepad++ from the official site;

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the syntax highlighting file userDefineLang_AHK.xml.


Prepare Notepad++ for work with AHK:

1. Click on “Language” or “Syntaxes”;
2. now at the very bottom select “User Defined Language” or “Define your own language”;
3. import the previously downloaded file.

AHK scripts for games
I am sure that many forum users know about Autohotkey as a way to cheat in online games and it is indeed one of the popular examples of AutoHotkey usage. On AHK players make bots for fishing in GTA RP, scripts for radmir, amazing rp, majestic, write AHK trigger or bannihop for KS2. Ways to use a lot, but in recent years, many game developers and anticheat began to either prevent the use of Autohotkey scripts, or ban for them, so be careful and run AHK at your own risk. Below I have left an example of free AHK scripts for games.


Download free Autohotkey cheats and scripts

Conclusion
We have learned about AutoHotkey, an incredibly flexible and powerful automation tool for the Windows platform. You can use it to speed up tasks, improve your interaction with your computer, and create your own programs, cheats, scripts, and bots. Thanks to its ease of use and many features, AHK is a great choice for both beginners and advanced users. In addition, AHK is a completely free and open source product.