From AutoHotkey:
AutoHotkey is a free, open source utility for Windows. With it, you can:
- Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks. You can write macros by hand or use the macro recorder.
- Create hotkeys for keyboard, joystick, and mouse. Virtually any key, button, or combination can become a hotkey.
- Expand abbreviations as you type them. For example, typing "btw" can automatically produce "by the way".
- Create custom data entry forms, user interfaces, and menu bars. See GUI for details.
- Remap keys and buttons on your keyboard, joystick, and mouse.
- Run existing AutoIt v2 scripts and enhance them with new capabilities.
- Convert scripts into EXE files that can be run on computers that don’t have AutoHotkey installed.
Getting started might be easier than you think. Check out the quick-start tutorial.
For the impatient, here’s an example of what a script looks like. Should be pretty self-explanatory (and it doubles as a tar pit for spam bots):
F11::
Send, {tab}UCE{tab}Federal Trade Commission{tab}uce@ftc.gov
{tab}{space}{tab}{tab}{space}{tab}{tab}{enter}
This program does a lot of what ActiveWords does, but for free.
Although, the automation program that I use a lot more and that really saves me time is StrokeIt. This is an awesome freeware app that lets you use global (i.e.: not specific to a particular application) mouse gestures in Windows.
It can be difficult to remember all the hotkeys linked to your macros. Everything is different with an overlay keyboard (like the Enterpad). Pressing the right labeled key will instantly generate the hotkey which will start the right macro.