How do I set a hotkey function to stop my script?

[CoffeeMan]

At the start of a script, I want a line of code that allows me to, in the future, while the program is executing to stop it midway.  I am a total noob when it comes to programming so a lot of this stuff is confusing to me.

 

Can someone explain this to me as if I knew nothing about programming?

[Danp2]

Look at the help file examples for the HotKeySet command.

[CoffeeMan]

1 minute ago, Danp2 said:

Look at the help file examples for the HotKeySet command.

How do I access the help file?

 

[Nine]

You need to install autoit from here.  Once installed go to the autoit folder (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3).  There is a file called AutoIt.chm.  Double-click on it...

[CoffeeMan]

Thank you, I think I figured it out now.

In order to test if this works, I wrote down this simple program:

; capture and pass along a keypress
HotKeySet("{Esc}", "captureEsc")
Func captureEsc()
    ; ... can do stuff here
    HotKeySet("{Esc}")
    Send("{Esc}")
    HotKeySet("{Esc}", "captureEsc")
 EndFunc
 
 WinActivate("Untitled")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")
 Send("johiguytfcrvyguhijkopjouyv")

However, nothing happened.  I think I am doing something wrong.  Do I need to call the function?

 

[CoffeeMan]

To further elaborate, I mean nothing happened when pressing ESC.  I planned for it to spam notepad and I would be able to push ESC to stop it, but nothing happened.

[Nine]

add this line in your captureEsc () function.

Exit

 

[CoffeeMan]

1 minute ago, Nine said:

add this line in your captureEsc () function.

Exit

  

OH MY GOD, IT WORKS!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I didn't want to mention this earlier because I thought it would fix itself, but I have another problem.  For whatever reason, the code:

; capture and pass along a keypress
HotKeySet("{Esc}", "captureEsc")
Func captureEsc()
    ; ... can do stuff here
    HotKeySet("{Esc}")
    Send("{Esc}")
    HotKeySet("{Esc}", "captureEsc")
    Exit
 EndFunc
 WinActivate("Untitled")
; insert other send() code here

Whenever the Send() code runs it simultaneously writes to Notepad while also writing to the AutoIt code editor.  What am I doing wrong?

Also, in the forum's built-in code block I see that "and pass" is highlighted in blue.  Did I initialize the comment correctly?

[CoffeeMan]

Note:  comment looks fine on editor.

[Nine]

Send command is not the most robust way to transmit keystrokes to an application.  You should consider more reliable function like ControlSend () or others.  To better help you  what is the application you want to automate ?

[CoffeeMan]

18 minutes ago, Nine said:

Send command is not the most robust way to transmit keystrokes to an application.  You should consider more reliable function like ControlSend () or others.  To better help you  what is the application you want to automate ?

Right now all I want to automate is Notepad.  I'll try the ControlSend() function and report back to you with my results.

[CoffeeMan]

30 minutes ago, Nine said:

Send command is not the most robust way to transmit keystrokes to an application.  You should consider more reliable function like ControlSend () or others.  To better help you  what is the application you want to automate ?

Ok, so I am back.  I looked at the help documentation for controlsend() and it seems out of my league.  The parameters seem complicated and the function listed below the parameters seemed even more complicated.  But, if we are to tackle this one issue at a time, here is the labeled stuff in the doc:
 

ControlSend ( "title", "text", controlID, "string" [, flag = 0] )

What is a title, controlID, and a flag?  What is the proper way to write in Notepad with this function?  

[Jos]

3 minutes ago, CoffeeMan said:

I looked at the help documentation for controlsend() and it seems out of my league. 

 

4 minutes ago, CoffeeMan said:

What is a title, controlID, and a flag?  What is the proper way to write in Notepad with this function? 

Well this question simply means to me you haven't really read anything ...did you? ...  as the example shown for the function tells you how it works with Notepad.

... but having said that: Let's cut the BS about automating Notepad and simply state which program you really want to SPAM here?

Jos

[FrancescoDiMuro]

6 minutes ago, CoffeeMan said:

What is the proper way to write in Notepad with this function? 

Use AutoItWindowInfoTool to obtain those information (Title, optional text, and ControlID) from the application you are trying to automate

 

EDIT: Sorry @Jos.

Replied one second after you did!

Edited August 31, 2019 by FrancescoDiMuro

[CoffeeMan]

5 minutes ago, Jos said:

 

Well this question simply means to me you haven't really read anything ...did you? ...  as the example shown for the function tells you how it works with Notepad.

... but having said that: Let's cut the BS about automating Notepad and simply state which program you really want to SPAM here?

Jos

I don't really have anything in mind at the moment, but I am hoping that this language will help me automate repetitive tasks on my computer such as file creation.  My friend also started out with this language so I thought I should give it a shot.  Do you have any recommendations for future goals I should shoot towards?

[Jos]

Honestly do not believe you came here with simply no idea what you need it for and then come up with the grand idea to Spam Notepad.
On top of that, as stated, you show all signs of somebody that isn't willing to go through a normal learning process by spending time reading the information provided properly.

So let's keep it simple and tell us what you are really after.

Jos 

ps: By the way: also ensure you read our forum rules properly as well as I have the feeling you are potentially going to use AutoIt3 for game automation. Fine when you do but do not discuss any of it in these forums, also not call that game Notepad!

[CoffeeMan]

1 minute ago, Jos said:

Honestly do not believe you came here with simply no idea what you need it for and then come up with the grand idea to Spam Notepad.
On top of that, as stated, you show all signs of somebody that isn't willing to go through a normal learning process by spending time reading the information provided properly.

So let's keep it simple and tell us what you are really after.

Jos 

ps: By the way: also ensure you read our forum rules properly as well as I have the feeling you are potentially going to use AutoIt3 for game automation. Fine when you do but do not discuss any of it in these forums, also not call that game Notepad!

I do have my own goals in mind but I am unsure of where to begin.  There aren't that many tutorials of AutoIt online so I saw a YouTube video showcasing the NotePad script.  I am fully aware of the rules and that discussing ways to automate software which forbids it in its own ToS as well as game automation is completely forbidden on the forums.  I am sorry if I came off as a bit ignorant in my posts.  You are right, I should read the help documentation more thoroughly before asking questions.  I never meant to upset a developer on my first day here, please forgive me. 

[Jos]

There is a lot of information available for starters..  the helpfile contains a lot of basic info and you'll find a lot of information in the provided Wiki and these forums when you are willing to do a little research.

Jos

[CoffeeMan]

3 minutes ago, Jos said:

There is a lot of information available for starters..  the helpfile contains a lot of basic info and you'll find a lot of information in the provided Wiki and these forums when you are willing to do a little research.

 Jos

Thanks.  If I have any more questions later down the road, after thoroughly reading the helpfile, the forum, and the wiki I guess I'll make a new thread since this one has outlived its purpose.  Until then, thank you so much for the help.