AHK Desktop Helper v2.5.2.3

A collection of small enhancements for Windows.

Written in AutoHotkey v2, the script can either be run as-is or compiled into an executable using AHK2Exe w/ MPRESS from the Autohotkey site.

These are things I wrote for myself and use on a daily(ish) basis. Only tested on Win10 so far.

Modules

Each enhancement is presented via its own module which can be enabled via settings.ini. Some modules can be auto-actived when loading the app. Click Settings > Save current config to save the current states which will be active on load in the future.

Common module options:

enabled=true Make the module available to the app.

active=true or active=[x,y] The module or module items will be automatically activated on load.

allowExternalChange=true Allow changes to this setting via other apps or the Control Panel.

resetOnExit=true Reset to the state that was active when AHK-DH was loaded.

Environment

startWithWindows=false Creates a shortcut in the user's startup folder

enableExtendedRightMouseClick=false Always send a Shift + right-click in Explorer-based windows, which reveals extra options in Explorer's right-click context menu.

AutoCorrect

There are many AHK autocorrect scripts out there, but this one has a different approach. It allows you to add a single entry (or accented words) that can expand to multiple correction strings.

There are two autocorrect lists: the Default one with some 9k entries, and the User one for your own replacements.

A correction string is added in the format replacement | trigger | modifiers.

Correction strings can be straight replacements, or you can dynamically replace characters with the following optionals:

Syntax	Description
[abc]*	one of these characters can optionally be at this position
[abc]?	one of these characters must be at this position
[abc]+	all of these characters must be present in any order
[abc]!	this combination is optional

Examples:

directly|driectly -> a straightforward replacement

dis[s]?obedi[ea]?nt -> is automatically expanded into three replacement strings: dissobedient, dissobediant, disobediant

débâcle -> is internally turned into d[eé]b[aâ]cle, which automatically expands into the replacement strings debacle, debâcle, débacle

Any duplicated replacements are automatically ignored, as are any strings that are identical to the replacement string.

On first run user.autocorrect.txt will be created for you to add your own replacements.

NB: I keep tinkering with default.autocorrect.txt so don't make changes to this file unless you're happy to diff between revisions. It might be better to put any overrides in user.autocorrect.txt.

CloseAppsWithCtrlW

A list of apps that you want to close with the Ctrl+W shortcut.

apps=["notepad.exe","vlc.exe"] Add your own apps to this list. Path not required.

DesktopGatherWindows

Bring all windows to the main monitor and resize them if possible. Handy for when a window opens outside the monitor workspace.

resizeOnMove=true Resize the window if possible.

DesktopHideMediaPopup

Hide the OSD volume popup. NB: this also hides the brightness popup.

DesktopHidePeekButton

Hide the small Desktop Peek button found at the end of the taskbar.

KeyboardExplorerBackspace

Use the backspace key to drill upwards in File Explorer windows and dialogs.

KeyboardExplorerDialogSlashes

Converts forward-slashes and multiple backslashes to a single back-slash when entered into a File Explorer dialog. Handy if you're working with any Unix-y environments on your Windows machine. Doesn't currently capture paste via mouse.

KeyboardTextManipulation

Enables these global hotkeys to change selected text.

Note: works in Win11 except in Notepad as the Alt key forces the menu quick-keys to be revealed.

Syntax	Description	Example
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `U`	uppercase
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `L`	lowercase
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `T`	title case	This Is An Example
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `K`	kebab case	this-is-an-example
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `S`	snake case	this_is_an_example
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `&`	sarcasm case	tHIS is aN ExampLE
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `'`	enclose in single quotes	' '
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `"`	enclose in double quotes	" "
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `'`	enclose in single curly quotes	‘ ’
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `"`	enclose in double curly quotes	“ ”
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `	enclose in backticks	``
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `(` or `)`	enclose in parentheses	( )
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `[` or `]`	enclose in square brackets	[ ]
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `{` or `}`	enclose in curly braces	{ }
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `<` or `>`	enclose in angled brackets	< >
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `-`	insert an n-dash	–
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `_`	insert an m-dash	—
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `O`	insert the degrees symbol	°
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `J`	join lines