HoeKey Quick and dirty:

Create new window:

• Run|Program Name|State|Wait|StartIn
• Run a program.
  %s will be replaced with current selection
  %S will be replaced with current selection (encoded for use in running URLs)
  %p will be replaced with the current clipboard as plaintext
  %p will be replaced with the current clipboard as plaintext, with returns/newlines removed
  %c will be replaced with current directory, %d with current drive
  %C will be replaced with the directory HoeKey lives in
  %i = hoekey ini file
  %t = current window title, %l = current window class
  %u = results of last Input function
  %u = results of last Input function (encoded for use in running URLs)
  %f = current date
  %g = current time (no seconds)
  %h = current time (seconds)
  %% for a %
  \r = carriage return (do \r\n in msgbox for a newline)
  \n = newline
  \t = tab
  \\ for a \
  Also environment strings will be expanded, e.g. %temp%, %path%, %os%
  State can be 0 to start app normal, 2 to start minimized, 3 to start maximized
  Wait can be 1 to wait for exit before continuing (stacked commands)
  Wait can be 2 to reactive previous run program
  StartIn is the directory to start in, % stuff applies here too

  ~K=Run|calc.exe
  ~N=Run|notepad.exe|3 ; start notepad maximized
  

• RunDialog|StartIn
• Display Windows "Run" Dialog
  StartIn is the directory to start in, % stuff applies here too

  _^R=RunDialog
  _^R=RunDialog|c:\
  

• MsgBox|Text|Title|Timeout
• Display message on screen
  Note that the same %s,%c,%d,%i,%t,%l,%u stuff from the Run command applies

  Startup=MsgBox|HoeKey loaded (ya hoe)
  

• Input|Text|Title|Timeout|Default
• Get quick user input
  The results of the user input goes into the variable %u, for later usage by Run, or MsgBox, or whatever.
  Note that the same %s,%c,%d,%i,%t,%l,%u stuff from the Run command applies

  ; Do a quick Google I'm Feeling Lucky search based on input:
  ~I=Input|Google search:|Moz tacular||%u
  =Run|"C:\good\MozillaFirebird\MozillaFirebird.exe" "http://www.google.com/search?q=%u&btnI=I'm+Feeling+Lucky"
  
  ; Show Google results, based on last input:
  ~_I=Run|"C:\good\MozillaFirebird\MozillaFirebird.exe" "http://www.google.com/search?q=%u"
  

• Apps|0=Hidden, 1=All
• Show list of apps hidden by HoeKey, or all windows
  Double click to show window.

  ~F4=Apps    ; show apps hidden by hoekey Hide command
  ~_F4=Apps|1 ; show all apps
  

• Move|WindowClass|left|top|width|height
• Move current or selected window.
  Negative left moves window relative to right side of screen, etc.
  Negative width resizes relative to screen.

  ~_V=Move||512|1|512|700 ; Move current window to right side of 1024x768 screen
  ~8=Move                 ; Center current window
  

• MoveRel|WindowClass|left|top|width|height
• Move current or selected window relatively.

  ~^V=MoveRel||50       ; Move current window right 50 pixels
  ~^8=MoveRel||||50|-50 ; Make current window 50 pixels wider and 50 pixels shorter
  

• Center|WindowClass|NoWidthOrNoHeight
• Center current or selected window.

  ~^V=Center    ; center current window vertically and horizontally
  ~^8=Center||1 ; center current window only vertically
  ~^9=Center||2 ; center current window only horizontally
  

• AlwaysOnTop|WindowClass
• Set app to always be on top
  Empty WindowClass for current window

  ~8=AlwaysOnTop
  

• Transparency|WindowClass|Level (0-100)|Color Key
• Toggle transparency of window where 10 is 10% visible.
  Empty WindowClass for current window, empty level for 70% transparency.
  Color Key is css-style RGB.
  

  ~4=Transparency              ; make current window 70% visible
  ~4=Transparency|Notepad|30   ; make notepad 30% visible (mostly transparent)
  ~4=Transparency||50|0xFF0000 ; pure red is transparent
  

• Hide|WindowClass|1=HideToTray,2=HideFromEverything
• Hide current or specified application, add to hidden stack. Optionally show in systray. 2=Do not add application to stack (stays hidden even after quitting HoeKey)
  

  ~35=Hide
  

• Unhide|WindowClass
• Show the last application hidden (from hidden stack)
  

  ~36=Unhide
  

• UnhideAll
• Show all applications that were hidden by HoeKey
  

  ~H=UnhideAll
  

• Show|WindowClass
• Show specified application
  

  ~S=Show|Winamp v1.x
  

• Editify
• Show text from current window in a way that you can copy to clipboard

  ~Y=Editify
  

• Kill|WindowClass
• Kill current or specified application

  ~K=Kill
  

• Keys|Keystrokes|Delay
• Playback keystrokes. Optional Delay in milliseconds
  Special keys:
  \s:shift down
  \S:shift up
  \c:control down
  \C:control up
  \a:alt down
  \A:alt up
  \w:win down
  \W:win up
  
  \z:right mouse button/context menu
  \n:return
  \t:tab
  \l:left
  \k:right
  \u:up
  \d:down
  \h:home
  \e:end
  \i:insert
  \x:delete
  \b:backspace
  \p:escape
  
  All the % replacements also apply, as described in Run.

  ^~K=Keys|\x\d\h\h
  

• Volume|Volume (0-100)
• Set master volume to absolute value, 0-100%

  _~7=Volume|70
  

• WaveVolume|Volume (0-100)
• Set wave volume to absolute value, 0-100%

  _~8=WaveVolume|80
  

• PlayWave|Filename
• Play a .wav file

  _~8=PlayWave|%C\somefile.wav
  

• Wait|Milliseconds
• wait (for stacking commands)

  ~W=Run|c:\program files\Winamp\winamp.exe
  =Wait|1000                 ; wait a second
  =Msg|Winamp v1.x|273|40045 ; play
  

• Eject|Drive|Toggle=0, Open=1, Close=2
• Eject/Close cd-drive. note it toggles open/close based on best known status which is not reliable

  ~J=Eject    ; eject first CD drive
  ~K=Eject|f: ; eject f: drive
  

• RunAlias|Alias
• Run a previously defined alias
  To use aliases, first define them:

  *Screensaver_Start=Msg|0|274|61760 ; start screensaver
  *np=Run|Notepad.exe                ; run notepad
  

  Next, either use them directly in your config file:

  ~N=np
  ~f3=Screensaver_Start
  

  Or, you can choose from them by typing into an inputbox:

  ~T=Input|Enter alias to run:|||%u
  =RunAlias|%u
  

• Clip|Text
• Copy specified text to clipboard
  All the % replacements also apply, as described in Run.

  ^~K=Copy|Selected Files: %s
  

Nerdy programmer:

• Msg|WindowClass|Message|wParam|lParam
  • Send message to application
    Empty WindowClass for current window

    ~C=Msg|Winamp v1.x|273|40046 ; pause winamp
    ~33=Msg||274|61488           ; pgup = maximize current window
    ~34=Msg||274|61472           ; pgdn = minimize current window
    

• FocusMsg|WindowClass|Message|wParam|lParam
• Focus application, then send message to it

  ~A=FocusMsg|Winamp v1.x|273|40188 ; about current winamp song
  ~W=FocusMsg|Winamp v1.x           ; set focus to winamp
  

• Config
• Bring up HoeKey configure screen

  ~Q=Config
  

• TrayIcon|Enable=1, Disable=0|Text
• Show icon in system tray for HoeKey. Double click to configure.
  Text is optional tooltip for the icon.

  Start=TrayIcon|1|je suis un canard gigantesque
  

• HotKeys|Enable=1, Disable=0
• Enable or disable hotkeys

  ; Disable hotkeys, run notepad, re-enable hotkeys
  ~9=HotKeys|0|
  =Run|notepad.exe||1
  =HotKeys||1
  

• Reload|File|Append=1
• Reload HoeKey config file

  ~R=Reload            ; reload current config
  ~R=Reload|gaming.ini ; load different config
  ~R=Reload|tv.ini|1   ; add on other config
  

• Rem|Some Comment
• Remark / comment, the key is ignored

  ~F=Rem|Find Files            ; Explorer binds this
  -=Rem|-- Winamp Functions -- ; Describe a section
  

• Config=Function|Option...
• Do action when Config button is clicked in HoeKey

  Config=Run|hoekeyconfig.exe %i
  

• Start=Function|Option...
• Do action when line is read during startup (not stackable, just put multiple)

  Start=MsgBox|HoeKey Started sir!
  

• Load=Function|Option...
• Do action every time config is loaded (not stackable, just put multiple)

  Load=MsgBox|Config loaded.
  

179=Msg|Winamp v1.x|273|40046 ; pause winamp

history:

• 1.19: Oct 28, 2015
  • Enable \r in strings so MsgBox can have multiple lines. e.g. Foo\r\nbar
  • Add %C to get the directory HoeKey was started from.
• 1.18: Mar 17, 2010
  • New function: ClickThrough - make clicks go through a window (handy with always on top + transparency)
  • Fix %c to get curdir from windows explorer for Windows 7 (and maybe Vista...)
  • Fix %c to get curdir from current process. this will only work for 32 bit apps now :(
• 1.16: Apr 22, 2006
  • New function: WaveVolume - Set wave volume instead of master volume
  • New function: Clip - copy text to clipboard
  • %p = current clipboard as plaintext (useful in keys function)
  • %P = current clipboard as plaintext, removing returns/newlines
  • Color remarks in hoekey list (tell me if you don't like this)
  • Removed: stack/unstack/cycle functions - email me if you use these and i'll put them back
  • Fix for keys from clipboard with backslashes (what?!)
• 1.15: Feb 12, 2006
  • Added keys: \f for page up, \g for page down
  • %s gets filenames too (so you can highlight something in explorer, then edit it with "run|notepad %s"
  • Add ability to specify hex for parameters (specify like 0xFEED, negatives like -0xFEED)
  • Add color keying to transparency, e.g. ~t=Transparency||50|0xFF0000 ; pure red is transparent
  • Volume sets master volume instead of wave - please email me if you don't like this :)
  • Fix so volume can go to 100%
• 1.14: Jan 9, 2005
  • Add ability to specify hex for parameters (specify like 0xFEED, negatives like -0xFEED)
  • Add color keying to transparency, e.g. ~t=Transparency||50|0xFF0000 ; pure red is transparent
• 1.13: Jan 5, 2005
  • Add aliasing, see ConfigExamples and the help file for more information
  • Show special key names (option in system menu of config window)
  • Change versioning convention. 1.13 is the newest
• a12b8: Nov 15, 2004
  • Change cursor right in key send to \k instead of \r
  • Simplify example config
  • Add ConfigExamples.ini file
• a12b7: Sep 8, 2004
  • Remove \r \n \t from run and rundialog - this was causing confusion with paths
  • newest upx and nsis
  • move to http://apps.bcheck.net/
• a12b6: Jun 16, 2004
  • Fix up the installer
  • Add \r \n \t to msgbox, run, etc. e.g. ~d=msgbox|Hi\r\nThere!
  • Fix strange input/messagebox behavior (not showing quoted strings, accented characters, etc)
  • %U and %S are url-encoded counterparts of %u and %s for URL runs, e.g. ~d=Run|http://www.google.com/search?q=%S
• a12b4: Apr 07, 2004
  • About box in keys screen sysmenu
  • unhide multiple selections in the Apps dialog
• a12b3: Mar 30, 2004
  • Keys command can use all the same stuff as run/msgbox, e.g. %c for current directory.
  • %f = current date, %g = current time (no seconds), %h = current time (with seconds)
• a12b2: Mar 04, 2004
  • Use hoekey.ini file from same directory as hoekey.exe rather than the "Start-in" directory
  • Remember Config and Apps dialog sizes (saves to hksettings.ini file)
• a12b1: Mar 03, 2004
  • Close applist on double click app
  • Option to permanently hide windows (not add to stack) (specify 2 for ToTray parameter)
  • Disable/enable hotkeys does not get disabled
  • Disable test ui for config
• a12b0: Dec 11, 2003 (test only)
  • Test of ui for config (no add or remove, and default config disables)
  • Expand environment strings (%path%, etc), for run, msgbox, etc etc
• a11b13: Oct 29, 2003
  • Add context menu to sendkeys (\z)
• a11b12: Sep 23, 2003
  • Reduce apparent memory usage for hidden apps
  • Unhide apps to previous state
  • On failed function, do not continue stacked hoekey (run, input, etc)
• a11b11: Sep 21, 2003
  • fix problem with UnhideAll command
  • Add HideTomTray option to hide function: hide||1 = hide to tray, double click icon or unhide hotkey to show again
  • setforegroundwindow after unhideapp
  • fix %c/%d doc mixup
  • add small wait after input/msgbox for stacking
• a11b10: Sep 14, 2003
  • Add working directory parm to RunDialog
• a11b9: Sep 3, 2003
  • Alt-key hotkeys for keys command doesn't eat first key (jdn)
  • Hold down modifiers and do several hotkeys without releasing modifiers (jdn)
  • Fix compatibility with early releases of Win95
  • Cleanup .ini file
  • Update config dialog for Reload command (jdn)
  • Restore focus after config/apps dialog (jdn)
  • "\-" = space in Keys command (for leading or trailing) (jdn)
  • Stack/Unstack/Cycle commands (see config, seeing if any interest) (jdn)
  • Fix Unhide crasher introduced in a11b8
• a11b8: Aug 24, 2003
  • add Apps function, shows list of windows hidden by hoekey, or all windows (milan)
  • Hide/Unhide specific windows
• a11b7: Aug 23, 2003
  • add Input function, input is %u in anything stringable (amorpheus)
  • make MsgBox text selectable
• a11b6: Aug 6, 2003
  • Rem function (milan)
  • ??? (mystery features)
  • eject cd (Amorpheus)
  • reduce taskmgr's shown mem usage
• a11b5: Jul 22, 2003
  • add include option to reload command
  • if run hoekey.exe with different config while hoekey already running, can append to current config
  • move width/height not working (bbarker)
  • show nice names for keys, can use nice names in config file too (ohl)
• a11b4: Jun 27, 2003
  • add timed msgbox
  • fix crashers showing config (stacked commands)
  • fix config to edit reloaded config
  • reload in stack causes problems, don't do it :)
• a11b3: Jun 24, 2003
  • change Reload to accept ini file name, e.g. ~114=Reload|c:\hoekey\other.ini
• a11b2: Jun 5, 2003
  • add escape and windows keys to keys function
  • add Windows and Escape keys to Keys command
  • if windowclass=0, then gets desktopwindow
  • add runonce parm to Run command - reactivates prev run app (wait=2)
  • fix Show command to setforeground
  • clean up versioning
• a10: May 28, 2003
  • Add Move function, =Move|class|left|top|width|height negative numbers move relative to lower right of screen
  • Add MoveRel function to move window relatively, =Move|class|left|top|width|height where left,top etc can be negative
  • Add Center function = Center|class|1or2 where 1=don't center width, 2=don't center height
  • Add Kill function (scarey!)
  • Add HotKeys function: =enable||1 ; to enable =enable||0 ; to disable hotkeys
  • Add TrayIcon function to enable HoeKey trayicon and set tooltip, double click for config
  • Add Config command, like config=Run|hoekeyconfig.exe %i
  • !Changed startup commands to Start= rather than 1= - note they dont stack, just put multiple
  • In Run function: %i=hoekey ini file, %t=current window title, %l=current window class
  • %s,%d,%c,%i,%t,%l work in msgbox as well as run
  • Add wait parm to Run function: e.g. Run|notepad.exe %i||1 (run notepad and wait until exit)
  • Add per keystroke delay to Keys : =Keys|blahblah|100 ; 100 msec delay between keystrokes
  • Can now use explorer's hotkeys by "Start=Kill|progman" at top and "Start=Run|explorer.exe" at bottom
  • Add to default config: win shift e to open explorer in current dir (scarey!)
  • Cleaned example config file
  • Tried making this help file more clear
  • Add installer as alternative to zip download
  • Add "start in directory" to Run function
  • Can specify hoekey ini file on command line, eg HoeKey.exe c:\blah\timskeys.ini
  • Can run hoekey function and exit, eg HoeKey.exe -XMsgBox|Hi there!!
• a9: May 22, 2003
  • In Run function: %c = curdir, %d = curdrive of top window (maybe not all versions of explorer)
  • Fix longer key codes
  • Fix mod keys getting re-hit (start menu pops up after long Keys command)
• a8: April 11, 2003
  • Fixed stacked commands - specify with blank key
  • Resizable config window
  • Close HoeKey if error loading keyfile
  • Add Show function
  • Focus application with focusmsg function
  • Add suspend / hibernate command to default config file
  • Show comments as descriptions for key commands
  • Make run dialog box show up in lower left corner
  • Specify max/min/normal window for run command: ~N=Run|notepad.exe|3 - 0/1=norm,2=min,3=max
• a7: March 29, 2003
  • Add RunDialog function
  • Add AlwaysOnTop function
  • Add Transparency function (win2k, xp)
  • Send message to current window ( minimize/maximize/restore in config )
  • Don't eat all the %'s in urls
• a6: May 28, 2002: fix Keys to send non alpha-numeric stuff.
• a5: April 3, 2002: allow 3 numbers. fix misc key mappings, e.g. tilde.
• a4: fix line numbers for errors. use 16x16 icon. change Quit to Config. fix Run when used with %s clipboard stuff (crashed!). deprecate quit and reload. Reduce size to 9k uncompressed, 7k compressed
• a3: released at bcheck.arsware.org