The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2021 - 35

RR
is also free, so if you
don't have it, head over
to notepad-plus-plus.org
to download and install it.
2.	 In the folder where you
saved the script, rightclick on the file and select
Edit with Notepad++. The
file that opens contains
four lines of text, which
is the " skeleton " of
an AutoHotkey script.
(See Figure 1.) The text
that appears after the
semicolon on each line
explains what the line
does. In Figure 1, you'll see
I've placed my cursor in

Figure 1 AutoHotkey Skeleton

line 5, which causes it to
be highlighted. Although
line 5 is the first line where
we can start entering our
hotstrings, I usually leave
it blank to create space
between the first four
default lines and my own.
3.	 Place your cursor in line
6 and enter the sample
hotstrings from the
previous examples I gave
(::ak::AutoHotkey
and ::addr::1600

Pennsylvania Avenue
NW, Washington,
DC 20500, United
States), each on its
own line. (Remember the

Figure 2 Script with Two Hotstrings

hotstring syntax: a pair
of colons, followed by the

the script is loaded because

followed by a space, a

abbreviation, another pair

before you can use your

a green square icon with a

punctuation character, or

of colons, and the text to

hotstrings, you'll need to

white " H " in it will appear

the Enter key, and see the

be expanded.) Now your

activate the script.

in the system tray.

expanded text you created

script will have seven
lines, two of which are

4.	 Save your file. Now

5.	 To activate a script, go

appear automatically on

Now you're ready to

your screen.

back to the folder where

start using your hotstrings.

your script is saved and

Go to any program where

double-click it. This will

you can enter text (e.g.,

add more hotstrings to

" load " the script, which

Notepad++, Word, a web

your script, open the file

script. In Figure 3 on page

means it will be enabled

browser, your computer-

again in Notepad++, add

36 you'll see I've added

from now on, unless you

assisted translation

new lines, and save it.

a third hotstring for my

unload it or restart your

(CAT) tool) and type

After doing this, you'll

email address in line 8.

computer. You'll know that

one of your hotstrings

need to reload the script

hotstrings. (See Figure 2.)
Of course, you can add
more hotstrings to your

www.ata-chronicle.online

When you're ready to

American Translators Association

35
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The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2021

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