Modifier Legend (Allow mouse buttons 4 and 5 as modifiers checked in Options)
AutoHook Help
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AutoHook 2008 - 2013
v2.0.2
Keyboard/Mouse Hotkey Macro Player for AutoCAD (32-bit
and 64-bit)
Compatible with all AutoCAD PC versions, including AutoCAD
LT
Copyright ©1996-2012 Command
Digital Studios, All Rights Reserved
Quick Links:
Use the navigation links at the top right to browse each page, or choose one of the links below to jump directly to a topic.
Other Links:
Legal Disclaimer:
Please see the AutoHook End User License Agreement (EULA) located in the AutoHook installation directory.
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Hotkey Terminology:
Modifier:
One or more keys or
mouse buttons which are held down prior to the pressing of another key
or mouse button. Modifiers are sometimes called "prefix" keys.
Valid modifiers in AutoHook are Control [^], Alt [@], Shift [#], Windows Key [*]
and CapsLock [+]. Under Options, Program tab, you may also configure
AutoHook to recognize certain mouse buttons as modifiers. Valid
mouse button modifiers are Button 4 [<] and Button 5 [>] (requires a mouse
with at least 5 buttons).
The CapsLock modifier and mouse button modifiers are not standard and are only supported by AutoHook. As such, when these are used as modifiers, they are the only modifiers allowed, whereas Control, Alt, Shift and Windows Key may be used in combinations.
Modifier Legend (Allow mouse
buttons 4 and 5 as modifiers checked in Options)
Modifier Legend (Allow mouse buttons 4 and 5 as modifiers
unchecked in Options)
Although technically not a modifier, ||DTap is included in the legend for reference. See DoubleTap Hotkeys for details.
Main
Key:
Any key or mouse button press that is not a
modifier. The exceptions to this are mouse buttons 4 and 5 which can be
used as either, depending on your settings in Options.
Hotkey:
The combination of
zero or more modifiers and a main key. For example, the hotkey ^F1
means: hold down the Control key and press F1.
Macro:
Macros are the text and/or macro commands to send
to AutoCAD when its corresponding hotkey is pressed.
Hotkey
Definition:
The combination of a hotkey and its
associated macro. Hotkey definitions are stored in an INI
file located in AutoHook's installation folder.
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The AutoHook dialog is now sizeable, allowing you to see more hotkeys and longer macros. Drag any border to resize.
Hotkey/Assigned Macro list:
A list of
all currently saved hotkey definitions. Right
click on this list to choose a new sorting order. F5 will refresh this
list, re-reading your INI file (useful for those that like to edit their
hotkeys manually). Select an item in this list to edit its macro in the
New Macro field.
Hotkey field:
Strike a new hotkey
(either with the keyboard or mouse) in this field to create a new hotkey.
If the hotkey already exists, it will automatically select it in the
Hotkey list above and fill in the New Macro field with the
currently assigned macro. Striking the hotkey twice creates a DoubleTap hotkey.
New Macro field:
Edit an existing macro
or create a new one here. When a new hotkey is struck in the
Hotkey field or selected from the Hotkey list, this field is
updated with the currently assigned macro. Strike a hotkey in the hotkey
field before creating the macro. This field is disabled until a hotkey is
selected in the Hotkey field.
Current Assignment:
The macro currently assigned to the selected hotkey. This is
for reference only, as you edit an existing macro. When you save or select
a hotkey, the Current Assignment is updated.
Insert Macro Command:
This is the small
button to the right of the New Macro field. Click this button to
display a menu for help with inserting a macro command into your macro. All
valid macro commands are listed in this menu. This menu may also be
accessed by right clicking the New Macro field. You may also
manually type macro commands without accessing this menu. This
button is disabled until a hotkey is selected in the Hotkey
field.
Save Hotkey button:
Click this button
to save the current hotkey in the Hotkey field with the macro in the
New Macro field. If the hotkey already exists, its macro is
updated. This action will write the hotkey definition to your INI
file. This button will be disabled if the hotkey is already saved and
its macro has not been edited.
Delete Hotkey button:
Click this button
to delete the currently selected hotkey in the Hotkey list.
Hotkey deletion cannot be undone - It's always a good idea to export your
hotkey definitions to a safe location prior to deleting hotkeys. You also
may delete hotkeys from the Hotkey list with the Delete key.
Purchase button:
Only visible on
unregistered versions. Click this button to link to our secure on-line
store where you may purchase AutoHook. See Registration for details.
Options button:
Displays the Options dialog, where you can
change AutoHook's settings.
Help button:
Displays this
file.
About button:
Displays AutoHook
version, support information, and registration information.
Status Bar:
This is
the strip at the bottom of the dialog. It
usually displays a modifier legend with a
status icon/button and the total number of defined hotkeys on the
right. If "Show help tips in status bar" is turned on (Options, Window tab), the
modifier legend is replaced briefly by a help tip for the area currently
under the mouse cursor.
Status Bar Indicator:
The small button
in the status bar will change as you use AutoHook. The meanings of the
different icons are described below:
 |
AutoCAD is not currently running. AutoHook is idle. Clicking the icon in this state will suspend your hotkeys. |
 |
At least one instance of AutoCAD is running. You are "Hooked", and your hotkeys are available for use. Clicking the icon in this state will suspend your hotkeys. |
 |
Your hotkeys are currently suspended. See the {suspend} macro command for details. Click the icon to enable your hotkeys. |
 |
Your macro is currently paused. See the {pause} macro command for details. Clicking this icon will cancel the pause, discarding any remaining macro. |
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(dialog shown with default settings)
AutoHook 20xx window always on top of other
windows:
Forces the AutoHook dialog window to always be on top of
other windows. Useful when setting up your hotkeys and testing them with
both the AutoCAD and AutoHook windows showing.
"Close" hides to system tray:
This
option controls the behavior of the close button (the "x" in the
top right corner) or choosing close from the system menu. With this option
turned on, closing AutoHook simply hides the window to the tray. You must
exit AutoHook by right clicking on its tray icon and choosing "Exit" when this
option is on.
"Minimize" hides to system tray:
This
option controls the behavior of the minimize button (the "-" in
the top right corner) or choosing minimize from the system menu. With this
option turned on, minimizing AutoHook simply hides the window to the tray,
without showing a program button in the task bar.
Start AutoHook 20xx when Windows
starts:
This option will create or remove a shortcut to your version
of AutoHook in the Startup program menu group of the current user. It is
created with the -tray command line parameter which
forces AutoHook to launch to the tray. (it will not display the AutoHook
dialog). AutoHook has very little overhead and basically sits idle
when AutoCAD is not running. With AutoHook always running, you
have the convenience of your hotkeys being available as soon as you launch
AutoCAD.
Display delete confirmation:
With this
option turned on, AutoHook will display a warning dialog whenever you try
to delete a hotkey definition, allowing you to optionally cancel the
deletion.
Show help tips in status bar:
With this option on, the
modifier legend in the status bar is replaced briefly by a help
tip for the area currently under the mouse cursor. When turned off,
the modifier legend is always displayed.
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Show pause marker at AutoCAD's
cursor:
Turn this option off to disable the display of the pause
symbol () near AutoCAD's cursor whenever
an AutoHook macro uses the pause macro command.
Ignore NumLock state:
When this option
is off, it gives you 11 additional main keys to assign macros to. For
example, you can create one macro for NumPad0 and another for NumpadIns.
This is the same physical key, but you may have two different macros played
based on the state of the NumLock key. The disadvantage to this is that
you must always be aware of your NumLock state in order to know which macro will
be played. Legacy AutoHooks always functioned as if this option were
on.
Allow mouse buttons 4 and 5 as
modifiers:
Requires a mouse with at least 5 buttons. With this
option turned on, the 4th and 5th mouse buttons may be used as modifiers and main
keys. As main keys though, they must have at least one
modifier. If your mouse is using a special driver that allows you to
configure your mouse buttons, you may need to configure buttons 4 and
5 as "Generic Button" or "Default" (or equivalent). With this option
turned on you can greatly increase the number of hotkeys available and the
ease of hotkey execution.
With this option turned off, the 4th and 5th mouse buttons behave like any other main key on your keyboard, and will work with any or no modifiers.
DoubleTap delay in milliseconds:
Allows
you to set the DoubleTap delay in milliseconds. The default setting of 300
is 0.3 seconds. Acceptable values are in the range of 100 to 999
milliseconds. It is recommended to set this value as low as possible based
on your comfort level. See DoubleTap Hotkeys for
details.
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The Import tab of the Options dialog allows you to import hotkey definitions from other AutoHook INI files - any AutoHook version, including legacy formats. When selecting a file to import, you may alternatively select a shortcut to an INI file. The imported file is first searched for the new INI file format and if not found, will search the file again for legacy format definitions. If both new format and legacy format hotkey definitions exist in the same file, only the new format definitions are imported. See Managing INI Files for details. If you want to totally replace your hotkeys with the imported file, you must first delete all of your hotkey definitions. Deletion of hotkeys can not be undone - use with caution. It's always a good idea to export your hotkey definitions to a safe location prior to deleting hotkeys.
Duplicate imported hotkey definitions are either skipped or overwritten depending on the settings you provide. Overwriting a hotkey macro cannot be undone - use with caution. It's always a good idea to export your hotkey definitions to a safe location prior to overwriting duplicates.
AutoHook also supports drag and drop INI file importing.
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The Export tab of the Options dialog allows you to export hotkey definitions in various formats. AutoHook exports hotkey definitions according to the current sort order you are using. (you can change your sort order by right clicking on the list of hotkey definitions in AutoHook's dialog). If you choose an export file that already exists, it is overwritten.
Create an AutoHook format INI file:
The
exported file will be usable with all AutoHook versions using the new INI
file format (2008 or later). The file may be used directly by copying it
to your AutoHook installation folder on another computer, or you may import this
file using AutoHook's import feature. AutoHook does not simply "copy" your
INI file. Any invalid definitions or other extraneous text that may
exist in your INI file is not exported. Only those hotkey definitions that
are displayed in the hotkey list are exported. It is possible that this
list may change based on certain settings in the General tab (like
Ignore NumLock state, or Allow mouse buttons 4 and 5 as
modifiers).
It is not possible to export your hotkey definitions to the older style legacy format. Too many new features have been added to make this practical.
Create a Tab delimited file:
Useful for importing into
other applications for documentation or other purposes.
Create a ? delimited file:
Same as Tab delimited, except
it allows you to specify the delimiter used in the export file. Default
delimiter is the comma. Tabs are the safest delimiter to use because they
cannot exist in a hotkey or macro, however, not all applications support Tab as
a delimiter.
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Use the License tab to register AutoHook, or to update AutoHook's registration with additional licenses. See Registration for a description of this tab.
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Text in a macro between curly braces, { and }, represent a macro command and has special meaning as described next. The text is not case sensitive. Macro commands may be typed manually in the New Macro field, or chosen from either the right click menu on the New Macro field or from the Insert Macro Command button.
Macro commands are checked for validity when the Save Hotkey button is pressed. AutoHook will not save a hotkey definition with an invalid macro command, nor will it load one from its INI file.
Macro commands send "non-text" information to AutoCAD. Usually this is a key stroke, or a mouse click. But a macro command may also send special instructions as to how the macro should be played or effect the behavior of AutoHook.
Place macro commands at the position within the macro that you want the macro command to take effect.
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Autohook Macro Commands:
{pause m}
Pauses macro playback and
waits for a left mouse button click in AutoCAD's drawing area.
{pause e}
Pauses macro playback and
waits for the Enter key.
{pause
me}/{pause em}
Pauses macro
playback and waits for either a left mouse button click in AutoCAD's drawing
area, or the Enter key.
{pause
t}
Pauses macro playback and waits for a Ctrl+Enter
keystroke. Usually used to wait for the user to complete an MTEXT
object.
Notes on all pause macro commands:
All forms of the pause macro command will wait indefinitely for the ending trigger. You may use other hotkeys while paused, as long as its macro does not contain another pause. (only one pause may be active at a time). You may have multiple pauses in one macro.
While a pause is active, AutoHook will change its tray icon to indicate pause status and will optionally display a pause symbol near AutoCAD's cursor. You may turn off the display of this symbol in Options, Program tab.
You may cancel a pause by either hitting the Escape key, or
by right clicking on AutoHook's tray icon and choosing "Cancel Pause".
When a pause is canceled, any remaining macro is not played.
{repeat}
Causes the portion of the macro
after the {repeat} label to loop continuously until the Escape key is
pressed. Only one {repeat} label may exist per macro. If there is no
{pause} or {delay} after the {repeat} label, AutoHook will automatically insert
a 1 second delay at the end of each loop.
{delay
#}
Adds a delay to your macro where # is the number of
milliseconds to delay. For example, {delay 3000} will delay your macro for
3 seconds at the location of its label. Useful by itself when AutoCAD
can't keep up with the speed of the macro, or when used after the {repeat} macro
command to override the default 1 second repeat delay. Any delay less than
50 milliseconds is treated as 50 milliseconds. Hotkeys are disabled during
a delay. If you don't want them disabled, use one of the pause macro
commands instead. Delays may be canceled by hitting the Escape key,
discarding any remaining macro.
{suspend}
Can be used to suspend your
hotkeys, returning all keys (except {suspend} and {autohook} hotkeys) to their
default AutoCAD function, as if AutoHook were not running. The {suspend}
macro command is a toggle, allowing you to turn your hotkeys both off and back
on.
You may also suspend your hotkeys without a macro command
by right clicking on AutoHook's tray icon and selecting "Suspend Hotkeys" or by
clicking the status bar indicator ( or
) in AutoHook's status bar.
AutoHook's tray icon and status bar indicator change to indicate {suspend}
status. If {suspend} exists anywhere within a macro, all other macro text
is ignored.
{autohook}
Can be used to show the
AutoHook dialog (if it's not already shown) and make it active. AutoHook must
already be running with AutoCAD active for this to work. {autohook}
hotkeys are not suspended by the {suspend} macro command. If {autohook}
exists anywhere within a macro, all other macro text is
ignored.
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AutoCAD Special Keys:
{esc}
Sends an Escape key press to
AutoCAD. Usually used at the beginning of a macro to cancel any
AutoCAD command that may be in progress, guaranteeing that you start off with a
blank Command prompt.
{enter}
Sends an Enter key press to
AutoCAD. In most cases with AutoCAD, Space and Enter are synonymous.
In the few exceptions where this is not the case, the {enter} macro command may
be used. These exceptions include symbol names, such as blocks
and layers, file names, and the creation of text objects. Legacy
versions of AutoHook used ^M as Enter in a macro. This is still supported
as the macro command {^M}, however it is recommended to use the new {enter}
macro command instead to guarantee future compatibility.
{^enter}
Sends a Ctrl+Enter key press to
AutoCAD. Usually used for MTEXT completion - finishing the creation of an
MTEXT object.
{^tab}
Sends a Ctrl+Tab key press to
AutoCAD. Ctrl+Tab will display the next drawing window in AutoCAD when you
have more than one drawing open.
{^#tab}/{#^tab}
Sends a
Ctrl+Shift+Tab key press to AutoCAD. Ctrl+Shift+Tab will display
the previous drawing window in AutoCAD when you have more than one drawing
open.
{space}
Sends a Space Bar key press to
AutoCAD. The {space} macro command is treated identically to an
actual space that may exist in a macro. The reason for its existence is
for clarity. When placed at the end of a macro, it can be used to easily
identify which macros actually enter the command. Its usage is entirely
optional.
{click}
Sends a default mouse button "click" at
the mouse position in effect when the hotkey is pressed.
{click #
#}
Sends a default mouse button "click" to the X and Y screen
coordinates indicated by # and #. Do not confuse "screen" coordinates with
AutoCAD's coordinate system - the screen is your Windows desktop.
Selecting this item from AutoHook's Insert Macro
Command button will fill in the X and Y screen coordinates
for you. Keep in mind that if you move the AutoCAD window, or one of its
dialogs, your intended X and Y coordinates may change and your macro
should be updated accordingly. This is similar to the plain {click} macro
command which simulates a click at the current mouse position, except that you
have control over where the click occurs.
Both forms of the {click} macro command will cancel the macro if the click would not occur on an AutoCAD "window". An AutoCAD "window" is any AutoCAD dialog, toolbar, palette, ribbon, menu or the drawing area. When a {click} is canceled in this way, any remaining macro is not played.
{{}
Sends a left curly brace to
AutoCAD.
{}}
Sends a right curly brace to AutoCAD.
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Other AutoCAD Keys:
{F1} -
{F12}
Sends a Function key press to AutoCAD. See
your AutoCAD documentation for a description of these keys. Their function
may vary based on your AutoCAD version and any CUI changes you may have
made.
{^0} - {^9} / {^A}
- {^Z}
Sends a Control+Number/Letter key press to
AutoCAD. See your AutoCAD documentation for a description of these
keys. Their function may vary based on your AutoCAD version and any CUI
changes you may have made.
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DoubleTap Hotkeys:
DoubleTap hotkeys
effectively double the number of possible hotkeys available to you. Using
DoubleTaps, you may assign two macros to a single hotkey. If you hit the
hotkey once, you get the first macro (if one exists, otherwise you get the key's
native function); hit it twice (within the DoubleTap delay setting described
below) and get the second macro. DoubleTaps are also supported by mouse
button hotkeys.
To create a DoubleTap hotkey, simply hold down zero or more modifiers and strike the main key twice in AutoHook's Hotkey field. AutoHook will prefix the hotkey with a double bar [||] symbol, indicating a DoubleTap.
It is not required to have a single tap hotkey macro in order to create a DoubleTap macro. For example, strike the F1 key twice in AutoHook's Hotkey field. AutoHook will then display ||F1 in the Hotkey field - the double bar symbol [||] means it is a DoubleTap hotkey. Next, type line{enter} in the New Macro field and click the Save Hotkey button. Test the hotkey in AutoCAD and you will note that if you hit F1 once in AutoCAD, you get AutoCAD's help; hit F1 twice (within the DoubleTap delay setting) and get the LINE command.
DoubleTap Delay:
This user adjustable setting will vary based on your keyboarding style.
The value determines the length of time that AutoHook will wait before sending the single tap version of a hotkey that is defined as a DoubleTap. Adjust this to your own comfort level. It defaults to 300 milliseconds (0.3 seconds) - this may be too fast for some users.
A setting that is too high will cause the delay to be noticeable while waiting for the single tap version, interfering with your work flow. A setting that is too low may not give you enough time to strike the hotkey twice, so that you get the single tap macro played twice. It is recommended to set this value as low as possible, while still getting the DoubleTap macro. See Options, Program for how to change the DoubleTap delay setting.
As soon as you strike a DoubleTap hotkey twice, the macro is played immediately - it does not wait the DoubleTap delay. The delay is only applied to the single tap version, and only if a DoubleTap exists for that hotkey. This setting has no effect on non-DoubleTaps - their macro is always played immediately.
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Mouse Buttons:
All mouse buttons may be used as DoubleTaps.
Left, Right, Middle (wheel):
These buttons may be used as a main key if they have at least one modifier. The Alt key is not supported as a modifier with these buttons, but all other modifiers are supported including Button4 and Button5.
Button4 and Button5:
These are the buttons that typically perform a "forward" and "back" operation in a browser or other application. They do not exist on all mice. AutoCAD power users should have one of these.
There is a special option you may set in Options, Program tab that allows you to use these buttons as main keys and modifiers. With this option turned on (the default), Button4 and Button5 cannot be used as unmodified main keys. However, as main keys and modifiers you can greatly increase the number of hotkeys available and the ease of hotkey execution.
With this option turned off, Button4 and Button5 may be used like any other main key on your keyboard, supporting any or no modifiers.
You may have to configure Button4 and Button5 as "Generic Button" or "Default" (or equivalent) in your mouse driver's software in order for them to be used as modifiers.
Using mice with more than 5 buttons with AutoHook:
Windows natively supports mice with up to 5 buttons. If your mouse has more than 5, you may still be able to use the extra buttons with AutoHook as described next.
These mice typically come with special drivers that allow you to assign keystrokes or other tasks to the extra buttons. The trick is to assign some random keystroke (one that you would never normally use) to a button using the driver software provided with the mouse. Then, in AutoHook assign whatever macro you want to the keystroke you set in the mouse driver software. That's it!
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AutoHook 20??.ini
AutoHook stores your hotkey definitions in an INI file located in AutoHook's installation folder. It must be named "AutoHook 20??.ini", where ?? is the version year of your AutoHook. You must have sufficient user rights in Windows to write to this folder in order for AutoHook to save a hotkey definition.
AutoHook manages its own INI file, but you may find it useful to keep copies of your INI file(s) in alternate locations. Use AutoHook's export feature to do so. It may be helpful to keep different sets of hotkeys based on the types of drawings you work with. (like one file for decimal units and another for feet and inches)
Drag and Drop Support:
To make changing out your hotkeys easier, AutoHook supports drag and drop INI file import. Only one INI file may be dropped at a time, and it must have a .ini extension. You may also drag and drop shortcuts to INI files. Drag and drop functions the same as the Options, Import tab, except for the requirement of the .ini file extension.
INI File Format:
Editing your own INI file not required nor is it recommended. BUT, for those who must, you will need a text editor such as NotePad, which comes with Windows. Do NOT use a word processor like Word or WordPad because these can really make a mess. Save a copy of the file (or export) before you begin just in case.
Legacy AutoHooks used the [keys] section to store their hotkey definitions. The new INI file format uses the section name [AutoHook Hotkey Definitions]. All text above the section name is ignored. After finding the section, AutoHook will then look for hotkey definitions - one per line - until it reaches the end of the file or until a new section is encountered, at which point AutoHook will stop reading the file.
Hotkey definitions must start in column 1 and be in the format of hotkey=macro; - note the ending semicolon. The ending semicolon is required because many macros end in a space. Some text editors will strip ending spaces from lines by default when you save a file. The ending semicolon is stripped off when AutoHook reads the file.
When done editing, save the file. If AutoHook is running, you may use the F5 key in the AutoHook's hotkey list to refresh the list, re-reading the INI file; or simply restart AutoHook.
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Hotkey / Macro Examples:
A few example macros are installed with AutoHook, however the real power is through your own customization. Feel free to add to them, modify them, or just delete them and replace them with your own.
Below are some example hotkey definitions with detailed descriptions. The underscores before command names are not required when using commands in your native language version of AutoCAD.
Example 1.
| @E | _endp{space} |
This macro will play when you hold down the Alt key and press the E key in AutoCAD.
This simple macro runs endpoint object snap. The use of the {space} macro command is optional; you may use an actual space. AutoHook treats them both the same. The {enter} macro command also would have worked for our purposes.
Example 2.
^#I
{esc}-insert My
Block{enter}s 1 r 0{space}
This macro will play when you hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys and press the I key in AutoCAD.
This macro inserts a block called "My Block" at a scale of 1 at 0 rotation. Of course, "My Block" must already exist for this to work. The {esc} macro command appears at the front of the macro which will cancel any currently running AutoCAD command, so that you start off with a blank command prompt. Note the use of the {enter} macro command after the block name. Enter is sometimes required at certain AutoCAD prompts that allow spaces, such as block names, layer names and file names.
Also note the use of the hyphen (the dash) before the INSERT command. This causes the INSERT command to run at the command prompt rather than in a dialog box. Many dialog based AutoCAD commands have command line versions which are "AutoHook friendly" because they work well in macros. See your AutoCAD documentation for a full list of hyphen based commands; or simply experiment by preceding commands with a hyphen and see if they work.
Common hyphen based commands include: -INSERT, -BLOCK, -WBLOCK, -LAYER, -PAN, -ARRAY and -HATCH. You may also set AutoCAD's system variable FILEDIA to 0 so that you can use AutoHook to enter file names at the command prompt.
Example 3.
| #RButton | '_-pan {click}(getvar "viewctr"){space} |
This macro will play when you hold down the Shift key and press the Right Mouse Button in AutoCAD.
This macro allows you to perform a transparent
pan without having to drag your mouse like you do using pan with
the middle mouse button. It uses the {click} macro command
which simulates a mouse click at the current mouse cursor location providing the
first point, and a simple Autolisp expression to retrieve the center of the
drawing window to provide the second point. (don't confuse the curly
braces of AutoHook's macro commands with the parenthesis of
Autolisp)
| *E | (command "sh" (strcat "start explorer " (getvar "dwgprefix")))(princ){space} |
This macro will play when you hold down the Windows key and press the E key in AutoCAD.
*E (Win+E) is a standard Windows hotkey used to launch Explorer to the My Computer folder. What we've done here is to redefine *E only for AutoCAD, so that Explorer will open to the current drawing folder instead of My Computer. Had to rely on a bit of Autolisp here to get the drawing folder. *E will still function normally outside of AutoCAD, opening My Computer.
Example 5.
F2
{esc}_line{space}
||F2
{F2}
The first macro will play when you press the F2 key once, and the second will play when you press F2 twice (within the DoubleTap delay setting).
Here we're using a normal hotkey and a DoubleTap hotkey. The F2 key in AutoCAD will, by default, flip to the AutoCAD text screen. Why not put the commands you use most on the keys that are the most accessible? This combination of hotkeys allows you to start the LINE command using the F2 key, but still makes it easy for you flip to the text screen when needed by hitting the F2 key twice. Note: If you find that hitting the F2 hotkey twice gives you the LINE command twice, you may need to increase the DoubleTap delay setting.
Example 6.
| +E | {esc}_erase _si {click} |
This macro will play when you hold down the CapsLock key and press the E key in AutoCAD.
This macro cancels any AutoCAD command that may be in progress, then issues the ERASE command with the SINGLE option for object selection. The object currently under the mouse cursor is immediately erased through the use of the {click} macro command which simulates a mouse click at the current mouse cursor position. Your mouse must be positioned over the object to be erased when you strike the hotkey.
Example 7.
| <C | {esc}_laymcur {click} |
This macro will play when you hold down button 4 on your mouse and press the C key in AutoCAD (see Mouse Buttons for more info on buttons 4 and 5).
This macro cancels any AutoCAD command that may be in progress, then issues the LAYMCUR command. The layer of the object currently under the mouse cursor is made current through the use of the {click} macro command which simulates a mouse click at the current mouse cursor position. Your mouse must be positioned over the object whose layer you want to become current when you strike the hotkey.
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Hotkey Limitations:
Although AutoHook allows you to override all AutoCAD keys and most Windows keys, the following keystrokes cannot be hotkeys:
AutoHook adds the following restrictions required by the {pause} macro command:
AutoHook further restricts the mouse hotkeys as to not interfere with normal AutoCAD function. See Mouse Buttons for details.
Alt Key:
AutoHook implements special Alt key handling to "semi-hide" the Alt key from AutoCAD, without which the Alt key could not be used reliably as a modifier. Suspending your hotkeys returns the Alt key to normal function, although this is not required for AutoCAD menu selection.
This semi-hidden state may interfere with other applications that rely on an Alt based hotkey while AutoCAD is the active application and can sometimes become "stuck". If this frequently occurs on your system, it is recommended to substitute the Windows key for your Alt based hotkeys. To "unstick" an Alt key, simply press and release each Alt key separately outside of AutoCAD.
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Registration:To register AutoHook, you must first purchase a license key for the desired number of users. The number of users will be encoded into the key. You will receive your license key by return email to the address provided at time of purchase. Each year-version of AutoHook requires its own license. Click the Purchase button in AutoHook's main window to link to our secure on-line store (via SWREG / Digital River). You may also link to our secure on-line store from our web page: www.command-digital.com/autohook. Multiple license purchases are discounted.
Unregistered copies of AutoHook display an Evaluation dialog at startup and once a day, reminding you of how many remaining days you have left for evaluation before you must register, otherwise the AutoHook program is fully functional.
How to Register AutoHook:
After you receive your license key, click the Options button in AutoHook's main window, then click the License tab to display the dialog below:
Follow the instructions in the registration email to copy and paste the license key from the email into the box shown above. Copy and paste only your license key into this box; not the entire email! When done, click OK. You are now registered.
Registration name and number of licenses are displayed in the About dialog, accessed by clicking the About button in AutoHook's main window.
Updating Your License:
If additional AutoHook licenses are purchased at a later date, use the same procedure outlined above by first clicking the Update License button shown below:
The Purchse Additional Licenses and Update License buttons are only visible on registered installations of AutoHook. Additional licenses receive the multi-license discount.
Legal Disclaimer:
Please see
the AutoHook End User License Agreement (EULA) located in the AutoHook
installation directory.
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