Author Topic: DONE: AHK Coding Snack Idea: Deluxe AHK Script Manager (AXEM) (Read 109,886 times)

mouser · « **on:** October 25, 2008, 01:05 PM »

I've been trying to think of a coding snack idea that a DonationCoder member might make as a way of showing DC support for the Lifehacker AHK project (see here).

And i think i came up with a cool one.

I call it Deluxe AHK Script Manager (AXEM).

Here is what it should do:

When you start the script it discovers a list of .ahk scripts in its Scripts\ subdirectory.
Double clicking on tray will present a simple form with each script listed on its own line with a checkbox on the left.
Checks will be shown for scripts that are currently running.
The user can then enable and disable scripts from that dialog by checking boxes.
Scripts that are enabled will be launched if not currently running; scripts unchecked will be closed.
Right clicking on the menu will show menu list of scripts that user can select to open the .ahk in a text editor.

So this utility would be an excellent way to manage a set of scripts and test them.

Anyone feel like coding this? (dont forget to then post it in the Lifehacker AHK group!)

tomos · « **Reply #1 on:** October 27, 2008, 01:34 PM »

This would be super -
currently if using a bunch of AHK scripts you end up with a bunch of AHK tray icons ...
I've tried merging some scripts into one but that can be buggy I found

justice · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2008, 01:44 PM »

How do I get the path to the app that gets invoked when selecting Edit Script in windows explorer..
edit: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AutoHotkeyScript\Shell\Edit\Command

justice · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2008, 02:42 PM »

AXEM:

* When you start the script it discovers a list of .ahk scripts in a userdefinable (saved) directory.
* Double clicking on tray will present a simple form with each script listed on its own line with a checkbox on the left.
* The user can then enable and disable scripts from that dialog by checking boxes.
* Scripts that are enabled will be launched if not currently running; scripts unchecked will be closed.
* There's a contextmenu to edit, compile, and publish your AHK scripts!
* Checks will be shown for scripts that are currently running.
* It uses the correct script editor, with notepad as an alternative.

Download Axem (always latest version)

mouser · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2008, 02:58 PM »

NICE!!

justice · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2008, 03:04 PM »

Revision: 11
1. Use default editor for .ahk from HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AutoHotkeyScript\Shell\Edit\Command
2. Added option to ignore self (now turned off by default)

This means you can now use Axem to edit itself haha.

mouser · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2008, 03:06 PM »

where does the name Axem come from?

mouser · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2008, 03:12 PM »

Looking very nice.

If you cancel the directory selection, you end up with:
ScanFolder=

Which basically tries to scan your entire hard drive!
It should check for "ScanFolder=" and force reselect or default to the Axem directory i think.

mouser · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2008, 03:13 PM »

looking forward to this getting fixed:
* Checks will be shown for scripts that are currently running.

justice · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2008, 03:15 PM »

Revision: 12
Date: 15:14:41, 27 October 2008
Message:
* relabelled Reload to Rescan
* rescans folder when opening window from tray
* fixed issue where cancelling fileselectfolder would cause error (empty folder written to ini.
----

Revision: 13
Date: 15:21:36, 27 October 2008
Message:
* fix to stop it from scanning entire harddrive (thanks mouser)

Revision: 14
Date: 15:32:48, 27 October 2008
Message:
* renamed folder for consistency, sorry
* fix 'editing' scripts now works again
* incorporated Titan's Function Library
----

justice · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2008, 03:22 PM »

Quote from: mouser on October 27, 2008, 03:06 PM

where does the name Axem come from?

AutoHotkey Script Manager = AHKSM, and if you say that quite fast you get Axem

mouser · « **Reply #11 on:** October 27, 2008, 03:29 PM »

take it from me, kill all use of the apostrophe ' punctuation while you still have a chance -- such names just make life harder. Call it Axem.

justice · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2008, 03:53 PM »

Revision: 15
Date: 15:52:01, 27 October 2008
Message:
* apostrophe removed from axem
* Experimental: now matches running scripts against list based on filename, not location!
----
In other words:
* Checks will be shown for scripts that are currently running.

Could you test this, i'm sure there's bugs left in that.

jgpaiva · « **Reply #13 on:** October 27, 2008, 03:59 PM »

Axem doesn't like my ahk directory very much.. It has too many scripts

Having a vertical scrollbar probably could be a useful idea in the future

justice · « **Reply #14 on:** October 27, 2008, 04:16 PM »

Try this

Revision: 16
Date: 16:16:23, 27 October 2008
Message:
* Scrollable gui (mousewheel doesn't work yet here)
----

mouser · « **Reply #15 on:** October 27, 2008, 04:23 PM »

GREAT STUFF.

jgpaiva · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2008, 04:27 PM »

Now that was fast

Ok, it's working reat now, except the fact that the mousewheel is scolling horizontally instead of vertically

mouser · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2008, 04:31 PM »

I have a great idea for you:

Scan each ahk file and look for a comment near the top of the file of the form:
; Synopsis: This line will be shown in the Axem list next to a file's name if found

tomos · « **Reply #18 on:** October 27, 2008, 09:34 PM »

Quote from: mouser on October 27, 2008, 03:06 PM

where does the name Axem come from?

presumably it's also a play on ask'em, -> aks'em

Quote from: tomos on November 09, 2007, 10:51 AM

Quote from: Armando on November 08, 2007, 06:36 PM
Quote from: tomos on November 08, 2007, 05:52 PM
.. axing questions ..
[Laughing dog ]

just BTW..
that wasnt meant to be a pun on "axeing" (would be then = cutting questions $:-\$ )
but rather a throwback to how we used speak as young ones -
before it was bet into us to speak proper like

or maybe not?

VideoInPicture · « **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2008, 04:21 AM »

This is a very good idea! I've also been following the AHK LifeHacker messageboard and I think this is the best idea to pursue because it is very useful for power AHK users. Here is what Axem looks like on my computer:

[attachthumb=#]1

I imagine that Axem could become very popular to package a set of separate AHK scripts together for distribution and for a more user friendly first user experience when using AHK. Along this line of thought, here are some ideas I think would enhance the user experience:
(1) I think that the icons of the AHK scripts should be shown to the left side of the Axem window to help with visual distinction.

(2) Provide a way to change the icon of each AHK script, including the icon it shows for it's tray icon. This is my biggest gripe with AHK, all the tray icons look the same!!! I know that resource editors can change the icons for compiled scripts but they are a hassle to use. It would be a killer feature if Axem can edit the icon files contained in a compiled script to substitute the icons. It would also be nice to do this for uncompiled scripts but I'm not sure if that is possible.

(3) I have Axem running and I second the motion to show the comments near the top of an AHK file if available. I know comments won't be available in compiled scripts but it would be nice to have them if available. I think we can model this based on how Skrommel has his AHK scripts page laid out: http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Skrommel/. The AHK script icon would go on the left and all the other buttons/check boxes/text would go in a group box on the right.

As an AHK user, I sometimes find myself bewildered as to what a script actually does and what keys will do what so I think good commenting on the part of the programmer is essential.

(4) Could we change the background color of Axem to white or perhaps a light shade of blue? It would look nicer with a color other than grey. We can debate about how Axem should look but the color grey just doesn't agree with me.

(5) Place the "Rescan", "Change Folder", and "Hide" buttons at the top of the Axem window as a toolbar strip since these are higher level commands.

Target · « **Reply #20 on:** October 28, 2008, 04:50 AM »

Quote from: VideoInPicture on October 28, 2008, 04:21 AM

(5) Place the "Rescan", "Change Folder", and "Hide" buttons at the top of the Axem window as a toolbar strip since these are higher level commands.

just add them as a menu bar, that way they'll always be visible...

with ref to the comments issue, how about a 'flyout/popup'? Adding comments is likely to make the interface too busy (perhaps a button at right of each item)

VideoInPicture · « **Reply #21 on:** October 28, 2008, 04:55 AM »

Quote from: Target on October 28, 2008, 04:50 AM

Quote from: VideoInPicture on October 28, 2008, 04:21 AM
(5) Place the "Rescan", "Change Folder", and "Hide" buttons at the top of the Axem window as a toolbar strip since these are higher level commands.

just add them as a menu bar, that way they'll always be visible...

with ref to the comments issue, how about a 'flyout/popup'? Adding comments is likely to make the interface too busy (perhaps a button at right of each item)

Yes, by toolbar strip I mean a menu bar.

For the comments flyout/popout, I can see how it can be too distracting to have them showing for a large number of AHK scripts. I think a solution is to put a question mark '?' after the name of each script which will show a tooltip on mouseover with the comments.

Target · « **Reply #22 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:15 AM »

that'll do it...

xbeta · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2008, 06:24 AM »

很好!
very nice!

Another idea:
keep ahk scripts all together with a tree style notes manager.
the left side is the tree, that is the list all ahk scripts.
the right side is the content (highlight is better) of current selected ahk.
with some hotkey, users can run/stop any ahk easily.

victorworld · « **Reply #24 on:** October 28, 2008, 09:29 AM »

1ST TIME COME TO THE SITE

WISH ALL HAPPY AND SMART