IDEA: Replace mouse click with a key press

[sri]

It would be less stressful to press a key on my keyboard than clicking the mouse.

So I was wondering if there's any utility that will do the clicking for me when I point the mouse and press a key (like CTRL or Fn).

To summarize: I want it like this -> I move my mouse to a hyperlink and hit CTRL key and the link should get clicked.

I am aware of MouseTool (it clicks the mouse where ever you point) but the problem with that is accidental clicks. If only there's an option in it to enable its functionality only when a key is pressed...

[jgpaiva]

Easy...

Code

Ctrl::
  send,{lbutton}
  return

Just save as a .ahk file, install www.autohotkey.com and run

[sri]

Thanks jgp. I replaced 'Ctrl' with 'Fn', but it doesn't work. How to modify the script to use 'Fn' as the hotkey?

Better yet, if it has a small dialog in which it asks us to pick the hotkey and detects when I press one or a combination of keys.

[jgpaiva]

Thanks jgp. I replaced 'Ctrl' with 'Fn', but it doesn't work. How to modify the script to use 'Fn' as the hotkey?

I think there's no way for autohotkey to detect fn, sorry

Better yet, if it has a small dialog in which it asks us to pick the hotkey and detects when I press one or a combination of keys.

That should be easy, i'll do it in a few hours

[jgpaiva]

I've attached to this post a script with incomplete capabilities.
It works as expected, but can't define keys like "shift", "ctrl" or "alt" to mouse clicks.
To do so, just edit the .ini file that is created after the first launch, and change the "Hotkey" key.
(to have just ctrl, type in "ctrl", to have shift, type "shift", to have "alt", type "alt", to have windows key, type "lwin" or "rwin").

To change the hotkey, delete the .ini file and restart the script.

[lanux128]

Thanks jgp. I replaced 'Ctrl' with 'Fn', but it doesn't work. How to modify the script to use 'Fn' as the hotkey?

I think there's no way for autohotkey to detect fn, sorry

IIRC the Fn key is hardcoded & is not detectable under Windows. AHK has a way to assign these keys but it is different from one laptop to another.. Check out the Special Keys section in the documentation..

also refer to this thread: http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8881

[sri]

jgpaiva: Thanks. I posted about this in my blog.

[jgpaiva]

jgpaiva: Thanks. I posted about this in my blog.

Thanks!

@lanux: love your new sign 

[lanux128]

@lanux: love your new sign 

yes, thanks to nudone for the cool artwork, i'm planning to use the image in my coding snack.