Hotkeys

"HOTKEYS"

What are Hotkeys?

Simplified, "Hotkeys" are preset keyboard keys that are dedicated to performing a specific action or instruction on your computer. To be more specific, the game itself allows you to customize keys to perform functions within the game such as cameras, sail controls etc. These are examples of programmable hotkeys.

AutoHotKey

In this instance we will be taking you through the basic chatbox function of a small program, AutoHotKey which allows you to customize words, phrases & sentences within you game's chatbox.This is a very useful tool for both racing and hosting as it can be used to send longer messages with far less typing, such as "Starboard", Bouy Room", "Restart in 1 Minute", "this is the Start" or "Your mother wears army Boots" etc, all by simply pressing 2 keys (e.g. Ctrl + S) for starboard.

Click here to download AutoHotKey

Once you have downloaded and installed AutoHotKey you can also download some of the "prefab" fully customizable Player & Hosting ahk. files here then save them to your desktop.

Activating AutoHotKey

Simply click on the ahk. file you saved to your desktop,... ....it will then appear in you task bar at the bottom of your screen once activated.

Then by pressing the Ctrl + (designated letter) keys simultaneously you will see your text appear in your games chatbox (or any other place you use text) ;).

How AutoHotkey Works

AutoHotKey runs in the background unseen and is activated automatically through windows notepad when saved .ahk files are in use. A functioning ahk. file will signal in green and a non functioning one red (coding error). Usually the same letter (key) being used by more than one function.

Warning....Windows automatically assigns some keys for its own use ...these cannot be used by AutoHotKey....for more info ..see AHK/Help

Customizing AutoHotKey

TIP: If you are editing scripts "on the fly" after saving you would right click the "H" icon in your task bar, then Reload Script.

Note

This program can be used for much more than just text in chatboxes, and IMHO punches way above it's weight division of 1.9 kilobytes. If one was to study all its functionality, you would be pleasantly surprised what could be achieved and/or automated with it.