Back in my UNIX days, I was able to be very productive by creating aliases. I have created this utility for the Windows environment, and it has become my favorite and most used utility.
Download Alias (Freeware. Spyware-Free. Version 2.0 350 kb)
An alias is a keyboard shortcut that will execute a program, or an associated file, or a script. This utility can be used to completely replace your Windows Start Button and your Taskbar.
I have hundreds of aliases defined in my alias text file, and I find it is a much easier way to work with Windows. To execute an alias, I press my alias hotkey (which is the "back-tick" key, right above my tab key), and begin to type in the name of the alias I wish to execute. A match anywhere in the name will start to display a list of matches, which will be refined as I type in more text. When the alias becomes top on the list, I can stop typing and simply hit ENTER to execute the alias. I find that this is much easier (and faster) than going to the Windows Start Button, and then using the mouse to navigate the tree to find a program to execute. Also, with alias, I am able to create custom scripts and applications that can be started easily.
I use AutoHotkey to create the hotkey for the Alias utility, and for many other purposes. The Alias utility has proven to be a handy launcher for various AutoHotkey scripts. The interesting thing is that I can have one file that has all of my scripts and it, whether they are AutoHotkey scripts, batch files, VBS scripts, or exec32 scripts. Here is a few examples of my alias entries, and what they do:
- If I type "`fo" (and then ENTER, anywhere in Windows), my music player foobar2000, will be executed. If it is already running, it will be brought to the foreground.
- If I type "`lu" (and then ENTER), an "out-to-lunch" message is sent in my IM program, my screen is blanked, and my keyboard is locked.
- If I type "`d" (and then ENTER), an Explorer window opens displaying my downloads directory, and my cursor is set to the last file in the list. If it is already running, it will be brought to the foreground rather than executing another instance.
The Alias utility is similar to the popular Launchy keystroke launcher. Launchy will build a list of applications to run by scanning your Start Button location, or other folder locations for shortcuts. This is pretty handy, but Alias takes a different approach. You build your own list by adding the applications and functionality that you want. So, over time you will build up a custom file that includes only the things that you want. Alias stores its settings into a pair of text files. Configuration settings are stored in alias.ini, and the alias statements and scripts are stored in alias.txt. This makes it easy to edit and maintain. You can reorder your lines, and place your most popular favorites towards the top of the list.
To add an alias entry, pull up the alias utility, and press CTRL-A. This will display the Open dialog. Browse to a program or document that should be executed when the alias is run:
Next, enter a descriptive name. This is the name that will be looked for when you enter your alias to run.
That is all there is to it.
You can edit the alias.txt file to change the name, the path, the program, the startup directory etc. Press F2 to edit the alias.txt file. This is the format of the entry we just made:
The semicolon (";") character is the comment character. If a line starts out with the semicolon, it is considered a comment and will not be included in the search list.
Basic "run" syntax
An alias entry is made on a line by itself, and includes four attributes, separated by pipes:
- description. This is the text that is searched for, and is displayed in the list.
- executable statement. This is the executable statement that is shelled. The executable program is mandatory, and its drive, path and arguments are optional.
- startup directory. If non-null, this directory will be changed to before executing the executable statement. An error will occur if this is an invalid directory.
- window mode. The executable statement can be run as a normal window ("nor"), a minimized window ("min"), or a maximized window ("max").
Executable statement text replacement
You can edit the alias.ini file to add executable statement text replacements. This means when writing scripts by hand you can use these text replacement strings to indicate full paths to your executables.
To use a replacement, enclose the replacement name between pound signs:
Script syntax
"Script syntax" allows you to execute a scripting language, and write out a script "on the fly". The neat feature of this idea is that you can have all of your scripts, no matter what the language, in one easy-to-edit file.
We are in "script syntax mode" if the line that follows a basic run syntax entry starts with the string ";begin ". When this happens, the contents of the ";begin" and ";end" block will be written to a file name, and the "executable statement" will be run with the "file name" as an argument.
Here are three examples:
To execute a batch file use the "cmd.exe /C" executable statement. To execute an exec32 script use "c:\Program Files\RSC\exec32\exec32x.exe". To execute a VBS script use "wscript.exe".
Download Alias (Freeware. Spyware-Free. Version 2.0 350 kb)
If you find this utility useful, drop me a line. I would love to hear from you.
See my other freeware applications and utilities:
Robert's Podcatcher and MP3 Loader
exec32 Scripting Language
ClipboardCrypto
This page is located at http://home.comcast.net/~rschoolf/alias/index.html