Mapping CapsLock to cut, copy and paste

I’m on a mission. My new laptop, Lenovo, is giving me a lot problems which im sure you heard about if you follow me on Twitter and you can expect a few blog posts on how I end up solving some of them. As I’m remapping my keys I thought I’d share my new use for CapsLock, cut, copy and paste.

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This script will cut when pressing shift and CapsLock, copy when clicking just the CapsLock key once, and paste on double click.

I’m using AutoHotKey which you might already know I love. And a certain person likes to make fun of the way I pronounce the name :)

Here is a brief introduction to AutoHotKey

And an example of toggling screen resolutions

Download AutoHotKey, and create a file with an .ahk extension. Write the script, and double click on the file to execute it. Its nothing fancy:

~CapsLock::
if (A_PriorHotkey <> “~CapsLock” or A_TimeSincePriorHotkey > 500)
{
KeyWait, CapsLock
SendInput, ^c
return
}

SendInput, ^v
return

+CapsLock::
SendInput, ^x
return

Setting CapsLock off:

SetCapslockState AlwaysOff

Setting up a startup script (run the script when you start the computer) can be done a few different ways.

The easiest way is adding the script to the startup folder:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

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Or use the Task Scheduler. Add a new task, add an action to start a program, add the script path (this is just a mock as I’m on a another computer), and make sure you let the task run even if not on AC power.

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Comments

Leave a comment below, or by email.

StevenMcD

4/10/2014 2:44:58 PM

Thank you so much for this! 

todd brooks

4/10/2014 2:48:54 PM

Interesting.  I've mapped double-tapping on CapsLock to Control-F4 (child doc close).  This is especially handy in VS and browsers, where I can easily, without leaving the home row, close docs after saving/editing,etc.  CapsLock will still work, if I press Shift-CapsLock to toggle. 

Rickard N

4/11/2014 5:21:15 AM

You should paste the script as code in your blog, Iris. You get strange quotemarks when copy+pasting from ordinary text...

Also, for some reason I don't understand, the script does not seem to work in Sublime Text... Double-tap capslock does Ctrl+C and then Ctrl+V. But only in Sublime Text!? :S 

Iris Classon

4/16/2014 12:07:47 PM

Reply to: Rickard N

Sorry about that, I blogged from the phone.

Strange with Sublime, I cannot see why- but tested and yes the paste doesn't quite seem to work. I'll pass on the question to SO, thank you! 

Macs

5/1/2014 10:18:44 AM

Reply to: Rickard N

I've noticed this too in Sublime and a couple of other programs. Sublime must override something that stops it.

Isn't CapLocks the most pointless key?! I've mapped mine to F15 and use it to manage my music.

http://www.macsdickinson.com/productivity/manage-spotify-with-autohotkey/ 

Last modified on 2014-04-10