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Actions: Automate tasks and launch files on Windows


Batu69

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Actions is an automation program and file launcher for the Windows operating system that is provided as a free limited version and a commercial version.

The main idea behind the program is to provide you with a recipe-based system of tasks that you can run with the mouse or by using hotkeys.

 

The program ships with a set of default actions that are useful in understanding how the program works.

The "ask for text and encrypt it" action for instance consists of five steps that include asking the user for text, encrypting the text, and showing the encrypted text to the user.

Actions

The program interface looks noisy at first, but it is well thought out actually once you understand how the different panels work.

 

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The top left pane lists the tasks that are available at the time. You can run any task with a double-click of the mouse, or by using the hotkey instead if one is mapped to the action. New actions are created here as well.

 

Once you select an action, all of its current steps are listed on the right. You may add or remove steps there, or reorder them. Another useful feature you find listed there is the ability to run the action step by step which can be useful for debugging purposes to make sure it works correctly.

 

The step chooser pane lists the available steps that you can add to an action. More than a hundred steps are listed there that allow you to manipulate files and windows, work with strings, or use the mouse or keyboard. Some steps support variables which you can -- and often need to -- make use of.

 

The settings pane finally lists variables or parameters that some steps make use of. You may add a "from" email address there for instance, or change date and time variables.

 

I suggest you check out the library on the official website first before you start creating your own custom actions.

You find dozens of actions there created by users of the app that you can add to your own actions or use on their own.

 

Here is a short selection of available templates:

  1. Save the clipboard text to the desktop
  2. Save a screenshot to the desktop immediately
  3. Open calculator on top of other windows at 75% transparency
  4. Add a quick note to a file on my desktop
  5. Remind me to go to bed at 10pm
  6. Search Google for the clipboard text

To import a template, copy the steps listed on the library page to the clipboard first, and use the import icon afterwards (or Ctrl-i) to create a new action using the steps you just copied to the clipboard.

 

Free vs. Paid

 

The free version of Actions has a limitation of 10 actions, and can only be used in non-commercial environments. There is no way to increase that limit for free, but you may remove some of the default actions to make room for others. Still, ten actions may not be enough to make real use of the application.

 

Closing Words

 

Actions is an interesting, well designed program. It has a learning curve when it comes to the creation of custom tasks though. It is probably a good idea to analyze some of the default tasks or actions from the library to get a feel for the program before you start creating custom actions.

 

AlomWare Actions

 

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