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2025/01/17

TinyTask (FREE) – Macro Recorder – Compile to .EXE on Windows 11

There is no virus alert when I open .exe file that is created by TinyTask that is downloaded from the link I provided. https://tinytask.en.uptodown.com/windows/download

The weak point of this app:

I start and stop recording using a shortcut – Control + Shift + Alt + R.

I compile recording to .EXE file.

I open that .EXE file. Everything is fine, my job is done but the recording button is changed to red at the end.


That means this app is recording, I assume a hotkey -- ‘Control + Shift + Alt + R’ is pressed because I use it for starting and stopping recording.

The workaround is close the app before opening .EXE file


And make sure that every open app or other areas that can be affected doesn’t use ‘Control + Shift + Alt + R’ as a shortcut because it will be pressed (I haven’t tested this situation but I’m pretty sure it will happen.).

The funny thing is if I play a recording using a ‘play’ button in the app’s window, there is no issue.



The test steps – TinyTask 1.50

On: Windows 11 Home

Download: https://tinytask.en.uptodown.com/windows/download

 

1. Go to the link above to download it.


There is no need to install it, just open the downloaded file.


Select hotkey for start/stop recording.


2. If your task requires specific size and position, read my previous post to set size and position of an active window with hotkey. https://windowsfreewareguide.blogspot.com/2025/01/autohotkey-free-change-size-and.html


I pressed hotkey to record but the app’s window was not minimized.

You might want to move it to a corner.


While recording, I pressed hotkey to set size and position of the active window. The result was great. Playing the macro can set the size and position of my target window.

After finish recording, you can save it (extension is .rec)


After saving it, name shows in title of the app’s window.

You can play the current macro.

Remember if you press to record while the app’s window has a title, after recoding finishes then you click to play. What you get is the latest recording but don’t worry what you recorded in the name of app’s window doesn’t disappear, you can click a folder icon to open it.


If you want to save the latest recording, you can save it to a new file.

3. Compiling recording to .EXE file (application) is the best way for me because I can place it at task bar and open it from there.


Click an icon to compile recording. You can see the icon of .EXE file in the picture below.

Right click at it and select ‘Show more options’.


Move a mouse pointer over menu ‘Send To’, then click ‘Desktop’ (create shortcut)


You will have a new shortcut file.


You can drag and place it at the taskbar.

Click to run it whenever you want.


To run it with a shortcut, right click at a shortcut file and select ‘Properties’


Click at 'Shortcut key' box, then press a shortcut.


Click ‘Apply’, then click ‘OK’.


Keep in mind that which shortcut you use to start/stop recording.

I haven’t tested clicking a start/stop button.

Even with a weak point but I think it is still a nice app to use.


The test steps – TinyTask 1.50

On: Windows 11 Home

Download: https://tinytask.en.uptodown.com/windows/download

 

2025/01/16

AutoHotkey (FREE) – Change Size and Position of The Active Window with Hotkey on Windows 11

I wanted to use a macro recorder to make my life easier but the problem was size and position of window must be the same every time in order to click or type at the right spot.


All of the free apps I had tried have no ability to serve me. I have to use AutoHotkey for this job

 

The test steps – AutoHotkey 1.1.37.02

On: Windows 11 Home

Download: https://www.autohotkey.com/

 

1. Go to the link above and download version 1.1.


Click the ‘Download’, you will see the options.

Open the downloaded file to install the app.


2. Open new document of Notepad.

 

^+w::

WinGetPos, X, Y, W, H, A

MsgBox, X, Y, W, H of the active window: %X%`, %Y%, %W%, %H%

 

Copy the code above (orange font), then paste it to Notepad.

This code is for getting size and position of active window by pressing

Ctrl+Shift+W.

You can change ‘w’ to the other. If I change it to ^+p, Ctrl+Shift+P is my hotkey.

Please take a look at the last line. After %X%, there is `. That is the code, not a typo.

Save a document and set the extension to .ahk.

3. Set the size and position of a window of Notepad the way you want.

Open the .AHK file.



Click an arrow at taskbar, you will see .AHK file (see picture above). That means it is running and detecting keystrokes. Whenever you press hotkey, message box will show values of size and position of active window (see picture below).


4. We have values of X, Y, W, H. The next step is the code for changing the size and position of active window.

 

^+z::WinMove, A,, 489, 192, 907, 572

 

From the code, you can change 358, 121, 1331, 818 to size and position you want.

Whenever you press Ctrl+Shift+Z, the size and position of the active window will be set.

You can change z to the other in ^+z

It’s time to do the same steps: copy the code above > create a new document of Notepad > paste it to Notepad > edit the code > save it > set the extension to .ahk > open a .AHK file.

Then make a target window active and press hotkey to change size and positon.


That’s it for this post. The next post I’ll show you the free app I use for recording macro.

 

The test steps – AutoHotkey 1.1.37.02

On: Windows 11 Home

Download: https://www.autohotkey.com/

 

2024/12/31

ocenaudio (FREE) – Using Regions to Silence Unwanted Audio on Windows

In real life, I play audio to check, if I find an unwanted part, I select it and do something. But doing one by one is a slow flow, using selections is a problem because when I set a new position of playhead to continue listening the rest, that selectin is gone.

The best practice is using regions, they won’t disappear after setting a new position of playhead

 

The test steps – ocenaudio 3.14.7

On: Windows 11 Home

Download: https://www.ocenaudio.com/

 

1. Download a file from a link above and install it.


Drop an audio file.

Play to check, pause when unwanted part is found.


In the picture above, a red line is a playhead.


Select an unwanted part.


Click the button above to stop playback.


Click the ‘Play’ button to play selection for making sure it is an unwanted part. If everything is OK, press Ctrl+K to create region.


I used a .m4a file, there was a waring in the picture above. I clicked ‘Yes’.


You can name a region (see picture above).


Set a new position of playhead to continue playing.


Click the button to play, the region doesn’t disappear (see picture above).


Repeat the steps to create a new region.

3. Go to menu Edit > Select > Audio from Regions


All regions will be selected.


Click an icon in the red circle to silence audio (see the picture below).


The picture below is the result.


With this way, I can get the job done fast.





The test steps – ocenaudio 3.14.7

On: Windows 11 Home

Download: https://www.ocenaudio.com/

 

Audacity (FREE) – Multiple Selections with Labels

Yes, it can’t be done with your mouse. If you don’t want to use other apps, label can help.


The test steps – Audacity 3.7.0

On: Windows 11 Home

Download: https://www.audacityteam.org/

 

1. Download it from the link above and install. Open the app and drop an audio file on it.


2. Select your target part by a usual way then press Ctrl+B to create a label.


In the picture above, there is a new track called ‘Labels 1’ after pressing Ctrl+B. Name your first label.


Don’t forget that you can create multiple labels.


Select all labels by dragging (picture above) or clicking a title section (picture below).


The result is below.


2. Go to menu Edit > Labeled Audio

Select options you want – silence audio, cut, copy etc…


In the picture above, I selected ‘Silence Audio’.


In the picture above, I selected ‘Cut’. You can see there is no gap between cutting parts.


In the picture above, I selected ‘Cut and leave gap’.

You can export multiple selection using selected labels by going to menu File > Export Audio…


At ‘Export Range’, select ‘Multiple Files’.

At ‘Split files based on’, select ‘Labels’.

Then name files at section ‘Name files’.

 

Again, if you want to get it done with Audacity, this might be the easiest way.

 

The test steps – Audacity 3.7.0

On: Windows 11 Home

Download: https://www.audacityteam.org/