Using iTunes with AutoHotkey_L
So I recently noticed that my code to combine AutoHotkey with iTunes wasn’t working, so tonight’s project was to get it working again. Luckily, AutoHotkey has dramatically developed since I wrote the last post, now bundling native COM support in a version that is generally known as AHK_L. For a full list of things added to AutoHotkey, consult the AHK_L Changelog.
Using COM
So the best news here is that we don’t have to mess with low-level COM coding at all; anyone who has done so will know the pain of which I speak. Using COM is one of the most degrading, mind-wrangling and time-consuming tasks in Computer Science. Thankfully, the new syntax is simple.
Playback Controls
Media_Next::
iTunes := ComObjCreate("iTunes.Application")
iTunes.NextTrack()
Return
Media_Play_Pause::
iTunes := ComObjCreate("iTunes.Application")
iTunes.PlayPause()
Return
Media_Prev::
iTunes := ComObjCreate("iTunes.Application")
iTunes.PreviousTrack()
Return
^Media_Mute::
iTunes := ComObjCreate("iTunes.Application")
iTunes.Mute := !iTunes.Mute
ReturnMore after the jump.
Rating Controls
^#Up::
iTunes := ComObjCreate("iTunes.Application")
iTunes.CurrentTrack.Rating += 20
Return
^#Down::
iTunes := ComObjCreate("iTunes.Application")
iTunes.CurrentTrack.Rating -= 20
ReturnCopy song to Dropbox
I’ve changed the function to copy a specific file location to the Dropbox, taking the COM reference out of dropbox.ahk.
Media_Stop::
iTunes := ComObjCreate("iTunes.Application")
CopyFileToDropbox(iTunes.CurrentTrack.Location)
ReturnOther useful fields/methods
Many of the following were gleaned from this file.
General
- Version:
iTunes.Version - Go to iTunes Store:
iTunes.GotoMusicStoreHomePage() - Enable visualization:
iTunes.VisualsEnabled := 1 - Toggle visualization:
iTunes.VisualsEnabled := !iTunes.VisualsEnabled - Update iPod/iPhone:
iTunes.UpdateIPod() - Path of library file:
iTunes.LibraryXMLPath
Playback
- Seek to beginning of song:
iTunes.BackTrack() - Rewind:
iTunes.Rewind() - Fast forward:
iTunes.FastForward() - Volume:
iTunes.SoundVolume - Play file:
iTunes.PlayFile(full file path) - Open URL:
iTunes.OpenURL(url path) - Quit:
iTunes.Quit()
Current Track
- If iTunes is currently playing:
iTunes.PlayerState - Seconds elapsed in file:
iTunes.PlayerPosition - Artist:
iTunes.CurrentTrack.Artist - Name:
iTunes.CurrentTrack.Name - Album:
iTunes.CurrentTrack.Album - Time (total length):
iTunes.CurrentTrack.Time - File size (bytes):
iTunes.CurrentTrack.Size - Play count:
iTunes.CurrentTrack.PlayedCount - Bit rate:
iTunes.CurrentTrack.BitRate - File location:
iTunes.CurrentTrack.Location
Playlist
- Current playlist:
iTunes.CurrentPlaylist - Library:
iTunes.LibraryPlaylist - Selected tracks:
iTunes.SelectedTracks - Name of a playlist:
iTunes.CurrentPlaylist.Name - Number of tracks in a playlist:
iTunes.CurrentPlaylist.Tracks.Count - Length of a playlist (hh:mm:ss):
iTunes.CurrentPlaylist.Time - Size of a playlist (bytes):
iTunes.CurrentPlaylist.Size - Name of the first track in a playlist:
iTunes.CurrentPlaylist.Tracks[1].Name - Play first track in the current playlist:
iTunes.CurrentPlaylist.PlayFirstTrack()
Search
- Number of search results for a phrase:
iTunes.LibraryPlaylist.Search("wild things", 1).Count
Hopefully this is of use to someone. If it is, I’d like you to tell me what you used it for!
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