This tip is part of an automation series I’m running to showcase 24 of my most useful computer automation tips.

I want you to stop for a second and think about this: when you boot your computer, how many windows do you have to push away until you can get a clean desktop to start working with?

How about this: do you remember the last time you were working on a task and some stupid window popped up asking for some kind of confirmation? Do you get this window often? Don’t you wish the computer was smart enough to remember your choice and not display it over and over again?

If you resonate with any of the above, then today’s automation tip will fit you just perfectly.

Automation tip #3: Push away annoying buttons and dialogs with Push The Freaking Button
Level: Intermediate
Approximate time saving: 2 – 10 seconds per window or dialog
Tools required: Push the Freakin Button (PTFB)

Setup

  1. Download and install PTFB (works on all versions of Windows)
  2. For this example, I will use an annoying log in window from Gmail Notifier which pops up every time the application starts even though it remembers all my login credentials! Here is a screen shot:
    gmail_notifier_connect
  3. You won’t believe how easy it is to get rid of this window once and for all! After installing PTFB, find the big button on the upper left which says Single Press:
    PTFB_Pro
  4. Now simply click on the that pesky OK button in the Gmail Notifier dialog.
  5. PTFB now added a record for this window and will auto-click this window for you after 1 second (by default).
  6. To test it, leave the Gmail Notifier window open. Click on Start Watching in PTFB. Viola, that login screen’s gone! (come on, you have to admit that was pretty cool. Somebody’s clicking away things for you!)

Tips

  1. If 1 second (the default time it takes PTFB to click away the window for you) is too long, you can reduce it. Simply select the line matching the Gmail Notifier target in the PTFB, and click on Edit. Now select Triggers tab:
    PTFB_Edit_Triggers

Side Notes

  1. So okey you caught me, I’m still running a trial version of PTFB. It costs $30 to get the full version. For me, I’ve seen enough value from this software to convince me it’s worth the money. For everybody else, the 30-days trial period should give you a pretty good idea whether it really makes your life easier (hint: the more windows you have “targeted”, the more difference this software will make for you).