automation - Karl.Fail

Are you like me—a fan of working smarter, not harder, and squeezing every last drop of efficiency out of your day? Do you enjoy multitasking so much that even your coffee break is double-booked? If you’re nodding along, welcome to my world!

Every morning, I log in to about 16 different tools—some online, some local—and most require separate accounts and credentials. Oh, and because most corporate networks are allergic to fun, scripting options are usually limited to PowerShell or VBScript. (If your network has no restrictions… well, you might want to rethink that. Seriously. 😅)

But fear not! I’ve come up with a PowerShell-based solution to let your computer do the heavy lifting while you enjoy your coffee. Whether it’s logging into websites, launching mail clients, or sending a cheerful “Good Morning!” on Slack, this script automates the grind so you can focus on the important stuff.

The code is public and open source on GitHub!

Dependencies

PowerShell (because it’s the last scripting tool standing in restrictive environments)
KeePass 2/XC (or any password manager with auto-type functionality—no hardcoding passwords here!)

KeePass is key to this system. It allows you to set up auto-type rules like:

“If a window titled ‘Blah Manager’ is open, and I press Ctrl + Alt + I, enter username, press Tab, enter password, and press Enter.“

Examples of Automation

Starting a Mail Client

Open your mail app, wait for the login window, and let KeePass fill in the credentials.

function start_mail_client() {
    wait_till_keepass_open

    $notes_running = Get-Process MAIL_CLIENT -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if (-Not $notes_running) {
        Start-Process "C:\Program Files (x86)\MAIL_CLIENT\MAIL_CLIENT.exe"
    
        while(-Not $wshell.AppActivate('MAIL_CLIENT Login Window Title')) {
            $wait_counter = $wait_counter + 2
            if ($wait_counter -ge 12) {
                $wait_counter = 0
                return
            }
            Sleep 2
        }
        $wshell.SendKeys('{TAB}')
        $wshell.SendKeys('(^%(i))') #-> KeePass autotype keyboard shortcut, standard is $wshell.SendKeys('(^%(l))')
        Sleep 5
    }
}

Logging into Websites

Launch your browser, open tabs, and log in automatically.

function login_website() {
    $wshell.AppActivate('Edge')
    start microsoft-edge:https://some-website.com
    Sleep 5
    $wshell.SendKeys('(^%(i))') #-> KeePass autotype keyboard shortcut, standard is $wshell.SendKeys('(^%(l))')
    Sleep 9

Messaging on Slack

Start Slack, focus the chat window, and send a cheerful morning message to your team.

function open_chat() {
    $wshell.AppActivate('Edge')
    start microsoft-edge:https://this-is-messenger.com
    if (is_first_start) {
        $wshell.SendKeys('(^+(l))') # -> slack keyboard to focus chat window 
        Sleep 2
        $wshell.SendKeys('Good Morning everyone! :wave: ')
        Sleep 8
        $wshell.SendKeys('{ENTER}')
        Sleep 1
    } 
    Sleep 5
}

Deployment Options

Option 1: Manual

Run the script as needed, but make sure to adjust paths (e.g., KeePass database location).

# Name of KeePass DB
$keepass_db_name = "SomeKeePassDatabaseName.kdbx"

Option 2: Automatic on Startup

Set the script to run every time you boot up by combining PowerShell with a simple VBScript.

Dim objShell
Set objShell = Wscript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

objShell.Run("Path\to\Desktop\Scripts\keypresser.vbs")
WScript.Sleep 1000
objShell.Run("powershell -noexit -file Path\to\Desktop\Scripts\GoodMorningBerlin.ps1")

Set objShell = Nothing

Bonus: VBS-Caffeine Script ☕

Because no one wants their computer falling asleep mid-task, this tiny VBScript toggles the Num Lock key every two minutes to keep the system awake. It’s a lifesaver for long processes.

Dim objResult

Set objShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
i = 0

do while i = 0
	objResult = objShell.sendkeys("{NUMLOCK}{NUMLOCK}")
	WScript.Sleep (120000)

Loop

Conclusion

This script isn’t just about convenience—it’s about reclaiming your time and starting the day on your terms. So grab your coffee, lean back, and let your PC handle the morning grind for you. ☕✨

Get started with the code today: https://github.com/StasonJatham/good-morning-berlin

Tag: automation

Good Morning Berlin: Work Smarter, Not Harder!