Autohotkey: replace key combination (but with timeout) - autohotkey

Question

When I type, I want my script to replace:
"ab" to "x"
"ac" to "y"
"a[more than 300ms]b" - don't replace, just leave "ab"
So, it should replace only if time between "a" and "b"/"c" is less than 300ms
tried doing this:
a & b :: Send x
a & c :: Send y
But it obviously doesn't 'forgive' me any delay
Would be great to get any hints, thanks!

Answer 1

A hotstring is usually good for replacements. To add that delay, here's a simple thing I could come up with:
~*a::APressTime := A_TickCount
:*B0:ab::
if(A_TickCount - APressTime <= 300)
SendInput, % "{BS 2}x"
return
First a simple hotkey for A that just saves the current system time with A_TickCount.
Then a hotstring to which I set some options you're likely going to want to use:
* so you don't need to type an ending character.
B0 so it doesn't backspace the letters ab automatically.
You might also want to use the ? option so the hotstring also works while "inside of a word". Add it in if you want.
Then we compare the current system time to the time when a was last pressed. If it's 300ms or less, send backspace twice followed up by x.
({BS 2} is same as {Backspace 2} or {Backspace}{Backspace})
To do the same with ac, just copy paste the hotstring again and switch b with c, and x with y.
Alternatively, here's something a bit more fancy to put them in the same hotstring label with a ternary:
:*B0:ab::
:*B0:ac::
if(A_TickCount - APressTime <= 300)
SendInput, % "{BS 2}" (SubStr(A_ThisHotkey, 0) = "b" ? "x" : "y")
return