How to use HotString with variable & wildcard? - autohotkey

Question

In Onenote, let's say I want to write x^y (x to power of y), I would need to enter Equ mode (by keyboard shortcut) , type x^y , hit Space, then exit equ mode
So, I figure it could be something like this :
::(wild_card)^(wild_card)::
Send, (Shortcut for equ mode)
Send, variable1
Send, ^
Send, variable2
Send, space
Send, (Shortcut for equ mode)
How do I actually achieve this ?
Alternatively, the same purpose could be formulated by doing,
- monitor word separated by Ending chars
- detect if ^ is in those word
- Send (Shortcut) , then the word, then space, then (Shortcut).
Is this more doable ?

Answer 1

Thanks MCL,
Here is the code for auto convert x_y and x^y into their mathematical representation in onenote
#Include DynamicHotstrings.ahk
#IfWinActive, ahk_class Framework::CFrame
hotstrings("(\w+\_\w+) ","dowork")
hotstrings("(\w+\^\w+) ","dowork")
dowork:
Send, {LAlt Down}{=}{LAlt Up}
SendRaw, %$1%
Send, {Space}
Send, {LAlt Down}{=}{LAlt Up}
Send, {Space}
Return
Better yet , you can modify the DynamicHotstrings.ahk so it will ignore auto convert when we are already in equation mode:
hotstrings(k, a = "")
{
CoordMode,Pixel,Screen
PixelGetColor, color, 455, 1
if (color = 0xD7337F)
return
....