How to create a AutoHotkey like hotstring using C++?

[coderguy101]

I have figured out an effective way to create a hotkey using C++.

AutoHotkey example Alt+A to run a file.

Alt & a::
Run, C:\blah\blah\blah\abc.png
Return

C++ example Alt+A to run a file.

while(true) {
if( GetKeyState(VK_MENU) & 0x8000 ) {
if( GetKeyState('A') & 0x8000 ) {
ShellExecute(NULL, "open", "C:\\blah\\blah\\blah\\abc.png", NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
}}}

I now want to understand how to create a hotstring using C++. For example how can I convert following AutoHotkey code into C++?

::abc::
Run, C:\blah\blah\blah\abc.png
Return

I don't know what logic the AutoHotkey developers used in creating the hotstring functionality but I think something like this might work.

if( GetKeyState(VK_SPACE) & 0x8000 ) {
// press Shift+Left until space detected;
// press Shift+Right after space detected;
// press Control+C to send highlighted word clipboard;
// convert clipboard to string;
// add that string to a variable;
if(//the value of variable is abc) {
ShellExecute(NULL, "open", "C:\\blah\\blah\\blah\\abc.png", NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
}
else {//send space}}

The problem is I don't know how to implement this completely because while I can send keyboard events, I don't know how to detect highlighted characters and use them in if statements. plus, I don't know if this is the best way because it might make typing a simple space take too long. Someone please help.

[VictorN]

Do you mean something like Accelerator Tables?