dbarrow
08-05-2006, 01:21 PM
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/AutoIt/968271279/1
Publisher's Description:
AutoIt is a simple tool that can simulate keystokes, mouse movements and window commands (maximize, minimize, wait for, etc.) in order to automate any windows based task (or even windowed DOS tasks). It was primarily designed to assist in automatically installing software that cannot be automatically installed by other means. This is most useful during a PC rollout where hundreds or thousands of client machines need to be automatically installed. However, it is not limited to software installation and can be used to automate most simple windows tasks
License: Freeware
COMMENTS
I've actually been using this as a full-blown scripting language. There's very little that can't be done with AutoIt. It doesn't replace languages such as BASIC or Python but it sure is a great addition to any programming/scripting toolkit
The possibilities are near endless. This tool allows you to quickly script things that are difficult to figure out how to do with C++ and the WinAPI.
For example, there are a few open/save dialog extenders out there (that extend all on the system), but most cost $$$, which isn't cool. So I made a tray script that sits around and finds an open/save dialog, and resizes it, sets an initial view on the file list, and gives the dialog transparency. Although a true "extender" would be able to do much more than that though the WinAPI and dialog hooks, it's a good start for just a 30 minute script.
It's even possible to make custom-drawn menus using this, although I eventually realized how insane that idea was and remade it in .NET instead. Still, it's possible to do lots of stuff outside automation.
One area where AutoIt excels is its documentation. From what I've seen there's an example for every command in the program. I can't think of another programming language, commercial or free that can claim that.
Publisher's Description:
AutoIt is a simple tool that can simulate keystokes, mouse movements and window commands (maximize, minimize, wait for, etc.) in order to automate any windows based task (or even windowed DOS tasks). It was primarily designed to assist in automatically installing software that cannot be automatically installed by other means. This is most useful during a PC rollout where hundreds or thousands of client machines need to be automatically installed. However, it is not limited to software installation and can be used to automate most simple windows tasks
License: Freeware
COMMENTS
I've actually been using this as a full-blown scripting language. There's very little that can't be done with AutoIt. It doesn't replace languages such as BASIC or Python but it sure is a great addition to any programming/scripting toolkit
The possibilities are near endless. This tool allows you to quickly script things that are difficult to figure out how to do with C++ and the WinAPI.
For example, there are a few open/save dialog extenders out there (that extend all on the system), but most cost $$$, which isn't cool. So I made a tray script that sits around and finds an open/save dialog, and resizes it, sets an initial view on the file list, and gives the dialog transparency. Although a true "extender" would be able to do much more than that though the WinAPI and dialog hooks, it's a good start for just a 30 minute script.
It's even possible to make custom-drawn menus using this, although I eventually realized how insane that idea was and remade it in .NET instead. Still, it's possible to do lots of stuff outside automation.
One area where AutoIt excels is its documentation. From what I've seen there's an example for every command in the program. I can't think of another programming language, commercial or free that can claim that.