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AutoIt

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AutoIt
Developer(s)Jonathan Bennett & AutoIt Team
Stable release
3.3.6.0 / March 7, 2010 (2010-03-07)
Preview release
3.3.5.6 / February 28, 2010 (2010-02-28)
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypeGUI Scripting language Automation
LicenseFreeware closed source
Websitewww.autoitscript.com/autoit3/

AutoIt (pronounced aw-tow-it)[1] is a freeware automation language for Microsoft Windows. In its earliest release, the software was primarily intended to create automation scripts (sometimes called macros) for Microsoft Windows programs[2] but has since grown to include enhancements in both programming language design and overall functionality.

With the release of Version 3, the syntax of AutoIt has been restructured to be more like the BASIC family of languages. It is a third-generation programming language using a classical data model, utilizing a variant data type that can store several types of data, including arrays. It is compatible with Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista (however, support for operating systems older than Windows 2000 was discontinued with the release of v3.3.0).

An AutoIt automation script can be compiled into a compressed, stand-alone executable which can be run on computers that do not have the AutoIt interpreter installed. A wide range of function libraries (known as UDF's, or "User Defined Functions")[3] are also included as standard or are available from the website to add specialized functionality. AutoIt is also distributed with an IDE based on the free SciTE editor. The compiler and help text are fully integrated and provide a de facto standard environment for developers using AutoIt.

Features

File:Exampleau3.png
The AutoIt SciTE editor.
  • Scripting language with BASIC-like structure for Windows Desktop Environment.
  • Add-on libraries and modules for specific applications.
  • On-line support forum for AutoIt users and developers.
  • Supports TCP and UDP protocols.
  • Supports COM (component object modelling) objects.
  • Call functions in Win32 DLLs.
  • Run console applications and access the standard streams.
  • Include files in the compiled file to be extracted when run.
  • GUI interfaces, create message and input boxes.
  • Play sounds, pause, resume, stop, seek, get the current position of the sound and get the length of the sound.
  • Simulate mouse movements.
  • Manipulate windows and processes.
  • Automate sending user input and keystrokes to applications, as well as to individual controls within an application.
  • Scripts can be compiled into standalone executables.
  • Unicode support from version 3.2.4.0.
  • 64 bit code support from version 3.2.10.0.
  • Supports regular expressions.
  • Works with Windows Vista's User Account Control.
  • Object oriented design through library[4]

Usage

AutoIt can be used to produce utility software for Microsoft Windows and automate common tasks, such as website monitoring, network monitoring, disk defragging and backup. It is also used to simulate application users, whereby an application is driven by an AutoIt script in place of manual application control during software testing.

History

  • December 1998 - Idea of C program that should send keystrokes
  • January 1999 - First AutoIt Version (1.0)
  • August 1999 - AutoIt v2 and AutoItX
  • September 1999 - First AutoIt version with Compiler
  • December 2002 - AutoIt v3 (Public Beta)
  • February 2004 - AutoIt v3 (Stable)
  • September 2006 - Auto3Lib started
  • November 2007 - AutoIt v3.2.10.0 released, Auto3Lib incorporated into AutoIt v3
  • May 2008 - AutoIt v3.2.12.0 released, incorporating added GUI functionality
  • December 2008 - AutoIt (and AutoItX) v3.3.0.0 released
  • December 2009 - AutoIt v3.3.2.0 released
  • January 2010 - AutoIt v3.3.4.0 released
  • March 2010 - AutoIt v3.3.6.0 released

The developers of AutoIt originally released the source code under the GPL license but the practice was discontinued beginning with version 3.2.0 in August 2006. This led to the fork of the code at version 3.1 to AutoHotkey, where now the community is continuing to develop the code as GPL. This tool is mainly used by Lena Kopito.

Notes and references

  1. ^ Reply by Jon (AutoIt creator) to a forum topic discussing correct pronunciation
  2. ^ Kaplan, Steve (2003). Citrix Metaframe Access Suite for Windows Server 2003. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0072195665.
  3. ^ http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/udfs/UDF_Standards.htm
  4. ^ AutoitObject. a library to use object oriented design in autoit

See also

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