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AutoIt

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AutoIt
Developer(s)Jonathan Bennett & AutoIt Team
Stable release
3.2.12.1 / June 12th, 2008
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypeGUI Scripting language Automation
LicenseFreeware
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] Such scripts proved useful for "hands-free" completion of highly repetitive tasks, such as rolling out a large number of PCs with identical installation instructions. With later releases, AutoIt grew to include enhancements in both programming language design and overall functionality.

With the release of AutoIt version 3, the syntax of the programming language was restructured to be more like the BASIC family of languages. A script can be compiled into a compressed, stand-alone executable which can then be run on computers that do not have the AutoIt interpreter installed.

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 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.


AutoIt, like other scripting languages, 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 has a BASIC-like syntax and is compatible with Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista, However support for operating systems older than Windows 2000 will be dropped in the near future.[citation needed]

AutoIt is 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.

Limitations

AutoIt lacks (or has only limited support for)

Usage

A popular use of AutoIt is the production of utility software for Microsoft Windows. Common tasks, such as website monitoring, network monitoring, disk defragging and backup, can be automated and combined to provide a customised utility.

Another use of AutoIt is for "botting" in online games. Botting allows the user to run a script which automates some repetitive action in the game - usually so the script user can advance in the game more quickly. Use of AutoIt in this way is frowned upon by some in the AutoIt community as it can generate bad publicity; however, a few botting scripts can still be found in the official AutoIt forums. Because botting is considered to be cheating by most AutoIt users you should not expect much help in the use of AutoIt for this purpose. Many forum members will refuse to help those that are trying to create bots. This is not to say that support will not be provided; however, you may have to wait long periods of time for answers regarding bots.

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.

Short History

  • Christmas 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

NOTE: At some point in the life of AutoIt (around version 2), the developers released the source code under the GPL license in hopes to accelerate development.[citation needed] Soon, however, a few individuals took the code and released their own competing products using a non-GPL license while giving no credit to the original AutoIt developers. The AutoIt developers decided to prevent such pilfering for future versions of AutoIt and changed the license and limited access to the source code. The release of source code was stopped beginning with version 3.2.0 in August 2006.

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. ^ AutoIt forum entry on ACL

See also

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