Wednesday 18 December 2013

AutoIt Overview


AutoIt v3 is a freeware BASIC-like scripting language designed for automating the Windows GUI and general scripting. It uses a combination of simulated keystrokes, mouse movement and window/control manipulation in order to automate tasks in a way not possible or reliable with other languages (e.g. VBScript and SendKeys). AutoIt is also very small, self-contained and will run on all versions of Windows out-of-the-box with no annoying “runtimes” required
AutoIt was initially designed for PC “roll out” situations to reliably automate and configure thousands of PCs. Over time it has become a powerful language that supports complex expressions, user functions, loops and everything else that veteran scripters would expect.
AutoIt has been designed to work on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008/2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows 8. With no annoying runtime libraries required!

Easy to learn BASIC-like syntax
Simulate keystrokes and mouse movements
Manipulate windows and processes
Interact with all standard windows controls
Scripts can be compiled into standalone executables
Create Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)
COM support
Regular expressions
Directly call external DLL and Windows API functions
Scriptable RunAs functions
Detailed helpfile and large community-based support forums
Compatible with Windows 2000 / XP / 2003 / Vista / 2008 / Windows 7 / 2008 R2
Unicode and x64 support
Digitally signed for peace of mind
Works with Windows Vista’s User Account Control (UAC)
AutoIt has been designed to be as small as possible and stand-alone with no external .dll files or registry entries required making it safe to use on Servers. Scripts can be compiled into stand-alone executables with Aut2Exe.
Also supplied is a combined COM and DLL version of AutoIt called AutoItX that allows you to add the unique features of AutoIt to your own favourite scripting or programming languages!
Best of all, AutoIt continues to be FREE – but if you want to support the time, money and effort spent on the project and web hosting then you may donate.
Basic-like Syntax and Rich Function Set
AutoIt has a BASIC-like syntax which means that most people who have ever written a script or used a high-level language should be able to pick it up easily.
Although it started life as a simple automation tool, AutoIt now has functions and features that allow it to be used as a general purpose scripting language (with awesome automation as well of course!). Language features include:
The usual high-level elements for functions, loops and expression parsing
A staggering amount of string handling functions and a Perl compatible regular expression engine (using the PCRE library).
COM support
Call Win32 and third-party DLL APIs
Built-in Editor with Syntax Highlighting
AutoIt comes with a customised “lite” version of SciTe that makes editing scripts easy. Users can also download a complete version of SciTe that includes additional tools to make things even easier.
AutoIt is a very small and standalone application with no reliance on massive runtimes like .NET or VB. All you need to run AutoIt scripts are the main AutoIt executable (AutoIt3.exe) and the script. Scripts can also be encoded into standalone executables with the built-in script compiler Aut2Exe.
International and 64-bit Support
AutoIt Full Installation. Includes x86 and x64 components, and:
AutoIt program files, documentation and examples.
Aut2Exe – Script to executable converter.  Convert your scripts into standalone .exe files!
AutoItX – DLL/COM control.  Add AutoIt features to your favorite programming and scripting languages
Editor – A cut down version of the SciTE script editor package to get started.
AutoIt Script Editor.(Customised version of SciTE with lots of additional coding tools for AutoIt)       
AutoIt- Self Extracting Archive (for those who don’t like/want an installer)(includes x86 and x64 components and Aut2Exe and AutoItX)         
AutoItPrevious Versions – v3.2.12.1 was the last version that was compatible with Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0.     
Previous Versions
v3.2.12.1 – install / zip
Non-English documentation(Zipped).Documentation in various languages.Visit Documentation Page
Graphics, icons and wallpapers.
Key and Mouse Simulation
Much time has been spent optimizing the keystroke and mouse simulation functions to be as accurate as possible on all versions of Windows. All the mouse and keyboard routines are highly configurable both in terms of simulation “speed” and functionality.
Window Management
You can expect to move, hide, show, resize, activate, close and pretty much do what you want with windows. Windows can be referenced by title, text on the window, size, position, class and even internal Win32 API handles.
Controls
Directly get information on and interact with edit boxes, check boxes, list boxes, combos, buttons, status bars without the risk of keystrokes getting lost. 
Script Editors
SciTE Programming and writing scripts in Notepad can be a pain.  The AutoIt team has created a custom version of SciTe that has the following features and tools included:




If you don’t want to use SciTe or have your own favorite text editor then AutoIt comes with syntax files for the following editors “out of the box”:
Textpad
Crimson Editor
PSPad
The syntax files for these are stored in the Extras \ Editors directory of the AutoIt installation.

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