AutoIt

AutoIt /ɔːtoʊ ɪt/[3] is a freeware programming language for Microsoft Windows. In its earliest release, it was primarily intended to create automation scripts (sometimes called macros) for Microsoft Windows programs[4] but has since grown to include enhancements in both programming language design and overall functionality.

AutoIt
ParadigmObject-oriented, imperative, functional, procedural, reflective
Designed byJonathan Bennett
DeveloperAutoIt Consulting Ltd.
First appearedJanuary 1999 (1999-01)
Stable release
3.3.14.5 / March 16, 2018 (2018-03-16)[1]
Preview release
3.3.15.3 Beta / May 16, 2020 (2020-05-16)[2]
PlatformIA-32 and x64
OSWindows XP SP3 and later
Windows Server 2003 and later
LicenseFreeware
Filename extensions.au3
Websitewww.autoitscript.com
Influenced by
BASIC

The scripting language in AutoIt 1 and 2 was statement-driven and designed primarily for simulating user interaction. From version 3 onward, the AutoIt syntax is similar to that found in the BASIC family of languages. In this form, AutoIt is a general-purpose, third-generation programming language with a classical data model and a variant data type that can store several types of data, including arrays.

An AutoIt automation script can be converted into a compressed, stand-alone executable which can be run on computers even if they do not have the AutoIt interpreter installed. A wide range of function libraries (known as UDFs, or "User Defined Functions")[5] 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
AU3 File Format Icon
  • Scripting language with BASIC-like structure for Windows
  • Compiling into standalone executables
  • Add-on libraries and modules for specific apps
  • Supports TCP and UDP protocols
  • Supports component object model (COM)
  • Call functions in DLL files
  • Run console apps and access the standard streams
  • Include data files in the compiled file to be extracted when running
  • Create graphical user interfaces, including 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 apps, as well as to individual controls within an app
  • Unicode support from version 3.2.4.0
  • 64-bit code support from version 3.2.10.0
  • Supports regular expressions
  • Compatible with User Account Control
  • Object-oriented design through a library[6]

Usage

AutoIt is typically used to produce utility software for Microsoft Windows and to automate routine tasks, such as systems management, monitoring, maintenance, or software installation. It is also used to simulate user interaction, whereby an application is "driven" (via automated form entry, keypresses, mouse clicks, and so on) to do things by an AutoIt script.

AutoIt can also be used in low-cost laboratory automation. Applications include instrument synchronisation, alarm monitoring and results gathering. Devices such as CNC routers and 3D-printers can also be controlled.[7]

Examples

Hello world

 
; Make available a library of constant values.
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>

; Displays "Hello, world!" in a messagebox.
MsgBox($MB_SYSTEMMODAL, "Title", "Hello, world!")

Automating the Windows Calculator

 
; Make available a library of constant values.
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>

; Display a message box with a timeout of 6 seconds.
MsgBox($MB_OK, "Attention", "Avoid touching the keyboard or mouse during automation.", 6)

; Run the Windows Calculator.
Run("calc.exe")

; Wait for the calculator to become active with a timeout of 10 seconds.
WinWaitActive("[CLASS:CalcFrame]", "", 10)

; If the calculator did not appear after 10 seconds then exit the script.
If WinExists("[CLASS:CalcFrame]") = 0 Then Exit

; Automatically type the current year into the calculator.
Send(@YEAR)

; Let's slow the script down a bit so we can see what's going on.
Sleep(600)

; Automatically type in 'divide by 4', and then sleep 600 ms.
Send("/4")
Sleep(600)

; Hit the return key to display the result, and sleep 600 ms.
Send("{ENTER}")
Sleep(600)

; Copy the result to the clipboard using the Windows shortcut Ctrl+C.
Send("^c")

; Declare, and assign the contents of the clipboard to, a variable.
Local $fResult = ClipGet()

; Check to see if the variable contains a decimal point or not.
If StringInStr($fResult, ".") Then
    ; Display a message box with a timeout of 5 seconds.
    MsgBox($MB_OK, "Leap Year", @YEAR & " is not a leap year.", 5)
Else
    ; This message will only display if the current year is a leap year.
    MsgBox($MB_OK, "Leap Year", @YEAR & " is a leap year.", 5)
EndIf

; Close the Windows calculator - always tidy up afterwards.
WinClose("[CLASS:CalcFrame]")

Find average

 
; Find Average by JohnOne, modified by czardas
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>

_Example() ; Run the example.

Func _Example()
    ; Display an input box and ask the user to enter some numbers separated by commas.
    Local $sInput = InputBox("Find Average", "Enter some numbers separated by commas: 1,2,42,100,3")

	; If an error occurred then exit the script.
	If @error Then Exit

    ; Populate an array with the user's input.
    Local $aSplit = StringSplit($sInput, ",")

    ; Pass the array to the function _Find_Average() and then check for errors.
    Local $fAverage = _Find_Average($aSplit)
    If @error Then Exit

    ; Display the result in a message box.
    MsgBox($MB_OK, "Find Average", "Result: " & $fAverage)
EndFunc   ;==>_Example

Func _Find_Average($aArray)
    ; If the input is not of the correct type (an array), then return an error along with the details.
    If Not IsArray($aArray) Then Return SetError(1, 0, VarGetType($aArray))
	; More detailed checks are possible, but for brevity just one is performed here.

    ; Declare a variable to store the sum of the numbers.
    Local $iArraySum = 0

    ; Loop through the array.
    For $i = 1 To $aArray[0]
        ; Increment the sum by the number in each array element.
        $iArraySum += Number($aArray[$i])
    Next

    ; Return the average rounded to 2 decimal places.
    Return Round($iArraySum / $aArray[0], 2)
EndFunc   ;==>_Find_Average

History
  • 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
  • April 2010 - AutoIt v3.3.6.1 released
  • December 2011 - AutoIt v3.3.8.0 released
  • January 2012 - AutoIt v3.3.8.1 released
  • December 2013 - AutoIt v3.3.10.0 released
  • June 2014 - AutoIt v3.3.12.0 released
  • July 2015 - AutoIt v3.3.14.0 and v3.3.14.1 released
  • September 2015 - AutoIt v3.3.14.2 released[8]
  • February 2018 - AutoIt v3.3.14.3 released [9]
  • March 2018 - AutoIt v3.3.14.5 released [10]

The developers of AutoIt originally released the source code under the GNU General Public License (GPL),[11][12] but the practice was discontinued beginning with version 3.2.0 in August 2006. Following the terms of the GPL, some of the code from version 3.1 was used to create a fork by the AutoHotkey project,[13] where the community is continuing to develop and release the code under the GPL.

See also

References
  1. "AutoIt Downloads".
  2. "AutoIt v3.3.15.3 Beta". AutoIt. 2020-05-16. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  3. Reply by Jon (AutoIt creator) to a forum topic discussing correct pronunciation
  4. Kaplan, Steve (2003). Citrix Metaframe Access Suite for Windows Server 2003. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-219566-5.
  5. https://www.autoitscript.com/wiki/User_Defined_Functions
  6. AutoitObject. a library to use object-oriented design in autoit Archived February 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Carvalho, Matheus C. (March 2016). Practical Laboratory Automation: Made Easy with AutoIt. Wiley V. pp. 5–7. ISBN 978-3-527-34158-0. Topics Covered in this Book.
  8. "AutoIt History". www.autoitscript.com. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  9. AutoIt v3.3.14.3 Released Feb 2, 2018
  10. AutoIt v3.3.14.5 Released March 16, 2018
  11. "Licensing Opinions". AutoIt. 2005-05-02. Retrieved 2018-10-05. The GPL license was chosen as it is generally accepted as the most restrictive
  12. "License". 2014-03-25. Archived from the original on 2005-01-04. Retrieved 2018-10-05. AutoIt is copyrighted software distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (hereinafter the "GPL")
  13. Chris Mallet (author of AutoHotkey)'s post
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