FREE: Scripting utility
AutoIt FREE scripting utility
A lot of work done in IT can be scripted. A lot of work outside of IT can be scripted too, but we will focus on it. Also, let’s keep it nice: no threats to replace people with scripts.
Anyway, a lot of work can be saved by automating the simple tasks. This will save you time to focus on the bigger projects. The best tool I have found to help me script and automate some of the more mundane tasks is AutoIt. Once the script has been complete and tested, simple drop it into Windows Scheduler (or your own schedule util) and <tada!> you have some more time free for other things.
It’s always a good idea to weigh the options before you begin scripting. This software is great, but you still have to do some simple coding and testing before the script is ready for a production environment. For example; A task takes 30 minutes of your daily routine to complete (generating a report and sending it via FTP to a remote site). It only takes you an hour to write a simple script to do this set of functions. This is a no-brainer: SCRIPT IT!
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.
Features:
- 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 95 / 98 / ME / NT4 / 2000 / XP / 2003 / Vista / 2008
- 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 using the link to your left in the menu.
Take me to the downloads page!
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