AutoIt Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
AutoIt
Influenced by
screenshot of a typical AutoIT script
Paradigm	Object-oriented, imperative, functional, procedural, reflective
Designed by	Jonathan Bennett
Developer	AutoIt Consulting Ltd.
First appeared	January 1999; 25 years ago (1999-01)
Stable release	3.3.14.5 / March 16, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-03-16)
Platform	IA-32 and x64
OS	Windows XP SP3 and later Windows Server 2003 and later
License	Freeware
Filename extensions	.au3
BASIC

AutoIt is a freeware programming language for Microsoft Windows. In versions 1 and 2, it was used to create automation scripts for Microsoft Windows programs. These are sometimes called macros. In version 3, the programming language was extended to allow it to do more things.

The scripting language in AutoIt 1 and 2 was statement-driven. It was designed to simulate a user's input to the computer. From version 3 onward, the AutoIt syntax changed. It is now similar to the BASIC programming language. AutoIt version 3 is a general-purpose programming language. It can have types of data, such as arrays.

An AutoIt script can be converted into a stand-alone executable. This can be run on computers that do not have the AutoIt interpreter installed. A wide range of function libraries are available. They are known as UDFs, or "User Defined Functions". Some are included as standard. Others are available from the website. They add extra abilities to the language. AutoIt has a special editor, an Integrated development environment or IDE. It is based on the free SciTE editor. The compiler and help text are included in this special editor and provide a standard environment for developers.

Features
Usage
Examples
History
License
Images for kids
See also

Features

Scripting language with BASIC-like structure for Windows
Compiling into standalone executables
Add-on libraries and modules for specific applications or 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

Usage

AutoIt is often used to produce utility software for Microsoft Windows. These programs can automate routine tasks. Example use includes: systems management, monitoring, maintenance, and software installation. It is also used to simulate user interaction. In this use an application is "driven" to do things by an AutoIt script which behaves like a human user. An AutoIT script can issue keypresses, mouse clicks, type text and so on. In this way it simulates a human user of an application.

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

Examples

Hello world

#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>

MsgBox($MB_SYSTEMMODAL, "Title", "Hello, world!")

Automating the Windows Calculator

#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>

MsgBox($MB_OK, "Attention", "Avoid touching the keyboard or mouse during automation.", 6)

Run("calc.exe")

WinWaitActive("[CLASS:CalcFrame]", "", 10)

If WinExists("[CLASS:CalcFrame]") = 0 Then Exit

Send(@YEAR)

Sleep(600)

Send("/4")
Sleep(600)

Send("{ENTER}")
Sleep(600)

Send("^c")

Local $fResult = ClipGet()

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

WinClose("[CLASS:CalcFrame]")

Find average

#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
February 2018 - AutoIt v3.3.14.3 released

License

The developers of AutoIt originally released the source code under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

In 2006, the license was changed for version 3.2.0 and later versions to their own closed source license.

Some of the code from version 3.1 was used to create a fork by the AutoHotkey project. This was allowed under the GPL licence terms. The AutoHotkey community is continuing to develop and release the code under the GPL.

Images for kids

AU3 File Format Icon

AutoIt facts for kids

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