News

AutoIt (and AutoItX) v3.2.4.9 released (25th May, 2007) (History)

! NEW with AutoIt v3.2.4.0 - Now compiled with Unicode support !

Recent changes: Windows Vista UAC support and Regular Expressions.
AutoIt executables and setup files are now digitally signed (10th Mar, 2006)
AutoIt mousemats and mugs available!

Introduction

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 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, 2003 out of the box with no annoying "runtimes" required! You can even make compiled executable scripts that can run without AutoIt being installed!

AutoIt was initially designed for PC "roll out" situations to reliably configure thousands of PCs, but with the arrival of v3 it has become a powerful language able to cope with most scripting needs.

AutoIt can:

Provide a general-purpose scripting language for all Windows versions
Simulate keystrokes (supports most keyboard layouts)
Simulate mouse movements and clicks
Move, resize and manipulate windows
Interact directly with "controls" on a window (set/get text from edit controls, check boxes and radio buttons, select items in drop-down lists, etc.)
Create complex user interfaces (GUIs)
Work with the clipboard to cut/paste text items
Provide a scriptable RunAs function for Windows 2000/XP/2003

Unlike AutoIt2, the new AutoIt v3 language has a much more standard syntax -similar to VBScript and BASIC - and now supports complex expressions, user functions, looping and everything else that veteran scripters would expect.

As with previous versions, AutoIt has been designed to be as small as possible and stand-alone with no external .dll files or registry entries required. Scripts can also be compiled into stand-alone executables with Aut2Exe.

There will also be updates to the ActiveX and DLL versions of AutoIt called AutoItX - unlike v2 this will be a combined control (COM and standard DLL functions in the same DLL). AutoItX will allow 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!

Create GUIs

AutoIt v3 will also allow you to create some complex Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) - just like those below!

Awards

Here are some accolades for AutoIt. If you know of any more then drop me a line.

Whats New?

AutoIt v3 has a completely different syntax to AutoIt2 so old scripts are not compatible. However, AutoIt2 will continue to be supported and downloadable. Both AutoIt v3 and v2.64 can be installed on the same machine together without any problems and you can keep your old scripts intact. AutoIt v2 uses the .aut extension and AutoIt3 uses .au3. There is rarely a need to rewrite a working v2.64 script for v3.

AutoIt v3 has the same concepts as previous versions with windows titles and text and keyboard and mouse simulation but has many new features:

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. Even work with controls in windows that aren't active!

Language Upgrades

"Proper" numbers, unlimited-length strings, complex expressions, if statements, select, while loops, for loops, do loops, functions, arrays, excellent string handling (over 25 functions!) - the list goes on. Everything you need to make your automation routines as painless as possible. Yes, this is a GUI automation language but the syntax in v3 is powerful enough for general purpose scripting. Old versions of AutoIt were often referred to as "not a proper language". Not any more.

Key and Mouse Simulation

Much time has been spent optimizing the keystroke and mouse simulation functions to be as accurate as possible on all current operating systems. The mouse functions also look more "human" in this version and can even be used to create slick demo scripts. All the mouse and keyboard routines are highly configurable both in terms of simulation "speed" and functionality.

Window Management

In addition to the "title/text" AutoIt v2 way of accessing windows you can also access windows by their class names and handles. As usual you can expect to move, hide, show, resize, activate, close and pretty much do what you want with windows.

And much, much more.

You'll probably want to go to the downloads page right now...

Books Featuring AutoIt

Here are books on administration and scripting that feature AutoIt (in some small way :) ). If you have a book that features AutoIt in any way and would like to see a link here then drop me a mail.

Windows Admin Scripting Little Black Book (Jesse M. Torres, O'Reilly)

Admin Scripting Pic Full Description

Shows you how to perform Windows XP and 2003 management and administrative tasks using powerful scripts for just about every important task imaginable. It covers ways to implement these scripts in an everyday environment automating repetitive tasks, and features example scripts on every new topic which you can easily modify or combine to perform myriad tasks.

[Jon: The book is focused on VBScript but lots of different languages and scripts are looked at, including a few pages on AutoIt2 and AutoItX]