Let's Auto It!

A Free Functional Automation ToolMeir Bar-TalSOLMAR Knowledge NetworksMobile: +972 50-6725929http://www.AdvancedQTP.com

Part I: The AutoIt Tool What is AutoIt?

Evolution of AutoIt

Main Features of AutoIt

AutoIt vs.Commercial Tools

Pros and Cons of AutoIt

Part II: The AutoIt Show

Part III: The AutoIt Community

What is AutoIt?

Freeware BASIC-like scripting language designed for automating Windows GUI and general scripting.

Uses a combination of simulated keystrokes, mouse movement and window/control manipulation.

Enables 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!

Evolution of AutoIt

Initially designed for PC "roll out" situations to reliably automate and configure thousands of PCs.

Now can be used as a general purpose scripting language (with awesome automation as well of course!).

Now supports complex expressions, user functions, loops and everything else – for senior scriptors.

Main Features of AutoIt

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

Main Features of AutoIt (cont.)

Regular expressions

Directly call external DLL and Windows API functions

Scriptable RunAs functions

Detailed help file and large community-based support forums

Compatible with Windows 95 thru Vista and 2008

Unicode and x64 support

Digitally signed for peace of mind

Works with Windows Vista's User Account Control (UAC)

Detailed Features of AutoIt

Basic-like Syntax and Rich Function Set

Most people who have ever written a script or used a high-

level language should be able to pick it up easily.

Language features include:

High-level elements for functions, loops and expression

parsing

Rich in string handling functions and a Perl compatible

regular expression engine (using the PCRE library).

Detailed Features of AutoIt (cont.)

COM support

Call Win32 and third-party DLL APIs

Rich Built-in Editor with Syntax Highlighting and Intellisense

Customized "light" version of SciTe that makes editing

scripts easy

Users can also download a complete version of SciTe that

includes additional tools

Detailed Features of AutoIt (cont.)

Small and standaloneThe only prerequisite to run an AutoIt script is AutoIt3.exe.

Protect your Source CodeUse the built-in script compiler Aut2Exe to convert your scripts into standalone executables.

International and 64-bit SupportFully Unicode aware Includes x64 versions of all the main components!

Detailed Features of AutoIt (cont.) Key and Mouse Simulation:

Optimized keystroke and mouse simulation across Windows versions.

Highly configurable both in terms of simulation "speed" and functionality.

Window Management: 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 GUI controls. Even work with controls in windows that aren't active!

Detailed Features of AutoIt (cont.)Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)

AutoIt v3 will also allow you to create some complex GUIs - just like those below!

AutoIt vs. Commercial ToolsCriteria ItemsLeading ToolOthersAutoIt

GUI AutomationYesYesYes

Windows versions supportLatestLatest

From 95 thru 2008

64 bit supportYesMixedYes

TechnologiesFullBasic/PartialBasic/Partial

LicenseExtremely expensive

Very expensive to cheap

Free

COM supportYesYesYes

Training investmentHighHighHigh

Win API & DLLsIndirectIndirectDirect

Compilation to exe filesNoNoYes

Parallel executionYes with multiple

licensesYes with multiple

licensesYes

GUI development toolsNoNoYes

Support & CommunityYesYesYes

Pros and Cons of AutoItCriteria ItemsProsCons

GUI AutomationYes

Windows versions supportFrom 95 thru 2008

64 bit supportYes

TechnologiesBasic/Partial

LicenseFree

COM supportYes

Training investmentHigh

Win API & DLLsDirect

Compilation to exe filesYes

Parallel executionYes

GUI development toolsYes

Support & CommunityYes

Part II: The AutoIt Show

GUI Testing Demo 1: Standard Windows Applications

Demo 2: Web Applications

Demo 3:.NET Applications

Back-end Testing Demo 4: Web Services

Demo 5: Databases

Demo 6: XML files

Demo 7: DLLs

Part II: The AutoIt Show (cont.)

GUI Testing

Demo 1: Standard Windows Applications

Demo 2: Web Applications

Demo 3:.NET Applications

Part II: The AutoIt Show (cont.)

Back-end Testing

Demo 4: Web Services

Demo 5: Databases

Demo 6: XML files

Demo 7: DLLs

Part III: The AutoIt Community

Jonathan Bennett and the AutoIt Team

Releases

Documentation

Support and Forums

Jonathan Bennett & the AutoIt Team

Jonathan Bennett (born 1973) – Author and copyright owner

An open community of contributors: http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/docs/credits.htm

Highly technically proficient

Very dedicated

Releases

The AutoIt Team releases AutoIt versions from

time to time

The versions include both bug fixes and new

features

All releases are very well documented

Last release (v3.3.0.0) is dated 24th December,

2008

Documentation Very detailed and illustrated help

Lots of sample scripts and tips

On-line documentation at http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/docs/

Books: AutoIt v3: Your Quick Guide (Andy Flesner, O'Reilly) Windows Admin Scripting Little Black Book (Jesse

M. Torres, O'Reilly)

Support & Community

Support is available at support@autoitscript.com

A community of tens of thousands of professionals

Q&A Forum (http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/)

Conclusions On AutoIt

Cost-effective solution for Web, .NET and Standard

Windows applications.

Limited to the main Windows technologies

Best used with a proven testing automation

methodology and framework

Enables maximizing ROI on automation by effective

use of enterprise resources (parallel execution)

Let's Auto It!

A Free Functional Automation Tool

THANK YOU!

Meir Bar-TalSOLMAR Knowledge NetworksMobile: +972 50-6725929http://www.AdvancedQTP.com