Automate GUI tasks?

Question

I have a Windows application which is deadware, and it lacks the option of exporting data into a file. The only way to extract data is to copy each line into the clipboard, and paste it in an editor.

As a work-around, I'm thinking of recording the action once, and loop through it until it reaches the last line in the application.

I know there are quite a few such utilities for Windows, so I'd appreciate it if you could recommend one for this task. Thank you.

Answer 1

There is also similar free scripting language called AutoHotkey.

AutoHotkey is a free, open-source utility for Windows. With it, you can:

• Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks. You can write a mouse or keyboard macro by hand or use the macro recorder.
• Create hotkeys for keyboard, joystick, and mouse. Virtually any key, button, or combination can become a hotkey.
• Expand abbreviations as you type them. For example, typing "btw" can automatically produce "by the way".
• Create custom data-entry forms, user interfaces, and menu bars. See GUI for details.
• Remap keys and buttons on your keyboard, joystick, and mouse.
• Respond to signals from hand-held remote controls via the WinLIRC client script.
• Run existing AutoIt v2 scripts and enhance them with new capabilities.
• Convert any script into an EXE file that can be run on computers that don't have AutoHotkey installed.

Answer 2

AutoIt is what you need:

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!

Answer 3

AutoGui is a python package available on PIP that can easily automate windows. Medium article for more information.

https://medium.com/@lundbird/how-to-automate-windows-applications-with-autogui-626c7b452eed

Answer 4

I found this old post looking for the same thing. Here are some updated options for other users I found while working on a project to automate pulling data from "deadware" and populating it into my software.

Below "minimal programing" means you'll need to do minimal coding to automate the process of getting data out of the target software. Most of these have a perpetual license where you only pay more if you want updates or support.

That point is important considering most times you'll need to use this software on a machine that is locked to a specific Windows version and only there to support the legacy software. In that case it won't make since to be forced to pay for maintenance and updates when the machine you're pulling data from has updates blocked to prevent problems with the legacy software.

• https://www.wintask.com/macro-recorder/ minimal coding
• https://www.macros.com/featurespro6.htm minimal coding
• https://www.jitbit.com/macro-recorder/ minimal coding
• https://www.macrorecorder.com/shop/ minimal coding
• https://robotask.com/ minimal coding https://www.winbatch.com/
  heavy coding
• https://www.winautomation.com/pricing/ no Windows coding but much more expensive than the others and the site does not specify if the software will stop working if you don't pay the monthly/annual renewal.

Answer 5

WinBatch. You can record your GUI actions or commands, and then save them and make a program out of them. It costs, but it's worth every penny. https://www.winbatch.com/. I used it more than 10 years ago, and it was very easy to use and a mature product then. Since their page shows a couple of updates this year, they're not just coasting now.