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Thread: Name this programming tool

  1. Oct 26th, 2009, 03:51 PM #1
    Dave Sell
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    Name this programming tool

    A few years ago, I was privvy to a programming tool that allowed you to make software programs that could control/automate other executable software. (No source code needed)

    I saw them demo the product online. They ran Calc.exe for example, and then running their software they clicked on all the buttons and made variables for them. Using their proprietary BASIC-like language they were able to write a program that automatically pressed calcualtor buttons. I believe thier software was using hWindow handles and such.

    Anyway I can't remember what is was called and now I have to find it again.

    Anyone remember something like this?

    Thanks!

    Dave
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  2. Oct 26th, 2009, 04:04 PM #2
    abhijit
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    Question Re: Name this programming tool

    Are you looking for something like this?
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  3. Oct 26th, 2009, 04:06 PM #3
    Dave Sell
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    No, definately not a Macro recorder of any kind. This tool allowed you to spy on a running application's windows handles, right down to the buttons and stuff. Once you found the Objects window handle you could write software around it and push buttons and read text boxes and stuff.
    Nobody knows what software they want until after you've delivered what they originally asked for.

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  4. Oct 26th, 2009, 05:27 PM #4
    wossname
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    Spy++?
    I don't live here any more.
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  6. Oct 26th, 2009, 05:40 PM #5
    Dave Sell
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    Does Spy++ have an IDE with its own programming language?
    Nobody knows what software they want until after you've delivered what they originally asked for.

    Don't solve problems which don't exist.

    "If I had eight hours to cut down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my axe." --- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

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  7. Oct 26th, 2009, 06:28 PM #6
    LaVolpe
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Sell View Post
    Does Spy++ have an IDE with its own programming language?
    No. I have no idea what application you are talking about. Sounds interesting and one could probably be created with VB or other languages with some significant effort. Don't know if you are leaning towards that direction or not....

    1. First build a Spy++ like app where you can mouse over apps & controls to identify their window classes & control IDs. Additionally, you can determine where the app was executed from so that you might be able to launch it on your own, later as needed.

    2. Build a somewhat simplified IDE that you can use VB's Scripting control, something similar, or possibly predefined macros. Afterall, what are the real options here: click buttons, supply/change text, select list/combo items, a dozen or so other common/generic tasks?

    3. Trial and error.
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  8. Oct 26th, 2009, 06:57 PM #7
    Dave Sell
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    Ya, that sounds about right. I am not looking to rebuild this or reverse engineer this. I am just hoping to find the name of the tool that someone else developed already...

    I saw a web demo of them using it, but it was several years ago. All I need is the name of it. Shows how great my own memeroy is...
    Nobody knows what software they want until after you've delivered what they originally asked for.

    Don't solve problems which don't exist.

    "If I had eight hours to cut down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my axe." --- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

    2 idiots don't make a genius.
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  9. Oct 27th, 2009, 05:45 AM #8
    Hack
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    Moved To General Developer

    Technical question should not be posted in Chit Chat.

    Thanks.
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  11. Oct 29th, 2009, 07:40 AM #9
    gep13
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    Hey,

    Could it have been this:

    http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/

    Gary
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  12. Oct 29th, 2009, 08:10 AM #10
    Dave Sell
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    Well that is definately a good find, but I think that is not it.

    I read the website, and at first I thought WOW this is it! But after watching about 30 minutes of video tutorials, I think that AutoIT is instead a scripting language and macro recorder.

    How is this different from what I am looking for? From what I understand, you cannot get back values from textboxes and code around these values, say dump them to text file or something.

    AutoIT seems like it's all 1-way. It allows you to push mouse clicks, and keystrokes, and gives you a scripting language, but I did not see a way to pull any data back from running executables, or their GUI objects.
    Nobody knows what software they want until after you've delivered what they originally asked for.

    Don't solve problems which don't exist.

    "If I had eight hours to cut down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my axe." --- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

    2 idiots don't make a genius.
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  13. Oct 29th, 2009, 09:09 AM #11
    techgnome
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    Sounds like SilkTest.... or just about any automated testing tool... I just happen to know about Silk because that's what we used at my last job... it uses a Vb-like scripty language to control it.

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  14. Oct 29th, 2009, 09:28 AM #12
    gep13
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    Re: Name this programming tool

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Sell View Post
    Well that is definately a good find, but I think that is not it.

    I read the website, and at first I thought WOW this is it! But after watching about 30 minutes of video tutorials, I think that AutoIT is instead a scripting language and macro recorder.

    How is this different from what I am looking for? From what I understand, you cannot get back values from textboxes and code around these values, say dump them to text file or something.

    AutoIT seems like it's all 1-way. It allows you to push mouse clicks, and keystrokes, and gives you a scripting language, but I did not see a way to pull any data back from running executables, or their GUI objects.
    Hey,

    I personally have never played with AutoIT, but I know it is used internally in my company to automate the construction of Virtual Machines etc, and I know that it will accept information back from the commands it runs, so it is not all one way.

    Gary
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