AutoIt is a freeware BASIC-like scripting language designed for automating the Windows GUI and general scripting.

AutoIt will use a combination of simulated keystrokes, window/control manipulation and mouse movement in order to automate tasks in a way not possible or reliable with other languages (e.g. VBScript and SendKeys).

When you start AutoIt you will be asked to open a script file. A script file is a simple text file containing AutoIt keywords and functions that tell AutoIt what you want it to do. Script files are created in a simple text editor such as notepad.exe or a much better alternative.

Although AutoIt v3 scripts are just plain-text files they are usually given the file extension .au3 to help tell the difference between a script and a text file. If you used the full installer to install AutoIt you can execute an AutoIt script simply by double-clicking it. There are also various options to open, edit, or compile a script if you right-click on the .au3 file.

It is possible to take your .au3 script and compile it into a standalone executable; this executable can be used without the need for AutoIt to be installed and without the need to have AutoIt3.exe on the machine.

In addition, the compiled script is compressed and encrypted and there is the option to bind additional files (also compressed/encrypted) to the exe using the FileInstall function. Also, any #include files will also be compiled into the script so they are not required at run-time.

Here are some key 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
· Regular expressions
· Directly call external DLL and Windows API functions
· Scriptable RunAs functions
· Detailed helpfile and large community-based support forums
· Unicode support
· Digitally signed for peace of mind
· Works with Windows Vista's User Account Control (UAC)

What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

· Windows 9x and Windows NT 4.0 Operating System support has been removed.
· Added: New flag for StringSplit() to not return the count in element 0.
· Added #328: StringToASCIIArray(), StringFromASCIIArray() functions.
· Added: New flag to Run()/RunAs() to fix issue #415 (Adds new Constants.au3 constant: $STDIO_INHERIT_PARENT).
· Added: New flag to all Run functions for better CUI compatibility (Adds new Constants.au3 constant: $RUN_CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE).
· Added #481: 11 pixel margin around the text in SplashTextOn() (Meets Vista UI guidelines).
· Added #468: Added @MSec macro for obtaining the current milliseconds for the current second.
· Added #277: @CPUArch macro to return the capability of the processor.
· Added #454: $FO_UTF8 allowing FileOpen() in Read mode for reading UTF8 files without BOM.
· Added: $FO_UTF16_LE, $FO_UTF16_BE allowing FileOpen() in Read mode for reading UTF16 files without BOM.
· Added #407: Documented that For...In loops are read-only.
· Added #645: IniDelete(...