Rediware Software's
AutoSys version 4.0.0
automation system
© copyright 2001, 2002, 2003 Rediware
Software and Services
In this help file, you can find any word you are looking for by selecting Edit, Find (on this page) on the menu at the top of this application.
Fast Locator links in this document
This automation
system (AutoSys) software is specialized software custom designed to perform
a specific job. For this software to be of real use, specialized hardware
must accompany this software.
This software will be of little use (except for curiosity)
to most people. It will be a valuable tool to those hobbyists who desire to
incorporate their computer into their hobby in a very unique way.
The main purpose of this software is to be able
to automate your computer software using a custom designed switching network
that provides signals into the computer using the gameport input. This is
then interpreted into mouse instructions, enabling automation of your software.
This help file does not go into the details
of building this hardware. This help file deals with the software only. This
software can be tested using a standard joystick plugged into the gameport.
The easiest method to build your "special
hardware" is to purchase a cheap joystick. Install the joystick driver
software. Take your joystick apart, and connect the button contacts to other
remote switches. Test to make sure these remote switches are activating the
input of the gameport, just as your joystick would do.
Now that you will be able to automate software
on your computer from remote switches, the possibilities are only limited
to your imagination.
The AutoSys software was originally conceived
and created for use at the WSJL 1700 AM radio station to facilitate playing
CDs, mp3s, and other various sound file types on several computers using a
main board console. The console is wired into the computer gameport inputs,
therefore giving control over to the board rather than the individual mice
for each computer. This allows the disc jockey to make use of several computers
with sound files and multiple CD drives (using AutoSys and software designed
for playing CDs and sound files) while remaining at the console. Software
is then activated by merely pressing the appropriate buttons on the console.
For radio station applications information and pictures, got to the WSJL 1700
AM website.
Version 2.0.0 changes as compared to version
1:
Only 10 supercodes are allowed in each layout
file instead of 12. Version 1 specified 12 allowable although there were really
only 11.
Version 2.0.0 has the addition of the "auto
mode" which brings automation into it's truest form. Version 1 relied
on inputs from the joystick port to automate sequences. Version 2 has the
option of using joystick inputs for switch-activated automation or automating
by time passed, loss or gain of an internet connection, or a single mouseclick.
This means that AutoSys can now be used without joystick input signals if
preferred.
Version
3.0.0 changes as compared to version 2:
The 'intervals' option was added to manually
enter specific times that you would like AutoSys to execute various code.
Version
4.0.0 changes as compared to version 3:
AutoSys now can program keyboard input as
well as mouse motions and clicks. Many features are enhanced.
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AutoSys has been tested on Windows 98.
AutoSys was written to accommodate any screen resolution.
AutoSys 4 will not load previous version files.
This help file was written with
the intent of being run with Microsoft Internet Explorer. It operates successfully
with IE 5.0 or higher. Other Internet browsers should display this
file properly also. However, some may not be able to handle the interactive
properties of this page. All of this file will still be displayed even if
your browser does not support these properties. When help is clicked in AutoSys,
your default browser will load this file.
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AutoSys is not easy to use. It's potential is great, but there is a learning curve involved. Any questions you have can be sent to the e-mail address in this doc. I will help you if you need help
Below is a screenshot that depicts the working application's interface. AutoSys is divided into sections, each having a common purpose. Below is a screenshot of AutoSys Click anywhere on the screenshot (where your cursor turns into a hand) to locate information about that particular item.
Indicators and information:
Section One:
The file status bars:
The file status bars will
contain the filenames of the different function files you load or save. You
can see at a glance what your filenames are so that loading, editing, and
saving becomes less prone to error.
Section Two: joystick
status
This area displays the status of your input.
Button Number will display the number of the
joystick button that has been pressed.
Button Value displays the internal value of
the joystick button pressed. The values are binary, and start with 1, 2, 4,
8, 16, etc. up to 1024. Button values do not show up unless you are actually
using joystick inputs.
Button Function will display "left button
down", "right button down", "middle button down"
or "click no button" depending how you have the mouse function set.
Mouse Position will display the X and Y coordinates
of your mouse when automation is being programmed.
Section Three: weblinks
This section provides you with three weblinks.
These weblinks are your portals to the creators of this automated system.
If you are using AutoSys and have problems or questions, use these links for
answers. (go back to the screenshot)
Section Four: mouse
function
When one of the gameport buttons are activated
(via special hardware or the joystick) the selection checked will be the resulting
mouse reaction. For example, if the "click LEFT button" option is
selected, pressing a button on the joystick or special hardware will cause
the left button of the mouse to click.
Section Five: timing
indicators
When functions are timed,
these indicators will tell you the current time, the time the function will
run, and in some cases, a countdown.(Go
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Stopping and starting AutoSys:
The run checkbox
No function will run unless
this box is checked. The should be the last thing you do, after everything
else is set up.
The stop button
When a function is running,
you may or may not have control of your mouse. Either click the stop button,
or press Alt/S to stop the function. If a function is in the middle of a function
it will be completed before it is stopped. The next scheduled time to run
the function will be aborted.
The auto off button
Clicking this button will
turn the auto feature off or on. When the auto feature is on, AutoSys will
automatically load a file called auto.lay (if it exists) and run it when AutoSys
starts. This allows you to let AutoSys load (from a shortcut in your startup
folder) when your computer boots, and begin running the function you have
named auto.lay. The .lay is an extension that
denotes a layout file. Design one, save it, and then resave it as auto.lay.
AutoSys will now become automatic at startup. To turn the auto feature off,
simply click the button again. Note that to edit the auto.lay file, the auto
feature must be set to on, or the file will not show up in the list of files
to load.(Go
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Main control buttons:
Get a saved layout setting: Allows you to retrieve a previously saved layout. You will be asked to select from the available layout settings that you have previously saved. Select a file and click Open in standard Windows fashion. Layout files now save everything, including time lists, supercodes, key stroke lists, along with all of your settings.
Save
a layout setting : When you have spent some time programming AutoSys
and wish to save the configuration, click the save setting button. You will
be asked for a filename to save it as. Enter a filename and save in standard
Windows fashion. Saving a layout will also save time lists, supercodes, key
stroke lists, and settings you have created. (see super auto
below)
When loading a
layout file, AutoSys version 4 will not load older version files without
problems. When saving a layout file, it will be saved as a version 4 file.
The super, time, and keys buttons will be discussed below since they are more involved.
Help: Click this button to load this help file at any time.
Bell : You will want to test the mouse functions while using AutoSys The bell button allows you to click the mouse (remotely or manually) on the button and hear a sound. When the sound is heard, you know the button has actually been clicked.(Go back to the screenshot) (Go back to quick links)
Note: The Locate button is discussed further down in this document because it relates to the auto-mode portion of the application.
Version: Click this button to view the current version of the application.
Quit: Quits the AutoSys application. It is your responsibility to save any layouts you may have been working on.
Getting screen positions for the
mouse with a joystick or keyboard:
Grab
or go buttons: These buttons have two functions. The first function
is "grab." If the two boxes right of the numbered button you click
is empty, you are ready to grab a location. First, click the option "do
not click any buttons" in the "mouse function" panel. Position
your mouse anywhere on the screen. If you plan to click an application's button
as part of your layout, load that program and position the mouse on the application
button you will want to activate. Activate any joystick (gameport) button.
The mouse's location will appear in the status box. Click any numbered button
(1-12) and the X and Y mouse locations will be transferred over to the boxes
right of the button. Now, any time that button number on the joystick (1-12)
is clicked, the mouse will move to that defined position.
IMPORTANT NOTE: AutoSys is designed for up to 12 screen positions. To automate
these positions, you need buttons to coincide with the numbers. Button 1 on
the joystick will activate (move) the mouse to position 1, button 2 - position
2, button 12 will activate position 12, etc. This does not hold
true when using the "super" mode (discussed
below).
The second function of these numbered buttons
is the go function. If you already have locations displayed in the X and Y
boxes, click the numbered button, and the mouse will go to that location.
You can test your positions this way.
Note: To "grab"
a mouse location, the single/super option MUST be set to single. If the option
is set to super, the locations will not register.
The
locate button:
Another way to grab a
mouse location is with the locate button. This was implemented when joystick-less
operations were incorporated. Position the mouse where you want it. Press
Alt/L. This activates the locate button, and puts the mouse coordinated into
the status boxes. Now click a button to insert these locations into the boxes
connected with a joystick number. If you are positioning on another application
and must click that application to get a location (example: locate the mouse
on 'save as' after clicking file on a menu), AutoSys will minimize and lose
focus. To activate the locate button, simple get your mouse where it belongs,
hold the Alt key and press tab, and AutoSys will pop up and come back into
focus. You can now press Alt/L to locate the mouse position. Also see locate
in the automode section below.
The
X and Y locations boxes: These boxes display the saved X and Y locations
of the mouse pointer. You can manually edit the data in these boxes, but it
is not recommended. There is no error checking for bad screen locations. Use
the grab feature instead.
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Clear
and Clear all: The clear all button at the top clears out all the X
and Y boxes. The individual clear buttons clear the X and Y box left of the
button. You cannot input a new position in these boxes unless they are clear.
If they have mouse positions in them, clicking the button next to them will
put the mouse at that position rather than filling them with the numbers in
the status box.
The settings:
Use these settings to configure how you
want AutoSys to run.
So far, everything that has been
discussed has been available in version 1. This discussion of the auto-mode
is new to version two and up. The purpose of auto-mode is to allow the features
of AutoSys to be used without joystick inputs. Some users of AutoSys have
a need to use the automation that AutoSys delivers, but do not wish to add
additional hardware to do so. Therefore the auto-mode was created.
Auto-mode works exactly like the standard mode
discussed above with the exception of steps where the joystick is used. These
steps are implemented differently as described below. Creations of single
codes, supercodes, and the implementation of them work the same. The difference
is, of course, that they are not triggered by a joystick port input.
Grabbing a mouse location: Normally, after placing the mouse at a desired location to grab it's position, you would press any joystick button. Without a joystick this would be difficult since you cannot move the mouse to click something. The Locate button performs this function. To press the Locate button (this is above the 'version' button) without moving the mouse, press Alt/L on your keyboard. This will get the mouse location and move the numerical representation into the X= and Y= (mouse position) boxes. You can then click a numbered button to transfer those numbers to the X and Y boxes, as you normally would.
After creating single codes or
supercode, you can try out the auto-mode methods for activating AutoSys Here
are the options described, from the top down. Note that these options tell
AutoSys whether to run automatically at all, or when to run.
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No Auto Activation: When you are setting up the codes, designing the sequences, etc. this selection will prevent the auto-mode from activating. This option will always be selected when AutoSys is first loaded. This option may not be selected if you load a saved layout file. The layout file loaded will contain the saved position of these options. There is another option to prevent running as soon as a file is loaded which will be mentioned shortly. In autorun mode, this will not be selected, and the run checkbox will selfcheck.
Set up your code, or load a saved layout file, and then you can use other options.
Activate by time passed: This field contains 4 option buttons labeled seconds, minutes, hours, and actual time. You can select one of these options and then by using the scroll control, change the number to the desired amount. In the screenshot above, 15 is shown. Depending on the option selected, this will represent 15 seconds, minutes, or hours. AutoSys will activate and perform the designated code or supercode every time increment entered. Therefore if the auto-mode was set to 15 minutes, your code would be performed every 15 minutes until you stop it.
Activate by actual time: This selection is a bit more involved, but allows you to enter times of day when you wish to activate AutoSys You can even program which supercode should be run for each time. This allows you to turn things on and off at different times of day, rather than repeating the same code. Because this is a bit more complex, I will provide a step-by-step.
First, create a supercode
as explained elsewhere in this document, or load a previously saved supercode
file. The actual time' mode ONLY works with supercode. If you wish to only
create one action, only enter one action when creating the supercode. To see
the power of this mode, create at least two different supercodes that will
be kept in the same file. (remember, you can code up to 10 supercodes together)
For convenience, save this supercode file. I have included a sample for you
called sampinterval.lay for your convenience.
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Now click the 'set' button. This will take you to another screen where you can enter some data.
Using the controls, select an hour and minute you wish the code to execute. Select the supercode number you wish to execute. In our example, we've only created codes 1 and 2, so only select from those numbers. You can enter as many times and codes as you wish. Click the add button to add them to the list. Save the list if you will be using this list again. Click the load list button to retrieve a saved list. The box labeled time converts the times selected to a format that you and I are most familiar with. This is an aid only. Click the finished button when you are done. If you wish to program an entire day (with the same supercode), change the 'every ___ minutes' to your desired time interval. Then click the 'full day' button. In the example above I have created a full day, every 15 minutes to activate. Use the 'clear all' and 'remove checked' to remove items from your time list. Saving this list saves only the time list. Saving the layout on the main screen saves this time list also, but not as an individual list, but a total list of all data. You can do both.
Now you can click the actual time' selection on the main screen. The first time in the list AFTER THE CURRENT TIME will appear in the accompanying box. If you wish to start at another time you had entered (perhaps the beginning times in the list have already past) you can use the scroll control to change that start time. The delay value (delay between each step of the supercode) will default to 2 seconds. You can change this if you wish.
Now check the run box, as you
normally would. Your supercode will run at the displayed time, executing the
code number you requested. After the execution, AutoSys will wait until the
next programmed time and then run the supercode number designated for that
time. This will repeat day after day, unless you stop the program. The timing
indicators will let you know what is happening, and when the next event will
take place.
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Activate
by Internet connection: If you select is 'not connected' in this option
set, your code will be implemented if your computer does not detect
a connection to the Internet. Selecting 'is connected' will cause AutoSys
to activate it's code if it does detect a connection to the Internet
The black circle will turn red when there is no connection, and green if it
does detect a connection. Use the scroll control to tell AutoSys how often
you want to check for a connection. This control is in seconds only, and goes
from 10 seconds up to 3600 seconds, which is one hour.
There are two additional options to select before
testing for an Internet connection. The first is 'modem' and is the best selection
if you use dial-up. The second is 'ping' and works best with cable or other
fast Internet connections.
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Do it now: This option allows you to test your automatic code. Select this option and your code will be performed immediately. It will only be performed once. After the sequence is finished, the 'No Auto Activation' will automatically be selected.
Button number: Before you actually run your code, you need a way to designate which button on the joystick you wish to simulate. Since you are not using the joystick, you need an alternate designation. Use the scroll control to set the button number you will be simulating. This works the same as the normal mode in that it represents either the numbered button mouse position combined with the mouse click designated (for single mode) or the supercode instruction set number when supercode has been selected. If you have created supercode(s) and the supercode option is selected, changing this button will also display the supercode designated for each button number.
Delay
between super commands:
Use the "sec delay" scroll
control to set the number of seconds delay in-between each instruction in
the supercode. You will have to experiment to see how much, if any, delay
you want. The number shown is in seconds, and can be set from 0 to 3600 seconds.
It is a good idea not to set this at 0 since the computer may miss some instructions
due to timing.
Select Single or Super mode: All of the instructions so far have pertained to the single mode. To change to the Super mode (discussed below in it's own section), click the Super option.
Super display: This will display any supercodes that will be activated if super mode is selected, and a supercode (either with mouse positions or keys) has been entered or loaded.
Automate
what? option: Selecting the mouse option will run codes
written for the mouse. Selecting keys will run codes written for the keyboard.
Your codes can cause this selection to switch back and forth as we will see.
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I am going to give you step by step
instructions to make the mouse click the bell button by activating a joystick
button, whether it be an actual joystick, or by specialized hardware designed
for this purpose.
In this instruction, we are going to use button
2 on the joystick to activate the mouse position and click. Find button two
on your joystick (or specialized hardware). You will know it is actually button
2 because when you press it, AutoSys will tell you the number of the button
pressed.
With your mouse, click the option "do not
click any buttons."
Position your mouse over the bell button.
Press any joystick button. The current mouse
location will appear in the status box.
With your mouse, click the button numbered 2.
The locations in the status box are now transferred over to the X and Y box.
To test this location, once the location numbers
are in X and Y boxes, click the button numbered 2 again. The mouse should
return to the assigned location. (over the bell button) You can also press
the joystick button (button number 2) and you will get the same result.
Select the "click left button" option.
(if you are left-handed, select the "click right button" option.)
You are ready to go. No matter where the mouse
is on the screen, pressing button number 2 on the joystick should move your
mouse to the bell button and click it, ringing the bell sound. Note that clicking
the numbered button will only move the mouse. It will not do any clicking.
Only the joystick control will do that.
When utilizing AutoSys to automate other programs,
use the same procedure. Load the application you want to automate and position
that application on the screen. If possible, expand the program to encompass
the entire screen. This way you application will be in the same place all
the time. You can keep AutoSys minimized to get a mouse location because you
do that with the joystick button. If you are not using a joystick, see the
method described using the locate button. Once
the mouse location has been captured, you can restore AutoSys and enter that
info into the desired X and Y box by pressing the numbered "grab"
button.(Go
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So far I have discussed instructions for equating one joystick button to one mouse position and one mouse click. Think of Super automation as a series of single automated routines run one after the other. This is exactly what Super is. Select the super button to see the super window. Enter the super entry window by clicking the "super" button on the main screen.
Super mode supports up to 10 different
instruction strings. Each string can have up to 9 instructions. These strings
are activated when the super option is selected on the main window and
you have created a supercode. To enter a new instruction string:
Enter in the small white boxes, in pairs, data
for the string. Each first box in the pair will be a number from 1 to 9. This
number represents the numbered button next to the mouse locations that have
been entered in the X and Y boxes on the main window (not the X and Y locations
themselves). If you haven't plotted mouse locations on the main screen, it's
best to go back and do that first. Note that the supercode only uses up to
button number 9, not 12 that are available in single mode. Each second box
in the pair will be either L, R, M, N or K. The first 4 stand for left, right,
middle, and none. This represents the type of mouse click for each mouse location.
Each box will consist of one character, and when that character is entered,
the cursor will advance to the next box. To advance to the next box manually,
press TAB or ENTER. Enter as many or as few instructions as you would like.
There is one more letter you can enter, which if you use it, should always
be the last in the string. It is the letter K. (use any number (1-9) in the
box preceeding it). K will prompt AutoSys to shift to 'keys' mode. This will
let you program mouse movement and clicks, and then program keystrokes, if
you desire.
When you are finished, use the scroll control
in the upper left corner to designate which supercode (1-10) this code string
will represent. This number (1-10) will be equated to the joystick button
number. This means that if you create a supercode and assign it to supercode
3, then joystick button number 3 will activate this code if supercode has
been selected as an option on the main window (rather than 'single'). Supercode
only works with the joystick, or with the automation selections. A supercode
will not run by clicking a numbered button like single mode works.
Click the "create supercode" button
to create the instruction code. This code will appear in the gray box at the
top. You may create up to 10 different code strings, and save them in numbers
1-10. After saving you can view all the codes created so far by scrolling
through the numbers. Supercodes are saved or loaded to a file with the load
and save supercode buttons..
You can clear all the white input boxes with
the "clear entry boxes" button.
You can clear any instruction code by scrolling
to the code (with the numerical scroll control) and press the "clear"
button. Note that this code is not recoverable once it is cleared, unless
it still exists in the white entry boxes (which you would then have to click
'create supercode' to recover), or is saved in a file on your hard drive.
You can insert the code that appears in the
gray box into the white boxes using the 'insert code' button.
When you have entered and created all the code
strings you want, press the "finished" button.
Now when you select "super" in the
main window, a code string will appear in the gray box below the single/super
option on the main window. This is not necessarily the code that will be executed,
but the code number selected with the selector control. The actual supercode
that gets executed will be displayed when one of the joystick buttons with
code assigned to it is pressed and the supercode option has been selected.
If you would like to see the supercode for each button that you have created
without going back to the supercode window, select the supercode option. Then
use the 'button number' control in the auto-mode section (right side near
bottom) to scroll through the numbers. Each supercode will be displayed in
the supercode window.
REMEMBER
that on the main window, if single is selected, then single instructions will
be executed, and if super is selected, supercode will be executed (If, of
course, code for that numbered button has been entered)
Use the "delay (seconds)" scroll control
to set the number of seconds delay between each instruction in the supercode.
You will have to experiment to see how much, if any, delay you want. The number
shown is in seconds, and can be set from 0 to 3600 seconds. It is a good idea
not to set this at 0 since the computer may miss some instructions due to
timing.
If you have mouse locations in the X and Y boxes,
and have created a supercode designated to one of the joystick buttons, you
are ready to go super. Activate a joystick button who's number is a number
of a created supercode. AutoSys will put the mouse at the location displayed
in the X and Y boxes of the first button-number in your supercode, activate
the mouse (L,R,M or N), wait the amount of seconds in the "delay"
control, then continue on with the next X and Y location specified by your
supercode. In this way you can automate a series of instructions with a single
joybutton press.
If you wish to use super and single mode together,
use the supercode entry window and create supercodes consisting of a single
location and a single click for singles, and supers (multiple locations and
clicks) in the usual way. Remember to make sure super is selected in the main
screen (instead of single) before trying it out.
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I am now going to give you step by step
instructions to make supercode that will take the mouse through a series of
preprogrammed steps, and then click the test sound button by activating a
joystick button, whether it be an actual joystick, or by specialized hardware
designed for this purpose. Make sure "do not click any button" is
selected. Make sure 'single' mode is selected.
Click the 'clear all' button to clear all mouse
position boxes. Put your mouse over the button numbered 1. Press joystick
button #1. The mouse location will appear in the X= and Y= boxes of the status
window. Using the mouse, click the button numbered 1 to transfer those locations
to the X and Y boxes.
Now put your mouse over the button numbered
2, press joystick button two, and transfer those values into X and Y boxes
by clicking the button numbered 2. Grab and transfer the location over button
numbered 3 in the same way. Note that you do not have to use the same joystick
number as the button to grab the location, but it must be an unused button.
If you tried to grab the third location using joystick button 1, the mouse
would simply go to the assigned location that is shown next to button 1. You
can also use the locate button as previously described to grab mouse locations.
Lastly, put your mouse over the "test sound"
button, grab it's location with joystick button #4, and click the button numbered
4 to transfer the location. We are now ready to create supercode with these
4 instructions.
Click the 'super' button. Make sure the instruction
number (top left corner) says 1. If not, change it. Enter the supercode in
the white boxes, one character per box. Enter 1 N 2 N 3 N 4 L (or R if you
are left-handed). Click the 'create supercode' button. The code will be displayed
in the gray box. Now click the 'finished' button.
We are now back on the main screen. Click the
'supercode' option (instead of the 'single' option. The code will be displayed.
Change the 'delay' to read 1. This is the delay between each instruction.
We are now ready to see supermode work. Simply press joystick button number
1 (that was the supercode number, remember?) and watch your mouse go through
it's paces. You can create other supercodes at the same time, and the joystick
button will correspond to the supercode instruction number you have assigned,
when in supercode mode.
Note that when using the joystick, all of the
other timed settings do not matter. You do not even have to click the run
box. The buttons on the joystick run the functions.
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Now we will go through the steps
to activate the auto mode, which allows us to run AutoSys without any joystick
input.
Recreate the same single codes we did above
in the section 'giving supermode a test run'. This time, instead of using
a joystick button press to grab a location, use Alt/L (activates the 'locate'
button) to grab the location. Transfer the locations the same way you did
before. Remember, no joystick!
Now click the 'super' button and create the
same supercode you did above. Don't forget to click 'create supercode' and
'finished'.
Now we will set some automatic parameters so
our code will run by itself. Select the super option under the status window.
Look at the 'auto mode' portion of the screen (right side). Click the 'seconds'
option in 'activate by time passed'. Change the timer in that section to 10.
This means that your code will run every 10 seconds. Make sure 'simulated
button number' is set to 1 (this is the instruction number for supercode).
Set the delay to 1 again so that you can see your code actually work.
Now you are ready. Click the 'run'
box at the bottom left to start. You will see your supercode start. It will
do this over and over, every 15 seconds. To stop the sequence, either click
the 'stop' button, or if the mouse is moving too fast, press Alt/S
Single code operates the same way. You would
need to select 'single' instead of 'super' and change the 'button number'
to the single instruction number you want, not the supercode instruction number,
but the button number next to the mouse location in the X and Y boxes that
you want. You will also need to select a mouse click type in that options
window if you want the mouse to click. Set up your parameters for operating
automatically, click the 'run' box, and there you have it.
Run:
After you have all your code set up, and you have selected an option
by which AutoSys will run, there is one more thing you need to do to get the
code to actually run. You need to check this box. Auto-mode will not run as
long as this box is not checked. This is the 'go' feature. Of course if the
option 'no auto activation' is selected, nothing will happen either. Note
that almost any control that is clicked or changed (there are a few exceptions,
such as the test sound button) in the application will automatically remove
a check in this box. This will take AutoSys off auto-mode and back into manual
mode.
Remember! If your auto-mode does not seem to
work, make sure 'No Auto Activation' IS NOT selected, the 'run' checkbox IS
checked, and your actual times (in the auto-mode section) AND the 'delay'
(in the regular section) are not so large that you have to wait too long to
see any action. Test with the "do it now" option to make sure your
code is working at all. (run still must be checked).
Stop:
You might wonder why you would need a stop button. You would think
that you can always uncheck the run box, right? Not always. If you have your
code running too fast, there may be no pauses between movements of the mouse.
In supercode mode your mouse may be flying all over the screen repeatedly
and you cannot get control of it. When you find yourself in this situation,
activate the stop button by pressing Alt/S This will immediately halt all
activity after the immediate sequence is finished.
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Using simulated keyboard input
I have discussed using supercodes to run series of mouse code. With version 4, AutoSys can simulate keyboard input as well, allowing you to create supercodes made up of keystrokes rather than mouse clicks. Because this is also a complex procedure, I have not discussed it until now. Here is the window that you will get when you click the 'keys' button on the main window.
The first thing to know is that
keystrokes are mostly useful if they are to be used on another application.
When you load this window all of the boxes should be blank, unless you loaded
some code with the 'get layouts' button.
As with the supercodes, you can create 10 super
keycodes with each file. The first thing to do is to designate an application.
Use the 'get file and path' button to do this. When the dialog box opens,
navigate to the application you want to control. In this example I have selected
Notepad.
In the 'build code' box, the application's path
and name will appear. To send a string of characters to the application, enter
them in the 'add a string' box, and click the 'add' button. Text entered here
will be sent to the application. In Notepad it will be as if you were typing
into the window in Notepad. Use the 'clear' button if you wish to clear the
string box.
You can load and save keycode files using the
load and save buttons. These will override any time files loaded in with a
layout file.
Use the special keys to insert special codes
into your file. If you can save a file (the way you can in Notepad) by first
pressing Alt/F to activate the F)ile menu item in Notepad, you can simulate
this sequence by either clicking the Alt key and then entering an f in the
string box and clicking the add button, or you can enter the f in the string
box and click the 'add alt/key' button. a % will show in the build box for
each Alt key. You could then send the letter 'a' to select Save As from the
drop down menu in notepad. I chose here to use three "down arrow"
keystrokes and then the enter key. To send the control key, click the ctrl
button. To send a tab key, click the tab button. Etc. Etc.
The best way to figure out how to run your applications
is to actually run it using only the keyboard. Find out which keys you need
to press to create the events you want. Write down your keystrokes, and then
enter them in AutoSys Note that some combinations work better than others.
For example, the 'close app' button simulates a control key with the function
4 key. This closes most applications fine. However, if may not work well for
your application, and it may be better to exit using the menu. Don't forget
prompts like "do you wish to save this file?" etc. that may appear
in the app before closing. You need to allow for all events that will take
place.
I have added some special keys for their usefulness.
The time key will send the current time to the application. The now key sends
the time and date. The delay key will send an embedded delay with the length
of the delay in seconds which shows on the delay indicator control. Set the
delay length before clicking the delay button. The rnd button will create
a random number. This is especially useful for writing repetitive files where
each file needs a unique name. The 'switch to mouse' button will cause
AutoSys to leave the keys mode and start processing mouse supercodes. The
setting control tells AutoSys which supercode you wish to process.
The button labeled 'more special keys' loads
a file that shows many more special keycodes. You can enter them directly
as shown in the string box, and click the 'add' button to add them.
If you make an error, you can back up each step
of the code by clicking the 'back one' button. This will remove the last code
added.
Although I do not recommend it, you can edit
the build code box directly. I do not recommend it because you must understand
the codes and format before editing. An error in the code may cause your function
to crash miserably!
After your code is built, set the number next
to the 'create code' button to set this keycode to a number, just as you did
with supercodes. Then press 'create code.' The created code will be placed
into the 'created code' box. You can now click the 'finished' button, and
go test your code.
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Just as we have
with the other modes, I will describe a step by step method for entering a
super key code. I am going to describe the example shown in the box above.
Load up AutoSys Click the keys button to get
to the keys screen. Click the 'file and path' button. Locate and select Notepad
which should reside at C:\Windows\NotePad.exe. The Notepad file and path should
now be in the 'build code' box.
Enter a sentence in the string box and click
the add button. To start a new line if you wish to add more sentences, add
an 'enter' code by clicking the enter button. Write this string: "The
time is " and click the add button. (Do not type the quotes). Now click
the 'time' button, and then the 'enter' button.
Now we will save the file and close Notepad.
Enter the letter f in the string box. Click the alt/key button to make it
an Alt/F keystroke. This will activate the Notepad's File menu. Now enter
enter the letter a to activate Notepad's Save As, or click the down button
three times (to bring the selection down to the save as item in Notepad) and
click the enter button to select it. NotePad's dialog will open at this point
in the code asking for a file name to save it as. Click the rnd button which
will generate a unique number to use as the file name. The default place to
save files is My Documents. If you don't have a problem with that, that's
fine. If you wish to save your file in a specific folder, you will need to
add that string before adding the random numbered filename, just as you need
to do in Notepad (if you did not use the navigation buttons). Now click the
'enter' button to have Notepad accept it.
To close Notepad, enter an f again in the string
box and click the alt/key button. Click the 'enter' button six times to bring
the selection down to the Exit menu item. Click the 'enter' button to select
it. Notepad will close. As an alternative, you can try using the 'close app'
button instead, or enter an alt/f and the letter x to select Exit. All of
these should work.
Now that your code has been built, select the
number of this code. The default is 1 and you can leave it there. Click the
'create code' button. The code will be transferred to the 'created code' box
and can be located with AutoSys by selecting keys mode, code #1. Click the
'finished' button to try out the code.
On the main window, make sure the keys option
is selected. Select the 'do it now' button. Click the 'run' box. Your code
should run, hopefully as expected. To run this, say every minute, click the
'minute' option, make sure the counter is set to 1, and click the run box.
Your code will now run every minute, saving the file with a different name
each time.
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There is are sample files included
with the installation of AutoSys Load AutoSys and click the 'Get Layout"
button. Load one of the sample files. All of the parameters have been set
up for you. If single mode is selected, press joystick button #1 to see this
code operate. In auto mode is selected by the layout file, put a check in
the 'run' box by clicking it. Note that if the 'do it now' selection is chosen
by the layout file, you will have to reselect the 'do it now' option again
and check the run box to run it again. There are also some file(s) for keycodes
and a time file that you can load and play with.
Note that these codes are set up to run on my
computer with my resolution. If you have your resolution set to 800x600 and
you have not moved the AutoSys window, there is a good possibility that the
code will run as designed. The mouse will land on the proper buttons. The
samples will work with both right and left handed mice (I have put both in
the code). If the mouse cursor is not aligned properly with the buttons, you
will need to redo the mouse locations for your specific computer screen. The
supercode can remain the same.
Note: Yes, you can have AutoSys design itself
by programming it to press it's own buttons.
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Throughout this text you have
been told of various types of files you can load or save. It is important
to note the precedence of loaded and saved files.
Layout files saved or loaded consist of all
of the settings, and also includes the time list, key codes list, and supercodes
list. When you save a layout file, all information loaded into AutoSys at
that time is saved. When loading a layout file, all of these items are loaded
into memory. If you load a layout file that contains no time list, any current
timelist will be empty.
When you load or save a supercode list, keycode list, or
time list, only that list gets loaded or saved. This allows you to load a
layout that contains it's own keycode list, time list, and supercode list,
and then individually replace only the list you want by loading a keycode
list, supercode list, or time list. You can always then save the layout with
these new or edited lists embedded. This method creates versatility.
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To uninstall AutoSys, go to your control
panel and use the Add/Remove utility. Select AutoSys for removal. You will
get a notice that some components could not be removed. This is because the
AutoSys application creates it's own directory and saves any layouts you elected
to. After uninstalling, simply navigate to the location where AutoSys was
installed (default is C:\Program Files\AutoSys and the folder will be there
unless you did not use the default installation location when installing)
Delete the folder AutoSys including all of it's contents. MAKE SURE you have
uninstalled AutoSys FIRST!
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If you install your joystick drivers
over AutoSys, AutoSys may not work properly. It is recommended that you install
and test your joystick first. Then install AutoSys
Because AutoSys is currently in a state of continuous
development, some functions may work at times and not at other times. I have
attempted to debug all possible situations, but because of the complexity
of AutoSys, all combinations are not able to be tested. I am willing to help
anyone who runs into problems, either showing or instructing how to achieve
specific events, or debugging the application itself.
Some of the newer dll files (namely WININET.DLL)
caused problems when replacing an older file where an older Internet Explorer
version was installed. For this reason I have redesigned AutoSys installation
to put these DLL files in it's own directory rather than the System directory.
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Rediware Software and the author
make no guarantees that AutoSys will suit your needs or expectations. Rediware
Software and the author are not responsible for any system incompatibilities
or file or system corruption due to the installing, usage, or uninstalling
of AutoSys AutoSys has been tested on Windows 98. I did get an error on a
Windows 95 system while checking for an Internet connection when one had never
been set up. I was not able to resolve this problem. This software has been
tested but is not guaranteed to be bug free. Note that the installation software
and dynamic link libraries are written by Microsoft and are independent of
AutoSys I welcome e-mail on any glitches or bugs that you may encounter. When
reporting any bugs, please attempt to recreate the glitch in a step by step
fashion so that you can relay to me the exact steps that caused the problem.
When installing AutoSys, the installation software may detect that you have
older versions of DLL files and ask you if you wish to install the updated
versions. It is recommended that you do so. The versions contained in AutoSys
are the latest available at the time of release and are from official Microsoft-released
libraries.
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Some possible uses for AutoSys system automation
These suggestions were submitted
by users of AutoSys
1- Door bell (Er, in this case would be a "Dog bell barker", or whatever WAV
Mp3 you want)
2- Disc Jockey applications
3- Connect to Alarm system switches for:
*-Beeper notification
*-Intruder alarm (local warning, as in your
PC)
*-You want to know when your sister enters
your room?
*-Hand held "panic Button" transmitter for
whatever you want to run, immediately, including a dialer to notify family..
4 -In a retail store, you can have push buttons on the sales floor. These
push buttons can be connected to relays at the PC. Then you can use the "dry
contacts" of the relay to operate the joy system. On the PC, you can have
WAV files associated with each button on the sales floor. When someone presses
the button, say in "Toys" a message can be sent over the PA system "Sales
help needed in Toys" (NOTE: The systems that already exist for these types
of systems are over the $1,000.00 mark. This can be done rather cheaply using
a 486 for this task)
5- Ever here a buzzer go off when you walk into a store? That's to let the
store personnel know someone has just entered. It's a light beam that's just
broken by you walking through the beam. Instead of the buzzer, how about a
sound file saying "Welcome to our store, someone will be right with you"...
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AutoSys is a Rediware Software
and Services release, and Rediware Software and the author retain all rights
to the AutoSys application and coding. You may redistribute this software
as long as the software is in it's original form. You may not charge, sell,
or make a profit in any way from the redistribution of this software.
AutoSys is being released as shareware. There
is no trial period or feature limits on this version of AutoSys You possess
the full program. If you find AutoSys to be a useful tool, all I ask is that
you pay only $10. If you use the program and do not send payment, I'll never
know. However, I would like to have the knowledge that shareware is not dead.
Thank you in advance for your payment!
Send your $10 to:
Stephan Clarke
832 Providence Road
Primos, PA 19018
© Rediware Software
and Services, version 1 released 2001, version 2 released 2002, version 3
released 2003, version 4 released 2003.
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If you have questions concerning the operation of this software, the instructions are not clear, or you have any comments at all, feel free to contact me any time.
You may contact Rediware Software via e-mail: Steve Clarke
Visit our website for other software available for free or low-fee: Rediware Software and Services
