AutoIt is one such free utility that can be used for the purpose of automating oft-repeated activities performed on the computer. It not only provides a simple way to create scripts that automate otherwise manual tasks, but also allows users to hone their programing skills as it has detailed built-in scripting language functionality.

Let's start with opening a calculator and enter a sample calculation in it. Go to AutoIt menu through 'Start' menu and select 'Script Editor'. This is where all the automation commands are to be entered. Enter Run ("calc.exe") here and save the file. To execute this command, either select 'Run Script' from AutoIt menu and select the saved file or press F5 in editor window and see the calculator getting opened. Now update the script by adding WinWaitActive ("Calculator") and Send ("2*4=") in second line and third lines respectively, and run the script — this time by using menu item “Go” under 'Tools'. This time, the calculator opens and once it becomes active, a simple multiplication command is passed resulting in the answer getting displayed in calculator.

Try opening notepad by replacing calc.exe with notepad.exe and see the text 2*4= (or any other of your choice) typed in it. Note that this time we will have to activate Untitled - Notepad window instead of Calculator as this is what the title bar of a new notepad file opened by default.

As you must have seen by now that whatever key stroke is sent to the opened application, it appears almost instantaneously. To slow this down so that it becomes easier to follow for script viewers, simply add AutoItSetOption ("SendKeyDelay", 500) as this adds half a second of delay between every keystroke sent. This way, you can actually see numbers in Calculator or Notepad appearing with a gap rather than answer figure appearing in a split second.

AutoIt comes with a lot of extra applications that can make script writing easy and add even more options and functions. Go to AutoIt from 'Start' menu and select 'Browse Extras' from 'Extras' menu. The first item here is a recording tool called Au3Record under the folder of same name. Open it and hit the 'Click To Record' icon and perform any task on PC. Click the red flashing icon appearing in top left to stop when done and see the performed tasks converted automatically into a script that can be saved and replayed.

This can be a good tool to create scripts quickly and decreases the scripting learning curve as well. Next extra is an auto-update script to download the latest version of AutoIt. Other extras include links to third party script editors, a converter to create script file back from an executable file, a lightweight database program called SQLite with complete reference, etc. This makes AutoIt a complete package that can be used to record, play and learn about computers in a new and interesting way. This becomes evident while browsing the 'Examples' folder available in AutoIt's start menu as it introduces basic tasks dealing with user input, displaying message boxes, using of loops and user interface applications such as an analog clock and dice, etc.

Programs like AutoIt can be used even without a need to automate any task. For example, think of sharing some great computer tip with your friends — say making an animation in Flash or PowerPoint — as the whole sequence can be captured and later replayed on any PC. Or, think of tutorials and how-to guides that can be made this way.

Or simply, if you are fed up with same old programing that's usually taught in schools as first language i.e. variants of BASIC then AutoIt can be a great substitute as it has macros and functions that allow mouse, keyboard, variables, graphics, sound interactions, etc. This makes for an interesting combination particularly because there is a compile option to create an executable file for Windows or DOS with a custom icon. So go grab the latest version (updated in December 2009) and start exploring AutoIt!

For download http//www.AutoItscript.com/