New Java Binding of AutoIt

[AndrewDavison]

Jau (http://fivedots.coe.psu.ac.th/~ad/jau/index.html) is a new Java binding of AutoIt. It adds extra functionality by using JNA to interface to the Windows API, and simplifies the AutoIt interface by focussing on the problem of communication with Windows applications. Also, the naming scheme for windows is limited to titles and handles, and controls can only be identified by IDs. However, the original AutoIt interface is still available.

Comments are appreciated.

- Andrew Davison

[Exit]

The font in the linked page is too small for me to read

[AndrewDavison]

Sorry, I am unable to read your comment because the text is too small 

Perhaps you could try this link:

http://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Font-Size-in-a-Browser

[jvanegmond]

I've read the documentation and most of the code but did not actually try it out. The documentation is extremely comprehensive and this will certainly aid adoption.

 

There were already existing wrappers for AutoItX in Java which you even mention in the documentation. I couldn't make out what the added value of this wrapper is in favor of the other ones (apart from the documentation which, again, is great).

You have added functions such as "run(String appName, String title, int timeOut)" which add functionality. It doesn't seem to fit in a lightweight AutoItX wrapper so I think there is something more here. Could you elaborate on why you have added these functions? Maybe a lightweight wrapper on AutoItX does not make as much sense as a thick wrapper which wraps window handling functions on a Window class, etc. What is your view on this?

I'd add Javadoc comments. They're extremely helpful when you're consuming a library and help generating documentation as well.

[AndrewDavison]

Manadar,

Thanks for the comments

Jau consists of two main classes -- Jau and AutoItX3. AutoItX3 is the lightweight wrapper around AutoIt, and is similar to the JWinAuto AutoIt wrapper from 2007, brought uptodate. The Jau class is where I've added the extra functionality, which includes the run() methods you mention, and additonal functions using JNA to interface to the Windows API. One change is to simplify the ways that a programmer refers to a window and controls: titles or handles for windows, IDs for controls. Jau also hides the use of char arrays as parameters, replacing them with String, and utilizes the JNA window handler type. In a sense, Jau is a simplification (or narrowing) of AutoIt since it's intended only for starting and communicating with applications, not as a general solution for automating user interaction with the OS.

The separation of Jau into two classes means that programmers can choose to bypass the Jau extras if they like, and code with the AutoItX3 wrapper.

 

I debated whether to write Javadocs, but instead went for my own style/presentation. I liked the freedom, but maybe you're right.

- Andrew

[Jeroma]

This is very good I like it