Script Flow Question

[planch]

Hey,

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this type of question, but here it goes. I was trying to decide whether to write a small program using AU3 or Python with AutoItX, and I was wondering how AutoIt controls the script flow in the following example:

RegisterHotkey('{F1}','Pause')
Function Main()
   Do
      ... stuff ...
      Sleep(1000)
   Until 1
EndFunc 

Func Pause()
   MsgBox(1,'Alert','Paused')
EndFunc

Basically, what I'm wondering is how AutoIt stops the currently executing function 'Main' and moves to a completely different function 'Key' when the hotkey is pressed. I can't think of a good way to duplicate this in Python without using threads and checking for a Lock or Event every other line, and that still doesn't do the suspension. Does AutoIt accomplish this using something similar that's just invisible to the scriptwriter?

I'd appreciate it if any knowledgeable coders could enlighten me, and sorry if the question is a little confusing. I'm not a professional programmer or anything, so my understanding might be flawed.

[martin]

Hey,

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this type of question, but here it goes. I was trying to decide whether to write a small program using AU3 or Python with AutoItX, and I was wondering how AutoIt controls the script flow in the following example:

RegisterHotkey('{F1}','Pause')
Function Main()
   Do
      ... stuff ...
      Sleep(1000)
   Until 1
EndFunc 

Func Pause()
   MsgBox(1,'Alert','Paused')
EndFunc

Basically, what I'm wondering is how AutoIt stops the currently executing function 'Main' and moves to a completely different function 'Key' when the hotkey is pressed. I can't think of a good way to duplicate this in Python without using threads and checking for a Lock or Event every other line, and that still doesn't do the suspension. Does AutoIt accomplish this using something similar that's just invisible to the scriptwriter?

I'd appreciate it if any knowledgeable coders could enlighten me, and sorry if the question is a little confusing. I'm not a professional programmer or anything, so my understanding might be flawed.

I assume that RegisterHotKey should be HotKeySet.

With hotkeys the program flow is diverted to the function set for the hot key after which it returns and continues. If the function called by the hot key is running and another hot key is pressed then that function is run and so on.

[planch]

I assume that RegisterHotKey should be HotKeySet.

With hotkeys the program flow is diverted to the function set for the hot key after which it returns and continues. If the function called by the hot key is running and another hot key is pressed then that function is run and so on.

Yea, RegisterHotKey is the Python function, oops.

I can see it works like that from running the example, but how does it accomplish it? I know it's more of an academic question than a practical one, but I'm just trying to understand the language better.

[martin]

Yea, RegisterHotKey is the Python function, oops.

I can see it works like that from running the example, but how does it accomplish it? I know it's more of an academic question than a practical one, but I'm just trying to understand the language better.

Maybe this example by covaks gives an insight.

[planch]

Maybe this example by covaks gives an insight.

Ok I don't think I'm asking the question clearly. I understand how to use the HotKeySet function, and what it does in the script. What I was curious is how AutoIt makes this happen 'behind the scene' as it were. This is probably more a question for one of AutoIt's developers, as it is about the interpreter itself and not the language specifically. That's why I didn't know if this was the correct forum to post it in. I'm just curious how this functionality is implemented (as I was trying to contrast it with Python, since I can't think of a simple way to do it). Now that I think about it though, it's a lot simpler than I thought if the interpreter just checks for HotKeys between each line and branches out into the associated code.

I don't even know if something like that is possible in Python without using complicated multitasking, which is overkill for the simple ability to bind a key that pauses your script whatever its location. I guess native AutoIt has some advantages over just using it through COM afterall.

Anyway, sorry if I was way off topic for this forum. It is probably appropriate for a Python forum now. Thanks for the responses though!

Edited June 29, 2008 by planch