How do I run a script and use my computer at the same time?

[Yeezus]

Is there a way to run an autoitscript in a minimized window so you can run the script and use your computer at the same time? I've heard of using a VM but my computer isn't good enough to make one worth using.

[mLipok]

Yes it is possible, but your script should not make any interaction with GUI.

For example I made script to interact with MSSQL and IE.
In such case user may manually work with they CRM program.

 

[Yeezus]

Is there a way for me to run a script in a window and use my computer freely? I've heard of virtual machines but my PC isn't good enough to do that

[AutoBert]

Why asking twice:

 

Edited January 31, 2016 by AutoBert

[JLogan3o13]

Threads merged. @Yeezus please do not double post in the future. Forum etiquette would be to wait 24 hours to allow people time to answer your question.

 

[czardas]

Some scripts interfere with normal operations. A good example can be found in the help file under the function name _MouseTrap(). Run that example and try moving the mouse around the screen while the code is running. The hijacked mouse is released once you close the window. :phew:

[TheSaint]

At the end of the day, it all depends on what your script is doing.

If it is not utilizing the mouse or relying on active windows or interacting in some way with what you are wanting to manually do etc, then it is usually no different to any other program you run on your PC, while doing something else ... memory issues aside of course.

[Yeezus]

czardas, when I minimize it, it still moves my mouse as if the window were still open

Edited February 1, 2016 by Yeezus

[czardas]

2 hours ago, Yeezus said:

czardas, when I minimize it, it still moves my mouse as if the window were still open

When I minimize the GUI, it releases the mouse for normal operation, so this ought to answer your question. Good to see your mouse still works anyway! 

Edited February 1, 2016 by czardas

[Yeezus]

It still moves my mouse as if the window were still open even when I minimize the GUI 

[guinness]

I am listening to POWER right now =) Anyway, post the code you used.

[Yeezus]

expandcollapse popup

HotKeySet("{F1}", "start")
HotKeySet("{ESC}", "terminate")

#include <Misc.au3>
#include <ButtonConstants.au3>
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#Region ### START Koda GUI section ### Form=
$Form1 = GUICreate("Form1", 198, 62, -1130, 312)
$Button1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Start", 16, 16, 75, 25)
$Button2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Cancel", 104, 16, 75, 25)
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)
#EndRegion ### END Koda GUI section ###

While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            Exit

      Case $Button2
         Exit

      Case $Button1
         Start()
    EndSwitch
WEnd

Func terminate()
   Exit
EndFunc


Func start()
While 1
   $aCoords = WinGetPos("Notepad")
If Not @error Then
_MouseTrap($aCoords[0], $aCoords[1], $aCoords[0] + $aCoords[2], $aCoords[1] + $aCoords[3])
EndIf
MouseClick("right", $aCoords[2], $aCoords[3])
sleep(2500)
WEnd
EndFunc

I've been using this just as a test for now.

[AutoBert]

You can move the mouse in other application because script is crashing:

--> Press Ctrl+Alt+Break to Restart or Ctrl+Break to Stop
"C:\Users\Bert\AutoIt3.My\Test\jhgfddfgh.au3" (42) : ==> Subscript used on non-accessible variable.:
MouseClick("right", $aCoords[2], $aCoords[3])
MouseClick("right", $aCoords^ ERROR

Btw.: This script is in a never ending loop after clicking start the user can't interact with GUI.

If you wan't see the effect of _MouseTrap use origin example in the help.

[czardas]

It's good to see someone testing things out for themselves, instead of only asking for answers. Keep up the good work.

It was the example in the help file that I wanted you to run. I'm sure you get the idea. Thanks for putting a smile on my face. 

[AutoBert]

12 hours ago, TheSaint said:

At the end of the day, it all depends on what your script is doing.

So tell which application you wanna automate. 

[Yeezus]

Basically all it does is click on random spots on the active window.

expandcollapse popup

HotKeySet("{F4}", "EndClicker")

AutoItSetOption("MouseCoordMode",0)
AutoItSetOption("PixelCoordMode", 0)
AutoItSetOption("CaretCoordMode", 0)


#include <ButtonConstants.au3>
#include <EditConstants.au3>
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <StaticConstants.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#Region ### START Koda GUI section ### Form=
$Form1 = GUICreate("Random Autoclicker", 491, 163, 188, 146)
$Checkbox1 = GUICtrlCreateCheckbox("Left Click", 200, 56, 65, 17)
$Checkbox2 = GUICtrlCreateCheckbox("Right Click", 200, 80, 73, 17)
$Label1 = GUICtrlCreateLabel("Left", 16, 16, 22, 17)
$Label2 = GUICtrlCreateLabel("Right", 16, 40, 29, 17)
$Label3 = GUICtrlCreateLabel("Bottom", 16, 64, 37, 17)
$Label4 = GUICtrlCreateLabel("Top", 16, 88, 23, 17)
$Input1 = GUICtrlCreateInput("5", 72, 16, 57, 17)
$Input2 = GUICtrlCreateInput("516", 72, 40, 57, 17)
$Input3 = GUICtrlCreateInput("36", 72, 64, 57, 17)
$Input4 = GUICtrlCreateInput("369", 72, 88, 57, 17)
$Button1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Start", 304, 120, 75, 25)
$Button2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Cancel", 400, 120, 75, 25)
$Label5 = GUICtrlCreateLabel("Speed", 152, 16, 35, 17)
$Checkbox3 = GUICtrlCreateCheckbox("Low", 200, 16, 49, 17)
$Checkbox4 = GUICtrlCreateCheckbox("Medium", 256, 16, 57, 17)
$Checkbox5 = GUICtrlCreateCheckbox("High", 328, 16, 41, 17)
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)
#EndRegion ### END Koda GUI section ###

While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            Exit
         Case $Button1
            Global $left = GUICtrlRead($Input1)
            Global $right = GUICtrlRead($Input2)
            Global $top = GUICtrlRead($Input3)
            Global $bottom = GUICtrlRead($Input4)
            Global $w = GUICtrlRead($checkbox1)
            If $w = $GUI_CHECKED Then $x = "left"
            Global $r = GUICtrlRead($checkbox2)
            If $r = $GUI_CHECKED Then $x = "right"

            $check1 = GUICtrlRead($checkbox3)
            If $check1 = $GUI_CHECKED Then $interval = random(300000, 600000, 1)
            $check2 = GUICtrlRead($checkbox4)
            If $check2 = $GUI_CHECKED Then $interval = random(10000, 60000, 1)
            $check3 = GUICtrlRead($checkbox5)
            If $check3 = $GUI_CHECKED Then $interval = random(1000, 5000, 1)
            start()

         Case $Button2
            Exit

    EndSwitch
 WEnd


Func start()
   While(1)
      sleep($interval)
      MouseClick($x, random($left, $right, 1), random($top, $bottom, 1), 1, random(8, 10, 1))
   WEnd
EndFunc

   Func EndClicker()
      Exit
   EndFunc

 

[TheSaint]

Well, it is pretty safe to say, that because you are automatedly using your mouse to click with on a specific active window, that using your computer at the same time to do something else, is not really possible or a good idea.

The only exception, would be another program(s) that runs in the background and doesn't interact with your mouse or an active window, and was launched before your script was executed. And even in that scenario, if it shows an error dialog or any dialog really, then you are likely to have problems ... things getting clicked etc that shouldn't.

Look at it this way. You don't usually use you mouse simultaneously with two programs. In fact, you never do at the same instance in time. At best, processing is shared per millisecond ... but that is very advanced and clearly beyond your level of knowledge and thus understanding.

So the short answer to your topic, is you can't. The long answer depends on many factors ... like your script pausing and allowing you to manually etc do something. That last means, that either it provides opportunities or it looks out for certain external behavior or processes (i.e., the mouse just moved of its own volition).

[AutoBert]

Can you explain the sence of random MouseClick's?

And no with your solution it is not possible to use the computer, the mouseclicks are alway's send to the active window. You can test this by using script while working at the computer. There are solutions possible, but: No further support of mine before question is answered and i understood the need of your random MouseClick's?

Edited February 2, 2016 by AutoBert

[EmilyLove]

Try using ControlClick() and ControlSend() instead of MouseClick() and Send(). 

One time I had a script that took a hour or 2 to complete it work. Way too much data to process. I changed MouseClick to ControlClick and I can easily play a game on monitor 1 while the script does work on monitor 2.