automate program clicking

April 22, 2008 8:16 AM

I need to automate a program doing the same task every day. How?

We're using Quickbooks Pro 2008 on a network and their new version has a "database finder" which keeps on loosing our databases after a full backup (or so my diagnosis leads me to believe). To resolve the issue, I have to click a little Scan button. Otherwise, our clients cannot properly connect to the database.

Intuit won't help (after all, it's never the vendor's issue), so ask y'all: Is there some way to automate that magic button being clicked?

posted by jmd82 to computers & internet (5 comments total)

I've seen AutoMate used to click buttons at a certain time.

WinRunner can do the same, but I think it's more complex and harder to get into.
posted by ignignokt at 8:19 AM on April 22, 2008

I use the free AutoIt for automation of a variety of timed button-clicky tasks just like this.
posted by pocams at 8:28 AM on April 22, 2008

You're probably best off using an app designed for clicking buttons (as suggested), but you could also probably write a WSH script to activate the app, hit tab 4 (or however many) times, and then the spacebar. See the SendKeys documentation for details.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:34 AM on April 22, 2008

My script-fu is lacking, so AutoMate is nice as it's click & drag for commands.

Point taken, alby. Unfortunately, Intuit tech support has been less than stellar and says our issue can only be caused by lengthy periods of no network connectivity or the server restarting, neither of which happens and refuses to provide any further help. I'm still trying to figure out a cure, but in the meantime, I gotta do something.
posted by jmd82 at 10:04 AM on April 22, 2008

Autohotkey was pretty good, last time I needed it. I think there's even a macro recorder that captures your input and traps it into a script, somewhere on the site.
posted by Smoosh Faced Lion at 11:22 AM on April 22, 2008