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Best macro program to click a toolbar button, and...

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tranglos:
What would be the best macro program to do the following?

1) Click a button on a program's toolbar when I press a key. The program I'm working in does not have a menu command equivalent to that button, and I need to click it fairly often, which disturbs my typing. The button is usually located at the same absolute position when the program window is maximized, but it's not guaranteed, and clicking a different button might have some adverse consequences.

2) Click (toggle) a checkbox in a dialog box. A separate issue: I often need to toggle a certain option, which is only available after clicking main menu -> Tools -> Options, then selecting a tab.

Would I have any luck with Autohotkey? Or should I try Macro Toolsworks instead, or something similar? I'd rather avoid running a program as "heavy" as Macro Toolsworks in the background all the time, but if I used it for these two tasks, I guess I would find more uses for it to justify the purchase. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

rjbull:
I can't give you a definitive "best,", but as a left-field suggestion, you might look at PTFB Pro.  While you can find the last free version around the Net, recent payware versions are much more advanced and have macro features.  The program's main purpose is to "Push the Freakin' Button" so I would hope it would work for you, though it is only fair to add that PTFB Pro's Help file has plenty of caveats.  PTFB turns up on Bits du Jour from time to time, but you just missed one.  I haven't checked its resource usage, but keep it running all the time without apparent problems.

Other suggestion, which is freeware - PowerPro - can do almost anything, and relatively light on resources, but hard to get to grips with.

autogeeek:
you can automate almost anything with Automation Anywhere. Since it requires no programming, it is very simple to use and it has commands which will enable you to record most Windows controls.
You could try a free version at http://www.automationanywhere.com and create a task for your requirement. :)

r0bertdenir0:
Autohotkey should do wat you want.
It has a macro recorder so you can just record yr actions & save that as the script.
When it sends a mouse click that click is relative to the active window not the desktop (unless you change that), so as long as the button is fixed relative to it's window you're fine.
You you shud be able to make the click relative to the toolbar control which is fine unless you customize yr toolbars all the time...
If not you can always make the script more intricate by using the SendMessage function directly on the Toolbar control.
Clicking a checkbox is easy.

rjbull:
Automation Anywhere. Since it requires no programming
-autogeeek (June 11, 2009, 11:43 PM)
--- End quote ---

autogeek, the OP is tranglos, who is a respected programmer  :)

At $495, Automation Anywhere will be only a dream for most people.

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