2

Every day I export a report from an online database, and I'm trying to learn whether this could be automated.

The process involves moving the mouse 5 times and clicking, and this is why I'm asking about software that could control my mouse in a pre-programmed way, but for the automation to work it would have to understand when the webpages involved have finished loading.

Any suggeestions or advice in this matter is appreciated.

Improve this question
11
  • Welcome to Software Recommendations! Well, what's your mouse connected to? Are solutions for AmigaOS acceptable? ;) Honestly: while the topic seems clear, you need at least to specify what OS this should be running on. It might also be helpful to indicate if that "clicking" is on a web page (if so: what browsers can be used?) or a native application. Those details will help us to give you better tailored answers.
    – Izzy
    Commented May 16, 2014 at 14:13
  • @Izzy Thank you for the welcome :). I apologise for omitting the Windows version from the tags, while posting this from my phone the tag field suggested "windows-xp", but once selected it informed me that I was trying to create a new tag, and in my hurry I omitted to at least enter "Windows". The process would ideally involve clicking within a virtual machine, but I have a hunch this would additionally complicate things. I'm looking for a solution that would at least work with Internet Explorer 7.
    – Dirk101
    Commented May 16, 2014 at 19:35
  • @AnastasiosVentouris I found that question but as far as I could tell the answers are not what I'm looking for, since I'm looking for software that could somehow identify a webpage's loading status. Do you suggest otherwise?
    – Dirk101
    Commented May 16, 2014 at 19:40
  • For something like this, you will need programming language. For example in python, you can use selenium. I am not aware of something else. Sorry
    – Tasos
    Commented May 16, 2014 at 19:45
  • 1
    @Dirk101 – you can encourage helpful commenter to write an answer based on the comment, this is what I also usually do in these cases :) I'll prepare an answer for you.
    – miroxlav
    Commented May 17, 2014 at 12:12

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

In many times, AutoHotKey can automate these actions.

In Autohotkey macro you can for example:

  • send keystrokes using Send` command
  • click the mouse using AutoHotKey Click command
  • get the color of pixel on screen using PixelGetColor
  • get text of desired control using ControlGetText command.
  • and many more.

This way you can determine whether page loading has finished.

If you cannot install anything to the machine, you can still go with portable AutoHotKey package.

EDIT: do not forget to run AutoHotKey as administrator.

Improve this answer
2
  • Making it portable is an ideal solution, I'll look into the compiler.
    – Dirk101
    Commented May 21, 2014 at 6:55
  • @Dirk101 – You have two options: (1) deploy portable AHK and you can still fine-tune your macros inside it (2) compile your macro with AHK on another machine and deploy only resulting EXE file. I'd prefer (2) only if macro sources should be hidden from someone's view, otherwise I'd view (1) as more practical.
    – miroxlav
    Commented May 21, 2014 at 7:00

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.