Home Posts tagged "desktop automation" (Page 2)

Tag: desktop automation

AutoHotkey vs Python: Which Is the Best Choice for your Automation?

AutoHotkey vs PythonAutoHotkey is a free, open-source scripting language for Microsoft Windows that allows users to automate tasks on their local computer, such as controlling programs and simulating keystrokes and mouse clicks. In contrast, server-based automation refers to the use of programming languages like Python to automate tasks on a server, such as managing databases or performing calculations.

AutoHotkey vs Python

One key difference between using AutoHotkey for desktop automation and using a language like Python for server-based automation is the environment in which the automation takes place. With AutoHotkey, the automation is performed on the user’s local computer, which means that it is limited to tasks that can be performed on that computer. In contrast, server-based automation with Python can be performed on a remote server, which means that it can be used for more complex tasks and can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection.

 

Another key difference is the scope of the automation. With AutoHotkey, the automation is limited to the user’s local computer, which means that it can only control programs and simulate user input on that computer. In contrast, server-based automation with Python can be used to automate a wide range of tasks on a server, such as managing databases, processing data, and performing calculations.

Overall, the choice between using AutoHotkey for desktop automation and using a language like Python for server-based automation depends on the specific needs of the user and the tasks that they want to automate. AutoHotkey is a useful tool for automating tasks on a local computer, while server-based automation with Python offers more flexibility and power for automating tasks on a server.

Start learning AutoHotkey today and you’ll be able to automate much of what you do on your computer.

Microsoft announces Power Automate Desktop is now Free for Windows 10 users

Power Automate DesktopPower Automate Desktop

March 2, 2021 Microsoft announced that Power Automate Desktop will be FREE for windows 10 users! You can read more Power Automate here, or check out their blog and learn more. You can download Power Automate Desktop here. Or work through their documentation

Below Isaias Baez and I discuss this announcement and the use of the Power Automate Desktop

If you’d like to start learning about AutoHotkey, you can go here and get discount coupons to all of our AutoHotkey courses

AutoHotkey Webinar- Spreading AHK Luv & Making Money with AutoHotkey

In our first hour of today’s webinar we talked through the below points on how to improve adoption rate of AutoHotkey for users as well as making money with AutoHotkey.

The second hour dove a bit deeper into both topics and discussed other subjects related to these.

Script Highlight:

FindText – Capture Screen Image & Find it

Don’t let the name “FindText” fool you (it isn’t about ‘text’)
FindText

 Things to keep in mind:

  • Make sure you keep the same: Screen resolution, magnification, font, zoom
  • Test Grayscale vs Color
  • You can adjust the size of the capture area (but smaller is generally better)
  • Tutorial 1 demonstrating the function and an Example using it
  • Function to help take action on what you find

PowerPoint deck / Resources:

Which best describes your Organization’s current RPA (Robotics Process Automation) adoption level?
Here is the full Slide deck, podcast, and book entitled: Service Automation: Robots and the Future of Work 2016 by Leslie P. Willcocks (Author), Mary Lacity (Author)

Misconceptions of RPA / Desktop Automation

Desktop Automation

  • …is only used to reduce workload & lay-off employees
  • …is mainly driven by cost savings
  • …completely replaces the need for a person

Why Don’t More People Automate / Use AutoHotkey?

  • People do notlike change. (correlation with age?)
  • People don’t realize what canbe automated (“think small” – “magic redo” button?)
  • Managers / Decision makers think it is “too expensive”
  • No “GUI” to use for creating scripts.  Non-techies get “overwhelmed” with coding.
  • Everyone is “too busy” to learn how to save time. Even though they’re interested in saving time they don’t find time to learn how to automate. (Story of a wood cutter is a great analogy; remember to take time to ‘sharpen the saw’)
  • Some people are too proud to let-on that they really don’t understand what you’re doing. They might try it on their own but get frustrated and give up after 15 minutes.  (Perhaps reviewing 1-1 is better than in groups?)
  • Managers oftendo not encourage their employees to automate. (I’ve had several bosses that told me NOTto automate.)
  • Most people think short-termand not long-term. This can present itself in the following dimensions
  • The job is “too small” to be automated (almost never true)
  • The job is a “1-time” need (rarely, if ever, the case; the “job” might be but the “approach” is bound to come up again)
  • I’m the only one that would use this (rarely the case)
  • It will take too long to write code to automate (I think this is one of the best things about AutoHotkey.  FAST!)
  • It must be “fully automated” (No need to automate the entire process)
  • Not considering “side-effects” of automation (tracking log to examine events, employee / customer satisfaction etc.)

Best Approach to Get Adopters

1.Don’t overwhelm them with all that AutoHotkey can do!

  • Only get them to learn 1 thing!
  • Give them time to learn/adopt that and then come back with additional tips

2.Curtail what you demonstrate to the prospect’s level

  • Luddites- Stick to HotKeys and HotStrings
  • Somewhat Nerdy- Demonstrate some scripts, Input box, Sending keystrokes / Clicks, File manipulation
  • Nerds- Whatever their need! (Dll calls, Image search, API calls, Web Scraping, Objects, RegEx, GUIs, etc.)

3.Get a senior-level advocate (Director or above)

  • Senior people see the cost-savings
  • Your supervisor will think your coding is counting against “their time”
  • Colleagues might be worried you’re “automating” them out of a job
  • IT also might try and road-block you. Get the business to “demand” it

4.Create custom script for their needs

  • Don’t build in all bells-whistles

Making Money with AutoHotkey

General Models

  • Selling generic programs / scripts to large audience
  • Selling custom scripts to individuals / company
  • Getting paid to code (they own the intellectual property) & you get paid by hour

Getting Paid

Licensing

Shareware / Freeware / Donations

“Rich” Target markets

  • Lots of people doing same job function
  • “Thankless” / mundane jobs with clear logic/ “rules-based” descisions and structured data
  • Lots of, repetitive, transactions
  • Non-programming “business” people
  • People with Money!!!
  • Sales people!
  • Realestate

Incentives / Benefits to Highlight to Potential Clients

  • Employee / man-hour savings resulting in high ROI (Return on Investment)
  • Better quality results than from humans / Higher compliance
  • Faster deployment getting things done (clients / customers are happier)
  • Increased scalability
  • Happier, more productive, employees
  • Have more “Meta-Data” to do analysis on
  • The more you do, the easier it gets
  • The more you automate, the more time you have to automate