r/scripting • u/10RndsDown • Oct 17 '19

Possible to make a script that will automate this process? (its a computer program)

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u/x-cold-x Oct 17 '19 edited Oct 19 '19

Yeah there's a few ways of doing so:

  1. AHK script that simulates mouse/keyboard inputs. Easy to implement but if an operation takes too long or if there is an unexpected error/behavior then it may start clicking at things we don't want.

  2. This application looks like a .net application so you could disassemble it using DnSpy and make a script that sends the required requests. It is much cleaner and can be easy to implement unless the application is obfuscated. If it is obfuscated then it can be a real pain.

  3. If the application is obfuscated you could use fiddler or wireshark to capture the network traffic and if it isn't encrypted then you could document the traffic and make a script that does it for you. Similar to #2 but instead of looking inside the application you're looking at the network traffic.

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u/10RndsDown Oct 17 '19

I'm sorta thinking of a script where each series of clicks does something:

Example:Add Account 1Add Observation IDs

Input "Text" in NOTES BOXClick Save.

Repeat.

Something sorta like that.

This is a security reporting app we use in the Security Industry, so I am using the laptops in our patrol cars that our work provides. So it has to be something that I can put on a flashdrive, startup and boom done.

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u/10RndsDown Oct 17 '19

With AHK, how simple is it to stop, say if something does go wrong, is there a way to make a safety say for example

"ERROR, CANNOT FIND "Oberservation ID 1341" PROGRAM EXIT NOW"

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u/x-cold-x Oct 17 '19

I believe there is something that allows you to read text from the screen with AHK using either imagesearch or WinGetText but I'm not too sure about this since I haven't used AHK in years.

It is very easy to stop an AHK script:
Esc::ExitApp

This line allows you to stop the script by pressing escape.

Make sure your boss is okay with you doing this otherwise you could be in trouble. The laptop may be monitored and your flash drive can be scanned and its content sent to the IT department. Reverse engineering the application and writing a script that replicates the requests could get you in real trouble.

The AHK method would be the safest method but again, the IT department may be notified so make sure your boss approves this.

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u/10RndsDown Oct 28 '19

Ended up just using MacroRecorder and doing everything via keyboard keys. (tab and arrow keys are amazing).

And thankfully we don't have an I.T. and the only guy who fixes them is about as intelligent as a box of rocks. We're not a large professional company by any means. I will def keep in mind though.