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Foreword xiii Preface xv Acknowledgments xvii 1 Introduction 1
1.1 A Brief Story of Laboratory Automation 1
1.2 Approaches for Instrument Integration 2
1.3 Scripting versus Standardization in Laboratory Automation 3
1.4 Topics Covered in this Book 5
1.5 Learning by Doing: FACACO and FAKAS 7
1.6 Summary 10 Suggested Reading 10 2 The Very Basics of AutoIt 13
2.1 What Is AutoIt? 13
2.2 Alternatives to AutoIt 14
2.3 Getting AutoIt 15
2.4 Writing Your First Script (Mouse Click Automation) 15
2.5 Knowing More about SciTE 16
2.6 AutoIt on Linux 18
2.7 Summary 18 Suggested Reading 19 3 Timed Scripts 21
3.1 Controlling the Timing of Actions 21
3.2 Moving and ActivatingWindows 22
3.3 Sending Keyboard Inputs 23
3.4 "For" Loops and Variables 23
3.5 Organizing Your Code: Functions and Libraries 29
3.6 ReplacingMouse Clicks with Keyboard Shortcuts 32
3.7 Summary 34 4 Interactive Scripting 35
4.1 Window Monitoring 35
4.2 Pixel Monitoring 37
4.3 "While...WEnd" Loops for Pixel Monitoring 39
4.4 Synchronizing FACACO and KAKAS Using Pixel Monitoring 40
4.5 Enhanced Pixel Monitoring Using PixelCheckSum 43
4.6 Blocking Access to Keyboard and Mouse 46
4.7 Summary 46 5 Scripting with Controls 49
5.1 Using AWI to Get Control Information 49
5.2 Functions That Provide Control Information 51
5.3 Sending Commands to Controls 52
5.4 Synchronizing FACACO and FAKAS Using Controls 52
5.5 Dealing with Errors: If...Then 55
5.6 Infinite Loops and Controls 57
5.7 Summary 59 6 E-mail and Phone Alarms 61
6.1 E-mail Alarms 61
6.2 SMS and Phone Call Alarms 65
6.3 Summary 69 7 Using Low-Cost Equipment for Laboratory Automation 71
7.1 G-Code Devices 71
7.2 Robotic Arms 76
7.3 Do-It-Yourself Devices 77
7.4 Summary 77 Suggested Reading 78 8 Arrays and Strings 79
8.1 Organized Data: Arrays 79
8.2 Raw Data: Strings 80
8.3 Summary 82 9 Data Processing with Spreadsheets 83
9.1 Exporting Results to Spreadsheet Software 83
9.2 Dealing with Saved Results (Files) 87
9.3 Processing Spreadsheet Files 91
9.4 Summary 94 10 Working with Databases 95
10.1 Starting SQlite in AutoIt 95
10.2 Creating SQlite Databases 96
10.3 Modifying an Existing SQlite Database 99
10.4 Databases with More Than One Table 101
10.5 Retrieving Data from Databases 102
10.6 Summary 104 11 Simple Remote Synchronization 107
11.1 Time Macros 107
11.2 Synchronizing FACACO and FAKAS Using Time Macros 108
11.3 Summary 109 12 Remote Synchronization Using Remote Control Software 111
12.1 TeamViewer 111
12.2 Synchronizing FACACO and FAKAS Using TeamViewer 112
12.3 Summary 115 13 Text-Based Remote Synchronization 117
13.1 Choosing Instant Messaging Software 117
13.2 Writing and Reading from Trillian Using AutoIt 119
13.3 Synchronizing FACACO and FAKAS Using Trillian 121
13.4 Summary 123 14 Remote Synchronization Using IRC 125
14.1 AutoIt and IRC 125
14.2 Monitoring the Connection 126
14.3 Synchronizing FACACO and FAKAS 130
14.4 Final Considerations 132
14.5 Summary 133 15 Remote Synchronization UsingWindows LAN Tools 135
15.1 Connecting to a LAN 135
15.2 Creating a Shared Folder 137
15.3 Synchronizing FACACO and FAKAS 139
15.4 Summary 140 16 Remote Synchronization Using Third-Party LAN Software 143
16.1 Connecting to a LAN Using Bingo''s Chat 143
16.2 Automated Communication Using Bingo''s Chat 144
16.3 Synchronizing FACACO and FAKAS 147
16.4 Summary 148 17 Interacting with Devices via COMPorts 149
17.1 Serial Communication Protocols 149
17.2 AutoIt and COM Ports 150
17.3 Monitoring in Real Time 153
17.4 Implications for Other Devices 157
17.5 Other Technologies for Instrument Control 157
17.6 Summary 157 Suggested Reading 158 18 Introduction to Graphical User Interface (GUI) 159
18.1 Making a Very Simple GUI 159
18.2 Adding Simple Elements to a GUI 161
18.3 Setting Keyboard Shortcuts 163
18.4 Summary 165 19 Using GUI to Control Instruments 167
19.1 GUIs to Control the EHMA Valve Actuator 167
19.2 Controlling Two or More COM Ports in the Same Script 169
19.3 A GUI to Control a Digital Balance 171
19.4 Summary 174 20 Multitasking GUIs 177
20.1 The "GUIOnEventMode" Option 177
20.2 Multitasking Using GUIOnEventMode 179
20.3 Summary 182 21 Adding Graphical Elements to a GUI 183
21.1 Getting Started with GDIplus 183
21.2 Creating Animations Using GDIplus 185
21.3 Summary 189 22 Creating GUIs Using Koda 191
22.1 Getting Started with Koda 191
22.2 Creating a Script 194
22.3 Summary 196 23 Some Suggestions 197
23.1 For Manufacturers: All Instruments with a GUI 197
23.2 For Manufacturers: All GUIs with Access to Controls 197
23.3 For Manufacturers: Stop Developing Standards for Laboratory Automation 197
23.4 For Users: Hardware Trumps Software 198
23.5 For Users: If You Can, Choose Controls 198
23.6 For Users: AutoIt May Not be the Best Programming Option in Some Cases 198
23.7 For Users: Be Aware of Technological Advances 199
23.8 For Users and Manufacturers: AutoIt Scripts May Serve as Basis for New Products 199 Suggested Reading 199 A Other SciTE Features 201 A.1 CodeWizard 201 A.2 Organizing Your Scripts with Tidy 202 A.3 Tools that Facilitate Navigation 203 B Optical Character Recognition 207 B.1 OCR in AutoIt 207 B.2 Copying from the Screen and Applying OCR 209 C Scripting with Nonstandard Controls (UIA) 211 C.1 Downloading the UIA Software Package 211 C.2 Sending Instructions 212 C.2.1 Mouse Clicks 213 C.2.2 Keyboard Inputs 216 C.3 Getting Information about Controls 217 C.3.1 Getting Information from FAKAS Controls 218 C.3.2 Getting Information from Controls of Other Programs 220 C.4 Automating a LabView Program 221 C.5 Summary 222 Index 223