Using AutoMATE
acmp AutoMATE allows you to record actions on a Windows client. The recording can later be executed via acmp on managed network clients, allowing, for example, software installations to be performed automatically and unattended.
Note:
acmp AutoMATE can be used without any issues on Windows 10 and later. If you use acmp AutoMATE on Windows 8.1, some features may be limited, and it is therefore not supported.
The use of acmp AutoMATE on operating systems older than Windows 8 is generally not supported.
Click the Copy AutoMATE icon (
) to open a folder containing all the necessary files for acmp AutoMATE. You can copy these files to launch acmp AutoMATE on a Client that does not have any additional software installed.
Note:
We recommend executing aAmp utoMATE on a Core client so that any existing files and folders do not negatively affect the installation.
To use acmp AutoMATE, execute ACMPAutoMATE.exe.
acmp AutoMATE
The ribbon bar displays all functions available in acmp AutoMATE.
| Opens a new script. |
| Opens File Explorer to open a previously saved script. The script must be in *.ams format. |
| Saves the current script. |
| Opens File Explorer to save the script in *.ams format. |
| Opens a dialog box to add an action. |
| Allows you to edit an existing action. |
| Deletes the selected action. |
| Duplicates the selected action. |
 | Starts or pauses a recording. |
| Runs the current script. |
acmp AutoMATE must be executed in the same context as the setup file to ensure error-free recording. This typically involves executing the program with administrative rights.
If acmp AutoMATE is not executing in an administrative context, you can restart it.
Restart acmp AutoMATE with administrative rights
System Menu
The System Menu is divided into three sections.
System menu
The Info item displays both the installed version and the build number. Select Help to access the online help, and the Exit menu item closes ACMP AutoMATE.
Note:
If you want to close ACMP AutoMATE while there is unsaved data, you must confirm the closure again or save the data.
Create a Script
ACMP AutoMATE allows you to record software installations and uninstallations, thereby automating these repetitive tasks across the network.
Recording an Installation Script
To prepare for recording an installation, make sure your system is similar to the target system. This includes having the same operating system and the same software already installed.
Now copy the setup file and the AutoMATE files.
Next, run the setup file for the software you want to install without clicking anything, and then launch acmp AutoMATE.
Note:
The setup must be started without AutoMATE, as it will be launched later in the wizard via the “Shell Execute Command.”
To start recording, click Record in the ribbon bar; this will begin the recording. ACMP AutoMATE will now record every mouse click and keystroke until you pause the recording.
Minimize AutoMATE and execute the setup. Click only on the elements relevant to the installation and avoid unnecessary clicks.
After you have completed the installation, pause the recording in AutoMATE and save the script. If you want to change the automatically created script, click Edit on the ribbon bar. Using this function, you can, for example, correct a value for the Key field if you made a typo when entering information and want to manually customize the key press ( (Virtual-Key Code). Using Add, you can add a new value to the script if you want to specify a continuing step manually.
Note:
Please note that the values in the linked Virtual Key Codes list are specified as hexadecimal numbers. If you want to use these in ACMP AutoMATE, you must first convert them to the decimal system so that they are entered correctly. It is not the symbol (e.g., the keystroke) that you enter that matters, but rather the keyboard identifier. This is intended to counteract problems arising from different keyboard layouts (e.g., the key assignments for the Y and Z keys on German and English keyboards).
Recording an Uninstallation Script
To record an uninstallation script, first determine the uninstall string for the software you want to record the uninstallation for.
Note:
A software’s uninstall string is stored in the registry under Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\%Software%. Save the value for later use, for example, in a text file.
Now enter the uninstall string without clicking anything. Launch acmp AutoMATE and start recording by clicking Record on the ribbon bar. Now perform the uninstallation, clicking only on the elements necessary for uninstallation.
Once the uninstallation is finished, pause the recording and save the script you created.
Edit Script
You can edit the details of a recorded script. To do this, select the action you want to edit in AutoMATE and click Edit on the ribbon bar. This opens the action in the editing window, where you can customize it.
Using Placeholders in Searches
You can use various placeholders to customize the details for the window name, UI element name, and UI element value. If you do not know the exact name or spelling, the placeholders can help you find the correct items. The wildcards “*” and “?” are supported.
| Placeholder | Description |
| * | The * placeholder is used to match a string and access existing values. You can insert this character anywhere within a string. |
| ? | The ? placeholder is used to match a single character. You can then access the existing values. |
Testing a Script
To test a saved script, first launch the setup or open the uninstallation string without clicking anything yet.
Now open acmp AutoMATE, open the saved script, and click Play on the ribbon bar.
Note:
The script may take longer to identify the windows to be used. Please wait until the action is finished. If the button or the action to be executed is not found after 5 minutes, the script will automatically be canceled.
Once the installation or uninstallation has been finished using the saved script, acmp AutoMATE will stop automatically.
Integrating the Script into ACMP
After you have created and successfully tested the installation or uninstall script, you can integrate it into ACMP for distribution.
To do this, first navigate to Client Commands -> Create in the navigation pane and select the directory where you want to integrate the script. Now click Package Wizard for Windows on the ribbon bar.
On the first page, enter a name and an optional description. You can still customize the output directory here if necessary.
In the lower section of the window, select “I have ACMP AutoMATE files” for the installation type and click Next.
Start the package wizard for Windows
In the upper section, add the installation files by clicking “Add File.” In the lower section, specify the saved scripts and finish the wizard.
Select Script
Note:
If you want to include only an uninstall script, open the Client Command you just added in the Client Command Editor. Here, in the Shell Execute Command (located on line 119), you must add the uninstall string as the file name. Save the Client Command, release it, and execute it on test clients.
Import Script into Client Command Editor
As an alternative to using the package wizard for Windows, you can also import a saved script directly into the Client Command Editor.
To do this, navigate to Client Commands -> Create and click Add Client Command on the ribbon bar. The Client Command Editor will now open. Select the option to create a client script, and then click Import on the menu bar.
Importing a Script into the Client Command Editor
All recorded steps of the script will now be displayed. Save the Client Command before using it for distribution.
Lock User Interactions
To prevent users from interfering with the installation progress via mouse clicks or keystrokes while the Client Command is running, add the “Lock manual input” command before importing the AutoMATE script.
Lock User Input
Note:
To ensure that the execution of the recorded installation is not disrupted, you must disable the “Show dialog” checkbox in the command.
After the imported AutoMATE script, insert the “Unlock manual input” command to enable user interactions.
FAQs
| Question / Problem | Answer |
An action or window cannot be found when executed via Client Command, but it works in ACMPAutoMATE. How is this possible? | Uncheck the “UI Element Value” box in the AutoMATE script. This disables that part, and the action will then be found again via Client Command. |
The Comboboxes are not being recognized correctly. Why is that? | If you want to record Comboboxes, you must always click exactly on the arrows. |
My drop-down lists are not being recognized correctly. | If you want to record drop-down lists, you must click on the corresponding text. |
How do I specify a path correctly? | You should always enter paths using “Set Value.” |
I’d like to add a screen lock to my ACMP AutoMATE wizard package so the user can’t click anything in between. What’s the best way to do this? | It’s best to place the commands before the “Shell execute command” command and after the last “UI Interaction” command. You can find these on the Client Script page in the “Switch (%INSTALLMODE%)” within the “Case (install)” section. |
Note:
To prevent AutoMATE’s mouse control from being overridden, do not move the mouse while playing back a recording.
