Detecting GUI state and generating user input programmatically in Windows Xp

I am looking for a lightweight solution that would allow me to detect which form/ dialog is open in an application, then emit some keystrokes / mouse moves and clicks. I do not have control over (nor the source-code for) the application.

I am familiar with MacroMaker, also testing products like SQA / Mercury offer similar functionality. The last time I had hands on exposure in this are is late 2004, I welcome any pointers to bring my knowledge up to da开发者_Python百科te.

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AutoIt is a scripting environment for Windows with a long history. It's quite easy to use and flexible to do things like detect the open window or dialog, change to another one, type something, etc. I would definitely recommend it.

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In case anybody is curious, in the end I decided to use Microsoft UI Automation. Here is nice intro:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc163288.aspx