So far, all the automation applications we've talked about have a certain level of complexity. Cron and Anacron require the use of the command line, and Autokey requires the use of Python scripts. Now we will see an easy automation solution in Ubuntu.
In this article we will talk about Actiona, A cross-platform tool that, among other things, allows us to automate tasks such as pressing mouse buttons, keystrokes, displaying message boxes, editing text files, and much more. The big advantage of Actiona over Autokey is that many of these tasks are already pre-programmed. However, if we want to add more, we can do so in the JavaScript programming language.
JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted, object-oriented programming language widely used for writing interactive web applications. Its features include allowing interactions using forms, creating animations, and responding to stimuli in real time.
Easy automation solution on Ubuntu
Among the things we can do with Actiona are:
Device emulation
Actions that simulate user interaction with the keyboard and mouse.
- Write a text.
- Press a key.
- Move the mouse pointer to a specific point directly or by following a path.
- Press a point on the screen (On touch screens).
- Turn the mouse wheel.
- Wait for a key to be pressed
Interaction with the system
It causes the system to execute certain actions. Among the preprogrammed ones are:
- Execute a command (Individually or as part of a series of instructions)
- Kill a process.
- Make a notification appear.
- Wait for a colored pixel to appear on the screen.
- Restart, shut down, or lock your computer.
- Open a web page.
- Play a sound.
- Find an image on the screen.
- Reading of texts.
Interaction with window systems
Simulates user interaction with applications with a graphical interface
- Display dialog boxes
- Enter some data.
- Wait for a window.
- Move, close, and resize a window.
data management
Working with files, variables, and emails
- Write or read a text file.
- Write or read a binary file.
- Write or read an INII file
- Write or read to the registry.
- Write or read from the clipboard
- Read an environment variable.
- Copy a file.
- Download a file.
- Send an e-mail.
Binary files are a type of file that stores data in a format that is not directly readable by humans because it is encoded in machine language (zeros and ones). Some examples of binary files are executable programs, libraries, firmware, or compiled data. They cannot be considered text files because they are not encoded in character-readable formats (such as ASCII/UTF-8). Furthermore, they can be executed with the appropriate permissions.
In the case of INI files, these are plain text files but with a specific function. They are used to store program settings in a structured format with a simple syntax enclosed in brackets and key = value parameters.
An environment variable is a key-value pair stored in a process's environment. Both the operating system and applications can use them to configure their behavior. These variables provide information about paths, preferences, or settings that running programs can access.
Internal flow management
Handles internal tasks of the program
- Stops the execution of the program.
- Run Javascript code.
- Go to a specific line or label within the Java script.
- Run a loop.
- Do nothing (According to the developers we are going to use this feature more than we think.
- Stop script execution.
- Set or read the value of a variable.
- Wait for a specific date or time.
- Wait for a variable
- Write to the application console.
- Start, stop, or call a procedure.
We can install Actiona from the software center of our Ubuntu variant