There are two flavors of AutoMate™ available, each for a distinct audience and level of automation and scalability.
The Choice for IT Professionals.
If you are a "power user” involved in Information Systems or network management, AutoMate™ Professional is the version for you. The professional version of AutoMate™ contains many advantages over the Home version.
BASIC Scripting Language and function
library
AutoMate™ Professional combines scheduling power and application control
with a full-featured Visual Basic for Applications compliant scripting
language. The scripting engine integrates seamlessly into the existing
AutoMate™ framework, appearing as an extra option in the macro builder
called 'Run a Script'. In an automated procedure, you may have an unlimited
number of 'script' steps, making decisions, handling complex File I/O
routines, etc. The added flexibility of the AutoMate™ BASIC Scripting
Language is that an unlimited number of customized 'AutoMate™' oriented
commands can be added to the language to make life (and automation) easier
for you. We have already added several new automate-centric commands,
such as extensions of the BASIC scripting language and regularly release
periodic AutoMate™ BASIC scripting language extension updates that are
free to all registered users of AutoMate™ Professional.
Expressions
AutoMate™ Professional contains the ability to embed expressions directly
into the parameters of task steps. Any valid BASIC expression can be embedded
directly into any step parameter, eliminating the need to write an entire
BASIC subroutine using the “Run a BASIC Script” action for simple one
line data formatting and/or retrieval operations. These operations can
now be accomplished “inline” inside the AutoMate™ task.
IF / ELSE Decision Support
Give AutoMate the power to make decisions! AutoMate™ Professional allows
for the evaluation of variables and expressions in AutoMate™ tasks and
for specific actions to occur as a result of that evaluation through the
IF action. The IF action will make
this easier and completely code-free (not to also mention it making AutoMate™
even more powerful).
Loop Actions
Easy to use loop actions allow you to perform an set of actions repeatedly
by looping over: files in a folder, open windows, records in a database,
running processes, expression, items in a list and of course a number
range.
Database Connectivity
Connect via OLEDB to any SQL compliant datasource query and take action
based on the results using the powerful Loop Dataset and IF actions.
Task Failure Notification
AutoMate™ Professional contains the ability to send e-mail alerts to specific
users when a task or specific task step fails. All relevant information
is sent (including the date, time, line number and reason for failure).
Options for pager message formatting is included as well.
Win32 Service
AutoMate™ Professional contains an option to employ a true Win32 Service
to monitor trigger conditions and run tasks - even when the system is
locked or logged out!
File System Trigger
AutoMate Professional offers an additional trigger which allows the file
system to be monitored for changes and trigger a task when a for example
a file arrives, a file or folder is modified or removed.
Performance Watcher Trigger
AutoMate Professional offers an additional trigger which allows the monitoring
of CPU, memory, disk and other important performance thresholds. Tasks
can be run when specified "acceptable" performance quotas are
not met.
Remote Administration
AutoMate Professional contains the ability to be remotely managed over
any TCP/IP network - including the Internet!
Big discounts on future updates!
More than 40% off future upgrades - Home users receive no upgrade discount
when a new major version is released.
Ideal automation solution for home users.
Contains over 100 available actions to get started building automating desktop tasks today.
AutoMate Home Edition is limited in many IT and developer specific areas.
AutoMate Standard does NOT contain the following features:
BASIC scripting integration, Embedded expressions in the Step Builder, IF support, Error Handling, Failure notification, File System Trigger, Performance Trigger, Function Library, Loop Actions, Database Support, Win32 Service for running tasks when logged out.
Furthermore, it is important to note that AutoMate Home users do not receive an upgrade discount when a new major version is released. AutoMate Professional Users are eligible for more than 40% off when the time comes to upgrade.
AutoMate™ Home does, however, contain many features for simple automation routines on home or non-mission critical systems. (EVALUATION NOTE: The trial version available for download contains features available only in AutoMate™ Professional; however, these features will be not be present upon your entering an AutoMate™ Home serial number into the full version of AutoMate.)
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