"Takes the grunt work out of playing your game"

New Release

• Made fixes to the license code, now shouldn't get "Temp key expired" messages
• "Use special Pause Keys" under advanced options now works for scripts too
  • Pause a script with "/" or enter, unpause with enter

Discuss

New Download 

The Xylobot Email COM Object is now available for download.  This is a COM object that lets you send emails in Xylobot script.  It uses MAPI to do the work, so you need a MAPI-compatible email client (e.g., MS Outlook, etc).

Discuss

New Release

• Added script function ForEachItem to simulate a "For Each" construct
• GotoPathPoint script function:
  • Window is now minimized
  • Error message no longer pops up if already at that point

Discuss

New Release

• Added some division by zero checks
• Added more checks that window is within the screen
• Night Vision window now centered for screens > 640x480
• Tweaks to Windows macro code

Discuss

New Compatible Games

New Release

• Added minimize button to Xylobot windows - can now minimize & restore windows
• Added GetGlobal and SetGlobal script functions
• Added popup-menu for Edit window (Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Select All, Goto)
• Added code to remember position for Debug window
• Fixed menu clipping and owner-activation
• Added support for Windows GDI games (e.g., Civ3) (BETA)

Discuss

Documentation Update

New Release

• Added script functions:
  • Count - returns # of items in list
  • GetListItem(Index: integer): string - returns string for that list item
  • SortListItems(Column: integer) - sort by a list column
• Added mutiple columns capability to script windows
  • Get/Set Columns - # of columns
  • Get/Set Column Width
  • Get/Set Column Caption
  • Get/Set Column String
  • Get/Set Item Data - store an integer with each item in the list
• Added menu item capability to script windows
  • OnMenuPopup(x, y: integer; var ShowPopup: boolean) - init MenuItems here
  • OnMenuItemClick(MenuIndex: integer) - called after a menu item is clicked
  • MenuItems: TStrings - add the menu item captions to this TStringList
• Updated Create_Window.xys demo script, now has a popup menu that shows how to sort list items, and add new columns
• See the "Objects" list in the script editor window for function details

Discuss

New Release

• Added script function "VarType" and script "Demo_VarType.xys"
• Add Registry Unit to script functions
  • For function parameters press "Objects" button in Script Editor
• Fixed /ooc bug on Add Points for Path Finder

Discuss

New Release

• Fixed FastKey bug on inactive windows
• Path Finder window now inactivates itself when you press "Go"
  • This should fix the "/occ" bug for the Path Finder
• Script Manager now inactivates itself when you run a script
• Added "Use Port 7080" under Advanced Options for users behind a firewall
  • You must open up port 7080 on your firewall for this to work
  • You must restart Xylobot after changing this option

Discuss

New Release

• Fixed Copy function for Internals unit

New Release

• Fixed some COM issues with scripting
  • Return values now work for COM objects.
  • KNOWN BUG - you can only use VARIANTS or ComVariants to get return values from COM objects
  • For example, if your com object was function AddNums(d1, d2: double): double in DWS script you'd have d3 (: Variant) := MyComObj.AddNums(d1, d2);
• Updated the Demo_CreateOleObject script
• ]X now closes all windows again
• Trial version does not allow you to enter serial number (didn't make sense)

Discuss

New Release

• Fixed macro recording bug for windows-input games, keystrokes now properly recorded
• Fixed bug saving option to draw Xylobot logo

• Added script unit "IniFiles" which has a class to help reading/writing of ini files
  • Use "Objects" button in script edtior to browse the IniFiles unit
• Added script unit "COM Connector" (BETA). Can use this to create COM objects, and call methods on those objects
  • Included demo script that launches MS Word - only use in simulator!
• Fixed thread issues for ShowDebugWindow
• Fixed showing compiler errors for script windows
• Fixed script function "LastDelimter" return value to integer
• Fixed shift-selection bug in Xylobot editor
• Moved MsgDialog and InputQuery functions to Sensor Unit

Discuss

New Release

• Added SaveScreenBitmap function and Demo_SaveScreenBitmap.xys script
• Added script window functions: InsertListItem, ChangeListItem, DeleteListItem, ClearListItems
• Added function ShowDebugWindow(Show: boolean) to hide or show the debug window
• Added script function GetApplicationDirectory
• Added DrawCaption property to script windows
  • Note - user can't close the window (normally) if you hide the caption bar
• Added "Use Fast Keys" option to Advanced Options. Turn off to disable fast keys (press first letter to activate button) on Xylobot windows.
• Timers now display hours if >= 60 minutes
• ESC key now inactivates the current active Xylobot button window
• Fixed Visible property for script windows
• Fixed SendKeys bug for <, >, and ?
• Fixed SendKeys upper-case bug for windows-input games
• Xylobot no longer attaches to processes that were running when Xylobot started

Discuss

New Release - Build 37 is ready for download.  This fixes the simulator for the trial version.

Need Feedback on Documentation

I'm planning on spending some time to update the documentation.  Any feedback would be appreciated, especially pointing out areas that are not easy to understand.  

Discuss documentation updates 

New Release

• Added "Simulator" button to Options page
  • Command line parameter "/Sim" runs the simulator on startup
  • Command line parameter "/NoMenu" does not show the Xylobot menu in the simulator, and shuts down the program when the simulator is closed
  • Simulator now automatically synchronizes the screen mouse with the Xylobot mouse (when no macros or scripts are running)
• Added "Stop" button to Script Manager window (]R)
• In Xylobot list windows, can use keys to press button (by first letter)
  • Can use arrow keys to move up & down the list
• Added .h and .x as script extensions to show up in Script Manager
• Added "Stealth" tab to Advanced Options to change Caption
• Added stop hotkey for windows macros & scripts: SHIFT-ALT-P
  • Only works with windows-input games, not DirectX
• Fixed insert button on Object Browser (for functions & procedures)

Discuss

New Release

• Added Methods & properties to script class TXyWindow
  • ListenPort - port to listen for UDP messages
  • ListenMode - set to true to listen on the ListenPort
  • SendData(Host: string, Port: integer, Data: string)
  • OnDataReceive(FromIP: string, FromPort: integer, Data: string)
  • Updated Demo_CreateWindow.xys with new UDP functions
  • Demo - "Send" button sends message to self and first child (clone) window
• Added Script functions AddScreenWatch and DeleteScreenWatch (Sensor Unit)
  • Makes GetPixelColor MUCH faster (if pixel x,y is in the watch rectangle)
  • This caches a rectangle from the screen each screen flip to speed up GetPixelColor
  • Remove watches when you don't need them to speed screen flipping back up
  • Screen watches are automatically cleared when all scripts are done
  • Updated Demo_GetPixelColor.xys script with new functions
• Added Script function EnableUserMouse(Enable: boolean) (Macro Unit)
  • Useful if you don't want to interrupt an important script
  • When script ends, user-mouse is automatically enabled
  • You can still stop scripts with "]]"
  • Mouse is automatically enabled if the Main Window (]E) is opened
  • Not necessary for windows-input games, user input is already blocked on macro playback
• Added Script function ClearDebugWindow
• Increased Map Window's MinWidth

Discuss

New Release

• Added script functions:
  • CreateWindowEx - creates a script window
  • RegisterWindow - Registers a window class
  • PostMessage - post a message to a script window
  • IsWindow - Checks if a WindowID is a valid window, false if window has closed
  • StartScriptEx - launches another script, can pass 3 parameters
• Updated functions & properties for TXyWindow script class
  • To view script Window functions & properties, go to Script Edit Window,
    press "Objects", "Xylobot_Window", "TXyWindow"
  • Here are *some* of the window functions:
  • procedure OnAfterCreate; 
  • procedure OnBeforeDestroy; 
  • procedure OnClose(var Allow: boolean); 
  • procedure OnBeforeDraw; 
  • procedure OnButtonClick(ButtonIdx: integer); 
  • procedure OnListDoubleClick; 
  • procedure OnMessage(Param1: Variant; Param2: Variant; Param3: Variant); 
  • procedure OnDialogClose(Canceled: boolean; ButtonIdx: integer; UserData: integer); 
  • procedure OnEditTextClose(Canceled: boolean; Text: string; UserData: integer); 
  • procedure OnTriggerText(TriggerText: string); 
  • procedure OnKeyPress(Key: string; Down: boolean; var EatKey: boolean);
• Added demo script "Demo_CreateWindow.xys" and "Demo_Window_helper.xys"
• IMPORTANT NOTES for Window Scripts:
  • Script must contain a "RegisterWindow" function that returns a TXyWindow (descendent class)
  • Due to threading issues, Macro and Sensor functions are NOT available to script windows, must call out to other scripts to use those functions.
  • Window event functions (e.g., "OnXXXX") must return *quickly*, these are called in the main game thread.
  • To view Window functions & properties, press "Objects", "Xylobot_Window", "TXyWindow"
  • You can not use variables at the script scope, must be member variables of the window class

Discuss

New Release

• Fixed Macro Manager (]A) and macro edit windows for windows-input games
• Fixed script functions for windows-input games

Discuss

New Release

• Added script functions: GetPixelColor, GetScreenWidth, GetScreenHeight
• Added Demo script Demo_GetPixelColor
• Added GetLogFile and SetLogFile script functions
• Bug fix for WaitForSmartText timeout
• Select log file now has a default extension of .txt, press "All" to see all files
• "Do Not Attach" list: adding "+eqgame.exe" means only allow eqgame.exe (or another "+" file)
• Advanced Options - Use Special Pause Keys (Enter, R, T, / can pause, ENTER unpauses)

Discuss

New Release

• Fixed Trigger bug - triggers now work again
• Fixed WaitForSmartText3 bug (Param3 was set to Param2 by mistake)
• Fixed WaitForSmartText timeout bug, now times out if given a timeout value

New Affiliates Page

I just added the new Affiliates Page to the navigation bar.  The Affiliates program lets you setup a link on your website that links to the Xylobot purchase page.  For every sale that is made from your link, you receive $5.

You don't even need a website to use an affiliate link - the Affiliate Links page generates an email link so that you can email it to your friends.

Support Xylobot and make some money by joining the affiliates program!

Discuss

New Screenshots

New Release

• Added script procedure LoadPathFile(PathFile: string)
• Added script function GoToPathPoint(DestX, DestY: float): integer
• Current path point is now displayed on map
• Added Xylobot scripts directory to the script include ($I) path
• Added "MemAllocated" to script helper window (to help find memory leaks)
• Fixed bug that allowed closing of Path Finder while it was running
• Preferred way to stop the PathFinder is to try to close the Path Finder, and press "Stop" when prompted
  • The PathFinder will stop after it reaches its next point
  • Only use ]] to stop scripts as a last resort 

Discuss

New Release

• Major Bug: Fixed "Alreading Running" bug for Path Finder - no longer crashes after canceling a Run
• Fixed WaitForMouse bug
• Show history file (once) if running a new version of Xylobot

Discuss

New Release

• Added script function WaitForSmartText3
• Added Demo script "EasySmartTrigger"
• Improved accuracy of Path finder (but slightly slower on first turn)
• Fixed ETA bug on Path Window
• There is now a 1 second delay on scripts & macros if user uses mouse or keyboard (so user can cancel with ]], etc)
• Added more trace output for drawing exceptions

Discuss

New Release

• Triggers now fire for games using Windows input 
• Fixed "]" + F1-F10 bug (.xys extension is now added)
• Small bug fixes

• Path Editor (Beta) ]D
  • Create custom paths, then have Xylobot guide your character along the path!
  • There must be no obstacles between path points, and turns are only made at a path point
• Added script functions SetLogMarker and GetNewLogText
• Added Script Helper window to Main window ]E
• Script Helper shows mouse position and key values, useful for script writers
• "]" + F1-F10 plays script file "script_##.xys" in your script directory (if it exists)
• CanOverride now works with scripts
• Fixed DAoC GUI bug - make sure Hook Windows Input on advanced options is
  checked for DAoC

Discuss

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Go work on that Alcohol Tolerance skill!

New Release

• Improved multi-line editor for notepad & script editor windows
  • Can use Up/Down arrows, PageDown, PageUp keys
  • New editor has clipboard support
  • CTRL-DEL = Cut, CTRL-INS = Copy, SHIFT-INS = Paste
  • Keys repeat when held down
  • CTRL-arrow keys move one word at a time
  • Can use mouse to move cursor and select text
• Added Custom Wave property to macros - can now play their own WAVE files when triggered
• Added Alarm Dialog property to macros - if set will popup a dialog that plays the CustomWave file every 30 seconds
• Improved single-line editor
• Improved script stopping logic
• Fixed map drawing when not transparent
• Better reporting of syntax errors in Script Edit window

Discuss

New Release

• Macro Edit Window now has a "Convert To Script" command in the list
  • This will automatically convert a recorded macro into script.
  • Creates KeyDown, KeyUp, MouseMove, MouseDown events as needed.
  • The script file can then be edited in the script editor.
• Macro stop command (]]) now stops running scripts also
• Added "Go To" URL button for Web Browser
• Fixed [L Bug (setting looped mode) - now works
• Removed TriggerText trace output
• Widened the web text edit dialog
• Changed text edit dialog and notepad to use Courier New font
• Double-clicking an item in Notepad now edits the line
• Text edit dialog now remembers its position
• Install now detects & warns if Xylobot is running
• Added license agreement

Discuss

New Release

• Added 32-bit display support - BUT its much slower than 16-bit mode
  • if you use 32-bit display mode, it is HIGHLY advisable that you turn map transparency OFF for performance reasons
• Added Mouse Speed option on Advanced Options, Input page. Can set 1x, 2x, etc.
• Performance improvement - only checks log file every 250 ms now, speeds up framerate
• Fixed some bugs in the Edit window (backspace would insert "<BACKSPACE>")
• Enlarged default width of Edit Window
• Windows are made to fit if a smaller resolution is selected
• Sped up SendKeys function, it now outputs keystrokes as fast as the game can handle them
• Fixed setting Looped mode on DirectX macros (Windows macros still can't be looped)

Xylobot v1.0.0.19 is now ready for download.  Here's what has changed:

• Fixed GDI leak in DrawMouse procedure. This bug would cause a crash (or loss of the Xylobot GUI) after using Xylobot for a few minutes.

Xylobot v1.0.0.18 is now ready for download.  Here's what has changed:

• Added script functions: WaitForLogText, WaitForSmartText
• Added more demo scripts
• Fixed DrawMouse bug - ]J now works again
• Fixed mouse cursors in DX8 mode
• International keyboard support
  • Go to Options tab, Advanced Options, Key setup to pick different play & record keys

Discuss

New Release

• Major Bug Fix:  Fixed lockups under Windows98/ME
• Fixed Mouse draw bug
• Bug fix on Macro Playback (bug was replaying first macro item)
• Macros should be more reliable now
• Added script functions: MouseMove, MouseUp, MouseDown, WaitForMouse
• Updated demo scripts

Discuss

New Release

• Fixed bug with Advanced Options window, the process list is now initialized even if you don't open the window. Should fix problems of Xylobot crashing on startup.

I plan on changing the license server so that it will allow a few more of the recent versions, that way you can roll back to an earlier version in case there is another killer bug.  Once again, I apologize for the inconvenience!

Discuss

New Release

• High-resolution graphics support (e.g., 800x600, 1024x768, etc)
• Xylobot's web browser now supports text entry
  • both one-line & multi-line, can also click Search buttons, etc.
• Added "Advanced" button under Options page
  • Advanced dialog has a "Do Not Attach" program list
  • Use this feature if Xylobot is attaching to some of your background programs and crashing them (e.g., cdplayer.exe)
• Fixed bug in capture window (was leaving a black square in the bitmap)

New Release

• Bug Fix - No longer have to move mouse over Xylobot to get the license server notification
• Added Red/Green circle to Xylobot's main screen to know that its running
• Added "Auto Launch Program" to Option page, can select it to run game executable as soon as Xylobot is ready
• Fixes to license server (e.g., "License Key too long" bug)

Discuss

Macro Library Created

There is now a link to the Xylobot Macro Library from the Documentation page.  There is also a link there to submit new macros.

There currently aren't any macros for Dark Age of Camelot.  If you come up with some good ones, please submit them there!

New Release

• Dark Age of Camelot is now compatible with Xylobot!
• DAoC Notes:
  • Macros can NOT be stopped with ]], so keep your macros short!
  • You can't use the keyboard or mouse while a macro is playing
  • Looped macros are disabled for obvious reasons
• Added in-game notepad (]O)
• Now remembers all Xylobot window positions
• Fixed Timer Window overlays (now transparent) & save timer bug
• Fixed Loc window to show time & FPS again
• Auto trimming of trace.txt file if > 1 MB
• "Trace Function Calls" option gives improved trace output (but slower)
• Leave this unchecked unless you are testing a new game for compatibility
• Added Help (readme file) and new logo to Xylobot executable
• Fixed some license server issues (internal error #500)
• No longer crashes TestEverQuest.exe on startup

Discuss

Website has a new look

I just cleaned up the website, and added a navigation bar (the one seen on the left) to each of the pages.  It should be easier to look around now.  I also added a common look-and-feel to all of the pages.  I hope you like the changes!

Thanks to JeffM for the new logo, he won himself a free copy of Xylobot.  Thanks Jeff!

Discuss the new look for the website

New Release

• Map window size & position is memorized
• Main Window (]E) has an option to toggle Map Transparency. Turning it off 
  should improve performance.
• Fixed bug - Log file not being set correctly. Should fix any problems with triggers
• Fixed bug - trace for missing log file set to just once

Also note that Xylobot is now released with a full setup program, so its not necessary to use WinZip anymore.  Thanks to the folks at InnoSetup for creating such a great install program.

New Release

• Fixed Transparency for Map Window
• Fixed Location, Zoom, & Nightscope windows
• Updated License Server code

Note that the license server has been activated, so you must put in your Serial Number and License key.  Note that before you put in the OrderID - that no longer works, it must be the serial number.  If you lost your license key information, please go to the support page.

New Customer Support Page

This is in preparation for turning on the license server.  So make sure you have the right serial number & license key entered into Xylobot.  Use the support page if you have lost your license key information.

New Release!

• Fixed most GUI windows, including the map window!
• Now allows looping triggers
• Removed obsolete call to CheckEQDevicefile

Known Bugs for v1.0.0.9 (will be fixed soon hopefully):

• Map window is not transparent
• These windows still do not work: Location, Zoom, NightScope, and Capture
• Mouse cursors don't work, only drawn as a small square
• The current fix for drawing on DirectX8 is slow, so frame rate will drop
• Currently only works with 16-bit display mode (?), tested on nVidia 16-bit
• If your display is 32-bit, change it to 16-bit if you want the Xylobot GUI to work.

New Release (minor)

• Fixed bugged loading under Win98/ME
• Added "]X" command to close all windows
• Note - Drawing still DOES NOT WORK under DirectX 8, so games like EQ can only use the keyboard macros, and no maps.

New Release

• Added support for DirectInput8.  Should now work with the latest version of EverQuest.

XylobotSim added to Downloads Page

• Install XylobotSim on a 2nd computer
• On the first computer (the one you play the game with), share the directory that has the game log file
• Run XylobotSim on the 2nd computer, hit the "Main" button, choose "Select Log File", and point to the log file being shared on the 1st computer
• Hit the "Map" button on XylobotSim
• While playing your game, ensure that the log file is being updated with current zone & location information.  For example, in EverQuest type /who and /loc commands. 

I hope to make Xylobot DirectX compatible within 2-3 weeks.

Message Board back up!

Now that WebBoard is ready, I can continue working on Xylobot scripting features. 

New Release

• Put the WebBrowser DLL back into the zip file
• Fixed several bugs in the web browser, it is now much more stable
  • Be sure to check the box "Disable Script Debugging" under Internet Options (Advanced, Browser options)

Please give me feedback on the browser.  If  you find a website that crashes the browser, please send me the link.

New Release

• Added option to turn off Logo in Main window
• Xylobot mouse cursor is now a small square when not over a Xylobot window
  • Must turn on Draw Xylobot Mouse option to see it
• Added Script Manager (]R - also from Main Window ]E)
• Added Script Editor (line-based editor, from Script Mgr)
• Added Object Browser (from button in Script Editor)

The script support is very minimal in this release.  About the only special function you can call is "Debug" to send some output to a Xylobot window.  But you can write full Delphi script - procedures, objects, loops, if statements, etc.

This version is mainly put out to let people get a feel for how scripts will work.  The next releases I'll work on adding more special functions that you can call from the script.

See the Xylobot message boards (currently on Yahoo Groups) for more info.

Website back up, new message boards

Good News & Bad News

Good News - I just put up v1.0.0.4 of Xylobot on the downloads page.  This version lets you turn off the Xylobot mouse cursor.  You can do this with a keyboard command "]J", or through an option on the main window "]E".

Bad News:

1. I tried making some changes to the message board software, and its pretty flaky right now.  You may not be able to post for a while.
2. My webserver relies on Northpoint's DSL service, and they just declared bankrupcy.  I'm hoping my ISP will be able to work around it, but they haven't gotten back to me yet.  The site may go down at some point in the future, possibly for a few weeks.  Bookmark the link below, its another website of mine.  I'll put some news up on there if this site goes down:
   http://www.radix.net/~bziegler/Delphi/

New Release!  v1.0.0.3

I added an option to select the log file from within the game.  You access this from the Main window - press ]A.  Simply double click the last item in the list ("Select Log File").  You then have a directory browser window to select which log file you want to use.  With this new feature you will not have to exit your game if your log file changes (e.g., if you switched characters and your log file changed). 

New Release!  v1.0.0.2 is up

I just put v1.0.0.2 up on the downloads page.  This version fixes the bug where the log file wasn't triggering.  Macros should now trigger from the log file, and the /loc command will update your position on the map.  Please post any feedback or questions about this release on the message board.

Message Boards back up

Message boards are now back up.  I converted WebBoard from CGI to ISAPI, so it should be quicker.  Please email me if you notice the boards (or website) go down.  Thanks.

Message Boards down

Sorry about the message boards being down.  I wrote the message board software myself, and its not very efficient.  If it gets too many hits it really slows down the entire server, sometimes crashing it.  So I had to take the boards down.  I'm working on fixing it, hope to have them back up in a few days.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

If you find any compatible games, please email me directly.  Thanks.

Progress made in finding Compatible Games

Thanks to the Xylobot beta testers we have found a few games that are already compatible with Xylobot.  It would still be very helpful to find more games that are compatible, so please keep testing!  I updated the compatibility page with the new info.

Xylobot Alpha Version Released

This version is released to help find games that are compatible with Xylobot.  Your help is greatly appreciated in finding any games that may work with Xylobot.

View the readme in the Xylobot zip file for instructions on how to use Xylobot.  Basically, it will generate a log file that shows if the game uses API calls that are compatible with Xylobot.

You can download the ALPHA version of Xylobot from the downloads page. 

Move Xylobot Progress

Work on Xylobot is continuing, sorry for the lack of updates recently.  I am currently working on the display routines.  This is tricky since games use different strategies for updating the display.  Not all games call the "Flip" function, some simply Blit the image directly to the front surface, so this requires some extra logic.  Looks like I also have to work on the input routine, because many games use DirectDraw for output, but use standard Windows input.  This complicates things.

I'll try to do better at keeping everyone informed of my progress.

Xylobot Progress

Before I can release Xylobot, it must be compatible with some other games other than EverQuest. This is more technically challenging than I originally thought. Its tough giving an estimate on this, but I hope to have a release ready within a couple of weeks or so.

Xylobot in the News

EQ Macros (the game-specific predecessor of Xylobot) was covered by a two page news article in PC Gamer.  Also, Check out this article that Gamers.com put up about Xylobot.

Xylobot is born!

The Xylobot website was launched today.  The site is still under construction, so expect lots of changes in the near future.  Once the beta is ready, expect to see screenshots for the features, etc.

If you are wondering what the heck is Xylobot, click here to learn more.

Xylobot is currently in private beta.  Please check back shortly for when the public beta version is ready for download.