How can I ...

[Ken Knecht]

I'm using XP Home SP1, if it matters.

I want to write a 'program' to control a newsreader (Xnews)
operation. I want it to select a news server from the Server menu
and monitor the error messages returned, if any. If an error #
XXX or XXX (or any error message?) is returned I want it to
simulate a click of the server window Close button, reselect the
server, etc. Y number of times until it gets no error message
within Z seconds, where Y is about 10 and Z about 15. In either
case it should exit gracefully leaving the newsreader to its
work.

Is there a language or utility that will easily do this? I don't
see anything in the Java book I have. Perl might but it looks
like it would be very complicated to do so. Maybe some sort of
simple automation of this newsreader operation? Sort of like a
macro recorder? It watches me do this, records it, and repeats
the sequence Y number of times when requested, perhaps via a
keyboard command? Or repeats it indefinitely until I use another
keyboard command to cancel it?

Suggestions? Probably no such language or utility. There maybe
should be? I suspect this would be simple to do in Linux.

 

[DatabaseBen]

it's unclear as to why
you wanna reinvent the wheel...

check to see if it has already been
done at sites like fileforum.

then go to msdn for the programming
resources you are in search of....