Automation and postprocessing tools for producing technical documentation
Market overview of recommendable automation and post-processing tools, especially in connection with the creation of technical documentation and user assistance.
For information on the indicated price levels ● ● ● ● ● ●, see Price levels.
Macro recording and playback
AutoHotkey
Lets you automate almost any task within almost any Windows application. Can for example be used to auto replace text, to insert special characters with a click of a button, or to call a sequence of commands from menus and dialogs. From the AutoHotkey website you can also download SciTE4AutoHotkey, a free editor for AutoHotkey scripts that provides syntax highlighting and context-sensitive help. PuloversMacroCreator is a desktop application that lets you record simple actions on your computer and then transforms these actions into an AutoHotkey script.
Price level: ● free (open source)
https://github.com/Pulover/PuloversMacroCreator
AutoIt
Alternative to AutoHotkey. Scripts are compatible to some extent.
Price level: ● free (freeware)
https://www.autoitscript.com/site/
Key Manager
Can remap combinations of keys and mouse buttons. Also can run its own macros.
Price level: ● low
SikuliX
Implements automation based on screen captures.
Price level: ● free (open source)
UI.Vision
Visual automation tool, screen scraping tool, and testing tool.
Price level: ● free (open source)
RoboTask
Price level: ● low
Jitbit Auto Text
Price level: ● low
https://www.jitbit.com/autotext/
Jitbit Macro Recorder
Price level: ● low
https://www.jitbit.com/macro-recorder/
PTFB Pro
Price level: ● low
Macro Scheduler
Price level: ● low
Macro Expert
Price level: ● low
Macro Express
Price level: ● low
Macro Recorder
Price level: ● low
PhraseExpress
Price level: ● low
TextExpander
Comes with various functions to search for suitable snippets and to use them consistently in teams.
Price level: ● low
Automation Workshop
Price level: ● diverse
https://www.automationworkshop.org
VisualCron
Price level: ● medium
Automate
Price level: ● not published
https://www.fortra.com/product-lines/automate
Find and replace
AKS Text Replacer
Can search and replace text in files of various formats. Supports regular expressions. Includes a convenient batch file making utility. Works with text files and Microsoft Word files.
Price level: ● low
TextPipe
Available in different versions for simple search and replace operations up to sophisticated data mining.
Price level: ● low
PowerGREP
One of the most powerful search and replace tools for text files available. Can be run both via a graphical user interface and from the command line.
Price level: ● low
AJC Grep
Search, replace, and data extraction tool.
Price level: ● low
https://www.ajcsoft.com/grep-search.htm
Batch Text File Editor, Batch Docs, Batch Word Replace, Batch File Replace
Provide many functions for batch replacing text and formatting in text and Word files.
Price level: ● low
grepWin
Regular expression search and replace utility for Windows. Can also be run from the command line, thus allowing full automation.
Price level: ● free (open source)
https://tools.stefankueng.com/grepWin.html
Aba Search and Replace
Comes with various features, such as Unicode support, multi-line search and replace, regular expression support (including look around, non-greedy matching) preview before replacement, undo for any replacement, and more.
Price level: ● low
TextCrawler
Can search and replace across files and can extract, insert and delete text. Supports regular expressions and batch mode. Unicode compatible.
Price level: ● low
https://www.digitalvolcano.co.uk/textcrawler.html
FART
Command line utility for finding and replacing text.
Price level: ● free (open source)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/fart-it/
Swiss File Knife
Among other features also provides a search and replace tool for the command line.
Price level: ● free (open source)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/swissfileknife/
Rainbow
Provides multi-file find and replace, various conversion options, plus a number of other useful features.
Price level: ● free (open source)
MegaReplacer for Microsoft Word
Finds and replaces multiple text strings (characters, words, phrases), text formatting, or styles within one or multiple documents.
Price level: ● low
https://www.editorium.com/14843.htm
Perl
Programming language that has a particular strength in handling texts.
Price level: ● free (open source)
Process automation, conversion, and formatting
Take Command
interactive GUI for the Windows command line that makes using Windows command prompts easier.
Price level: ● low
PatternStream
Automates publishing workflows. Information can be acquired directly from any standard relational databases, or from XML, HTML, and other files. The gathered information can then be automatically imported and placed where needed in the final document (FrameMaker, InDesign, HTML, XML, Excel).
Price level: ● not published
Typefi
Single-source publishing platform that integrates print, online, and mobile production into one automated workflow.
Price level: ● not published
c-rex.net
Extracts and converts content between various formats for editing, translation, and publishing.
Price level: ● not published
Miramo
Automatically formats information extracted from databases and other data sources, such as XML data. Uses Adobe FrameMaker.
Price level: ● high
Pandoc
Universal document converter. Among others, converts between markdown, reStructuredText, textile, HTML, DocBook, LaTeX, MediaWiki markup, and OPML.
Price level: ● free (open source)
CoreFTP
FTP client that can also be controlled from the command line and thus be used for automated publication processes.
Price level: ● low
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This page was last updated 06/2023
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