Automation Software offers automation wizards and commands of its own in addition to providing task recording and re-play capabilities. Using these programs you can record an IT or business task. Then if need be use the editor to edit the task, add new actions to the task, use variables or prompt user for values or even write an automation script from scratch using GUI automation command wizards.

Below are few things to keep in mind when you are evaluating Automation Software.

1. Does automation software offer task recorder capabilities?
   If it provides task recorder capabilities it would be easier for you to record a script and edit it instead of writing a automation script from scratch.

2. Easy to learn
   Automation software by definition have some automation commands and how to create a automated task manual. Is it easy to learn, does it offer wizard based task creation or do you have to learn a new programming language? Check if your automation software offers powerful but easy to use wizard based macro automation commands.

3. How easy is it to edit a macro or automation script?
   Does it provide easy edit features? Many automation software show thousands of steps for a simple script. Can you figure out what and where to edit if you need to? Is the script easy to read? Having task editing capabilities that is so hard to use that you rather re-record it, is no good, is it? Do a simple test with the automation software you are evaluating, record a simple script, login to a web based email account, see if you can open the task editor and change the password or make few simple modifications. Pick any simple script that you prefer.

4. Automation commands / Macro Commands
   Some automation software provide 20 or so macro automation commands. Others provide hundreds. What do you need the automation software for? Unless you plan to automate very complex tasks or your job is to automate things, you may just need the one with 20 commands. On other hand, for complex tasks 20 commands may not be enough.

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