FFXI and AutoHotkey

[Maparra]

I know this board is mostly about WoW dualboxing, but I figure maybe someone might know what to do about this here...

Autohotkey works fine with WoW, but I can't seem to get it to work with FFXI. I think part of the problem with FFXI is that with macros you MUST use the alt or ctrl keys combined with a number, and perhaps something to do with the interface cancels it out... but still, it seems like it should be possible provided you send the window the correct keys.

Basically I have 2 windows open: one of the differences from WoW is that each window is titled after a character name instead of being titled "World of Warcraft". This is what I tried(also, "pol" is the name of the executable, i.e. pol.exe):

WinGet, polid, List, charname1
WinGet, polid, List, charname2

Ctrl & 9::

#IfWinActive, charname1

#IfWinActive, charname2
{
ControlSend,,{Ctrl down}{9 down}{9 up}{Ctrl up}, ahk_id %polid1%

ControlSend,,{Ctrl down}{9 down}{9 up}{Ctrl up}, ahk_id %polid2%
}
return

The second character types "9" in their chatbox, but there is no sign that control was every held down by the second window.

Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[splorygon]

I know this board is mostly about WoW dualboxing, but I figure maybe someone might know what to do about this here...

Autohotkey works fine with WoW, but I can't seem to get it to work with FFXI. I think part of the problem with FFXI is that with macros you MUST use the alt or ctrl keys combined with a number, and perhaps something to do with the interface cancels it out... but still, it seems like it should be possible provided you send the window the correct keys.

Basically I have 2 windows open: one of the differences from WoW is that each window is titled after a character name instead of being titled "World of Warcraft". This is what I tried(also, "pol" is the name of the executable, i.e. pol.exe):

Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Well first off curly braces are not necessary and the "return" keyword is for the multi-line hotkey.
The array of windows wouldn't work because the first WinGet polid would be replaced by the second WinGet array.
The "#IfWinActive" directive only needs to be used once for your main character.
So with all that in mind I think this would work better for you:

WinGet, polid1, ID, MainCharaName
WinGet, polid2, ID, CloneCharaName

#IfWinActive, MainCharaName

Ctrl & 9::
ControlSend,,{Ctrl down}{9 down}{9 up}{Ctrl up}, ahk_id %polid1%
ControlSend,,{Ctrl down}{9 down}{9 up}{Ctrl up}, ahk_id %polid2%
return

Tell me if it works or not as I don't play or have FFXI and cannot test it myself.

[Maparra]

Well I just tried doing what you posted and I got the same result as before. I went into the key history and this is what I found:

A2 01D d 9.80 Ctrl Charname1
39 00A h d 0.39 9
A2 01D i u 0.02 Ctrl
A2 01D i d 0.05 Ctrl
39 00A u 0.02 9
A2 01D i u 0.00 Ctrl
A2 01D i d 0.05 Ctrl
A2 01D u 0.28 Ctrl

What seems to be happening from this is the control is pushed for the second instance of the program and then the 9 pushed for the first program finally goes up, which still doesn't make much sense. Then control is pushed an additional time for some odd reason.

Thanks for the response, any additional help would be much appreciated.

[splorygon]

Try this:

WinGet, polid1, ID, MainCharaName
WinGet, polid2, ID, CloneCharaName

#IfWinActive, MainCharaName
~^9::ControlSend, , {Ctrl down}{9 down}{9 up}{Ctrl up}, ahk_id %polid2%

[Maparra]

No luck on that either =/

I've experimented a bit and I've come to believe that neither control nor alt is being sent the clone. I tried telling it to hold control down for up to 10 seconds and nothing is showing up on the second screen, and also tried "control down" being sent 15 times with no result.

[marvein]

dont want to be a killjoy but doing this sort of thing is indeed against the TOS for FFXI, including running a windower. FFXI will crash when it loses focus/full screen normally, a windower prevents that thus altering the function of the game using a 3rd party program and thus a violation of the rules. After all runnning a windower would be required in order to multibox with it on the same pc...

[Maparra]

Yea, I realize that. I'd also say that it is questionable whether much of the stuff in any given EULA is akin to a legally binding contract, and whether it would hold up in a court(I know in several cases it has not). Personally, I think the windower requirement is somewhat ridiculous to expect of a computer user. It doesn't make a lot of sense that I can't even alt tab to check the weather during downtime, but if I have another computer? No problem!

Autohotkey is probably against the EULA of WoW as well, and I wouldn't be surprised if after reading between every line that an argument could be made that nearly every third party program we use while running WoW is against the EULA. They make their EULAs very, very broad and wide-reaching.

That being said, I'm not out to hack or be malicious in any way. I have 2 computers, but I would find it a bit easier to do the same thing on one computer. I'd also go out of my way to make sure I did not interfere with other people's gaming experience on account of my dual-boxing.

[marvein]

Yea, I realize that. I'd also say that it is questionable whether much of the stuff in any given EULA is akin to a legally binding contract, and whether it would hold up in a court(I know in several cases it has not). Personally, I think the windower requirement is somewhat ridiculous to expect of a computer user. It doesn't make a lot of sense that I can't even alt tab to check the weather during downtime, but if I have another computer? No problem!

Autohotkey is probably against the EULA of WoW as well, and I wouldn't be surprised if after reading between every line that an argument could be made that nearly every third party program we use while running WoW is against the EULA. They make their EULAs very, very broad and wide-reaching.

That being said, I'm not out to hack or be malicious in any way. I have 2 computers, but I would find it a bit easier to do the same thing on one computer. I'd also go out of my way to make sure I did not interfere with other people's gaming experience on account of my dual-boxing.

Dont get me wrong, I completely agree that the windower thing is stupid, it should be a default feature but it is still against the TOS and yes it would hold up in court, there have been instances in the past where such a thing (with SE) has happened over account bannings for botting and such. It was about 3 years ago iirc.

And this is also the very reason keyclone or autohotkey I dont think will work because FF requires focus, whether you use the windower or not. I think there is a program that people use for EQ2 to lock EQ windows to the foreground, maybe that will work for you.

As for WoW, yes, there is a blanket statement in he EULA that would allow blizzard to suddenly say that things like autohotkey are against the TOS but as of now there is no such rule

[Mokoi]

what about running FFXI 6 times on 6 diff computers? would that be against TOS? i mean you aren't altering the program at all by third party programs, just the connection between them to control? any ideas?

[Tehtsuo]

what about running FFXI 6 times on 6 diff computers? would that be against TOS? i mean you aren't altering the program at all by third party programs, just the connection between them to control? any ideas?

You might end up with problems still related to the window title changes. Windower used to have a feature that locks the window title so it won't change, but you will be going around the TOS. Heh, been a long time since I heard the old windower debate. SE was so adamant about window mode being against the rules, but they have no way to enforce it. I wouldn't be surprised if the number of people using Windower that play that game is over 80-90%. It's just laughable, and the methods SE put in place to combat third party tools were even more hilarious. Changing the window name... come on people, that's not going to stop a single competent programmer.

God I'm glad I tossed that game in the garbage in a fit of rage when they broke Black Mages.