Multiboxing Resources

[Codemonkeyx]

This topic comes up often and I find myself always linking people to the same threads so I wanted to consolidate some links into one place and provide a bit of an overview for anyone interested in getting started.

 

The usual disclaimers:

• Net-7 allows ATTENDED multiboxing; this thread is not about botting, AFK, or unattended play of any kind which are against the Terms of Service and the GMs WILL take action against people who violate this, also, seriously, just don't be a jerk
• This thread is for tools and resources for people interested in getting started with multiboxing or improving your existing setup, not debating the ethic or moral implications, what effects it has on the game, whether it should be allowed or not, etc. so please stay on topic!
• There is no single best or right way to do any of these things and everyone is going to have different needs and capabilities so I'm not trying to guide anyone down any particular path, only gather lots of options in one place with links back to the original threads.
• There is no "easy button" here. All of these options require some amount of configuration at a minimum and the ability to code/script in order to really customize and make these things your own.

 

There are a couple large existing threads on the topic which is where most of this info comes from:

https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/8349-running-multiple-clients-simultaneously-multiboxing/

• original source of Net7MultiClientUnlocker (which is now mostly used for launching and positioning windows via a GUI)
• tip on renaming the autoplay movies on startup for faster login (Data/client/mixfiles/EB_Sizzle.bik, recommend same for Data/client/mixfiles/eb_ws_logo.bik)
• original source of my login.ahk described in more detail below (and based on the ones in the following thread)
• technical details on the mutex in the original client which prevented multiple clients from being launched and net7proxy's workaround for it which renders unlockers unnecessary

https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/12050-ahk-and-multiboxing/#comment-97865

• original source of wolfie's loader+play scripts detailed below
• original source of Doctor's login script
• The login.ahk script I provide below is based on these

 

I'll summarize some of the available resources from these threads roughly chronologically and by author.

 

 

@Huron

Huron created the Net7MultiClientUnlocker tool which is still useful for launching and positioning client windows.

It is written in C# and the source is available here:

https://github.com/Rmkrs/Net7Unlocker

 

This was originally posted in the thread:

https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/8349-running-multiple-clients-simultaneously-multiboxing/

 

Pros:

• GUI, no scripting needed
• Very configurable

Cons:

• Doesn't automate login
• No other multiboxing functionality, just client launching and positioning so you probably want this plus one of the below options
• Third party binary, though source is available so you can inspect and compile yourself if desired

 

 

@wolfie

wolfie created a fairly elaborate set of AutoHotKey (AHK) scripts which was where I started out with multiboxing, they are available in the thread:

https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/12050-ahk-and-multiboxing/#comment-97865

 

@Wyzzard also created a take on these with more instructions:

https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/12259-ahk-multiboxing-setup-thanks-wolfie/#comment-99302

 

Pros:

• Modular scripts for Loader (client launching and positioning) vs. Play
• Lots of great examples of how AutoHotKey can be used for multiboxing (tons of features, see original thread for list, but highlights below)
  • Client launch/position (multi-monitor, dynamic resolution, adapts to number of alts)
  • All mouse clicks for alts return the mouse to the main window
  • Handles group leader target acquisition
  • Handles loot and close for alts on each pull to release the carcass
  • Mass accept/reject wormhole
  • Mass Action/Alt Action on selected target (ie dock is Action, Register is Alt Action)
  • Group Formation and alts join
  • Has full panel sell
  • Quick Buy of 12 of the current item

Cons:

• Doesn't automate login
• Loader window positioning complex and difficult to configure, better suited for multi-monitor, includes external dll call which seems unnecessary
• Includes unlocker which is no longer necessary

Depends:

• AutoHotKey v1

 

 

@Doctor

Doctor has shared several different AHK scripts which are fairly advanced, both here on the forums and on the wiki.

 

FN<=>NV Trade Runs, Trade Automation, Client Launch/Positioning and more:

https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/12050-ahk-and-multiboxing/&do=findComment&comment=106155

 

Pros:

• Fully automated client launch and login
• Demonstrates some advanced AHK usage with PixelGetColor and ImageSearch
• Lots of useful functionality:
  • Trade Run / Navigation automation
  • Buying/selling trade items
  • Inviting alts to a group
  • Moving items into the trade window (2 methods)
  • Vault Collapse (another version posted on wiki below)

Cons:

• It only works at 1280x700 resolution and trade run picky about graphics settings (see thread)
• Lots of unrelated stuff all combined together so takes some time to separate if you are only interested in one part
• Includes unlocker which is no longer necessary

Depends:

• AutoHotKey v1

 

Some other cool scripts he has posted:

Vault Collapse:

https://www.net-7.org/wiki/index.php?title=List_of_Ores#Autohotkey_vault_collapse_script

 

Mining-focused Mass Automated Trading (for unloading mules), demonstrates advanced OCR using GDI+ standard lib:

https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/13497-mining-ahk-goodies/#comment-106484

 

 

@Codemonkeyx

I've posted a couple relatively small, focused, and self-contained scripts to help people with specific requests here on the forums.

 

login.ahk

• Based on wolfie's Loader and Doctor's launch/login scripts above
• Handles starting clients and automatically logging into accounts
• Handles Net-7 updates
• Dynamically handles any resolution, grid layouts, stacked windows, and rudimentary multi-monitor
• Fully configurable without scripting
• https://github.com/ciphersimian/enb-ahk/blob/master/login.ahk
• original thread: https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/8349-running-multiple-clients-simultaneously-multiboxing/&do=findComment&comment=106167
• tips on multi-monitor: https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/13483-simple-multiboxing-with-ahk/&do=findComment&comment=106450

 

multifire.ahk

• Implements basic multifire (all clients take leaders target and fire from one hotkey)
• Dynamically handles any resolution
• Save and restores the cursor position after moving around to different windows
• Optional automatic target nearest
• https://github.com/ciphersimian/enb-ahk/blob/master/multifire.ahk
• original thread: https://forum.enb-emulator.com/index.php?/topic/13483-simple-multiboxing-with-ahk/&do=findComment&comment=106413

 

Pros:

• Each script does one thing
• Serve as good examples / starting points for larger scripts

Cons:

• Not intended to be used together (e.g. different incompatible approaches to window naming)
• Some minor configuration required

Depends:

• AutoHotKey v2

 

Honorable Mentions

Others I'm aware of but for which there are no forum threads to link to (that I'm aware of) and whose work I don't want to publish without their permission:

 

• @Teflon / @TeflonPrime uses and swears by a paid application called JitBit Macro Recorder which may be a better option for folks who don't know how to or don't want to write code/scripts. If you see this thread perhaps you could post some example JitBit macros, Tef?
• @mozuzaeram / Aligrant also wrote some fairly advanced AHK scripts using some different techniques like skinned button overlays and even a color picker(!) for coordinating your fleet livery which none of the above scripts demonstrate; she might be willing to post some examples here?

Edited June 21 by Codemonkeyx

[Lixxi]

Thanks Code, very handy stuff

[Razmeth]

To everyone who has seen/tried the above, are there any you'd recommend more than others?  I'm looking to get back in, but want to get multiboxing sorted out before I do

[Sioux]

I have indeed found JitBit to be workable for someone with no script knowledge/ability.  If youre script savvy - I'm sure the other options are more powerful.  

 

Now if I can just get comfortable my laptop gfx can support an ultrawide...!! 

 

(edit - Welcome Back!) 

Edited November 7 by Sioux

[Razmeth]

After several hours fighting with the @Codemonkeyx login.ahk scripts, I'm giving up.  Half the time it doesn't close the EULA acceptance window, it often has 'Cannot divide by 0' errors when I try to use something other than my primary monitor, and it's just not working as desired.  At some point I may just write my own simpler AHK file, but for now I think I'm just not destined to multibox again.

 

If anyone has a current solution that they actually have working, please let me know as I'd love to test it out!

[Sioux]

8 hours ago, Razmeth said:

After several hours fighting with the @Codemonkeyx login.ahk scripts, I'm giving up.  Half the time it doesn't close the EULA acceptance window, it often has 'Cannot divide by 0' errors when I try to use something other than my primary monitor, and it's just not working as desired.  At some point I may just write my own simpler AHK file, but for now I think I'm just not destined to multibox again.

 

If anyone has a current solution that they actually have working, please let me know as I'd love to test it out!

 

Raz - I have zero scripting ability and I find JitBit great.  All I've used it for, thus far, is to load my 6 character configuration for farming.  It handles everything including account names and passwords.  It is indeed a paid service, but I'm pretty confident the free Mini Mouse would do the exact same thing.  

 

(edit - noticed I already replied to you once, apologies) 

Edited November 20 by Sioux

[Razmeth]

Sioux, thank you!  I did see that (and thank you for the welcome back!), and I will give it a try, I was just very frustrated last night.  I'll give JitBit a shot, but was just trying to avoid a paid service of any kind if possible.  I'll also try writing my own scripts like I've done to multibox games like Perpetuum which has a similar sort of setup.

[Razmeth]

For anyone who is interested, I got an AHK script up an running, it starts up all 6x clients, the first in 1920x1080, the rest in 640*480, tiles the 5x smaller ones on a single screen, logs in all clients, including selecting the top character in the list and entering the game.  If anyone is interested in a version of the script, let me know and I can sanitize and upload it.

 

Future options I'll be adding tonight/tomorrow include accepting a party request, selecting the leader's target and firing all weapons, joining a formation, etc.  Any other suggested features would also be appreciated, but to be clear these features would only be for hotkeys that simplify play, nothing automated to allow it to play without you.

 

Also, issues I've run into include that apparently you cannot click (even with the mouse, not just in the script) on any part of a window that has a negative coordinate.  I've got 3x monitors, with two stacked on top of each other on the right, and a third centered to the left, with the left one as Primary.  This means the coordinates for the top right screen staart at (1920, -540) or so, and therefore if the client on that screen is 1920x1080, I cannot click on the top half of the client (X coordinate = -540 to 0), but I can click on anything in the bottom half of the client (X coordinate = 0 to 540).  This seems unrelated to AHK and I don't have that issue with any other application, so I think it's an issue with EnB, but if I find otherwise, or a workaround, I'll post it here as well.