How to read text from text box in external app?

I already have the code which finds a particular application that is running and uses sendkeys to manipulate it and get to a specific screen within the application. Once on this particular screen, there is a textbox that immediately gets the focus and is highlighted. I want to be able to read that text value within code. Any example of how to do this would be appreciated.

you'd send a WM_GETTEXT message to the window handle which you'd get with FindWindowEx API if you search the forum for that message or that API then you'll find lots of examples.

I have done a search but can't really find anything for the situation that I have. Basically, I have a situation where I need to read the text out of the second text box on a form, or the text box that currently has the focus. None of the sample code allows you to read the text that is currently in focus or selected.

simple example

VB Code:

Private Sub Form_Load()
 
    Debug.? GetText(Text1.hwnd)
 
End Sub
 
'gets the text of a textbox or a caption of most controls
Public Function GetText(ByVal pHwnd As Long) As String
 
    Dim Buffer As String, TextLength As Long
 
    TextLength = SendMessage(pHwnd, WM_GETTEXTLENGTH, 0&, 0&)
    Buffer = String$(TextLength, 0&)
    Call SendMessage(pHwnd, WM_GETTEXT, TextLength + 1, Buffer)
    GetText = Buffer
 
End Function

now that i read you'r 2nd post, you're wanting your code to read the text from the textbox thats in focus?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Billy Conner

now that i read you'r 2nd post, you're wanting your code to read the text from the textbox thats in focus?

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Yes, exactly. How can that be done?

i assume your using sendkeys to 'navigate' this app thru its process, is it picking a random textbox on the current form, or how is that working?

you can always use the GetFocus API call to get the current control that has focus.

if it's selected, can't you simply send a "Ctrl-C" to copy it to the clipboard?