use vb to run another program on the desktop

i use a program that is inaccessible to being connected to and run via code, but i want to automate the use of it

the first thing i want to do is launch the program

c:\crunchnumbers.exe

then the next thing i want to do is go to the File menu, and select open, and then open c:\numbers.csv

now the numbers are loaded in the program.

the next part is tricky because unfortunately there is no menu item, there is just a big fat 'clickable' button that says 'Calculate' on it. normally i'd have to manually click on it to run the numbers, but i want to use code to do the 'click'

once this is done i need to go back to the file menu and select

c:\crunched.txt

from there i can grab the text file and have my vb prog take it from there

Find out the position of the button on screen, use Mouse_Event API call.
Or if the button has a shortcut-key, activate the window then SendKeys.
Or if {Tab} keys can be sent to move focus to the button then send {Enter} or {Space} key.

using ACTool would be the easiest way

Code:

---

Private Sub Form_Load()
  TmrClick.Interval = 10000  '10 seconds
  Enable TmrClick
End Sub

Private Sub TmrClick_Timer()
  Command1_Click
  TmrClick.Enabled = False  'turn off the timer, it's use is done.
End Sub

---

If you have access to the code of the app you want to run, it can all be a piece of cake. Just automate the processes using command line parameters and then you can go on and just call the prog with required parameters.