Printable View
Dear all,
I am quite new to programming so please bear with me if I am asking stupid questions.
I have searched the forums but couldn't find a (comprehensible) answer.
I am calling an external .exe file from VB, I do this with Shell.
The external .exe opens a command window and asks for a file name. I am trying to make vb to input a file name into the command window but I m not sure how. The SendKeys command doesn't seem to work.
Could somebody please help me out?
Thanks!!
Oh boy, you will need to delve in to the API... Are you sure it is a command window and not a common dialog? And if it is a command window, ie a dos box, then does not the program accept command line parameters and if it does, would not passing it the path/file name of the file to be processed be better than trying to hook a cmd window? Then if you must hook into this window, you will have to delve into the API... FindWindow and SendMessage come to mind... Perhaps a better definition and/or a screen shot so we know exactly what you are trying to accomplish might be in order.
Good Luck
Hmm, how can I tell if its a common dialog? And if it is, what can I do?
It is not a dos window, it doesnt have the C:\> and flashing cursor and you certainly can't type dos commands on it, it just asks for a file name.
I'll certainly try the Findwindow and Sendmessage, thanks for the suggestion!
Lets see a screenshot of the dialog... A common dialog is displayed with most any program when you go to saveas, open, select a font, or select colors. This same dialog you would see in word, excel, acrobat, and so on...
Good Luck
Oh, in that case its not a common dialog box, its a command box (dos box). How can I pass it the path/filename? I have tried inputing it to Shell e.g.
Shell("D:\test\cif.exe" & filename, AppWinStyle.MaximizedFocus)
but I get a file not found error!
Thank you very much for your help!
And here is a screenshot
You might wanna try that with a space in between there
Also, are you sure you're not using .NET?Code:Shell("D:\test\cif.exe " & filename, AppWinStyle.MaximizedFocus)
I don't recognize that AppWinStyle
I am using net... I'm in the wrong forum right? :( Sorry about that!
It doesn't work with the space either... unfortunately!
No problem, I notified the moderators.
If you want to send me the files, I sent you a private message with my email address.
(forum policy doesn't allow you to post executables)
I dont think that sending an exe is necessary at this point. I suppose there must be a way to send information to a command box? Anyone??
Thread moved from 'VB6 and Earlier' forum to 'VB.Net' (VB2002 and later) forum
(thanks for letting us know TheBigB :thumb: )
Enter the commandline and navigate to D:\test
Then try "cif.exe /?"
Does it give you a list of parameters?
Have a look at this article that describes how to launch External Applications from VB.NET Application, send input to it and get output from it.
http://pradeep1210.spaces.live.com/b...y?sa=694013424
It is also in my signature.
When I try cif.exe /? it practically ignores the /? runs the cif.exe and asks for an input file as in the screenshot above.
Pradeep1210, in your code, where should I put my .exe file? If I understand this correctly, I should replace .FileName = "CMD.EXE" with .FileName = "CIF.EXE", right?
Try it. If it works then good.
Otherwise, start CMD.EXE and first send CIF.EXE as input then the filename etc.
Hmmm, the problem is how to send the file name. You are proposing WriteLine(somevariable) right?
Great code by the way! :)
yes, and that somevariable can be your exe (with full path). :)
Could someone please help me write a code with Findwindow and Sendmessage? Everything else doesn't seem to work. :(:(
Thanks!