Attach to running instance of application via process

[jayinthe813]

I am working on an app to interface with a CAD program. What I would like to do is not only create a new application object, but add ability attach to a current running instance. I can create the object like this:

 Dim rhinoApp As Rhino5x64Application
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

        Try
            rhinoApp = New Rhino5x64Application()
            rhinoApp.Visible = True
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show("Could not create Rhino Application!", "Error Creating Object!", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
        End Try

    End Sub

I can detect the current running instances of the application like so:

        For Each p In Process.GetProcessesByName("Rhino4")
            ListBox1.Items.Add(p.ProcessName & " - " & p.MainWindowTitle)
        Next p

Question is, how do I assign the process to an object so i can ctype it to an instance of my application? Pseudo-code sort of like

        Try
            Dim prc As process = myprocess
            Dim rhinoScriptingObject = CType(prc, Rhino5x64Application)
         Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show("Could not create scripting object! Make sure that Rhino is instantiated already", "Error Instantiating Scripting!", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)

        End Try

[GBeats]

Hi,

i know you can manipulate another program using API, and grab references to it with code but to access it and manipulate it directly i think is going to be a tough job, unless it has be designed with this in mind you will basically have to hack it open.

maybe one of the other guys has more insight.

[jayinthe813]

Hi,

i know you can manipulate another program using API, and grab references to it with code but to access it and manipulate it directly i think is going to be a tough job, unless it has be designed with this in mind you will basically have to hack it open.

maybe one of the other guys has more insight.

I have seen getactiveobject but I do no think that's what I really looking to do. I would think somehow you could ctype() from existing application object (maybe through windows shell?) to the correct object interface. I can do this with internet explorer fairly easily, but I am having trouble with this...

[Grimfort]

You obviously have an import for this Rhino5x64Application type object. This class would presumably be a wrapper around starting the process and holding onto the stdin/stdout amongst possibly other things. If you wanted to try to connect to an existing process (started directly by the user?) then this wrapper would not exist, so you would have no method to get hold of it.

You would have to find out how this Rhino5x64Application library starts the process, how and what it does to connect to it, and then somehow workout if connecting to the app in the same way is even possible while it is already running..... Good luck

[Lore]

jayinthe813, did you succeed to RunScript on an already open instance of Rhino? Once you get the process id how can you do?

[jayinthe813]

jayinthe813, did you succeed to RunScript on an already open instance of Rhino? Once you get the process id how can you do?

No, I was unable to attach to an existing instance of Rhino, so I just created a new instance a runtime instead. For my needs attaching to an existing rhino instance was a nice to have but not necessary. I tried a bunch of stuff but couldn't get it to work. You could try asking on the McNeel forum:

http://discourse.mcneel.com/

[ident]

What is Rhino5x64Application(), why would you loop processes to detect instances when the functionality is already provided for you. Is there a reason you are not using My.Application.StartupNextInstance Event?

[techgnome]

IT sounds like this Rhino5x64Application is a thrid-party application... and the .NET application is attempting to attach to it... much like you can do with attaching to a running instance of Word or Excel, or Internet Explorer... so My.Application.StartupNextInstance isn't appropriate.

-tg

[ident]

IT sounds like this Rhino5x64Application is a thrid-party application... and the .NET application is attempting to attach to it... much like you can do with attaching to a running instance of Word or Excel, or Internet Explorer... so My.Application.StartupNextInstance isn't appropriate.

-tg

That explains it if true. Thanks TG

[jayinthe813]

What is Rhino5x64Application(), why would you loop processes to detect instances when the functionality is already provided for you. Is there a reason you are not using My.Application.StartupNextInstance Event?

Rhino is a 3D modeling application. Rhino5x64Application() is the class in the DLL that you use to create a new instance of the application. It is found in a DLL that is referenced from the COM tab. It is similar to something like Excel Interop. It lets you control Rhino from outside of the actual application to perform automation.

The purpose of doing this would be to let someone work in the application, then launch a .NET app, attach to the instance using process name and run some automation or something. I found its just as easy to create the instance from .NET application, work in it, then run the automation from the app.

IT sounds like this Rhino5x64Application is a thrid-party application... and the .NET application is attempting to attach to it... much like you can do with attaching to a running instance of Word or Excel, or Internet Explorer... so My.Application.StartupNextInstance isn't appropriate.

-tg

I have no idea still what is the appropriate way, but this was an old project and I don't feel like posting over on the dev forums.