Simulate mouse click in external window without activate it

[phil2000]

With this code:

Private Sub Press(MyTableHwnd As IntPtr, X As Integer, Y As Integer)
    Dim lParam As IntPtr = MakeLong(X, Y)
    NativeMethods.SendMessage(MyTableHwnd, WM_MOUSEMOVE, IntPtr.Zero, lParam)
    NativeMethods.SendMessage(MyTableHwnd, WM_LBUTTONDOWN, IntPtr.Zero, lParam)
    Sleep(50)
    NativeMethods.SendMessage(MyTableHwnd, WM_MOUSEMOVE, IntPtr.Zero, lParam)
    NativeMethods.SendMessage(MyTableHwnd, WM_LBUTTONUP, IntPtr.Zero, lParam)
End Sub

Private Shared Function MakeLong(X As Integer, Y As Integer) As IntPtr
    Return CType((Y << 16) Or (X And &HFFFF), IntPtr)
End Function

I can press without problems "drawn" buttons (the only available handle is that of the whole window) painted at X, Y coordinates of some esternal windows. The problem is that, may be depending from the code of the windows, after the click some external windows rest in background (buttons are clicked even if nor visible, under other windows), that's my goal, while other windows jump in the foreground, activated.

NOTE: other windows jump in the foreground even if I comment the two WM_MOUSEMOVE rows... and in this case the buttons are not pressed unless I don't manually move the mouse cursor over them. So I need the whole code.

Now the question: some ideas about how to modify my above code to avoid the activation and foreground of all the windows, or may be another different working code?

[Shaggy Hiker]

Tell us a bit more about the scenario. You don't want that second program to be activated, but do you need it to be visible? Is the second program your own, or something else?

I ask the second question just to be sure, because you are probably only trying to automate something in this fashion if you don't have the source code for it, but it would best to be sure.

As for the first question, a few things to try do come to mind if you don't want that second program to be visible. If you need it to remain visible, then...well, things like moving it off screen won't work.

Also, what is it about it becoming active that is a problem? There are some options that are ruled out depending on how you answer that question, as well.

[.paul.]

@phil2000 Are you still working on your casino automation app? Your question is a little dubious. Are you aware of the rules of this forum?