Accessing the controls of other applications

[MrC]

I'm working on a temporary fix for my company. I need to access the controls on a form to automate a "update" process. The form is part of an application that I did not write. If you know of a way to change or modify forms of any windows that would help too.

[chrisfricke]

As part of a very tempory fix you might be able to start the application and then use the sendkeys command to start the whatever

[WadeD]

If you're pressed for time, SendKeys works as long as the user doesn't hit a key while you're actually sending the keys.

Beyond that, you might want to look at API's to retrieve handles and menus, and SendMessage to select buttons or menus.

In terms of customizing another app, you can modify menus, grab a window and place it in a separate window, hook into it to append functionality, etc., but you're looking at a sizable investment of time.

Good luck,
Wade