Automating Programs

[Crzyrio]

Hey,

I am trying to get a hold of another application and simply send the print command. But this seems to be hard than I thought it was.

I know there is the automation name space, but I cant seem to get anything working.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...utomation.aspx

I am still at the very beginning of my test application, I am only able to open the 3rd party application and I am stuck there.

Any suggestions are appreciated

[.paul.]

this is how to start notepad with no window, print the document, then exit:

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim psi As New ProcessStartInfo With { _
        .FileName = "atextfile.txt", _
        .Verb = "Print", _
        .CreateNoWindow = True}
        Process.Start(psi)
    End Sub

End Class

[Crzyrio]

this is how to start notepad with no window, print the document, then exit:

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim psi As New ProcessStartInfo With { _
        .FileName = "atextfile.txt", _
        .Verb = "Print", _
        .CreateNoWindow = True}
        Process.Start(psi)
    End Sub


End Class

What if it is not a regular format? It is a 3rd party program with a non standard extension.
How would I specific what program to open?

[.paul.]

filename can either be the application or the filename. when it's the application you can pass the filename in the arguments property.
the only problem I can foresee is that a 3rd party app might not use verbs

ProcessStartInfo Properties:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...roperties.aspx

[Crzyrio]

filename can either be the application or the filename. when it's the application you can pass the filename in the arguments property.
the only problem I can foresee is that a 3rd party app might not use verbs

ProcessStartInfo Properties:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...roperties.aspx

I know this is unconventional but is it at all possible to send a file straight to the printer driver and have it deal with the file?


I need to send this file to the printer but It looks like the only way to do this is through, taking control of the window and the sending key strokes or something?

[.paul.]

i'm out of ideas. i'll let someone else answer that...

[Crzyrio]

i'm out of ideas. i'll let someone else answer that...

Thank for the help!

I am thinking I will have to use something like PostMessage(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=vs.85%29.aspx) or SendMessage(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=vs.85%29.aspx).
Never tried them before but they look tricky.

And I found this, which looks interisting ---> http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/SendMessageList.htm

Anyone have any experience with this?

I would have to find the Right Window and just send a 'Crtl' + 'P' key stroke and then 'Enter'.... Sounds fun :P

[GBeats]

im not sure how its done exactly in vb.net
but you will need to try something like this

VB.NET-------------------
start the program anyway you want, if you use process.start() you can put it straight into (<variable> as process) and skip next line
search through the running processes for the program your looking for and grab the Handle
<you can do all that in a few lines of code>
<next>

WIN API--------------------------
<i think you need to loop through using these api to find your menu item>
then you need to use 'GetMenu' 'Getmenuitemid' 'GetMenuCount'
get the handle of the menu item you need then use 'SendMessage' to start the code behind the menu item


its a little vague but its a start hope this helps

[GBeats]

just note your going through the hierarchy of handles to get down to the menu items. use the parent handles to find the child handles

[GBeats]

just to ease your mind a little bit with win API its really not complicated, the worst part is thinking about how many handles are running in windows which could be millions, dont think like that, as long as you have a handle your good to go.
this is a small app that starts a program inside my own program look how easy it is.
dont forget the declarations

Declare Auto Function SetParent Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWndChild As IntPtr, ByVal hWndNewParent As IntPtr) As Integer
Declare Auto Function SendMessage Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal Msg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As Integer) As Integer
Private Const WM_SYSCOMMAND As Integer = 274
Private Const SC_MAXIMIZE As Integer = 61488

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

proc = Process.Start("IExplore.exe", "http:\\www.google.com -new")

System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000)

proc.WaitForInputIdle()

SetParent(proc.MainWindowHandle, Me.TableLayoutPanel1..Handle)
SendMessage(proc.MainWindowHandle, WM_SYSCOMMAND, SC_MAXIMIZE, 0)

End Sub

just google sendmessage api to get a list of the commands that you can send

[Crzyrio]

just to ease your mind a little bit with win API its really not complicated, the worst part is thinking about how many handles are running in windows which could be millions, dont think like that, as long as you have a handle your good to go.
this is a small app that starts a program inside my own program look how easy it is.
dont forget the declarations

Declare Auto Function SetParent Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWndChild As IntPtr, ByVal hWndNewParent As IntPtr) As Integer
Declare Auto Function SendMessage Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal Msg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As Integer) As Integer
Private Const WM_SYSCOMMAND As Integer = 274
Private Const SC_MAXIMIZE As Integer = 61488

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

proc = Process.Start("IExplore.exe", "http:\\www.google.com -new")

System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000)

proc.WaitForInputIdle()

SetParent(proc.MainWindowHandle, Me.TableLayoutPanel1..Handle)
SendMessage(proc.MainWindowHandle, WM_SYSCOMMAND, SC_MAXIMIZE, 0)

End Sub

just google sendmessage api to get a list of the commands that you can send

Hey,

THanks for all the help!

Just a few clarifications. What does this doo --> Me.TableLayoutPanel1.Handle)

[dunfiddlin]

What does this doo --> Me.TableLayoutPanel1.Handle)

It disnae doo owt! It's a property giving the handle of the control's window. You use it instead of going through the API to find an hWnd value before using it in API functions & subs.

[Crzyrio]

It disnae doo owt! It's a property giving the handle of the control's window. You use it instead of going through the API to find an hWnd value before using it in API functions & subs.

Did this: and the program shows up in my panel now. Perty cool :P

SetParent(psi.MainWindowHandle, Panel1.Handle)
 
        SendMessage(psi.MainWindowHandle, WM_SYSCOMMAND, SC_MAXIMIZE, 0)

Now in order to get menu items, I have gotten this far as of now.

Declare Auto Function GetMenu Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWnd As IntPtr) As Integer

as per http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=vs.85%29.aspx

and I assume I would use it like so

GetMenu(psi.MainWindowHandle)

So that will give me the menu handle but then what?
How do I know what is available in the menu to select

EDIT: My Code Right Now, just stepping through stuff figuring out whats going on and looking at examples

Imports System.Drawing.Printing
Imports System.Windows.Automation
Imports System.IO
 
Public Class Form1
    Dim psi As New Process
    Dim proc As New Process
 
    Dim ParentWindow As IntPtr
    Dim Menu As IntPtr
 
    Private Const WM_SYSCOMMAND As Integer = 274
    Private Const SC_MAXIMIZE As Integer = 61488
 
    Declare Auto Function SetParent Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWndChild As IntPtr, ByVal hWndNewParent As IntPtr) As Integer
    Declare Auto Function SendMessage Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal Msg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As Integer) As Integer
    Declare Auto Function GetMenu Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hWnd As IntPtr) As Integer
 
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
 
 
 
        psi = Process.Start("C:\Documents and Settings\rdlyma\Desktop\TEST.l5f")
 
 
 
 
    End Sub
 
 
    Private Sub Button2_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
 
        ParentWindow = SetParent(psi.MainWindowHandle, Panel1.Handle)
 
        SendMessage(psi.MainWindowHandle, WM_SYSCOMMAND, SC_MAXIMIZE, 0)
 
        Menu = GetMenu(ParentWindow)
 
    End Sub
 
 
End Class

[dunfiddlin]

Never do anything API without consulting pinvoke.net (although it's VB declarations do tend to be a bit on the old fashioned side!) Here's there sample for GetMenu

Dim hwndMain as IntPtr = FindWindowEx(intptr.Zero,intptr.Zero,vbNullString,"My Window Title") 'Get the Window Handle
Dim hwndMenu As IntPtr = GetMenu(hwndMain) 'Get the MenuHandle
Dim hwndSubmenu as intptr = GetSubMenu(hwndMenu,1) 'Get the SubMenuHandle to the visible MenuItem, in this case the second one (counting from zero)
Dim intMID as Integer = GetMenuitemID(hwndSubmenu,2)) 'Get the MenuItemID of the third SubMenu under the previous Handle (counting from zero)
Sendmessage(hwndMain, WM_COMMAND, intMID,  0) 'Click the MenuItem!

[GBeats]

please note the sample i sent was just a sample, you will be needing different sendmessage values, i think you probably figured out that SC_MAXIMIZE (aka #61488) wont do you much good with a menu,

like the great dunfiddlin says above, use getsubmenu in a loop to go through each menu item until you find the one your looking for, grab the handle then send the message.

in your case you know roughly where it is file->print so that will probably be menu item index(0) then however many down that list the print comes in, but like i said best to loop through and check each name to avoid problems, maybe your notepad one day will put print in item 5 not 6 for some reason (unlikely but you get the point).

[Crzyrio]

Never do anything API without consulting pinvoke.net (although it's VB declarations do tend to be a bit on the old fashioned side!) Here's there sample for GetMenu

Dim hwndMain as IntPtr = FindWindowEx(intptr.Zero,intptr.Zero,vbNullString,"My Window Title") 'Get the Window Handle
Dim hwndMenu As IntPtr = GetMenu(hwndMain) 'Get the MenuHandle
Dim hwndSubmenu as intptr = GetSubMenu(hwndMenu,1) 'Get the SubMenuHandle to the visible MenuItem, in this case the second one (counting from zero)
Dim intMID as Integer = GetMenuitemID(hwndSubmenu,2)) 'Get the MenuItemID of the third SubMenu under the previous Handle (counting from zero)
Sendmessage(hwndMain, WM_COMMAND, intMID,  0) 'Click the MenuItem!

Thanks.
I am playing around with it in notepad and it seems to work, it is quiet cool :P

But in the program I want to use it with, both GetMenu and GetMenuitemID return 0, does that mean the program does not have access to it?

Is it possible to send keystrokes to the program instead? so maybe send the equivalent of 'Ctrl + P'

[formlesstree4]

You can use the SendKeys function, but it's flaky and you don't really have a guarantee of anything. Honestly, if you really want simplistic automation of programs, you might want to look into AutoIT. I've used it a few times at work and it is able to help with these types of things better than .NET can.

[GBeats]

But in the program I want to use it with, both GetMenu and GetMenuitemID return 0, does that mean the program does not have access to it?

if its got a normal dropdown menu or even right clickmenu, then it should list with the menu API

if its a ribbon or some custom control you may have to search through child windows instead of menus, it may get a little tricky or tedious. but rest assured every single component on every single program has a handle, im not sure if they can be hidden from the win API, or whether theres a stronger api to use.

maybe you could try autoit, but i think ur turning power monger and cant resist the possibilites and temptations of API lol

[dunfiddlin]

I've always found SendKeys adequate for most situations where the application is on the same machine. It's less reliable with web applications and the like. But there's also the key_event API available if it proves less than trustworthy.

I imagine that the ultimate goal would be to add this program as a context menu choice in Explorer for the filetype. Would AutoIt have that capability?

[Crzyrio]

You can use the SendKeys function, but it's flaky and you don't really have a guarantee of anything. Honestly, if you really want simplistic automation of programs, you might want to look into AutoIT. I've used it a few times at work and it is able to help with these types of things better than .NET can.

Thanks! Just downloaded it will give it a try.

if its got a normal dropdown menu or even right clickmenu, then it should list with the menu API

if its a ribbon or some custom control you may have to search through child windows instead of menus, it may get a little tricky or tedious. but rest assured every single component on every single program has a handle, im not sure if they can be hidden from the win API, or whether theres a stronger api to use.

maybe you could try autoit, but i think ur turning power monger and cant resist the possibilites and temptations of API lol

If that is the case, then I will keep trying. Here is what the main menu looks like, fairly normal. Even in spyxx nothing shows up under this program



In case someone knows what this means, screen from spyxx

I've always found SendKeys adequate for most situations where the application is on the same machine. It's less reliable with web applications and the like. But there's also the key_event API available if it proves less than trustworthy.

I imagine that the ultimate goal would be to add this program as a context menu choice in Explorer for the filetype. Would AutoIt have that capability?

I am just playing around with AutoIt and do not see much need for it. I think SendKeys should be adequate right now, I just have to keep playing with it.

What if I did something like this :P http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyzLjMSvmJ0


EDIT: How would I set the inputfocus to another application?

EDIT.EDIT: K figured that out

Dim hWnd As Long
        hWnd = FindWindow(vbNullString, "Untitled - Notepad")
        SetForegroundWindow(hWnd)

now the tricky question. Can I send an input using

SendKeys.Send("^P")

to another application without bringing it to the front

[formlesstree4]

To answer your last question: No, not with SendKeys. Last I recall (and confirming with the appropriate MSDN article), SendKeys sends to the active window. Checking the documentation yields us with:

Use SendKeys to send keystrokes and keystroke combinations to the active application.

as the first sentence under remarks. So there you have it.

[Crzyrio]

Sorry for the late reply but since my start down this road, there was a set of new drivers released for the printer that give me what I need in order to use it.

So no need for automating anything . Still learned a lot from this thread though and I am sure someone will find it useful