Is it possible

[Blee]

I'm not sure if this is the proper area to ask this question, but since the program that I want to write is like a cheat program I thought this would a good place to start.

I was just curious if it is possible to write a program (called Program A) that runs parallel with another program (called Program B) that will:

1. Grab information from a database of some form prob. Access
2. Input the data into certain fields in Program B
3. Simulate keystrokes that cause Program B to use the information and start whatever process it was designed to do.
4. Take the information presented, parse it and then input it into another database.
5. Have Program A loop until EOF

Also would it be possible for someone who only has experience with VBScript to write this program in Visual Basic.

[plenderj]

In theory yes its possible.
But bear in mind, in theory anything's possible.

Short answer though is no, not really

[Hack]

Short question: Why do you want to? It sounds like you are asking how to do a little unauthorized tampering.

[Nirces]

simulating key presses to a program is easy enough, and parsing infomation back from a WINDOWED program is easy aswell. if it is a game or uses graphics to display text, (VERY VERY hard)

[Blee]

Not trying to do unauthorized programing. I'm just trying to make a manual process run automatically.

Thanks for the replies.

[joey o.]

Sounds like xml to me. DotNet might be an easier direction. What your talking about may be time consuming but doesn't sound hard if your up on your parsing skills. Just write the x,y's to the files and add checking to make sure the app is Maximized and you've got the correct resolution. Better yet send tab keys to navigate in the app before input or manipulation. If your talking graphics give different regions tab order. Good luck, post the code when it's done, sounds cool!

[Nirces]

I wrote automation code for a living, for over a year (it gets very repetitive after a while).

if your target application is win32 , then theres no problem.

Standard controls such as text boxes, buttons, combos and lists are no trouble at all. Labels are close to impossible.

32bit controls such as listview (explorer type thing), and treeview and tabs are harder, to get infomation back from these, you need to place your code in a DLL and hook it into your targets application process.


SendMessage API covers most of what you need

And try to avoid using sendkeys, its bad and can have un predictable results in random situations.

[plenderj]

Nicres, probably asked you before, but what part of dublin you from ?

[Nirces]

I was in Sandyford, working in lepoard's town, i'm in wolverhampton atm, finishing off my degree.

I would like to go back, but the job market has dropped out and grad wages (even with a years experiance) is too little in ireland.

[Janus]

you'll wanna use AppActivate, GetWindowText, Sleep, SendKeys, and possibly mouse_event.