clicking a button

[James]

Quick question here. Let's assume we have a program running that has several buttons on an application. You want to automate a process without having to press that button each time. How would you go about doing it? I know there are apps that record macro's, but it just seems like they're kinda glitchy. Here is basically a psuedo code of what I'm thinking...

shellexecute() start the application I want
use findwindow() to make sure the process I started up above is running and found
Once I have the process and the window, assuming I want to press the "next" button programatically how would I do that? I think there is a sendkey() function but can I do that to a specific button

for example if strcmp on button == "Next"
sendkey(mouse click)

then it takes me to the next screen then I do something like
if strcmp on button == "Continue"
sendkey(mouse click)

and so on. Hope this makes sense

[James]

found some stuff I'll need to play with.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...1548.aspx#Y700
http://www.blizzhackers.cc/viewtopic...6d580&start=15

[Razo[R]apiD]

SendMessage, PostMessage

In Windows, button is also a window. BM_CLICK message, or WM_LBUTTONDOWN and WM_LBUTTONUP as a message.

You should be able to find a button with FindWindow or FindWindowEx by it's class or caption.

[James]

Quick question. So here is a screenshot of 1 of the shots.

If you can see it, the left side I have to select the folder that I need to scan images from.
The path is \\earth\corp\pics which is down the list, how can I send that as a command?

The 2nd image is this

However, as you can see the path is grayed out,s o I would probably have to hook the application to modify that field or enable it correct?

BTW, in the first image, even if I were to tab, it doesn't allow me to tab through the brower folder list section so that's not an option. I would actually have to send mouse events I would imagine to scroll through the application.

[Razo[R]apiD]

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

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...system_defined

You can send different messages to control all WinAPI buttons/widgets/controls

[Razo[R]apiD]

You may be more interested in Tree View http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=vs.85%29.aspx than in List View

[James]

So here is a basic overview of what I have

	//Main handle to AD Pictures
	HWND myTitle = FindWindowTitleContains("AD Pictures by Exclaimer");
	HWND myClass = FindWindowClassContains("#32770");
	HWND application = FindWindow("#32770", "AD Pictures by Exclaimer");
	//Next button
	HWND nextButton = FindWindow("Button", "&Next >");


	//Import Multiple Pictures
	HWND radio1 = FindWindow("Button", "Import Multiple Images");


	//Handle for the SysTreeView32 Form
	HWND TreeView = FindWindowEx(myClass, NULL, "SysTreeView32", NULL);

        //Start our application "AD Pictures"
	ShellExecute(NULL, "open", "c:\\Program Files\\AD Pictures\\AD Pictures.exe", NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);


        if(application)
	{
		//MessageBox(0, "TestZZZ", "Found Window", MB_OK);
		if(nextButton)
		{
			MessageBox(0, "Test1", "Found Window", MB_OK);
			SendMessage(nextButton, BM_CLICK, 0, 0);
		}
		else if(radio1)
		{
			MessageBox(0, "Test2", "Found Window", MB_OK);
			SendMessage(radio1, BM_CLICK, 0, 0);
			SendMessage(nextButton, BM_CLICK, 0, 0);
		}
		else if(TreeView)
		{
			MessageBox(0, "Test3", "Found Window", MB_OK);
			treeItem = SendMessage(TreeView, TVM_GETNEXTITEM, TVGN_ROOT, 0);
			treeItem = SendMessage(TreeView, TVM_GETNEXTITEM, TVGN_NEXT, treeItem);
			treeItem = SendMessage(TreeView, TVM_GETNEXTITEM, TVGN_CHILD, treeItem);
			SendMessage(TreeView, TVM_SELECTITEM, TVGN_CARET, treeItem);
		}
	}

Does this look correct? It doesn't seem to be emulating anything for me.

[Razo[R]apiD]

Why you try to find the buttons and window before starting the app itself? It won't work imho.

[James]

OMFG, You're right. Christ I'm an idiot. Let's pretend I didn't just do that haha. I'm so used to initializing and setting stuff globally that I forgot I'm searching for the window before actually starting the app. haha. Of course it won't work properly. Let me move the shellexecute() above and try again.

So I made the obvious changes and I get the messagebox for Testzzz, but not any of the other window handles. ??

[Razo[R]apiD]

Use this: http://speedy.sh/5tcKq/EnumWnd.exe

It will enumerate all windows titles togheter with their classes. If a Window contains some child windows, you will be able to unwrap the tree.

After finding main app window with FindWindow, you should use FindWindowEx to search in that window for specified child elements.