Send Keystrokes to DOS Program from Access VBA

Cosmos75 · July 20th, 2004, 02:03 PM

Is there anyway to launch a DOS Program and execute some keystrokes?

There is a DOS program I need to use but it is cumbersome. It involves entering some data paramaters and letting the program calculate something. The problem is I have multiple scenarios and it is tedious to enter all that over and over again (sometimes changing only one value).

I was wondering if there is a way to launch the DOS program from Access and enter the values from a table automatically into the DOS program?

Here's what I need to do in the DOS program.

DOS Program Starts
Press Enter to Continue
Name File
(Please Wait) - Program does something, I think it creates a file or something.
Enter Description
Enter M or E
Enter Y or N
Enter Value (Integer)
Enter Value (Integer)
Enter Value (Integer)
Enter Value (Integer)
Enter Value (Integer)
Enter Value (Integer)
Enter Y or N
Enter H or S
Enter Value (Integer)
Enter Value (Decimal)
Enter Value (Integer)
Enter Value (Decimal)
Enter â1 (To Finish)

I've tried

Code:

Dim retVal
retVal = Shell("C:\TNMLook\TNMLook.exe", 1)
AppActivate retVal

SendKeys "{Enter}", True
SendKeys "myfilenamehere{Enter}", True
SendKeys "mydescriptionhere{Enter}", True
SendKeys "MorEenteredHere{Enter}", True

AppActivate retValDOS Program opens but I get the following error message with the line below.

Code:

AppActivate retVal

Run-time error '5':
Invalid procedure call or argument.

Removing that line doesn't work either. When I do that, it actually opens the DOS Program twice now?! Then it enters a bunch of \s'...

Any ideas?

Bob Hansen · July 20th, 2004, 11:11 PM

Take a look at using Macro Scheduler. I use it with windows and DOS programs daily.

Available for free download at www.mjtnet.com.

Latest version is 7.2.050 I think. Too many features to list here, but will allow you to open dos program, do keystrokes, monitor delays necessary to pause for processing, etc. Can be called from command line, or hot keys, or built in scheduler. Your application sounds like you would probably trigger this from a command line.

Cosmos75 · July 21st, 2004, 10:31 AM

Bob Hansen,

Thank you for that tip!
:)

It's too pricey though (https://www.mjtnet.com/index.mv?selectprd.html).
:(

I would like to find a VBA solution that way I can use the data in my Access table to create the DOS "runs" for the program.

Cosmos75 · July 22nd, 2004, 08:58 AM

I found this (http://www.adyn.com/macro/summary.html). It's freeware, but I can't download it and use it at work. Thought I might pass the information along here. I have never used it so I don't know if it works or is any good.

As with any other freeware, please use at your own risk.

:)

Bob Hansen · July 25th, 2004, 05:34 PM

One more comment on Macro Scheduler (www.mjtnet.com). "Pricey" is always relative. But, it also allows you to make compiled run time versions of the scripts and distribute for free, no licensing, users do not need copies of Macro Scheduler on systems. So if this is pricey because of multiple users, remember that the compiled versions reduces the cost per user dramatically.

Can also incorporate VBscript internal to the scripts you make with Macro Scheduler, not necessary to learn new languages.

Cosmos75 · July 25th, 2004, 10:01 PM

Bob,

"Pricey" is always relative - How true!
:D

Well, I just got a free copy of Macro Scheduler from .NET Magazine (albeit it is version 6.2). Gonna give that a try! Will let you know if it works!

Still have not been able to do it in VBA though.
:(

stevenjones35 · May 15th, 2007, 06:24 PM

Hi everyone,

I ran across an interesting program that can schedule macros to run in a MS Access database. It works by clicking a few buttons to set the date/time, then set the macro name to run. It doesnât require using Windows Scheduled Tasks which is good for me. Check it out: http://macros.subpacket.com/

Regards,
Steven