automation!

Khalifeh · November 4th, 2003, 05:22 PM

Hello All, I didn't know which forum section to post this, but I thought I should start here. I have a non-microsoft written program which keeps track of some documents ( it is called Q-Pulse). at the end of every week I need to go to this program, open it up verify table indexes and compact tables. Basically, click on 3 buttons. I want to know if it is possible to automate this process. I have looked at some automation softwares such as AutoMate which is really awesome but really expensive, and I don't have that kind of money. I have tried to use a batch file and try to send keystrokes to the program. Is it possible to do such a thing!? I'm open to try any suggestions!

Thanks in advance,

Khalfieh

SerranoG · November 5th, 2003, 09:10 AM

Here is a last resort method of doing it and it may not work with all non-Microsoft programs because of communication problems. Now suppose the three buttons can be activated not only by clicking but by pressing ALT-A, ALT-B, and ALT-C, respectively. Also assume the program's Exit button can be clicked or you can press ALT-X.

Create an Access database with one form on it. Put a checkbox and make sure its default value is FALSE (or UNchecked). Set the form's Timer Interval to, say, one hour. Then on the On Timer event code that if the current time is, say, after midnight, then execute the following:

Code:

   Dim dblRetVal as Double

      If Not Me.chkDone Then
          dblRetVal = Shell("C:\Q-PULSE\Q-PULSE.EXE", 3)

          If dblRetVal = 0
             Msgbox "Q-PULSE has encountered an error.", vbExclamation, "Error!"
          Else
             SendKeys "%A", True 'First Button
             SendKeys "%B", True 'Second Button 
             SendKeys "%C", True 'Third Button
             SendKeys "%X", True 'Exit Button
          End If

          Me.chkDone = True
      End If

Open the database and form and leave it open while you're gone. After it runs, the checkbox will be true and the code will not run again.

Notes: The directory and EXE file in the SHELL function will probably be named something else. Check Q-PULSE's buttons and see if they have labels with one letter underlined. If so, it probably means that to activate that button without clicking, you can press ALT- and that letter. Use those letters instead of A, B, C, and X in my example.

If you buttons cannot be activated through the keyboard via ALT keys, you may have to use the SENDKEY function like this

Code:

   SendKeys "{TAB}{TAB}{ENTER}", True  'Tab to the correct button & press it
   SendKeys "{TAB}{ENTER}", True  'Tab to the next button & press it

You'll have to open Q-PULSE manually and count the correct number of tabs to code.

This is messy and, again, it's last resort.

Greg Serrano
Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division

SerranoG · November 5th, 2003, 09:27 AM

FYI. I made some changes to the code to prevent it from running more than once. You won't see it if you're getting this in e-mail. Please check the forum.

Greg Serrano
Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division

Khalifeh · November 5th, 2003, 11:31 AM

Hey greg,
thanks for you help! I ll definitely try it! I was thinking, I should be able to do something like that, but there is problem. When I start the program, as default it is on a different window (menu). On the side there are a few buttons (image buttons which do not have any short cuts to them. so I think you have to click on them. I tried tab, ctrl-tab, but nothing worked yet!). I need to go to a different menu by clicking one of those buttons then I can use shortcuts like alt-a....
do u know if there is a way of moving the mouse or giving the mouse coordinates to simulate a click, in VB???
or any other ideas? thanx!
If you want screenshot of the program, i can send them to you!

thanks,
Sam

Khalifeh · November 6th, 2003, 12:47 PM

Thanks alot Greg! I used sendkey for keystroke and mouse_event for mouse simulation.

Sam Gharnagh
Jr. Programmer Analyst at MOH
Comp Sci at UofW

jyuan · October 26th, 2006, 12:40 PM

Hi, everybody here seems have some experience on Shell object.
I am having a problem with code below. It runs coorectly in .NET studio (VS8). But once I loaded the file to c:\inetpub\wwwroot\.. and launch it there. The EXPLORER does not work. The return value is not 0. Can anybody tell me why? Thanks in advance!

Protected Sub lbOpenFolder_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles lbOpenFolder.Click
        Dim dblRetVal As Double
        Dim sCmdLine As String
        Dim sPath As String
        'sPath = "\\servername\path"
        sPath = "X:\subdir"

        ' sCmdLine = "EXPLORER /E," & sPath
        sCmdLine = "C:\windows\EXPLORER.exe /E," & sPath

        dblRetVal = Shell(sCmdLine, AppWinStyle.NormalFocus)
        lblRtnVal.Text = dblRetVal 'for testing

    End Sub

gbianchi · October 26th, 2006, 12:45 PM

hi there

maybe a problem with the IIS?? you are trying to execute something that is outside the site...

HTH

Gonzalo