baffling C# question

[Mike]

I have posted this before, but no one responds, so here
it goes again. I think my question is intimidating people
and I have no idea why?!? This is not a new concept. You
can do this with other programming languages, so why is
C# so different? Again, here is my baffling C# question.

I have C# code that opens an application, but right after
it opens I am confronted by prompts for information
(i.e. "Please enter your id"). I would like to handle
these prompts programmaticall y with C#. Is there some C#
code that passes a value to a prompt and then forces
the "ok" button?

[Daniel O'Connell]

It can be done, but i wouldn't use C# for it.
From waht you are saying, you want to get the windowhandle of the dialog,
fill in text into a set of textboxes for hte prompt, and hit ok.
I know of no .NET classes that can do that nativly. You will have to go down
to the platform invoke level and call win32 functions directly.
Due to the amount of p\invoke, i'd advise using MC++ and asking in a Win32
group how exactly to do everything you need to. Such things are really
beyond the topic here. If you ahve done it before in C++ or delphi or VB6,
you should have a pretty good idea of what API's you want to call.
But by using MC++, you should be able to create an assembly that just
handles that lowerlevel stuff and can be called from C# where the bulk of
your work can still be done.
"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message
news:0c******** *************** *****@phx.gbl.. .

I have posted this before, but no one responds, so here
it goes again. I think my question is intimidating people
and I have no idea why?!? This is not a new concept. You
can do this with other programming languages, so why is
C# so different? Again, here is my baffling C# question.

I have C# code that opens an application, but right after
it opens I am confronted by prompts for information
(i.e. "Please enter your id"). I would like to handle
these prompts programmaticall y with C#. Is there some C#
code that passes a value to a prompt and then forces
the "ok" button?

[Val Savvateev]

> I have posted this before, but no one responds, so here

it goes again. I think my question is intimidating people
and I have no idea why?!? This is not a new concept. You
can do this with other programming languages, so why is
C# so different?
Would you be so kind and give us an example?
Again, here is my baffling C# question.
I have C# code that opens an application, but right after
it opens I am confronted by prompts for information
(i.e. "Please enter your id").
I would like to handle
these prompts programmaticall y with C#. Is there some C#
code that passes a value to a prompt and then forces
the "ok" button?

[John Timney \(Microsoft MVP\)]

You should be able to send keystrokes uisng the
System.Windows. Forms.SendKeys class, it ought to be capable of doing most of
what you need.
--
Regards

John Timney (Microsoft ASP.NET MVP)
----------------------------------------------
<shameless_auth or_plug>
Professional .NET for Java Developers with C#
ISBN:1-861007-91-4
Professional Windows Forms
ISBN: 1861005547
Professional JSP 2nd Edition
ISBN: 1861004958
Professional JSP
ISBN: 1861003625
Beginning JSP Web Development
ISBN: 1861002092
</shameless_autho r_plug>
----------------------------------------------

"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message
news:0c******** *************** *****@phx.gbl.. .

I have posted this before, but no one responds, so here
it goes again. I think my question is intimidating people
and I have no idea why?!? This is not a new concept. You
can do this with other programming languages, so why is
C# so different? Again, here is my baffling C# question.

I have C# code that opens an application, but right after
it opens I am confronted by prompts for information
(i.e. "Please enter your id"). I would like to handle
these prompts programmaticall y with C#. Is there some C#
code that passes a value to a prompt and then forces
the "ok" button?

[Mike]

John,

I tried SendKeys and I was impressed. It's a bit too
unpredictable for me, but I think it's a step in the
right direction. At least you understand where I want to
take this thing.

-----Original Message-----
You should be able to send keystrokes uisng the
System.Windows .Forms.SendKeys class, it ought to be capable of doing most ofwhat you need.
--
Regards

John Timney (Microsoft ASP.NET MVP)
----------------------------------------------
<shameless_aut hor_plug>
Professional .NET for Java Developers with C#
ISBN:1-861007-91-4
Professional Windows Forms
ISBN: 1861005547
Professional JSP 2nd Edition
ISBN: 1861004958
Professional JSP
ISBN: 1861003625
Beginning JSP Web Development
ISBN: 1861002092
</shameless_autho r_plug>
----------------------------------------------

"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message
news:0c******* *************** ******@phx.gbl. ..

I have posted this before, but no one responds, so here
it goes again. I think my question is intimidating people and I have no idea why?!? This is not a new concept. You can do this with other programming languages, so why is
C# so different? Again, here is my baffling C# question.
I have C# code that opens an application, but right after it opens I am confronted by prompts for information
(i.e. "Please enter your id"). I would like to handle
these prompts programmaticall y with C#. Is there some C# code that passes a value to a prompt and then forces
the "ok" button?

.

[Jack Spry]

"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message
news:0c******** *************** *****@phx.gbl.. .

I have posted this before, but no one responds, so here
it goes again. I think my question is intimidating people
and I have no idea why?!? This is not a new concept. You
can do this with other programming languages, so why is
C# so different? Again, here is my baffling C# question.

I have C# code that opens an application, but right after
it opens I am confronted by prompts for information
(i.e. "Please enter your id"). I would like to handle
these prompts programmaticall y with C#. Is there some C#
code that passes a value to a prompt and then forces
the "ok" button?

I have one simple question: Why can't you copy or modify the Access
report?

Perhaps there is a good reason, but it mystifies me. You seem to be making
a mountain of a project out of a molehill of a task.

Modifying the report is the obvious, simple, straightforward , virtually
trivial task. Parameter queries can usually be changed in minutes to
programatic control for providing these values. Using SendKeys, hooks,
window messages, etc. is the most roundabout way of tackling this problem.

I may be able to help you with either approach, but I don't want to waste
the effort of providing the right solution to the wrong problem.

[Chris Hornberger]

Convince us you're not building some bu)(*&# hacker tool or password
spammer. I've seen several of your posts on this and you've answered
the questions as to why you want to do this.

Sorry to be so suspicious, but lately all my problems in coding have
been 100% because of hackers and the bullshit they cause in added
layers of extra crap security and such.

"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message news:<0c******* *************** ******@phx.gbl> ...

I have posted this before, but no one responds, so here
it goes again. I think my question is intimidating people
and I have no idea why?!? This is not a new concept. You
can do this with other programming languages, so why is
C# so different? Again, here is my baffling C# question.

I have C# code that opens an application, but right after
it opens I am confronted by prompts for information
(i.e. "Please enter your id"). I would like to handle
these prompts programmaticall y with C#. Is there some C#
code that passes a value to a prompt and then forces
the "ok" button?

[Chris LaJoie]

I know VB6 had a nifty SendKeys("mysec retpassword{ent er}") function. This
function is available in C# by doing this:

System.Windows. Forms.SendKeys. Send("mysecretp assword{enter}" );

Chris LaJoie

"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message
news:00******** *************** *****@phx.gbl.. .

Excellent question. I'm building a solution to a years-
old company procedure, which is "set-in-stone" (for lack
of better terminology). This procedure is so ingrained,
and the Access application is so widely distributed, that
to change any part of the Access portion of it is a big
no-no. I agree, changing the Access Report would be a
simple solution. But since that is not an option, I have
to use C#...which is really not so bad, because I am
learning by leaps and bounds about C# and what it is
capable of.

-----Original Message-----

"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message
news:0c******* *************** ******@phx.gbl. ..

I have posted this before, but no one responds, so here
it goes again. I think my question is intimidating people and I have no idea why?!? This is not a new concept. You can do this with other programming languages, so why is
C# so different? Again, here is my baffling C# question.
I have C# code that opens an application, but right after it opens I am confronted by prompts for information
(i.e. "Please enter your id"). I would like to handle
these prompts programmaticall y with C#. Is there some C# code that passes a value to a prompt and then forces
the "ok" button?

I have one simple question: Why can't you copy or

modify the Access

report?

Perhaps there is a good reason, but it mystifies me.

You seem to be making

a mountain of a project out of a molehill of a task.

Modifying the report is the obvious, simple,

straightforward , virtually

trivial task. Parameter queries can usually be changed

in minutes to

programatic control for providing these values. Using

SendKeys, hooks,

window messages, etc. is the most roundabout way of

tackling this problem.

I may be able to help you with either approach, but I

don't want to waste

the effort of providing the right solution to the wrong

problem.

.

[Chris LaJoie]

I have never heard of this problem before. Could you possibly try repeating
the SendKeys until it does work? I am aware of a couple APIs that might be
of some use. I'll do some research for you.

Chris LaJoie

"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message
news:03******** *************** *****@phx.gbl.. .

Chris,

I like your technique! It's almost exactly what I need! I
say "almost" because sendkeys is still very unreliable.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. When it
works, it works perfectly. When it doesn't work, the text
that is sent sometimes truncates. Sometimes it doesn't go
through at all.

-----Original Message-----
I know VB6 had a nifty SendKeys("mysec retpassword

{enter}") function. This

function is available in C# by doing this:

System.Windows .Forms.SendKeys .Send("mysecret password

{enter}");

Chris LaJoie

"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message
news:00******* *************** ******@phx.gbl. ..

Excellent question. I'm building a solution to a years-
old company procedure, which is "set-in-stone" (for lack of better terminology). This procedure is so ingrained,
and the Access application is so widely distributed, that to change any part of the Access portion of it is a big
no-no. I agree, changing the Access Report would be a
simple solution. But since that is not an option, I have to use C#...which is really not so bad, because I am
learning by leaps and bounds about C# and what it is
capable of.

>-----Original Message-----
>
>"Mike" <mi**@nospamher e.net> wrote in message
>news:0c******* *************** ******@phx.gbl. ..
>> I have posted this before, but no one responds, so here >> it goes again. I think my question is intimidating
people
>> and I have no idea why?!? This is not a new concept.
You
>> can do this with other programming languages, so why is >> C# so different? Again, here is my baffling C#
question.
>>
>> I have C# code that opens an application, but right
after
>> it opens I am confronted by prompts for information
>> (i.e. "Please enter your id"). I would like to handle >> these prompts programmaticall y with C#. Is there some C#
>> code that passes a value to a prompt and then forces
>> the "ok" button?
>
>I have one simple question: Why can't you copy or
modify the Access
>report?
>
>Perhaps there is a good reason, but it mystifies me.
You seem to be making
>a mountain of a project out of a molehill of a task.
>
>Modifying the report is the obvious, simple,
straightforward , virtually
>trivial task. Parameter queries can usually be changed in minutes to
>programatic control for providing these values. Using
SendKeys, hooks,
>window messages, etc. is the most roundabout way of
tackling this problem.
>
>I may be able to help you with either approach, but I
don't want to waste
>the effort of providing the right solution to the wrong problem.
>
>
>.
>

.

[Chris LaJoie]

In looking into this I found out that most problems relating to SendKeys had
to do with the wrong window being in focus. If you ensure that your access
window (or whatever you're using) is the selected window, you should solve
all your problems. I found an alternative, the SendKeyboardSta te API in
user32.dll, which in my opinion looks like way more trouble than it's worth.
But if you want to research it, go for it! :)
good luck,

Chris LaJoie