asked on

controlling other application from Delphi

Hi guys!

Is there a way to control another application using Delphi?

In fact, my problem is this one: I have a commercial application that has some nasty limitations. This a very special purpose database. So this application let me print any data record, but only one at a time. I want to write a program in delphi that sends to the proper menu the mouse clicks (or the hot keys associated) to that application so I can print all the records I need without having to go to each menu each time.

Any ideas?

best regards,
Manuel Lopez (lopem)

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

CrazyOne

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CrazyOne

I think to send a hotkey you need to use the VK_MENU + virtual key (maybe something like this VK_MENU + VK_A)

ginsonic

listening

quantum2

{****************************************************}
{ SendKeys Unit for Delphi 32 }
{ Copyright (c) 1999 by Borut Batagelj (Slovenia) }
{ Aleksey Kuznetsov (Ukraine) }
{ Home Page: www.utilmind.com }
{ E-Mail: info@utilmind.com }
{****************************************************}

unit SendKeys;

interface

uses
Windows, SysUtils;

const
SK_BKSP = #8;
SK_TAB = #9;
SK_ENTER = #13;
SK_ESC = #27;
SK_ADD = #107;
SK_SUB = #109;
SK_F1 = #228;
SK_F2 = #229;
SK_F3 = #230;
SK_F4 = #231;
SK_F5 = #232;
SK_F6 = #233;
SK_F7 = #234;
SK_F8 = #235;
SK_F9 = #236;
SK_F10 = #237;
SK_F11 = #238;
SK_F12 = #239;
SK_HOME = #240;
SK_END = #241;
SK_UP = #242;
SK_DOWN = #243;
SK_LEFT = #244;
SK_RIGHT = #245;
SK_PGUP = #246;
SK_PGDN = #247;
SK_INS = #248;
SK_DEL = #249;
SK_SHIFT_DN = #250;
SK_SHIFT_UP = #251;
SK_CTRL_DN = #252;
SK_CTRL_UP = #253;
SK_ALT_DN = #254;
SK_ALT_UP = #255;

procedure SendKeyString(Text: String);
procedure SendKeysToTitle(WindowTitle: String; Text: String);
procedure SendKeysToHandle(WindowHandle: hWnd; Text: String);
procedure MakeWindowActive(wHandle: hWnd);
function GetHandleFromWindowTitle(TitleText: String): hWnd;

implementation

procedure SendKeyString(Text: String);
var
i: Integer;
Shift: Boolean;
vk, ScanCode: Word;
ch: Char;
c, s: Byte;
const
vk_keys: Array[0..9] of Byte =
(VK_HOME, VK_END, VK_UP, VK_DOWN, VK_LEFT,
VK_RIGHT, VK_PRIOR, VK_NEXT, VK_INSERT, VK_DELETE);
vk_shft: Array[0..2] of Byte = (VK_SHIFT, VK_CONTROL, VK_MENU);
flags: Array[False..True] of Integer = (KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);
begin
Shift := False;
for i := 1 to Length(Text) do
begin
ch := Text[i];
if ch >= #250 then
begin
s := Ord(ch) - 250;
Shift := not Odd(s);
c := vk_shft[s shr 1];
ScanCode := MapVirtualKey(c,0);
Keybd_Event(c, Scancode, Flags[shift], 0);
end
else
begin
vk := 0;
if ch >= #240 then
c := vk_keys[Ord(ch) - 240]
else
if ch >= #228 then {228 (F1) => $70 (vk_F1)}
c := Ord(ch) - 116
else
if ch < #110 then
c := Ord(ch)
else
begin
vk := VkKeyScan(ch);
c := LoByte(vk);
end;
ScanCode := MapVirtualKey(c,0);
if not Shift and (Hi(vk) > 0) then { $2A = scancode of VK_SHIFT }
Keybd_Event(VK_SHIFT, $2A, 0, 0);
Keybd_Event(c,scancode, 0, 0);
Keybd_Event(c,scancode, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);
if not Shift and (Hi(vk) > 0) then
Keybd_Event(VK_SHIFT, $2A, KEYEVENTF_KEYUP, 0);
end;
end;
end;

procedure MakeWindowActive(wHandle: hWnd);
begin
if IsIconic(wHandle) then
ShowWindow(wHandle, SW_RESTORE)
else
BringWindowToTop(wHandle);
end;

function GetHandleFromWindowTitle(TitleText: String): hWnd;
var
StrBuf: Array[0..$FF] of Char;
begin
Result := FindWindow(PChar(0), StrPCopy(StrBuf, TitleText));
end;

procedure SendKeysToTitle(WindowTitle: String; Text: String);
var
Window: hWnd;
begin
Window := GetHandleFromWindowTitle(WindowTitle);
MakeWindowActive(Window);
SendKeyString(Text);
end;

procedure SendKeysToHandle(WindowHandle: hWnd; Text: String);
begin
MakeWindowActive(WindowHandle);
SendKeyString(Text);
end;

end.

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