SendMessage in VB.Net

**rowe_newsgroups** · May 18 '07, 05:05 PM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

On May 18, 12:38 pm, Necromis <tflem...@pscuf s.comwrote:

Ok, I am really losing it. I cannot seem to wrap my head around the
SendMessage function/method. What I am trying to do is send text/data
to an instance of a window that I know the handle of from within a
vb.net application. Can someone give me a decent example of the code
I
would need to create to process this using the sample data below.
>
Windows hwnd = 0xB0484
String text = "NM*14*ACCTNO*M MDDYY"
>
I have been looking at it both in the local and online help and
searching the web all over and I am not getting it. Either I am not
understanding it right or am missing something. I really right now
just need a good code example. I am trying to pull data from a text
file and send it in strings to another application w/o having to call
focus to the window. This way I can run a batch of transactions on
this other program.
>
Oh and one other bit of info I am using MS VB 2005 Express Edition as
my coding environment.

I don't think your can use the SendMessage API to send string
messages. The function only accepts integer values for the message and
lparam and wparam.

Thanks,

Seth Rowe

**Mattias Sjögren** · May 18 '07, 05:25 PM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

>Ok, I am really losing it. I cannot seem to wrap my head around the
>SendMessage function/method. What I am trying to do is send text/data
>to an instance of a window that I know the handle of from within a
>vb.net application.

What kind of window is the target? If it's a standard Windows control
then the WM_SETTEXT message is probably the one you want.

Mattias

--
Mattias Sjögren [C# MVP] mattias @ mvps.org
http://www.msjogren.net/dotnet/ | http://www.dotnetinterop.com
Please reply only to the newsgroup.

**Mattias Sjögren** · May 18 '07, 05:25 PM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

>I don't think your can use the SendMessage API to send string
>messages. The function only accepts integer values for the message and
>lparam and wparam.

Both lparam and wparam can be any pointer-sized value, including
string pointers etc. What you actually should pass as arguments
depends on the message.

Mattias

--
Mattias Sjögren [C# MVP] mattias @ mvps.org
http://www.msjogren.net/dotnet/ | http://www.dotnetinterop.com
Please reply only to the newsgroup.

**Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]** · May 18 '07, 05:35 PM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

"Necromis" <tfleming@pscuf s.comschrieb;

Ok, I am really losing it. I cannot seem to wrap my head around the
SendMessage function/method. What I am trying to do is send text/data
to an instance of a window that I know the handle of from within a
vb.net application.

Depending on the exact situation, you may call 'SendMessage' + 'WM_SETTEXT'
(see documentation for details). An alternative would be to call
'SendKeys.Send' or 'keybd_event' or 'SendInput', if you do not have the
window handle the text should be assigned to.

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>

**Necromis** · May 18 '07, 06:25 PM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

On May 18, 1:29 pm, "Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-
h...@gmx.atwrot e:

"Necromis" <tflem...@pscuf s.comschrieb;
>

Ok, I am really losing it. I cannot seem to wrap my head around the
SendMessage function/method. What I am trying to do is send text/data
to an instance of a window that I know the handle of from within a
vb.net application.

>
Depending on the exact situation, you may call 'SendMessage' + 'WM_SETTEXT'
(see documentation for details). An alternative would be to call
'SendKeys.Send' or 'keybd_event' or 'SendInput', if you do not have the
window handle the text should be assigned to.
>
--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>

Well the window is similar to a dos based application. The
applications name is "Extra - For Netware." It is software used by
FDR. We use it in house for transaction processing and I need to key
large batches of transactions to it real time rather than sending them
out to the processor to run.

**Newbie Coder** · May 19 '07, 12:25 AM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

Necromis,

Don't use SendKeys because if you take focus off the window it will fail

To get the window handle then use the FindWindow function to return the
IntPtr (for 64 bit compatibility) or just Int32 for no 64 bit ones is fine

The WM_SETTEXT is just a constant to use but

What control are you trying to paste to? You mention strings, but for
example Dim strText As String = TextBox1.Text.. .

--
Newbie Coder
(It's just a name)

"Necromis" <tfleming@pscuf s.comwrote in message
news:1179512482 .126621.74310@l 77g2000hsb.goog legroups.com...

On May 18, 1:29 pm, "Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-
h...@gmx.atwrot e:

"Necromis" <tflem...@pscuf s.comschrieb;

Ok, I am really losing it. I cannot seem to wrap my head around the
SendMessage function/method. What I am trying to do is send text/data
to an instance of a window that I know the handle of from within a
vb.net application.

Depending on the exact situation, you may call 'SendMessage' +

'WM_SETTEXT'

(see documentation for details). An alternative would be to call
'SendKeys.Send' or 'keybd_event' or 'SendInput', if you do not have the
window handle the text should be assigned to.

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>

>
Well the window is similar to a dos based application. The
applications name is "Extra - For Netware." It is software used by
FDR. We use it in house for transaction processing and I need to key
large batches of transactions to it real time rather than sending them
out to the processor to run.
>

**Newbie Coder** · May 19 '07, 12:45 AM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

Herfried,

[OP QUOTE]:

I am trying to pull data from a text file and send it in strings to another
application w/o having to call focus to the window. This way I can run a
batch of transactions on this other program.

[END OP QUOTE]

[HERFRIED QUOTE]:

An alternative would be to call
'SendKeys.Send' ...

[END HERFRIED QUOTE]

How do you use SendKeys to paste text in a window that doesn't have focus?

SendKeys Class (System.Windows.Forms)

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.sendkeys_members(vs.80).aspx

Provides methods for sending keystrokes to an application.

Look at the definition of SEND in the Public Methods which says:

'Sends keystrokes to the active application'

Notice the 'ACTIVE' application

SendKeys Methods & Examples:

SendKeys.Send(String) Method (System.Windows.Forms)

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.sendkeys.send(VS.80).aspx

Sends keystrokes to the active application.

Where in there does SendKeys pass the handle to send the keystrokes to an
application without focus? There isn't as it only is used for ACTIVE
applications, which the OP didn't want

You're wrong, Herfried

Where's your code examples on using the other information?

You say see WM_SETTEXT constant, but you haven't even supplied simple info
like for example:

Private Const WM_SETTEXT = &HC

----------------------------------------

Sorry, but this proves you shouldn't be a MVP, giving incorrect information
& no code samples

--
Newbie Coder
(It's just a name)

"Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-here@gmx.atwrot e in message
news:ekY%23fIXm HHA.1240@TK2MSF TNGP04.phx.gbl. ..

"Necromis" <tfleming@pscuf s.comschrieb;

Ok, I am really losing it. I cannot seem to wrap my head around the
SendMessage function/method. What I am trying to do is send text/data
to an instance of a window that I know the handle of from within a
vb.net application.

>
Depending on the exact situation, you may call 'SendMessage' +

'WM_SETTEXT'

(see documentation for details). An alternative would be to call
'SendKeys.Send' or 'keybd_event' or 'SendInput', if you do not have the
window handle the text should be assigned to.
>
--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>
>

**Michel Posseth [MCP]** · May 19 '07, 11:15 AM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

why so offensive and rude Newbie Coder ?

Do you have a bad day ? .... I notice this from more people nowadays in
these groups , don`t forget that

Herfried mentioned this as a option , so maybe he means that the OP could
take a alternative aproach
maybe give the app focus send the keystrokes and then set the focus back to
the previous focused app maybe this would become a option for the OP if he
wasn`t aware of this posibility

And well we all have sometimes a bad day ( no bad hairdays for me as i am
bald :-)

regards

Michel

"Newbie Coder" <newbiecoder@sp ammeplease.coms chreef in bericht
news:%2361L33am HHA.2296@TK2MSF TNGP03.phx.gbl. ..

Herfried,
>
[OP QUOTE]:
>
I am trying to pull data from a text file and send it in strings to
another
application w/o having to call focus to the window. This way I can run a
batch of transactions on this other program.
>
[END OP QUOTE]
>
[HERFRIED QUOTE]:
>
An alternative would be to call
'SendKeys.Send' ...
>
[END HERFRIED QUOTE]
>
How do you use SendKeys to paste text in a window that doesn't have focus?
>

SendKeys Class (System.Windows.Forms)

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.sendkeys_members(vs.80).aspx

Provides methods for sending keystrokes to an application.

>
Look at the definition of SEND in the Public Methods which says:
>
'Sends keystrokes to the active application'
>
Notice the 'ACTIVE' application
>
SendKeys Methods & Examples:
>

SendKeys.Send(String) Method (System.Windows.Forms)

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.sendkeys.send(VS.80).aspx

Sends keystrokes to the active application.

>
Where in there does SendKeys pass the handle to send the keystrokes to an
application without focus? There isn't as it only is used for ACTIVE
applications, which the OP didn't want
>
You're wrong, Herfried
>
Where's your code examples on using the other information?
>
You say see WM_SETTEXT constant, but you haven't even supplied simple info
like for example:
>
Private Const WM_SETTEXT = &HC
>
----------------------------------------
>
Sorry, but this proves you shouldn't be a MVP, giving incorrect
information
& no code samples
>
--
Newbie Coder
(It's just a name)
>
>
>
>
"Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]" <hirf-spam-me-here@gmx.atwrot e in message
news:ekY%23fIXm HHA.1240@TK2MSF TNGP04.phx.gbl. ..

>"Necromis" <tfleming@pscuf s.comschrieb;

Ok, I am really losing it. I cannot seem to wrap my head around the
SendMessage function/method. What I am trying to do is send text/data
to an instance of a window that I know the handle of from within a
vb.net application.

>>
>Depending on the exact situation, you may call 'SendMessage' +

'WM_SETTEXT'

>(see documentation for details). An alternative would be to call
>'SendKeys.Send ' or 'keybd_event' or 'SendInput', if you do not have the
>window handle the text should be assigned to.
>>
>--
> M S Herfried K. Wagner
>M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
> V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>
>>

>
>

**Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]** · May 19 '07, 11:35 AM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

"Newbie Coder" <newbiecoder@sp ammeplease.coms chrieb:

Don't use SendKeys because if you take focus off the window it will fail

Whereas the latter is true, I believe that 'SendKeys' serves its purpose.

To get the window handle then use the FindWindow function to return the
IntPtr (for 64 bit compatibility) or just Int32 for no 64 bit ones is fine
>
The WM_SETTEXT is just a constant to use but
>
What control are you trying to paste to? You mention strings, but for
example Dim strText As String = TextBox1.Text.. .

'WM_SETTEXT' won't work for all controls/windows, that's why I mentioned
'SendKeys' as an alternative for those cases. Well, yes, I know about the
disadvantages of this approach very well.

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>

**Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]** · May 19 '07, 11:35 AM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

"Michel Posseth [MCP]" <MSDN@posseth.c omschrieb:

why so offensive and rude Newbie Coder ?

Don't feed the trolls.

Herfried mentioned this as a option

Yes, I mentioned it as an option for the case that "all else fails".

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/>

**Cor Ligthert [MVP]** · May 19 '07, 06:35 PM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

Herfried,

With one short sentence you destroy the work from Michel.

You should know that Newbie Coder is no troll any more but a welcome
contributer.

I think with this I have enough written,

Cor

**Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]** · May 19 '07, 09:45 PM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

"Cor Ligthert [MVP]" <notmyfirstname @planet.nlschri eb:

With one short sentence you destroy the work from Michel.
>
You should know that Newbie Coder is no troll any more but a welcome
contributer.

If somebody acts like a troll, he is a troll.

Nevertheless, constructive and helpful contributions are always welcome and
valuable.

--
M S Herfried K. Wagner
M V P <URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/>
V B <URL:http://classicvb.org/petition/>

**Necromis** · May 21 '07, 04:45 PM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

Thank you all, the help is appreciated, and hopefully in the end we
will have the answer I need. The application is MS-Dos based, it
utilizes ODS as well. Also the main window I am sending the text
string to is similar in function to cmd prompt screen. I have the
handle of the window which I included in my earlier post.

**Newbie Coder** · May 21 '07, 11:16 PM

Re: SendMessage in VB.Net

Necromis,

The handle isn't static & will change at each run or boot

So, you need to pass a string to a console app. How many command line
arguments are there?

In the first app, where is the text coming from? A textbox or another
control or another?

Does it have to destroy the data after its sent?

--
Newbie Coder
(It's just a name)

"Necromis" <tfleming@pscuf s.comwrote in message
news:1179765882 .061687.276850@ 36g2000prm.goog legroups.com...

Thank you all, the help is appreciated, and hopefully in the end we
will have the answer I need. The application is MS-Dos based, it
utilizes ODS as well. Also the main window I am sending the text
string to is similar in function to cmd prompt screen. I have the
handle of the window which I included in my earlier post.
>

SendMessage in VB.Net

SendMessage in VB.Net

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