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hakanfaFlag for Finland

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Getting data from another application..


Hello there Experts!

Is it possible to get data from another external application not build in Delphi?
I have an application written in Visual Basic from which i would like to get data
(string) from its TextEdit fields. I have no possibilities to change the source on
the VB side so all possible programming is to be done in Delphi..

Is this possible ??

Hokki
Avatar of GloomyFriar
GloomyFriar

Yes. You can read from TextEdit fields if you know its handlers
Here is sample code:

var
 Form1: TForm1;
 g_w_handle: HWND;
 g_w_cap: string;
 g_stage: longint;
 g_str: array[0..2048] of char;


function EnumChildsFunc(wnd: HWND; lParam: longint): longint; stdcall;
var Res: integer;
   str: array[0..1024] of char;
begin
 Res := GetWindowText(wnd, g_str, 2048);

 case g_stage of
   1: begin
     if g_str[0] = #0 then begin
       if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'First Name:') = 0 then begin
         StrPCopy(str, 'alex');
         SendMessage(wnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, integer(@str[0]));
       end else if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'Last Name:') = 0 then begin
         StrPCopy(str, 'm');
         SendMessage(wnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, integer(@str[0]));
       end else if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'Gender:') = 0 then begin
         SendMessage(wnd, CB_SETCURSEL, 1, 0);
       end else if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'Zip / Postal Code:') = 0 then begin
         StrPCopy(str, '22222');
         SendMessage(wnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, integer(@str[0]));
       end else if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'Occupation:') = 0 then begin
         SendMessage(wnd, CB_SETCURSEL, 2, 0);
       end;
     end else if ((StrComp(@g_str[0], '&Contact me from time to time about specials and new products') = 0) or
                  (StrComp(@g_str[0], '„Ÿ„‚„„‡„‡ >') = 0)) then begin
         SendMessage(wnd, BM_CLICK, 0, 0);
     end;
   end;
   2: begin
     if g_str[0] = #0 then begin
       if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'reate My Own') = 0 then begin
         StrPCopy(str, Form1.Edit1.Text);
         SendMessage(wnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, integer(@str[0]));
       end else if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'e&type Password:') = 0 then begin
         StrPCopy(str, '123123');
         SendMessage(wnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, integer(@str[0]));
       end else if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'Password:') = 0 then begin
         StrPCopy(str, '123123');
         SendMessage(wnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, integer(@str[0]));
       end;
     end else if ((StrComp(@g_str[0], 'Create My Own') = 0) or
                  (StrComp(@g_str[0], '&Remember my ID and Password') = 0) or
                  (StrComp(@g_str[0], '„Ÿ„‚„„‡„‡ >') = 0)) then begin
         SendMessage(wnd, BM_CLICK, 0, 0);
     end;
   end;
   3: begin
     if g_str[0] = #0 then begin
       if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'Question we''ll ask:') = 0 then begin
         SendMessage(wnd, CB_SETCURSEL, 2, 0);
       end else if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'our &answer:') = 0 then begin
         StrPCopy(str, '1234567890');
         SendMessage(wnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, integer(@str[0]));
       end else if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'our &birthday:') = 0 then begin
         StrPCopy(str, '01/01/1975');
         SendMessage(wnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, integer(@str[0]));
       end else if StrComp(@g_str[1], 'urrent &Email Address:') = 0 then begin
         StrPCopy(str, 'alexn911@hotmail.com');
         SendMessage(wnd, WM_SETTEXT, 0, integer(@str[0]));
       end;
     end else if (StrComp(@g_str[0], '„Ÿ„‚„„‡„‡ >') = 0) then begin
         SendMessage(wnd, BM_CLICK, 0, 0);
     end;
   end;
 end;
end;



procedure TForm1.SpeedButton1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
 if FindWindowByCap('Window caption') <> HWND(-1) then begin
    g_stage := 1;
   FillMemory(@g_str[0], 2048, BYTE('#'));
   EnumChildWindows(g_w_handle, @EnumChildsFunc, 0);
 end;
end;


function FindWindowByCap(text: string): HWND;
begin
 g_w_handle := HWND(-1);
 g_w_cap := text;
 EnumWindows(@EnumFunc, 0);
 Result := g_w_handle;
end;


function EnumFunc(wnd: HWND; lParam: longint): longint; stdcall;
var str: array[0..2048] of char;
   Res: integer;
begin
  Res := GetWindowText(wnd, str, 2048);
  if ((Res > 0) and
      (CompareStr(g_w_cap, StrPas(str)) = 0)) then begin
    g_w_handle := wnd;
    Result := 0;
  end else begin
    Result := 1;
  end;
end;
Avatar of hakanfa

ASKER

Well thank You, but one problem.. I would like to receive (get) data from the other application..

So lets say, I have an application (VB) with caption "DemoForm" and a textedit "DemoText" with a text in it
like "Hello!". How do I get this text into my application..??

Hokki


;-)
Just  use WM_GETTEXT instead WM_SETTEXT like that:
SendMessage(wnd, WM_GETTEXT, 64, integer(@str[0]));



// Hint From Help
SendMessage(
  (HWND) hWnd,              // handle to destination window
  WM_GETTEXT,               // message to send
  (WPARAM) wParam,          // number of characters to copy
  (LPARAM) lParam           // text buffer
);

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of GloomyFriar
GloomyFriar

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By the way could you give me your demo application and I'll write cade sample for it.
Avatar of hakanfa

ASKER

Very kind of you.. Email?
Avatar of hakanfa

ASKER

And yes one more thing.. (I've been doin some studing here) is it possible to get the name och the component? Not the ClassName but the name? How is it otherwise possible to know from where the data is retrieved? Like if the "external" application has lets say 3 textedits (FirstName, FamilyName, Address), and I would like to pick up only the address text and put it in my application..??


Thanks,Hokki
eric at f2w.net
Avatar of hakanfa

ASKER

Well GloomyFriar I can not get the email through with that address?
>: Recipient address rejected: This user does not have an account here (MTA:imta13))

Can you please send me a "blanco" email so I get the correct address...
may address hakan.fagerstrom at dg-office.net  

Thanks,
Hokki