SendMessage() Function Issue

Question

I know that I can use

SendMessage(buttonHandle, BN_CLICK, 0, 0);

to get my program (program 1) to click a button on another program (program 2), but I was wondering if there was a way of doing something else. The button I wish to click on program 2 is going to pop up a window.

QUESTION:: Is there any message I can send in the SendMessage() function to bring that window up directly or is there possibly some other function that I can use to do that?

The only way the window will pop up is if program 2 executes code to create it. It's likely that the only place this code exists is in the button handler. So no, there's no other message that could make it happen. — Mark Ransom
– Mark Ransom, Commented Apr 22, 2014 at 18:42
could I possibly get that code somehow and then send it to program 2 via program 1? — user3552287
– user3552287, Commented Apr 22, 2014 at 18:55
BN_CLICK is not a valid message that you can send to a button HWND. You are thinking of BM_CLICK instead. — Remy Lebeau
– Remy Lebeau, Commented Apr 23, 2014 at 18:13

David Heffernan · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-22 18:46:30Z

1

Possible ways to automate another application include:

Faking input.
Sending messages to specific windows.
Using a system wide automation framework such as UI Automation.
Using an application specific application framework.

You are asking if it is possible to do the final of these options. That depends on the application. If the application publishes such an automation interface it is possible. Otherwise you are looking at one of the other options.

answered Apr 22, 2014 at 18:46

David Heffernan

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5 Comments

user3552287 Over a year ago

regarding your second option, I know that I can use SendMessage() to send messages to a specific window... but the thing is I want to see if instead of sending sendmessage(buttonhandle, BN_CLICK, 0, 0), I could possibly send some other code thats something like function(open_window, ID... blahblah)... so that I bypass the button clicking all together

David Heffernan Over a year ago

You require the application to expose such an interface. Does it?

user3552287 Over a year ago

I don't believe it does, no. You don't believe there is a way to insert the code into the other program to bring up that other window? (assuming we knew what that code was)

David Heffernan Over a year ago

That would be super hacky. You'd also need to find a way to get the code to run in the main thread of the program. Which is tricky to do.

user3552287 Over a year ago

hah agreed. who knows... one day maybe I'll get to that level :P

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