How can I capture data from a non-MMF2 app?

[RGBreality]

Hey, folks!

Is there a way I can send data to and capture data from a non-MMF2 application?

Specifically, I'd like to be able to send a text string TO a non-MMF2 application, then capture that application's results (from a list box).

Any ideas on how to do such a thing?

Thanks!



Most graciously...

RGBreality

[nivram]

RGBreality, I don't think that is possible. Of course if I'm wrong I'm sure my kind fellow forum members will rip my lips from my face.

Marv

[Looki]

Ehm, that really depends on what you're trying to do exactly. Sending a text string is not enough

[Hernan]

Are you also the developer of the non-MMF application or is it written by someone else?

[RGBreality]

No, I'm afraid I'm not the developer of the non-MMF2 application. I suspect that everyone who has commented is correct: I don't think it's possible to capture data from a non-MMF2 application short of using Windows Clipboard in some fashion.



RGBreality

[Hernan]

It's not impossible, there are methods to communicate with other apps, but if you're not the developer of the other app then it probably no use. Two methods I could think of are window messages (with winmesspro, but i've never really worked with that) or sockets (with moosock).

[nivram]

I don't think it is good idea trying to grab data from a program you did not make. Just a thought.

Marv

[UrbanMonk]

You can read memory from another program I believe. (Memory Object?)

Use something like cheat engine to find the memory address (so long as it's in the same place)

Then grab the data there.


Of course you can put data into other programs multiple ways. Either by using a macro of sorts, like making your program simulate holding down ctrl+v to paste into text fields. (I've done this in fact)

Or if the other program can have data entered using a commandline (check the programs documentation) then you could send the data using something like:

Execute External Program "blah.exe" /d "data data"

It all depends on the program though.

If you can make the program output to a file then you could read the contents of the file.



These are all methods of reading data from a program if the right circumstances are met.

Good Luck!

[Digitalic]

You could use something like AutoIT to get the data into and out of the other app. This could be controlled from an MMF2 application which could execute the external AutoIT application.

AutoIT is very powerful, and worth a look if you want to interact with third party applications. It can produce executable applications and is free!

[Jax]

The Window Message way is probably the way to do it, but don't expect it to work when the program has been updated.