How do I use low level winapi to automate application

Question

1.24/5 (3 votes)

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Build a console application that automates a Windows based application which adds , subtracts, multiplies and divides two integers.The automation should be able to launch the application, enter two integers and select an operation and click equals button

What I have tried:

I was able to code the application which performs operations between integers. Couldn't write code for automating it through console.Code i wrote for first part is:

private void btnTotal_Click(object sender,EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                double firstnum= Convert.ToDouble(txtFirstNumber.Text);
				double secondnum=Convert.ToDoubletxtSeconNumber.Text);
				char operator;
                switch (operator)
                {
                    case "+":
                        {                     
							lblResult.visible=true;
							lblResult.text="Result is: " + (firstnum+secondnum).ToString();
                            break;
                        }
                    case "-":
                        {
                            lblResult.visible=true;
							lblResult.text="Result is: " + (firstnum-secondnum).ToString();
                            break;
                        }
                    case "*":
                        {
							lblResult.visible=true;
							lblResult.text="Result is: " + (firstnum*secondnum).ToString();
                            break;
                        }
                    case "/":
                        {
							if (secondnum != 0) 
							{ 
								lblResult.visible=true;
								lblResult.text="Result is: " + (firstnum*secondnum).ToString(); 
							} 
							else 
							{ 
								MessageBox.Show("Can't divide by zero"); 
							} 
							break;
                        }
					default:
                        {
                            MessageBox.Show("Invalid Input"); 
                            break;
                        }
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);  
            }
        }

Posted 4-Apr-17 4:54am

Member 13097868

Updated 6-Apr-17 9:01am

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Comments

[no name] 4-Apr-17 10:59am

Again.... what is your specific question?

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 11:11am

My question is how to call my windows form (i created above) from my console application using WinAPI functions and User32.dll( this is what is mentioned in my assignment)

F-ES Sitecore 4-Apr-17 11:16am

It's your homework for your course so they want you to use the techniques you've been taught. We don't know what those techniques are and even if we did we still aren't going to do your homework for you.

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 11:21am

This is an assignment , I don't have any experience in automation. I have tried my level best and have been working on it since thursday. I am not expecting a code rather a guidance. If you can guide I'll appreciate it. I have 0 year exp in dotnet, still tried to write the above code. So atleast dont demotivate if not help.

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 11:22am

And yes for your information I am doing self study to learn dotnet andthese sort of assignments i try to search so that i can learn more

Dave Kreskowiak 4-Apr-17 11:53am

That is a very specific application. What exactly are you studying that applies to such a specific application?

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 14:24pm

I am studying about WinAPI and how to automate windows form

Dave Kreskowiak 4-Apr-17 14:29pm

If you're asking "how do I do it" after studying how to do it, you're not studying very well.

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 15:01pm

I don't have a material to refer to, I googled about API and there is not much about it. Yes, I am asking "how do I do it" coz I was unable to, may be I am not as experienced and smart as you all are but I can ask a question seeking for some guidance. Is this forum not for beginners?

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 14:32pm

I am trying to understand windows automation. I have already created a form where I am doing various arithmetical operations on two numbers. This same form I want to automate through my console application( eg: form opens up, the application itself enters 6 and 0(these values will be hardcoded) and select division from drop down list and after pressing "equals" button result be displayed.

Dave Kreskowiak 4-Apr-17 14:35pm

OK, so you're studying "Windows Automation" which mean you MUST have some material you're reading that teaches you about it and what the API functions do, correct? If not, I have no idea what you're studying.

Now, your study materials for "Windows Automation" should have told you how to do it. True?

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 14:56pm

I am studying through msdn, codeproject blog, stackoverflow blog, everywhere there is a different method mentioned when I tried using those methods I could not get output.I don't have any mentor whom I could reach to when I could not solve this assignment. So tried to seek guidance from this forum. Is it like if I am having some material to study I definitely should be able to solve it? I really need some guidance here how to approach "Windows automation"

Dave Kreskowiak 4-Apr-17 15:16pm

OK, since you don't really have any study materials, where did this "assignment" come from?

[no name] 4-Apr-17 11:25am

You mean like https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb762153(v=vs.85).aspx?

FYI, the "What I have tried" section is used to tell us what you have tried to do for yourself before asking here.

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 11:32am

I have already mentioned the code I have written, and as for the second part I could not do much, tried using [Dllimprt "user32.dll"] tried writing console application with the following code:
[STAThread]
static void main(){
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.Run(new Form());
}
and several different things I found on several blogs youtube etc

[no name] 4-Apr-17 11:55am

Yes and that HAS NOTHING to do with your question!

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 14:28pm

I think you can't help much on this topic. I appreciate your 'NOT SO USEFUL' guidance here.

[no name] 5-Apr-17 13:16pm

Well I appreciate your vague teach-me-programming question here. We aren't here to teach you programming.

Member 13097868 4-Apr-17 11:34am

By could not do much (before you misinterpret) i mean no workable solution i could find. everywhere an example of calling notepad and calculator is given but i could not manipulate my code accordingly because I have no experience in dotnet.

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Matt Comb · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-06T09:01:00

I would suggest you use the task scheduler to execute a windows console application or similar but you will need to investigate "findwindow" and "sendmessage" api calls.

-- Calling Application

[DllImport("user32.dll")]    
public static extern IntPtr FindWindow(string lpClassName, String lpWindowName);    
[DllImport("user32.dll")]    
public static extern int SendMessage(IntPtr hWnd, int wMsg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam);    
[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError=true, CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
static extern uint RegisterWindowMessage(string lpString);

public void SendMessageToApp
{        
     uint id = RegisterWindowMessage("MyUniqueMessageIdentifier");
     IntPtr WindowToFind = FindWindow(null, "Form1");    
     Debug.Assert(WindowToFind != IntPtr.Zero);
     SendMessage(WindowToFind, id, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);
}

-- Receiving Application

class Form1 : Form
{
    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError=true, CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
    static extern uint RegisterWindowMessage(string lpString);

    private uint _messageId = RegisterWindowMessage("MyUniqueMessageIdentifier");

    protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
    {
       if (m.Msg == _messageId)
       {
           // do stuff

       }
       base.WndProc(ref m);
    }
}