SendKeys in vb.net

[bhagawatshinde]

Hi i am working on windows application . I am opening an math type using button want to select all and copy send keys are not working
here is my code ...

Dim proc As New Process()

        With proc.StartInfo
            .Arguments = "file_path.bmp"
            .UseShellExecute = True
            .WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal
            .WorkingDirectory = "C:\Windows\System32\" 'path name
            .FileName = "mathtype.exe" '<----- Set  Exe Name
        End With
        proc.Start()
              proc.Close()
        proc.Dispose()

        System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^A") 'use keys
        System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^C")

help me!

[lolafuertes]

Please start at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.sendkeys.send.aspx

The Send methos sends the keys to the current active application, so you need to be confident that the application having the focus is the one you are trying to send the keys.

Hope this helps

[the_carpenter]

Also, give your system time to process what you've asked it to do before sending the keystrokes by inserting the following prior to the send keys:

System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(500)

[ÜnLoCo]

use proc.WaitForInputIdle() it will kind of halt your application until the main window of the proc is created ..
here is a code suggestion

Dim proc As New Process()

        With proc.StartInfo
            .Arguments = "c:\equ.wmf"
            .UseShellExecute = True
            .WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal
            .WorkingDirectory = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles) + "\MathType"
            .FileName = "mathtype.exe" '<----- Set Exe Name
            If Not My.Computer.FileSystem.FileExists(.WorkingDirectory & "\" & .FileName) Then
                Exit Sub
            End If
        End With

        proc.Start()
        proc.WaitForInputIdle()
        Threading.Thread.Sleep(500)
        System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^q") 'use keys
        System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^c")
        proc.CloseMainWindow()
        proc.Dispose()

what i have changed is:
- the path to "mathtype.exe" (it is in my machine's program files)
- the "select all" sequence (q) and the "copy" sequence ('c' lower case)
=> check the edit menu to make sure about them.

PS: if you want to let's say paste the equation inside a richtextbox then you must
make some delay i.e.

Threading.Thread.Sleep(1)
        RichTextBox1.Paste()

screen capture

[the_carpenter]

Are you just trying to capture the output of an command line interface?

[bhagawatshinde]

Hi, I am used this code but how to use it without timer it cant paste after timing is over it paste only '

Threading.Thread.Sleep(1)
        Richtextbox1.Paste()
in the richtextbox

Dim proc As New Process()

        With proc.StartInfo
            .Arguments = "c:\equ.wmf"
            .UseShellExecute = True
            .WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal
            .WorkingDirectory = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles) + "\MathType"
            .FileName = "mathtype.exe" '<----- Set Exe Name
            If Not My.Computer.FileSystem.FileExists(.WorkingDirectory & "\" & .FileName) Then
                Exit Sub
            End If
        End With

        proc.Start()
        proc.WaitForInputIdle()
        Threading.Thread.Sleep(500)
        System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^q") 'use keys
        System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^c")
        proc.CloseMainWindow()
        proc.Dispose()

        Threading.Thread.Sleep(1)
        Richtextbox1.Paste()

[lolafuertes]

Maybe you can try changing a little the order or sentences

proc.Start()
proc.WaitForInputIdle()
Threading.Thread.Sleep(500)

System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^q") 'use keys
Threading.Thread.Sleep(1)

System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^c")
Threading.Thread.Sleep(1)

Richtextbox1.Paste() 

proc.CloseMainWindow()
proc.Dispose()

Hope this helps

[bhagawatshinde]

I am used this code but its giving me error like Process is excited.

[bhagawatshinde]

Hi i am used this code its working. thanks
but one last question is that without using the thread how i can use it when i close the exe application(math type). it copy and paste into richtextbox.

Here is my code

Dim proc As New Process()

        With proc.StartInfo
            .Arguments = "c:\equ.wmf"
            .UseShellExecute = True
            .WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal
            .WorkingDirectory = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles) + "\MathType"
            .FileName = "mathtype.exe" '<----- Set Exe Name
            If Not My.Computer.FileSystem.FileExists(.WorkingDirectory & "\" & .FileName) Then
                Exit Sub
            End If
        End With

        proc.Start()
        proc.WaitForInputIdle()


        Threading.Thread.Sleep(5000)

        System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^a") 'use keys
        System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.Send("^c")
        rtxtnarration.Focus()
        'SendKeys("^v", True)
        rtxtnarration.Paste()
        ' proc.CloseMainWindow()
        proc.Dispose()