How to make vb sendkeys.sendwait execute after a dialog open

Question

I'm testing an addin in ArcMap to open an existing file, the program stops after the dialog opened, it seems the SendKeys already executed before the dialog. Your advice is much appreciated.

    Dim pCmdItmOpen As ICommandItem 'file open dialog
    Dim pUIDopn As New UID
    pUIDopn.Value = "{119591DB-0255-11D2-8D20-080009EE4E51}"
    pUIDopn.SubType = 2
    pCmdItmOpen = mxApp.Document.CommandBars.Find(pUIDopn)
    pCmdItmOpen.Execute()
    SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
    SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
    SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")

Answer 1

I got this solution：

Detecting whether the dialog has been opened or not, if existing, then execute SendKeys. If not, waiting for a moment, maybe 3 sec, then detecting again.

How to：

Detecting whether the dialog has been opened or not

FindWindow FindWindowEx

Use FindWindow to find the dialog

Waiting for a period then execute the next step

Using timers in vb

Use timer to count the waiting time

Reply： I don't have 50 reputations, so not allowed to post a comment.

To use the FindWindow, you have to use the correct parameter. You could use Spy++ (Visual Studio, Tools/Spy++) to find the parameter of this dialog window.

You could use code below：

Declare:

<DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet:=CharSet.Auto, EntryPoint:="FindWindow")>
Private Shared Function FindWindow(ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As IntPtr 
End Function

Function catchDialog：

Private Sub catchDialog()
     Dim hwnd As IntPtr = FindWindow("Class", "Caption")
     If hwnd <> IntPtr.Zero Then
        
        yourSendKeyProcess(hwnd)

     Else

     ' dialog not showing, waiting for 3 Sec. then detecting again. 
     ' Use Thread.Sleep() is simple then timer.
        Thread.Sleep(3000)
        catchDialog()

     End if

End Sub     

Function yourSendKeyProcess：

Private Sub yourSendKeyProcess(ByVal window as IntPtr)

     SetForegroundWindow(window)
     SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
     SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
     SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")

End Sub    

Use Spy++ to find the value of "Caption", and "Class" of the dialog.

The example above, the value of Caption of the window is "Add to Archive" and the value of Class is "#32770(Dialog)", and the code would be：

Dim hWnd As IntPtr = FindWindow("#32770", "Add to Archive")

But even you could catch the dialog window, I am not sure that your code SendKey could work, so why you use those codes？

SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")

You want to input a string ("C:\TEST.mxd") in the textbox on the dialog, then press a button on the dialog?

Edit： Set the form1 always on top but not influence operation on other window： Add this sub to make the form1 on top in the beginning：

Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    Me.TopMost = True
End Sub

and Function catchDialog：

Private Sub catchDialog()
     Dim hwnd As IntPtr = FindWindow("Class", "Caption")
     If hwnd <> IntPtr.Zero Then
        
       
        me.TopMost = false
        yourSendKeyProcess(hwnd)

     Else

     ' dialog not showing, waiting for 3 Sec. then detecting again. 
     ' Use Thread.Sleep() is simple then timer.
        Thread.Sleep(3000)
        catchDialog()

     End if

End Sub     

and Function yourSendKeyProcess：

Private Sub yourSendKeyProcess(ByVal window as IntPtr)

     SetForegroundWindow(window)
     SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
     SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
     SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")
     me.TopMost = true

End Sub

Answer 2

Thanks for your advice. I have tried the code below however the hWnd return 0. It seems the window name parameter "Open" in the FindWindow function not working?

It works in ArcMap vba use "SendKeys" and "Doevents" everything just prefect and easy to debug in ArcMap. Now I'm converting the vba to vb.net and I found it is more difficult than I thought!!

The "SendKeys.SendWait' wait for the dialog to close then proceed. If I use the "SendKeys.Send" the error "SendKeys.Send cannot run inside this application...".

    Dim pCmdItmOpen As ICommandItem 'file open dialog
    Dim pUIDopn As New UID
    pUIDopn.Value = "{119591DB-0255-11D2-8D20-080009EE4E51}"
    pUIDopn.SubType = 2
    pCmdItmOpen = mxApp.Document.CommandBars.Find(pUIDopn)
    pCmdItmOpen.Execute()
    '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
    Dim hWnd As IntPtr = FindWindow("Open", Nothing)
    MsgBox(hWnd)
    If hWnd.Equals(IntPtr.Zero) Then
        Return
    End If
    SetForegroundWindow(hWnd)
    '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
    SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
    SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
    SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")