Tricky Sendkeys() problem

Greetings, all.

I just ran across a problem that took me a while to solve, and thought I'd
share it.

We needed to automate a PDF printer. Using SendKeys() almost worked. Unfortunately,
the developer was tricky and put in a variable number of fields, so we couldn't
just tab a certain number of times.

I noticed that only 1 field was enterable & contained text - all the others
were buttons or checkboxes. So, using cut/paste, I was able to tell when
I was on the correct field to type in my file name.

HTH,
Jim Moseley

;---------

var tempStr, pdfPrefixCur string endVar

tempStr = ""
if not tempStr.writeToClipBoard() then ; clear the clipboard
errorShow("Write blank to Clipboard")
return
endif
loopI = 0
while true
sendkeys("{delay 50}{tab}^{insert}",true) ; tab & copy (ctrl-insert)
if not tempStr.readFromClipboard() then
errorShow("Read value from Clipboard")
return
endif
if tempStr <> "" then ; something returned - success!
quitloop
endif
loopI = loopI + 1
if loopI > 100 then
quitloop
endif
endWhile
if loopI > 100 then
return
endif
if not pdfPrefixCur.writeToClipboard() then
errorShow("Write value to clipboard")
endif
sendkeys("{delay 100}+{insert}{enter}",true) ; paste (shift-insert)
sleep(3000) ; let it do its thing

;-----

Nice of you to share this Jim. Never ceases to impress me what one can
do with Paradox! Regards Paul.



On Feb 21, 12:19 pm, "Jim Moseley" wrote:
> Greetings, all.
>
> I just ran across a problem that took me a while to solve, and thought I'd
> share it.  
>
> We needed to automate a PDF printer.  Using SendKeys() almost worked.  Unfortunately,
> the developer was tricky and put in a variable number of fields, so we couldn't
> just tab a certain number of times.  
>
> I noticed that only 1 field was enterable & contained text - all the others
> were buttons or checkboxes.  So, using cut/paste, I was able to tell when
> I was on the correct field to type in my file name.
>
> HTH,
> Jim Moseley
>
> ;---------
>
> var tempStr, pdfPrefixCur string endVar
>
> tempStr = ""
> if not tempStr.writeToClipBoard() then   ; clear the clipboard
>    errorShow("Write blank to Clipboard")
>    return
> endif
> loopI = 0
> while true
>    sendkeys("{delay 50}{tab}^{insert}",true)  ; tab & copy (ctrl-insert)
>    if not tempStr.readFromClipboard() then
>       errorShow("Read value from Clipboard")
>       return
>    endif
>    if tempStr <> "" then   ; something returned - success!
>       quitloop
>    endif
>    loopI = loopI + 1
>    if loopI > 100 then
>       quitloop
>    endif
> endWhile
> if loopI > 100 then
>    return
> endif
> if not pdfPrefixCur.writeToClipboard() then
>    errorShow("Write value to clipboard")
> endif
> sendkeys("{delay 100}+{insert}{enter}",true)  ; paste (shift-insert)
> sleep(3000)  ; let it do its thing
>
> ;-----