Find references to specific controls in a windows app

Mark

Hi - I want to write a small app which will pick up the text in a specific textbox, in a windows application (it's a unique helpdesk ticket number).
I've got some VB code (below) which I'll convert to C#. However, it just gives me the window name and nothing else.
Is it possible for user32.dll (or some other library) to be utilised, which will allow me to see the controls on the screen - so I can read the text associated with specific controls?
Thanks for any suggestions,
Mark

Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.Security
Imports System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity
Public Class Form1
"user32.dll")> _
Private Shared Function GetForegroundWindow() As Integer
End Function
"user32.dll")> _
Private Shared Function GetWindowText(ByVal hWnd As Integer, ByVal text As StringBuilder, ByVal count As Integer) As Integer
End Function
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
GetActiveWindow()
End Sub
Dim curtime As DateTime
Private Sub GetActiveWindow()
Const nChars As Integer = 256
Dim handle As Integer = 0
Dim Buff As New StringBuilder(nChars)
handle = GetForegroundWindow()
Dim winname As String = ""
If GetWindowText(handle, Buff, nChars) > 0 Then
Me.richtextbox1.Text = Buff.ToString()
Me.RichTextBox2.Text = handle.ToString()
End If
End Sub
Public Sub New()
InitializeComponent()
curtime = DateTime.Now
End Sub
End Class

6 Replies

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Mark17y ago
Hi. More than happy to mark as the answer - if you could give me it? I did not need code converted - just c# or vb code to reference a control on a windows app (please see my original post). Thanks, Mark
0
Master Billa17y ago
Sure, even i help you, but you are not mark my one is answer :)

i will post full code again here.

thank you
0
Mark17y ago
Hi - thank you again.
Are you able to give me any guidance on what function to use in the DLL?
Thanks, Mark
0
Master Billa17y ago
Yes, if you are application render to screen. it will show , and user32dll is access the co control and give the value.

thank you
0
Mark17y ago
Hi Master Billa - thank you for the conversion. I can read the current window name that has the focus but what I actually want to know is, is it possible for user32.dll (or some other library) to be utilised, which will allow me to see the controls on the screen - so I can read the text associated with specific controls/textboxes? Thanks again, Mark
0
Master Billa17y ago
Hi

Yes your vb.net code is correct, here C# code to that

using System;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.ComponentModel;

using System.Data;

using System.Drawing;

using System.Text;

using System.Windows.Forms;

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

using System.Security;

using System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity;

public class Form1

{

    [DllImport("user32.dll")]

    private static extern int GetForegroundWindow();

    [DllImport("user32.dll")]

    private static extern int GetWindowText(int hWnd, StringBuilder text, int count);

    private void Timer1_Tick(System.Object sender, System.EventArgs e)

    {

        GetActiveWindow();

    }

    DateTime curtime;

    private void GetActiveWindow()

    {

        const int nChars = 256;

        int handle = 0;

        StringBuilder Buff = new StringBuilder(nChars);

        handle = GetForegroundWindow();

        string winname = "";

        if (GetWindowText(handle, Buff, nChars) > 0)

        {

            this.richtextbox1.Text = Buff.ToString();

            this.RichTextBox2.Text = handle.ToString();

        }

    }

    public Form1()

    {

        InitializeComponent();

        curtime = DateTime.Now;

    }

}

Thank you

0