# Re: interacting with another program **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [May 28, 2007, 10:27am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-interacting-with-another-program/105270 "2007-05-28T10:27:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/scoundrel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 10:27am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-interacting-with-another-program/105270/1 "2007-05-28T10:27:44Z")
> To summarize: > > 1. Read data from another program by ruby program > 2. Data analysis by ruby program > 3. action perform in the other program by ruby program As far as I understand you want to interact with Win32 GUI application. Try to use Windows messages to get data and perform actions on its GUI controls (text area, buttons). All you need is: 1. Find the program window (== get it’s handle) by title 2. Find the GUI control you want to work with (== get it’s handle) 3. Send message to this control (for example - to get text from text box you need something like WM\_GETTEXT message (see MSDN for details), to push a button WM\_LBUTTONDOWN,…) For step 1, 2 I cannot remember Win API functions by name, but you shouldn’t have any problems finding one (See MSDN, section about Window functions). It’s very brief explanation. If you have more specific question - feel free to ask. ---
**Author:** ![scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/scoundrel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 10:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-interacting-with-another-program/105270/2 "2007-05-28T10:52:47Z")
If you use Windows as an OS to perform the interaction with another program, you might have a look at AutoIt and how to use it from Ruby: > **[WebMD - Better information. Better health.](https://www.webmd.com/?AutoIt_For_Windows)** > > The leading source for trustworthy and timely health and medical news and information. Providing credible health information, supportive community, and educational services by blending award-winning expertise in content, community services, expert... Best regards, Axel ---
**Author:** ![scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/scoundrel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-interacting-with-another-program/105270/3 "2007-05-28T18:17:11Z")
Alexey K. wrote: > All you need is: > > 1. Find the program window (== get it’s handle) by title > 2. Find the GUI control you want to work with (== get it’s handle) > 3. Send message to this control (for example - to get text from text box > you need something like WM\_GETTEXT message (see MSDN for details), to > push a button WM\_LBUTTONDOWN,…) > > For step 1, 2 I cannot remember Win API functions by name, but you > shouldn’t have any problems finding one (See MSDN, section about Window > functions). > > It’s very brief explanation. If you have more specific question - feel > free to ask. 1. This should be the function to find the window handle: > **[FindWindowA function (winuser.h) - Win32 apps](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/winuser/nf-winuser-findwindowa?redirectedfrom=MSDN)** > > Retrieves a handle to the top-level window whose class name and window name match the specified strings. This function does not search child windows. This function does not perform a case-sensitive search. (ANSI) For this I also need the name of the class, but I have installed a tool that can show me that. 1. I couldn’t find a function on MSDN to find a controls handle, so I’m kinda stuck on this one. Please help me out here. 1. To push a button I’ll need BM\_CLICK([BM\_CLICK message (Winuser.h) - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn](http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms673557.aspx))? For textfield i want to get the text from, I think I have to use EM\_GETTEXTEX ([EM\_GETTEXTEX message (Richedit.h) - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn](http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms652050.aspx)) right? ---
**Author:** ![scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/scoundrel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-interacting-with-another-program/105270/4 "2007-05-30T04:59:14Z")
Jeppe J. wrote: > 1. > > To push a button I’ll need > BM\_CLICK([BM\_CLICK message (Winuser.h) - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn](http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms673557.aspx))? > > For textfield i want to get the text from, I think I have to use > EM\_GETTEXTEX ([EM\_GETTEXTEX message (Richedit.h) - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn](http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms652050.aspx)) > right? I believe this should solve most of your problems. [http://raa.ruby-lang.org/project/win32-guitest/](http://raa.ruby-lang.org/project/win32-guitest/) Hope it helps. Regards, Manish ---
**Author:** ![scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@scoundrel](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/scoundrel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 6:30am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-interacting-with-another-program/105270/5 "2007-05-30T06:30:30Z")
Manish S. wrote: > Jeppe J. wrote: > > > 1. > > > > To push a button I’ll need > > BM\_CLICK([BM\_CLICK message (Winuser.h) - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn](http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms673557.aspx))? > > > > For textfield i want to get the text from, I think I have to use > > EM\_GETTEXTEX ([EM\_GETTEXTEX message (Richedit.h) - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn](http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms652050.aspx)) > > right? > > I believe this should solve most of your problems. > [http://raa.ruby-lang.org/project/win32-guitest/](http://raa.ruby-lang.org/project/win32-guitest/) > Hope it helps. > Regards, > Manish Thanks I’ve actually looked a bit into autoit for ruby and it solved most of my problems, but maybe this will come in handy if I have any trouble with autoit. My biggest problem right now is that the program I want to automate is using some web based elements, which means that there is some text I cant seem to get from the program. I’m considering using some kind of screenscrape to regonize the text I need, if such solution is available (or even nessecary).