Running a 3rd Party Program

[CarmineS]

All,

I want to be able to launch and run a 3rd party program via LabView.

Launching the program via "System Exe.vi" is simple enough.

But now I want to programatically make all the button pushes. So instead of the user having to navigate the 3rd Party GUI, it would be done via Labview.

It sounds like I would need a dll and know the entry points but if I only had the exe is it still possible?

thanks

[Charles_CLA]

If you know the keyboard shortcuts, you could try using send keys:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Anybody-knows-how-to-do-send-key-function/td-p/348011

[Dennis_Knutson]

I've use Autoit in the past for this.

[CarmineS]

I tried the Autoit and like it. This may do the trick.

Are there any other ways to accomplish this same task?

thanks

[Edna-S · Accepted solution]

Another option would be to use windows or user32 dlls to generate mouse clicks. But if the executable file isn't desinged for access promaticaly, it will be a harder task to accomplish. You can also follow below link for more help.

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/CA411647F224787B86256DD000669EFE

[Steve_Block]

Can user32 be used to acquire a list of windows on the screen, select the application window and then obtain controls and indicators for populating and pressing? It seems like a form type of dll is probably what I'm looking for.

[zou]

For LabVIEW front panels, NO. 

You can't get a list of controls or indicators with user32.dll.

Since LabVIEW objects aren't window objects.