vbscript - how to send keystrokes to internet explorer - vbscript

I've read every question that came up when I typed my title, as well as several other web pages, and I still haven't found the answer I'm looking for. I believe this is fairly straightforward, just must be missing something as my program doesn't do anything.
Here's what I want it to do (for all practical purposes, let's say I'm searching for my favorite discussion here on SO):
Have the main SO page loaded (stackoverflow.com/).
Utilize the Open File (CTRL+O) feature of IE to enter the specific address of the page I'm looking for.
Utilize the Select All (CTRL+A) feature to highlight the entire text to be copied.
Utilize CTRL+C and CTRL+V to, respectively, copy and paste this into a word document for presentation purposes.
Here's the code I have so far:
' Sets up the objects.
Dim objIE, WshShell, objWord
Set wshShell = WScript.CreateObject ("WSCript.shell")
Set objIE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
Set objWord = Application.CreateObject("Word.Application")
Dim i, strUserID
with CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
wshShell.SendKeys "^O"
.navigate "http://stackoverflow.com/questions/[link of question would go here]"
wshShell.SendKeys "^A"
wshShell.SendKeys "^C"
AppActivate ("Document1 - Microsoft Word")
wshShell.SendKeys "^V"
end with
For some reason, this isn't working the way I want it to. Any suggestions?

Related

Script opens infinite instances of Internet Explorer, without setting active window

I wrote a vbscript program to automatically join Google Meet sessions, with the code that is required to enter the meet generated based on the date and time. Whenever I run the program, it opens in the background of the computer in infinite windows(repeatedly opening a new instance of Google Meet every second). The keystrokes that are supposed to be directed toward Internet Explorer are instead sent to whatever is active. The line of code that is supposed to make it the active window are not working: WshShell.AppActivate "Internet Explorer" I believe that this below section is what is causing problems. Any help is greatly appreciated!
option explicit
dim webbrowser, WshShell
set webbrowser = createobject("internetexplorer.application")
set WshShell = createobject("Wscript.Shell")
webbrowser.statusbar = false
webbrowser.menubar = false
webbrowser.toolbar = false
webbrowser.visible = true
webbrowser.navigate("https://meet.google.com/")
wscript.sleep(3000)
WshShell.AppActivate Internet Explorer
WshShell.sendkeys "{enter}"
I don't know why did you use sendkeys ?
You should write something like that :
Option explicit
dim webbrowser
set webbrowser = createobject("internetexplorer.application")
webbrowser.statusbar = false
webbrowser.menubar = false
webbrowser.toolbar = false
webbrowser.visible = true
webbrowser.navigate("https://meet.google.com/")
Do while webbrowser.readystate <> 4
wscript.sleep 200
Loop

VBScript - Reactivate previous window after using inputbox

For my job I often need to enter standard texts in an application to show which actions have been taken.
At a previous job I have been using a VBScript that I found that worked perfectly. What it does is open up an inputbox, you enter a number and the script runs the corresponding subroutine entering the text you requested.
Below you can find an example script of how it works.
In the past I used it in Windows XP, which worked perfectly:
I'm in my application, ready to input text.
I use a shortcut key to start up the VBScript, say CTRL-ALT-T
The inputbox opens
I enter a number
The inputbox closes and Windows XP automatically goes back to my application
The text is being put in the application
But Windows 7 has a slightly different task behaviour. When a window closes in W7, the previous window appears on screen but is NOT actively selected. As a result, the text is not being put in that window.
Is there any way to make the window actively selected?
I'm interested in a solution in VBScript form. But if someone happens to know a solution to change Windows 7's behaviour so it behaves like Windows XP concerning this issue, that would be interesting as well. I find the old behaviour much more convenient in general.
Here's a short example of the script:
'-----------------------------
'VBScript for inputting text
'-----------------------------
Option Explicit
Dim oFS, oWS, oWN, Shell
Set oWS = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set oWN = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")
Set oFS = WScript.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set Shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
'-------
' Menu
'-------
Select Case InputBox ( _
"Enter type of comment, then press enter or click Ok..." & vbCrlf & vbCrlf & _
" [1] Text 1" & vbCrlf & _
" [2] Text 2", _
"Menu")
Case "1"
Call sub1()
Case "2"
Call sub2()
Case Else
WScript.Echo "You entered an invalid menu choice!"
End Select
Call CleanUp
'------------
' Subroutines
'------------
'------------------
Sub CleanUp()
Set oWS = Nothing
Set oWN = Nothing
Set oFS = Nothing
WScript.Quit
End Sub
'------------------
Sub sub1()
WScript.Sleep 500
Shell.SendKeys "Standard text 1{ENTER}"
End Sub
'------------------
Sub sub2()
WScript.Sleep 500
Shell.SendKeys "Standard text 2{ENTER}"
End Sub
I have found a simple solution which I have been using for a few days now without any problems. I added below code right after the beginning of each sub:
Shell.SendKeys("%{ESC}")

CTRL+1 is not working

Option Explicit
Dim WshShell
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run """C:\Program Files (x86)\Blackmagic Design\Blackmagic Media Express\MediaExpress.exe""" ,1,true
Wscript.Sleep 100
WshShell.SendKeys "^1"
Set WshShell = Nothing
.SendKeys method uses alphanumeric keypad for transmitting digits. My keyboard (the line with numbers under the uppermost EscF1… key row) behaves as follows (using Czech keyboard input):
°1234567890 with Shift
;+ĚŠČŘŽÝÁÍÉ with CapsLock
;+ěščřžýáíé unmodified
I can confirm that e.g. WshShell.SendKeys "^1" (with Windows Script Host Version 5.8) sends Ctrl+Shift+1 keystrokes to the active window as if typed on the keyboard.
My answer: I need to use WshShell.SendKeys "^{+}" to emulate keyboard Ctrl+1 input.
Above .SendKeys behaviour is independent on current keyboard layout (input method) in calling cmd window (cscript //nologo 34189495.vbs) and in window activated right before WshShell.SendKeys "^1". Tested all combinations of
- Windows display language English (UK), keyboard input method Czech/United Kingdom and
- display language Czech, keyboard input method Czech/US-international,
each versus each other…
Another problem: how to emulate keyboard input Ctrl+2 using .SendKeys method? I can't use simply WshShell.SendKeys "^{ě}". It does not work because ě (latin small letter E with caron) hexadecimal value is greater than 0x79 (and ščřžýáíé as well). As per Keyboard Scan Code Specification Microsoft document, Prefixed Scan Codes part (sorry for link to download):
If you use scan codes from the 0xE0 set, make sure the second byte
is suitable in the same way as single byte scan code values. In other
words: Not greater than 0x79, Not 0x60 or 0x61, Not 0x00…
However, here is a workaround: WshShell.SendKeys "{NUMLOCK}^{ě}{NUMLOCK}" (who knows why it works? Derived from my previous experience with keyboard wedge barcode scanners!)
Addendum: tested using my preferred text and code editor PSPad;
Here is my working code:
option explicit
'On Error Resume Next
On Error GoTo 0
Dim WshShell
set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
' WshShell.Run omitted, activate existing window (this script open in PSPad)
WScript.Sleep 100
WshShell.AppActivate "34189495.vbs"
WScript.Sleep 200
' Ctrl+Shift+3 set marker #3
WshShell.SendKeys "^3"
WScript.Sleep 100
' Ctrl+1 goto marker #1, i.e. move cursor to that line (pre)marked 1
WshShell.SendKeys "^{+}"
' more time to observe
WScript.Sleep 3000
' Ctrl+3 goto marker #3, i.e. move cursor to that line marked 3
WshShell.SendKeys "{NUMLOCK}^{Š}{NUMLOCK}"
WScript.Sleep 100
' more time before quit
WScript.Sleep 3000
Wscript.Echo Wscript.ScriptName
Wscript.Quit

vbscript to auto detect open window and close it OR Google Apps Script to control form submit button

In the past I've used the script below to detect if an active window with the title "Remote Desktop" is or isn't active. If it isn't active the script will auto launch or make it active again.
Question: Is there a way to detect if a window is active and auto close it? I'm setting up a kiosk in chrome kiosk mode on a Windows 7 machine for our office. The main page launches a selected Google form in a pop-up window. The form confirmation page has the title "Thank You!" in the title bar. Is there a way for the script to auto detect this window and close it? This would be nice because the user would see that their response was submitted (for a second or two) but if they did not close the window it would not still be open when the next user goes to use the kiosk.
Another option might be if there is a way to use a Google script on the form to program the submit button to close the window. I'm not sure if that's possible.
Option Explicit
'On Error Resume Next
Dim objShell
Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Do
If (objShell.AppActivate("Window Title Here") = False) Then
objShell.Run "mstsc.exe " & chr(34) & "c:\scripts\Remote Desktop.rdp" & chr(34)
WScript.Sleep 5000
Else
WScript.Sleep 3000
End If
Loop
If the window I need closed is active and then the following script is ran the window will close. It's almost like I need to piece the top and bottom code here together to achieve what I need, but I'm not sure how.
Dim oShell
Set oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
If oShell.AppActivate("Untitled - Notepad") Then
WScript.Sleep 500
oShell.SendKeys "%{F4}"
End If
I'm trying to find a script that will run on startup and wait for a window with a specific title to open and then close it once it is detected. It would be even better if I could control how long the window remains open once detected, but if I could just get it to close that would suffice.
I think I've found a good solution. I found this post and modified the answer. Does anyone see any issues with this?
' Will loop forever checking for the message every half a second
' When it finds the message it will close the window
Set wshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Do
ret = wshShell.AppActivate("Untitled - Notepad")
If ret = True Then
wshShell.SendKeys "%{F4}" 'ALT F4
End If
WScript.Sleep 500
Loop
Set wshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Do
ret = wshShell.AppActivate("Untitled - Notepad")
If ret = True Then
wshShell.SendKeys "%{F4}" 'ALT F4
End If
WScript.Sleep 500
Loop
The only trouble i see is the Alt+F4 will sequentially close windows until it will want to shut down windows itself. kinda makes me nervous even though this script will only detect the name you give it.
I tried the script and it works fine but what about using the escape key for certain windows?
The other thing i do not like is this is always running and taking resources. I slowed down the loop so it will at least be paused in the background most of the time..

VBScript SendKeys CTRL+LWIN+TAB?

I am trying to write a simple script that will send the key combo of CTRL+WINDOWS KEY+TAB. The code below sends the keys CTRL+ALT+TAB
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "^%{TAB}"
However when I try to replace "%" (aka the ALT key) with LWIN (aka the Left Windows Key) it says Syntax Error.
I tried the following, but had no luck:
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "^{LWIN}{TAB}"
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "^{LWIN}+{TAB}"
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys ^{LWIN}+{TAB}
I know it has something to do with being able to Hold certain keys while other keys are pressed but I can't seem to get it right.
The windows key can be pressed programmatically using CTRL+ESC. Is there a way to set this combination as a variable called LWIN and then use one of the above Scripts?
Just in case someone land here on these years...
A workaround (instead of sending keystrokes) is to call directly to the application:
Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
objShell.WindowSwitcher
This will open Task Switcher Windows App. (Same as ⊞ windows+TAB)
try this code:
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "+(^{LWIN}{TAB})"
I know you are looking for VBscript but it looks like that is unlikely (pure VBscript). Here is a post that did solve this via C#.
https://stackoverflow.com/a/10367832/1742115
This page tells how to call the C# DLL from your VBscript if you want to keep some of this in vbs.
I think your question is an example of an XY problem and what you actually want to do is to activate Flip 3D (Switch between windows). You can do this programmatically by executing the rundll32 DwmApi #105 command:
CreateObject("WScript.Shell").Run "rundll32 DwmApi #105"

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