Window to window communications....

[Hooch]

Gui 1 (myapp1.exe)

Gui 2 (myapp2.exe)

Both are autoIt GUI apps.

Gui 1 has a button that launches Gui 2 and hides Gui 1 in the systray.

So 2 exe's are running at this time.

Gui 2 is on top.

I want to click a button on Gui 2 and have it send a message to Gui 1 for processing.

Will this work with ...

GUI 1

While 1 = 1  

   If WinExists("Isis QB") Then
      AutoItWinSetTitle("Main: Waiting");set waiting text
      WinWait("Isis QB: ");wait for the child to give us a responce
      $responce = WinGetTitle("Isis QB: ");get the full text of the child's window
      AutoItWinSetTitle("Main: IsisQB recieved");let the child know we have the data
      AutoItWinSetTitle("AutoIt v3");reset the title so further children don't get confused
      $MSG = $responce  
   Else
      $MSG = GUIMsg()
   EndIf  

Select   
      Case $MSG = $INCOMINGMSG 
         doSomething () 
EndSelect

and....

GUI 2


While 1 = 1    
   $MSG = GUIMsg()

   #Region - Button events
   Select        
         
      Case $MSG = $CMD_PAUSE
         AutoItWinSetTitle("Isis QB: cmdPause");set our message for the main script
         WinWait("Main: IsisQB recieved");wait for the main script to recieve our message 
         
      Case $MSG = $CLOSE
         ProcessClose ( "isisCommand.exe" )
         
   EndSelect     
   #endRegion      
   sleep(100)
Wend

Make sense? Currently this isn't working but I want to make sure I am on the right track.

[CyberSlug]

in case you haven't seen this exmaple, look here I'm afraid I don't remember my exact logic, but I think it's basically the same as your idea.

I"ll see if I can get write some wrappers to simplify multi-window communication..... I'm thinking of scripting functions such as

WinSendData($recipient, $data) ;set recipient's titlebar to data

WinAckData($sender) ;acknowledge data was received? maybe..... ?

WinGetData() ;get's data from own window title

I'm not certain if I only one to use one AutoIt window title or boh ....

EDIT: I like Larry's idea a whole lot more than mine

Edited July 28, 2004 by CyberSlug

[Hooch]

Thanks for the replys guys, Im a few beers in so Ill be messing with it tomorrow...

[Hooch]

This may be a dumbass question but does it still count as a window when it is in the systray with no actual item on the task bar?

[pekster]

Isn't it a better idea to use AutoItWinSetTitle and AutoItWinGetTitle? That way you aren't required to have a GUI active.

[Hooch]

Does that inadverdantly answer my questions? If myApp1.exe is in the systray and does not have an active window up on the screen then I can't use the label method from myApp2.exe that does have an active window on the screen?

I don't HAVE to have this fuctionality but then I have to duplicate code, that rubs me the wrong way.

Edited July 28, 2004 by Hooch

[pekster]

It has nothing to do with GUI's and taskbar enteries. Every AutoIt script that is run (not matter if has an active taskbar entry, tray icon, or whatever) has a hidden window. This should be used for interprocess communication. It can do the sending of message to a specific program that's waiting (or checking) for message to it, and you can write routines for responding to the communication so that all parties know the info has been recieved.

[Hooch]

Ok so forget about the hidden label method and stick with AutoItWinSetTitle.

[Hooch]

Ok well I try it that way and see what I get, thanks Larry

[Hooch]

Ok, well this is what I am working with:

Parent App:

AutoItWinSetTitle("EDI:0")

While 1 = 1       
   
   $EDI = WinGetTitle("EDI:")
   $EDI_MSG = StringSplit($EDI, ":")
   If $EDI_MSG[2] <> "0" Then
      $MSG = $EDI_MSG[2]       
      AutoItWinSetTitle("EDI:0")      
   Else   
      $MSG = GUIMsg()  
   EndIf

   
   Select   
  
      Case $MSG = "cmdPause"
            MsgBox(0, "test", $MSG)             
   EndSelect

and Child app...

While 1 = 1    
   $MSG = GUIMsg()

   #Region - Button events
   Select        
         
      Case $MSG = $CMD_PAUSE
          AutoItWinSetTitle("EDI:cmdPause")     

         
   EndSelect     
   #endRegion      
   sleep(100)
Wend

It is working in that the parent app receives the command and displays the msgbox. The problem I can't figure out now is that it is looping on it and constantly throwing up the msgbox.

I tried reseting $MSG to 0, and $EDI_MSG[2] to 0 but same deal.... anyone see what I am missing?

[Hooch]

Ok, I had some mess in my select so now it works champ!

So for the record what I have is a main program with the various buttons + a button to launch the "Quick Bar". This sends the parent to the systray and launches a second exe that stays on top.

From there I can execute commands on the parent app. I have to have 2 case statements for each action which sucks but I can live with it.

Thanks for the nudges in the right direction guys!