Simili COM server in AutoIt-GUI (with Python help)

[Michel Claveau]

Hi! (sorry for my bad english)

Thanks to

. AutoIt team

. Piccaso for WM_COPYDATA usage

. Livewire for the DLL for use Memory-Mapped-File in AutoIt

. Python team

. Mark Hammond for PyWin32

It's not a really COM-server in AutoIt.

It's limited.

In the fact, it's a dynamic server COM, in Python, which makes bridge with a special Autoit window

Need :

Python (2.4 or 2.5)

see: http://www.python.org/download/ (choose windows-installer)

or: http://www.ponx.org/download/CD/Python/python-2.5.1.msi

PyWin32

see: http://sourceforge.net/project/platformdow...?group_id=78018

or: http://www.ponx.org/download/CD/Python/pyw...win32-py2.5.exe

or ActivePython (from ActiveState) ; this distribution contain Python AND Pywin32

see: http://www.activestate.com/Products/activepython/index.plex

autoitmmap.dll (it's my release of the DLL or Livewire (see Autoit-forums))

Install:

create a directory (I suggest C:\Ponx)

copy, in this directory, the file pbautoit.py

in command-line, launch pbautoit.py

(must answer :

Enregistrement du server COM pbridge.autoit version 1.0

Registered: pbridge.autoit

)

copy in your disk, pbautoit1.au3 (I suggest C:\Ponx, but it's as you want)

in the same directory, copy autoitmmap.dll

It's all! Try examples.

Principe.

When you call a function of the COM-server, pbridge.autoit translate arguments

to strings (in cp1252), and call a windows-message (WM_COPYDATA) to the

autoit-window.

The "return" problem.

pbridge.autoit no have window ; cannot read windows-messages. The way for get

return values from AutoIt is Memory-Mapped-File (a DLL in AutoIt, mmap module

with Python)

But pbridge.autoit is not trigged, when values are availables. Then pbridge.autoit

try after 0.01 second, well each 0.1 second, during 30 s (this timeout will can

change).

A smart (?) stunt : for call who don't want return values, it's possible to

prefix the call(name)) with "NORETURN_" (this prefix is delete, for the internal

call to AutoIt)

Others :

All call names (functions) are translated in uppercase ; this, because some

languages don't distinguish case, and COM calls are perhaps upper- or perhaps lower- (for

example VB-script)

No TLB (TypeLiBrary) ; it's a dynamic COM server. It's the capability to use

functions declared after his launch. This is not compatible with static server

(& TLB).

Possible functions : in theory, any user functions callable into the Autoit-window

can be called by the client.

But some contraints : all parameters (including Unicode objects) are translated

in string (in cp1252) ; cannot include "|||" (separator) ; max length call :

32767 caracters ; don't use esapece in names ; don't use reserved names ; etc.

Only one predfined function :

autoitload(path,file)

load (open) the window of AutoIt-simili-serveur ; try during 5 secondes, then error

return : handle of window, or -1 if error

examples :

a.autoitload("D:\\dev\\autoit","pbautoit1.au3")

a.autoitload("C:\\autoit","pbautoit1.exe")

See attachment (file pbautoit.zip)

Edited September 6, 2007 by Michel Claveau

[Michel Claveau]

Some examples of use :

in vb script:

Set auto = WScript.CreateObject("pbridge.autoit")

auto.autoitload "C:\ponx","pbautoit1.au3"
auto.message "Azërtyuiop" 

result = auto.addition(10000,234,432)
WScript.Echo CStr(result)

result = auto.splashtext("Tittrree","Wouaaaahhh!!!  A splash-text.",2000)
WScript.Echo CStr(result)

auto.noreturn_close()

in JScript:

auto = new ActiveXObject("pbridge.autoit");

auto.autoitload("C:\\ponx","pbautoit1.au3");
auto.message("Azërtyuiop");

result=auto.addition(10000,234,432);
WScript.Echo(result);

result=auto.splashtext("Tittrree","Wouaaaahhh!!!  A splash-text.",2000);
WScript.Echo(result);

auto.noreturn_close();

in Python:

# -*- coding: cp1252 -*-

import win32com.client,time,os,sys
aut = win32com.client.Dispatch('pbridge.autoit')

aut.autoitload("C:\\ponx","pbautoit1.au3")
print aut.message("Azërtyuiop")
print aut.addition(10000,234,432)
print aut.titi()   #this function is undefined (for test Error)
print aut.splashtest1()  #call with wait
aut.noreturn_splashtest1()  #same call, but return immediately
print "Retour immédiat."
#time.sleep(4)  #for wait the end a splastest1
print aut.splashtext("Tittrree","Wouaaaahhh!!!  A splash-text.",2000)
aut.noreturn_close()

in HTA (+JScript):

expandcollapse popup

<hta:application
 application navigable="yes"
 windowstate="normal"
 caption="yes"
  />
<html>
<head><title>Test: Bridge Autoit</title>
<script type='text/javascript'>
function test(){
    self.resizeTo(300,200);
    self.moveTo(20,10);

    auto = new ActiveXObject("pbridge.autoit");

    auto.autoitload("C:\\ponx","pbautoit1.au3");
    result=auto.message("Azërtyuiop");
    document.write(result);
    document.write("<br>");

    result=auto.addition(10000,234,432);
    document.write(result);
    document.write("<br>");

    result = auto.splashtext("Tittrree","Wouaaaahhh!!!  A splash-text.",2000);
    document.write(result);
    document.write("<br>");

    auto.noreturn_close();
}
</script>

</head>

<body bgColor=#eeffff>
Test de Bridge Autoit<br>

<script type='text/javascript'>
setTimeout("test()",100);
</script>

</body>
</html>

...and, why not, in AutoIt:

$auto = ObjCreate("pbridge.autoit")

$auto.autoitload("C:\\ponx","pbautoit1.au3")
$auto.message("Azërtyuiop")

$result = $auto.addition(10000,234,432)
msgbox(0,"Addition",$result)

$result = $auto.splashtext("Tittrree","Wouaaaahhh!!!  A splash-text.",1000)
msgbox(0,"Addition",$result)

$auto.noreturn_close();

Edited September 5, 2007 by Michel Claveau

[ptrex]

@Michel Claveau

This seems a lot like this if I am not mistaken

Creating COM objects without a need of DLL's

Regards,

Patrick

[Michel Claveau]

Hi, ptrex!

Sorry, it's little different: it's a true COM-server, with a bridge to a AutoIt-window.

The communication ways of the bridge are : message(WM-COPYDATA) for call & Memory-File-Mapped (with a DLL) for get return-values.

[ptrex]

@Michel Claveau

I agree.

Your solution is more solid, but the concept is both the same, trying to create a bridge to AU3 using COM.

Good job

Regards,

ptrex

[Michel Claveau]

Hi!

trying to create a bridge to AU3 using COM

I agree for my turn.