How to make vb sendkeys.sendwait execute after a dialog open - vb.net

Question

I'm testing an addin in ArcMap to open an existing file, the program stops after the dialog opened, it seems the SendKeys already executed before the dialog. Your advice is much appreciated.
Dim pCmdItmOpen As ICommandItem 'file open dialog
Dim pUIDopn As New UID
pUIDopn.Value = "{119591DB-0255-11D2-8D20-080009EE4E51}"
pUIDopn.SubType = 2
pCmdItmOpen = mxApp.Document.CommandBars.Find(pUIDopn)
pCmdItmOpen.Execute()
SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")

Answer 1

I got this solution：
Detecting whether the dialog has been opened or not, if existing, then execute SendKeys. If not, waiting for a moment, maybe 3 sec, then detecting again.
How to：
Detecting whether the dialog has been opened or not
FindWindow FindWindowEx
Use FindWindow to find the dialog
Waiting for a period then execute the next step
Using timers in vb
Use timer to count the waiting time
Reply：
I don't have 50 reputations, so not allowed to post a comment.
To use the FindWindow, you have to use the correct parameter. You could use Spy++ (Visual Studio, Tools/Spy++) to find the parameter of this dialog window.
You could use code below：
Declare:
<DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet:=CharSet.Auto, EntryPoint:="FindWindow")>
Private Shared Function FindWindow(ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As IntPtr
End Function
Function catchDialog：
Private Sub catchDialog()
Dim hwnd As IntPtr = FindWindow("Class", "Caption")
If hwnd <> IntPtr.Zero Then
yourSendKeyProcess(hwnd)
Else
' dialog not showing, waiting for 3 Sec. then detecting again.
' Use Thread.Sleep() is simple then timer.
Thread.Sleep(3000)
catchDialog()
End if
End Sub
Function yourSendKeyProcess：
Private Sub yourSendKeyProcess(ByVal window as IntPtr)
SetForegroundWindow(window)
SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")
End Sub
Use Spy++ to find the value of "Caption", and "Class" of the dialog.
The example above, the value of Caption of the window is "Add to Archive"
and the value of Class is "#32770(Dialog)", and the code would be：
Dim hWnd As IntPtr = FindWindow("#32770", "Add to Archive")
But even you could catch the dialog window, I am not sure that your code SendKey could work, so why you use those codes？
SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")
You want to input a string ("C:\TEST.mxd") in the textbox on the dialog, then press a button on the dialog?
Edit：
Set the form1 always on top but not influence operation on other window：
Add this sub to make the form1 on top in the beginning：
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
Me.TopMost = True
End Sub
and Function catchDialog：
Private Sub catchDialog()
Dim hwnd As IntPtr = FindWindow("Class", "Caption")
If hwnd <> IntPtr.Zero Then
me.TopMost = false
yourSendKeyProcess(hwnd)
Else
' dialog not showing, waiting for 3 Sec. then detecting again.
' Use Thread.Sleep() is simple then timer.
Thread.Sleep(3000)
catchDialog()
End if
End Sub
and Function yourSendKeyProcess：
Private Sub yourSendKeyProcess(ByVal window as IntPtr)
SetForegroundWindow(window)
SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")
me.TopMost = true
End Sub

Answer 2

Thanks for your advice. I have tried the code below however the hWnd return 0. It seems the window name parameter "Open" in the FindWindow function not working?
It works in ArcMap vba use "SendKeys" and "Doevents" everything just prefect and easy to debug in ArcMap. Now I'm converting the vba to vb.net and I found it is more difficult than I thought!!
The "SendKeys.SendWait' wait for the dialog to close then proceed. If I use the "SendKeys.Send" the error "SendKeys.Send cannot run inside this application...".
Dim pCmdItmOpen As ICommandItem 'file open dialog
Dim pUIDopn As New UID
pUIDopn.Value = "{119591DB-0255-11D2-8D20-080009EE4E51}"
pUIDopn.SubType = 2
pCmdItmOpen = mxApp.Document.CommandBars.Find(pUIDopn)
pCmdItmOpen.Execute()
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Dim hWnd As IntPtr = FindWindow("Open", Nothing)
MsgBox(hWnd)
If hWnd.Equals(IntPtr.Zero) Then
Return
End If
SetForegroundWindow(hWnd)
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
SendKeys.SendWait("C:\TEST.mxd")
SendKeys.SendWait("{TAB 3}")
SendKeys.SendWait("{ENTER}")