Which script is better for automation of PTC Integrity application - scripting

I want to create one script that will open the windows application and use that application to perform some task. I have listed out the activity that I want to automate below:
Application is PTC integrity. It is linked with database server that has lot of files in it which have unique ID. So I need to use ID to open the document and export it.
Steps:
Open the application.
Open the document using ID.
Export the document to some specific format.
I want to know which scripting to be used to automate this process, i.e., I give array of IDs , the script will open the application and then open the document using IDs and export them till all the IDs are exported. Using Excel VBA can it be done.

Yes you can do this in VBA.
Your VBA can call a batch file via the Shell command that uses PTC Integrity Command Line Interface.
To export a document you can use the 'im exportissues' CLI command.
To call a batch file synchronously you can use the ShellandWait function below or see related StackOverflow question.
Private Declare Function OpenProcess Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwDesiredAccess _
As Long, ByVal bInheritHandle As Long, ByVal dwProcessId As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function WaitForSingleObject Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hHandle _
As Long, ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
Sub ShellAndWait(ByVal program_name As String, _
Optional ByVal window_style As VbAppWinStyle = vbNormalFocus, _
Optional ByVal max_wait_seconds As Long = 0)
'http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=505172
' Example:
' Private Sub Form_Load()
' Me.Show
' ShellAndWait "Notepad.exe", , 3
' Me.Caption = "done"
' End Sub
Dim lngProcessId As Long
Dim lngProcessHandle As Long
Dim datStartTime As Date
Const WAIT_TIMEOUT = &H102
Const SYNCHRONIZE As Long = &H100000
Const INFINITE As Long = &HFFFFFFFF
' Start the program.
On Error GoTo ShellError
lngProcessId = Shell(program_name, window_style)
On Error GoTo 0
DoEvents
' Wait for the program to finish.
' Get the process handle.
lngProcessHandle = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, 0, lngProcessId)
If lngProcessHandle <> 0 Then
datStartTime = Now
Do
If WaitForSingleObject(lngProcessHandle, 250) <> WAIT_TIMEOUT Then
Exit Do
End If
DoEvents
If max_wait_seconds > 0 Then
If DateDiff("s", datStartTime, Now) > max_wait_seconds Then Exit Do
End If
Loop
CloseHandle lngProcessHandle
End If
Exit Sub
ShellError:
End Sub

I Prefer Python to automate multiple processes in PTC.You can use CLI commands for all your operations.Run those CLI commands from Python using subprocess method. Get your output in your preferable format.

Related

Determine if the computer is locked

I have a macro that send me a text from outlook when a meeting notification pops up. I would like to figure out a way to make that macro only run if I am not at my computer. I have looked for a way to pull my status from Skype for Business, determine if the PC is locked or not, and see if a smart card is inserted. All without much luck. Looking for a simple solution that works in VBA.
I used the code from here Determine if application is running with Excel
Function IsProcessRunning(process As String)
Dim objList As Object
Set objList = GetObject("winmgmts:") _
.ExecQuery("select * from win32_process where name='" & process & "'")
If objList.Count > 0 Then
IsProcessRunning = True
Else
IsProcessRunning = False
End If
End Function
Based on the answer here In Python 3, how can I tell if Windows is locked?
I called
IsProcessRunning("LogonUI.exe")
and it seems to work.
Maybe this is of any help
Option Explicit
Private Declare Function SwitchDesktop Lib "User32" (ByVal hDesktop As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function OpenDesktop Lib "User32" Alias "OpenDesktopA" (ByVal lpszDesktop As String, ByVal dwFlags As Long, ByVal fInherit As Long, ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function CloseDesktop Lib "User32" (ByVal hDesktop As Long) As Long
Private Const DESKTOP_SWITCHDESKTOP As Long = &H100
Function desktopLocked() As String
Dim p_lngHwnd As Long
Dim p_lngRtn As Long
Dim p_lngErr As Long
Dim System As String
p_lngHwnd = OpenDesktop(lpszDesktop:="Default", dwFlags:=0, fInherit:=False, dwDesiredAccess:=DESKTOP_SWITCHDESKTOP)
If p_lngHwnd = 0 Then
System = "Error"
Else
p_lngRtn = SwitchDesktop(hDesktop:=p_lngHwnd)
p_lngErr = Err.LastDllError
If p_lngRtn = 0 Then
If p_lngErr = 0 Then
System = "Locked"
Else
System = "Error"
End If
Else
System = "Unlocked"
End If
p_lngHwnd = CloseDesktop(p_lngHwnd)
End If
desktopLocked = System
End Function
Update: Example how one could use the function above
Option Explicit
#If VBA7 Then
Declare PtrSafe Function LockWorkStation Lib "user32.dll" () As Long
#Else
Declare Function LockWorkStation Lib "user32.dll" () As Long
#End If
Dim iTimerSet As Double
Public Sub SaveAndClose()
If desktopLocked = "Locked" Then
ThisWorkbook.Close True
Else
iTimerSet = Now + TimeValue("00:00:03")
Application.OnTime iTimerSet, "SaveAndClose"
End If
End Sub
Sub LockPC()
SaveAndClose
LockWorkStation
End Sub
Just run LockPC and wait 3 seconds before you unlock the workstation. The file has been closed in the meantime.

How to pass parameters between vba and vb

I'm making a tool, where I need to start a programm (which I want to code with VB) by using VBA in an Excle file. When I close that programm, it should give back a parameter to the VBA script.
I started just now with the VBA script and didn't code anything of the VB programm yet. But I need to know, what to write in the VBA script and wheter this is possible.
So it should work like this:
I'm in the Excel file and I press a button
The programm is starting (also getting a parameter from the Excel file, this is not that important yet)
In that programm I configurate some stuff
Closing that Programm it should give back a ID of that configuration
I'm getting back to the Excel file with this ID
Is this possible? And what do I need to write in the VBA script and in the Programm to give back a parameter?
I hope you understand what I mean and you can help me
You could set your VB .exe to return an Exit code. Just make sure the id isn't 0 (means ran successfully) or 259 (calling process will think process is still running). The VBA below runs an .exe, waits for it to close, then returns the exit code.
Option Explicit
' Api declarations
Private Declare Function GetExitCodeProcess Lib "Kernel32" (ByVal hProcess As Long, lpExitCode As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function OpenProcess Lib "Kernel32" (ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, ByVal bInheritHandle As Long, ByVal dwProcessId As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32.dll" (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
Public Function RunProgram(ByVal strFilename As String) As Long
'# PURPOSE: Run a program, wait until closed, and return the exit code
Dim TaskID As Long
Dim hProc As Long
Dim lExitCode As Long
Const ACCESS_TYPE = &H400
Const STILL_ACTIVE = &H103
' Open the program
TaskID = Shell(strFilename, 1)
hProc = OpenProcess(ACCESS_TYPE, False, TaskID)
If Err <> 0 Then
Debug.Print "Cannot start " & strFilename, vbCritical, "Error"
Exit Function
End If
' Wait until program is closed
Do
GetExitCodeProcess hProc, lExitCode
DoEvents
Loop While lExitCode = STILL_ACTIVE
' Return the program's exit code
RunProgram = lExitCode
End Function

VB.NET Wait a DOS shell program to terminate before continuing- doesn't work

I am building a Windows Forms Application on VS2010, through which I need to execute a 3d party DOS shell program (OpenSees.exe), open a source file in it and perform an analysis. After this, some output files are created which I need to read again in my VB.NET app.
The thing is that the analysis in OpenSees may take a long time, so the VB code has to wait for it before carrying on.
For this, I have tried both "ShellandWait" sub along with "WaitForSingleObject" function and "process class" option, but neither of then works.
My DOS shell program initializes, but it closes almost immediately, not letting the analysis to complete and the required output to be created.
Here are the code snippets I used:
1st try: ShellandWait
Private Declare Function OpenProcess Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwDesiredAccess _
As Long, ByVal bInheritHandle As Long, ByVal dwProcessId As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function WaitForSingleObject Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hHandle _
As Long, ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
Private Sub ShellAndWait(ByVal program_name As String, _
Optional ByVal window_style As AppWinStyle = vbNormalFocus, _
Optional ByVal max_wait_seconds As Long = 0)
Dim lngProcessId As Long
Dim lngProcessHandle As Long
Dim datStartTime As Date
Const WAIT_TIMEOUT = &H102
Const SYNCHRONIZE As Long = &H100000
Const INFINITE As Long = &HFFFFFFFF
' Start the program.
On Error GoTo ShellError
lngProcessId = Shell(program_name, window_style)
On Error GoTo 0
Threading.Thread.Sleep(1500)
'System.Windows.Forms.Application.DoEvents()
SendKeys.Send("source " & filename & ".tcl")
SendKeys.Send("{ENTER}")
' Wait for the program to finish.
' Get the process handle.
lngProcessHandle = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, 0, lngProcessId)
If lngProcessHandle <> 0 Then
datStartTime = Now
Do
If WaitForSingleObject(lngProcessHandle, 250) <> WAIT_TIMEOUT Then
Exit Do
End If
'DoEvents()
If max_wait_seconds > 0 Then
If DateDiff("s", datStartTime, Now) > max_wait_seconds Then Exit Do
End If
Loop
CloseHandle(lngProcessHandle)
End If
Exit Sub
ShellError:
End Sub
...
ShellAndWait("OpenSees.exe", , 3)
2nd try: ProcessStart
Dim p As New Process
Dim psi As New ProcessStartInfo("OpenSees.exe", "source " & filename & ".tcl")
p.StartInfo = psi
p.Start()
p.WaitForExit()
I don't understand why this isn't working. Any help would be much appreciated!
Try this:
Shell("OpenSees.exe <arguments>",, True)

VBA - Go to website and download file from save prompt

I've been spending the last few hours trying to figure out how to save a file onto the computer using VBA. The code template below that I found on another forum seems promising, except when I go to the desktop to access it, the .csv file has what looks like the page's source code instead of the actual file I want. This may be because when I go to the URL, it doesn't automatically download the file; rather, I am asked to save the file to a certain location (since I don't know the path name of the uploaded file on the site).
Is there any way to alter this code to accommodate this, or will I have to use a different code entirely?
Sub Test()
Dim FileNum As Long
Dim FileData() As Byte
Dim MyFile As String
Dim WHTTP As Object
On Error Resume Next
Set WHTTP = CreateObject("WinHTTP.WinHTTPrequest.5")
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
Set WHTTP = CreateObject("WinHTTP.WinHTTPrequest.5.1")
End If
On Error GoTo 0
MyFile = "MY_URL_HERE"
WHTTP.Open "GET", MyFile, False
WHTTP.send
FileData = WHTTP.responseBody
Set WHTTP = Nothing
If Dir("C:\Users\BLAHBLAH\Desktop", vbDirectory) = Empty Then MkDir "C:\Users\BLAHBLAH\Desktop"
FileNum = FreeFile
Open "C:\Users\BLAHBLAH\Desktop\memberdatabase.csv" For Binary Access Write As #FileNum
Put #FileNum, 1, FileData
Close #FileNum
End Sub
Cross posts:
http://www.ozgrid.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178884
http://www.excelforum.com/excel-programming-vba-macros/925352-vba-go-to-website-and-download-file-from-save-prompt.html
I found over the years more ways how to save/download data using vba:
The firs option witch I prefer and would recommend is to use the URLDownloadToFile function of the user32 library using the following solution
The second one which was also mentioned be yourself. The point here is to use the Microsoft WinHTTP Services (Interop.WinHttp) COM library. In order to achieve this you can also add the Interop.WinHttp reference to your project link. After that you are able to use simpler notation like here link
The third option I aware is to ask the browser to save it for us and then using the Save_Over_Existing_Click_Yes function was mentioned by Santosh. In this case we open an Internet Explorer using the COM interface and navigate to the proper site. So we have to add the Microsoft Internet Controls (Interop.SHDocVw) and the Microsoft HTML Object Library (Microsoft.mshtml) references to our project in order to gain intellisense feature of the editor.
I don't like this download method because this is a work around by hacking. BUT if your IE session was already established authenticated etc. this gonna work nicely. The save function of the Internet Controls was dropped because of security concern. See for example: link
Newer the less you have to have the correct url to download what you want. If you pick the wrong one you will download something else :)
So please try to make sure the the url you use is correct by enter it in a browser. If it opens the right .csv file than your source could work too.
Also please try to send some more information: for example the url to the .csv file
Try below code :
Copied from here (Not tested)
Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Declare Function FindWindowEx Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowExA" (ByVal hWnd1 As Long, ByVal hWnd2 As Long, ByVal lpsz1 As String, ByVal lpsz2 As String) As Long
Declare Function SetForegroundWindow Lib "user32" Alias "SetForegroundWindow" (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long
Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, lParam As Any) As Long
Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" Alias "Sleep" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
Private Sub Save_Over_Existing_Click_Yes()
Dim hWnd As Long
Dim timeout As Date
Debug.Print "Save_Over_Existing_Click_Yes"
'Find the Download complete window, waiting a maximum of 30 seconds for it to appear. Timeout value is dependent on the
'size of the download, so make it longer for bigger files
timeout = Now + TimeValue("00:00:30")
Do
hWnd = FindWindow(vbNullString, "Save As")
DoEvents
Sleep 200
Loop Until hWnd Or Now > timeout
Debug.Print " Save As window "; Hex(hWnd)
If hWnd Then
'Find the child Close button
hWnd = FindWindowEx(hWnd, 0, "Button", "&Yes")
Debug.Print " Yes button "; Hex(hWnd)
End If
If hWnd Then
'Click the Close button
SetForegroundWindow (hWnd)
Sleep 600 'this sleep is required and 600 miiliseconds seems to be the minimum that works
SendMessage hWnd, BM_CLICK, 0, 0
End If
End Sub

VBA to Prevent Keyboard Input While a Package Object (XML) is Read into ADODB Stream?

I am developing an application which opens and reads an XML document previously embedded in a PowerPoint presentation, or a Word document. In order to read this object (xmlFile as Object) I have to do:
xmlFile.OLEFormat.DoVerb 1
This opens the package object, and I have another subroutine that gets the open instance of Notepad.exe, and reads its contents in to ADODB stream.
An example of this procedure is available on Google Docs:
XML_Test.pptm.
During this process there is a few seconds window where the Notepad.exe gains focus, and an inadvertent keystroke may cause undesired results or error reading the XML data.
I am looking for one of two things:
Either a method to prevent the user from inadvertently inputting (via keyboard/mouse/etc) while this operation is being performed. Preferably something that does not take control of the user's machine like MouseKeyboardTest subroutine, below. Or,
A better method of extracting the XML data into a string variable.
For #1: this is the function that I found, which I am leery of using. I am wary of taking this sort of control of the users system. ##Are there any other methods that I might use?##
Private Declare Function BlockInput Lib "USER32.dll" (ByVal fBlockIt As Long) As Long
Private Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
Sub MouseKeyboardTest() 'both keyboard and mouse blocked
BlockInput True ' Turns off Keyboard and Mouse
' Routine goes here
Sleep 5000 ' Optional coding
BlockInput False ' Turns on Keyboard and Mouse
End Sub
For #2: Some background, but the issue seems to be the inability to extract the embedded object reliably using any method other than DoVerb 1. Since I am dealing with an unsaved document in an application (Notepad) that is immune to my VBA skillz, this seems to be the only way to do this. Full background on that, here:
Extracting an OLEObject (XML Document) from PowerPoint VBA
As you correctly guessed in the comment above that taking the focus away from notepad will solve your problem. The below code does exactly that.
LOGIC:
A. Loop through the shape and get it's name. In your scenario it would be something like Chart Meta XML_fbc9775a-19ea-.txt
B. Use APIs like FindWindow, GetWindowTextLength, GetWindow etc to get the handle of the notepad window using partial caption.
C. Use the ShowWindow API to minimize the window
Code (tested in VBA-Powerpoint)
Paste this code in a module in the above PPTM
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "User32" Alias "FindWindowA" _
(ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function GetWindowText Lib "User32" Alias "GetWindowTextA" _
(ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal lpString As String, ByVal cch As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetWindowTextLength Lib "User32" Alias _
"GetWindowTextLengthA" (ByVal hWnd As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetWindow Lib "User32" (ByVal hWnd As Long, _
ByVal wCmd As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "User32" (ByVal hWnd As Long, _
ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long
Private Const GW_HWNDNEXT = 2
Private Const SW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2
Sub Sample()
Dim shp As Shape
Dim winName As String
Dim Ret As Long
For Each shp In ActivePresentation.Slides(1).Shapes
If shp.Type = msoEmbeddedOLEObject Then
winName = shp.Name
shp.OLEFormat.Activate
Exit For
End If
Next
If winName <> "" Then
Wait 1
If GetHwndFromCaption(Ret, Replace(winName, ".txt", "")) = True Then
Call ShowWindow(Ret, SW_SHOWMINIMIZED)
Else
MsgBox "Window not found!", vbOKOnly + vbExclamation
End If
End If
End Sub
Private Function GetHwndFromCaption(ByRef lWnd As Long, ByVal sCaption As String) As Boolean
Dim Ret As Long
Dim sStr As String
GetHwndFromCaption = False
Ret = FindWindow(vbNullString, vbNullString)
Do While Ret <> 0
sStr = String(GetWindowTextLength(Ret) + 1, Chr$(0))
GetWindowText Ret, sStr, Len(sStr)
sStr = Left$(sStr, Len(sStr) - 1)
If InStr(1, sStr, sCaption) > 0 Then
GetHwndFromCaption = True
lWnd = Ret
Exit Do
End If
Ret = GetWindow(Ret, GW_HWNDNEXT)
Loop
End Function
Private Sub Wait(ByVal nSec As Long)
nSec = nSec + Timer
While nSec > Timer
DoEvents
Wend
End Sub
My understanding is that you have control over how XML file gets embedded into PowerPoint presentation in the first place. Here I do not quite understand why you chose to keep the data you need as contents of an embedded object.
To be sure, the task of getting those contents back is not a piece of cake. Actually, as long as there is no (simple or even moderately difficult) way to call QueryInterface and use IPersist* interfaces from VBA, there is just one way to get to contents of embedded object. The way involves following steps:
Activate an embedded object. You used OLEFormat.DoVerb 1 for that. A better way would be to call OLEFormat.Activate, but this is irrelevant for your particular problem.
Use embedded object's programming model to perform useful operations like getting contents, saving or whatever is exposed. Notepad.exe exposes no such programming model, and you resorted to WinAPI which is the best choice available.
Unfortunately, your current approach has at least 2 flaws:
The one you identified in the question (activation of notepad.exe leading to possibility of user's interference).
If a user has default program for opening .txt files other than notepad.exe, your approach is doomed.
If you do have control over how embedded object is created then better approach would be to store your XML data in some property of Shape object. I would use Shape.AlternativeText (very straightforward to use; shouldn't be used if you export your .pptm to HTML or have some different scenario where AlternativeText matters) or Shape.Tags (this one is probably the most semantically correct for the task) for that.
I don't think that blocking the user is the right approach,
If you must use a content of a notepad window, I would suggest using the SendKeys method, in order to send this combination:
SendKeys("^A^C")
Which is the equivalent of "Select All" and "Copy",
And then you could continue working "offline" on the clipboard, without fear of interference by keystrokes.
My approach, per Sid's suggestion, was to find a way to minimize the Notepad.exe. Since I already found way to get that object and close it, I figured this should not be as hard.
I add these:
Public Declare Function _
ShowWindow& Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, _
ByVal ncmdshow As Long)
Public Const SW_MINIMIZE = 6
And then, in the FindNotepad function, right before Exit Function (so, after the Notepad has been found) I minimize the window with:
ShowWindow TopWnd, SW_MINIMIZE