SAP window hidden while obtaining data - vb.net

Question

I am writing a script / program to log into SAP then just grab a few bits of data from a employee then close SAP.
This I can do already but am trying to make a fancy GUI just for that instead of clicking many windows in SAP to get it...mainly because im lazy cant be bothered clicking a million things... Some call this innovation i think :)
I have been researching BackGroundWorker in vb.net but wouldnt this still load the window and just keep the form active and responsive while running the program?
I dont have 'admin' rights (can create and modify user accounts su01,pa30 etc) to the server etc so cant log into the server\database...hence running script to obtain result..
Does anyone know how Ican log SAP and have it hidden while running ?

Answer 1

You can check this post about how to hide an external application window.
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?669210-RESOLVED-Hiding-Window-of-external-process
In this example, guys trying to start calc.exe in hidden mode.
First off all insert at the beggining of your progect
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Then you have to enum flags for ShowWindow (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms633548%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
Private Enum ShowWindowCommand As Integer
Hide = 0
Show = 5
Minimize = 6
Restore = 9
End Enum
Set a specified window's show state
<DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError:=True, CharSet:=CharSet.Auto)> _
Private Shared Function ShowWindow(ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, ByVal nCmdShow As ShowWindowCommand) As Boolean
End Function
Determine whether the specified window handle identifies an existing window
<DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet:=CharSet.Auto, SetLastError:=True)>
Private Shared Function IsWindow(ByVal hWnd As IntPtr) As Boolean
End Function
Determines whether a specified window is minimized.
Private Declare Auto Function IsIconic Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hwnd As IntPtr) As Boolean
variable to save window handle (you can choise your own name, but rename in other part of code)
Private calc_hWnd As IntPtr
launch windows calculator (in your case saplogon.exe) minimized and hidden, while loading form
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
Dim test As New Process
Try
' file to launch
test.StartInfo.FileName = "calc.exe" ' note: full path not needed for windows calc.
' Note: This next line has no effect on WinXP "calc.exe" and some other apps like FireFox.
'test.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Minimized
' start the app
test.Start()
' wait until app is in idle state
test.WaitForInputIdle(-1)
' get app main window handle
Dim tmp_hWnd As IntPtr = test.MainWindowHandle
' make sure handle is valid (non zero)
' try up to 10 times within one second
' do a re-try loop that runs for a second or two
For i As Integer = 1 To 10
tmp_hWnd = test.MainWindowHandle
If Not tmp_hWnd.Equals(IntPtr.Zero) Then Exit For ' got handle so exit loop
Threading.Thread.Sleep(100) ' wait 100ms
Next '- try again
If Not tmp_hWnd.Equals(IntPtr.Zero) Then
' use ShowWindow to change app window state (minimize and hide it).
ShowWindow(tmp_hWnd, ShowWindowCommand.Minimize)
ShowWindow(tmp_hWnd, ShowWindowCommand.Hide)
' save handle for later use.
calc_hWnd = tmp_hWnd
Else
' no window handle?
MessageBox.Show("Unable to get a window handle!")
End If
Catch ex As Exception
' error !
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
End Try
End Sub
on exit restore/unhide app if found running.
Private Sub Form1_FormClosing(sender As Object, e As System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventArgs) Handles Me.FormClosing
' is our variable set to non-zero?
If Not calc_hWnd.Equals(IntPtr.Zero) Then
' is app window found?
If IsWindow(calc_hWnd) = True Then
' if app is minimized then restore it
If IsIconic(calc_hWnd) Then
ShowWindow(calc_hWnd, ShowWindowCommand.Restore)
End If
' make sure window is seen incase it was hidden.
ShowWindow(calc_hWnd, ShowWindowCommand.Show)
End If
End If
End Sub
But you can write another code in and kill saplogon.exe process.
Private Sub Form1_FormClosing(sender As Object, e As System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventArgs) Handles Me.FormClosing
For Each p As Process In System.Diagnostics.Process.GetProcessesByName("saplogon.exe")
Try
p.Kill()
' possibly with a timeout
p.WaitForExit()
' process has already exited - might be able to let this one go
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(ex.toString)
End Try
Next
End Sub