JR54

On 3/23/2022 at 7:57 PM, acantor said:

Here is a hack that might allow you to get this done with Macro Express:

 

You have two WebEx windows, "1" and "2."

 

Use a macro to resize the windows. For example, make "1" 1000 x 1000 pixels, and make "2" 999 x 999 pixels.

 

Enumerate the windows, and test the dimensions of each. If window width < 1000, do this. If window width >=1000, do something else.

This wouldn’t work because it wouldn’t help me figure out which window is which. However, one is the windows is only half size, more like a menu than a window, so I could figure out which one is correct just by the dimensions. Thanks for this idea, I hadn’t thought about using window size.

On 3/23/2022 at 4:42 PM, rberq said:

As a variation on this idea -- if controls are not readily accessible to ME -- loop through the windows ("Repeat With Windows" command), activate the ones with matching names, and check pixel color(s) at known location(s) to see if you have the right window.  For example, if there is a colored ENTER button or some such that is unique to the screen you want, use that.  I even have a couple windows where a button changes color when the mouse is hovered over it, so I am able to use the color change to determine whether the screen has finished loading. 

This could definitely work, thanks for the idea.

Thanks Cory - that lines up with what I was able to find in searching, and unfortunately I can't isolate any controls in the webex app screen.

I'm considering exploring autohotkey to see if there might be any solutions for edge cases like this. Definitely would be a large learning curve though.

I have 2 windows that are both titled 'Cisco Webex Meetings', and I am trying to make a macro where one of them them is activated and brought to focus. I can't figure out how to do this, since both windows have the same title, so the macro won't consistently open the one I need.

Any help would be appreciated. One potential solution I was thinking, is to have the macro analyze the window and if a certain button exists that contains certain text, then stay on that window. However, the Get Control option does not appear to be able to isolate any of the buttons on the screen.

Have you considered using a Virtual Machine (VMWare, Virtual PC, HyperV, Virtual Box, etc.)? Macros and other tasks continue running as long as the virtual machine is running, even if the VM window is minimized. If the VM is running on a server it will continue to run even if your workstation is not connected to it.

I had not thought of that, and I'm not real familiar with VM but perhaps I should look into it.

Currently, all my work is done on my local desktop PC, rather than having something on a server. I do have MS Access forms with timers that kick off certain tasks, and all that stuff works fine with the machine locked. Is there a way for me to use a virtual machine that would help in this scenario, where I could lock the PC but expand my use of macro express by running a local VM session? I actually have access to a 2008 windows enterprise server, which I've never used for anything but perhaps I could start thinking about using it.

I'm trying to remember what my testing showed. I seem to remember disconnecting a RD session was not the same as the Windows lock screen. And it seems it was somewhat different as to the amount of things that didn't work in the GUI. At the far end you can have a macro that has no GUI that works just fine locked. But I can't remember exactly what al doesn't work in the Gui in a disconnected RD session or a lock screen. Near the end of my heavy macro writing period there were almost none that used the GUI at all. IE all ran in the 'background'. For instance I would use API calls or download web pages to HTML and process them as text. Eventually I learned a modern programming language and really don't use MEP for these kind of unattended batch things anymore.

 

What are you trying to do?

Right now I'm just considering the possibilities of what I can and can't do, and I know that locking windows shuts down 'send keys' type functionality, regardless of whether I'm using the GUI. I work a lot with Microsoft Access --- and I'd like to be able to compact and repair the database or call sub routines, things like that. I starting looking into AutoIT, which looks promising --- but I'm stumbling through learning how to use it. For example, I haven't figured out yet how to connect to my main database on my local machine. My main database is opened on the local machine with username and password, and is linked to another local database that contains the usernames and passwords.

First off you might consider having your programs run invisible. It can be done with many programs. For instance look at the tutorial for the calculator. If you change the window to be invisible you can still do math and get results using controls.

 

Are you saying I can still run some programs even with the PC locked, if I make the programs run invisible (and use controls?).

Does anyone know of any lock screen alternative, so that I can still have my dual PC (Win 7) monitors secure from prying eyes, but yet still run standard macro express functionality?

I've done a lot of research, and haven't found any great solutions(winlockr, kid key locker). Basically, I'd like to be able to black out both screens and lock keyboard/mouse, except for a certain combination of keys to unlock. Then I can have macro's running behind the screen.

Any thoughts or ideas? I have the latest macro express pro. I also heavily use Microsoft Access, but have no looked into calling macros with vbscript as I assume it's still subject to the same limitations if the screen is locked and you want to find certain windows.

Does anyone know of any lock screen alternative, so that I can still have my dual PC (Win 7) monitors secure from prying eyes, but yet still run standard macro express functionality?

I've done a lot of research, and haven't found any great solutions (winlockr, kid key locker). Basically, I'd like to be able to black out both screens and lock keyboard/mouse, except for a certain combination of keys to unlock. Then I can have macro's running behind the screen.

Any thoughts or ideas? I have the latest macro express pro. I also heavily use Microsoft Access, but have no looked into calling macros with vbscript as I assume it's still subject to the same limitations if the screen is locked and you want to find certain windows.

Does anyone know of any lock screen alternative, so that I can still have my dual PC (Win 7) monitors secure from prying eyes, but yet still run standard macro express functionality?

I've done a lot of research, and haven't found any great solutions(winlockr, kid key locker). Basically, I'd like to be able to black out both screens and lock keyboard/mouse, except for a certain combination of keys to unlock. Then I can have macro's running behind the screen.

Any thoughts or ideas? I have the latest macro express pro. I also heavily use Microsoft Access, but have no looked into calling macros with vbscript as I assume it's still subject to the same limitations if the screen is locked and you want to find certain windows.