Windows 7: 'SendKeys' automating wannabe with lack of reliable info

Oakers · 07 Jul 2017

I'm writing a batch file to transcribe sound files while I'm sleeping, and I've found I just don't have the expertise to do it alone.

Here's what I've got now (6 hours in [I'm not really a programmer]):

Code:

cd ..\..
&& cd Program Files (x86)
&& cd audacity
&& start audacity.exe

#Dice audiofile, use pitchdetect on pieces, store solutions in file


&& cd ..
&& cd Finale NotePad 2012
&& start Finale NotePad.exe

#Output file into cleft 10 lane freeway

I actually made some progress, saying to myself (Yee hee) I'll be done by tomorrow, the 1200 songs I have to transcribe by next week, but I found my roadblock and I'm sitting at her right now. (Which, the why I didn't post under the audio thread is the actual question doesn't involve audio).

Writing the next part would require false keypad strokes to be registered to programs keyboard shortcuts. Someone on a forum said 'Sendkeys'! and that was five hours ago, and I have just not been able to get it to work. I guess you have to use .vbs and I have not been able to get one of those to run.

Here are some examples of tests I have run to 1. verify 'SendKeys' is a real thing and 2. learn syntax:

Test1:

Code:

Set oWshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
oWshShell.sendkeys("Hello World")

##.bat

Test2:

Code:

  @echo off
cls
color 0a
:loop
%SendKeys% {ENTER}
timeout /t 1 /nobreak >nul
goto :loop

##.bat

Test 3:

Code:

@if (@CodeSection ==  @Batch)  @then

  @echo off
    set SendKeys=CScript //nologo //E:JScript "%~F0"
    cls	
    :loop
        %SendKeys% "{ENTER}"
        
    goto :loop

  @EnD

##.vbs + .bat

Test 4:

Code:

SendKeys "{ENTER}"

SendKeys "exit{ENTER}"
SendKeys "H"
SendKeys "exit H"

## .vbs

Test 5:

Code:

if (CodeSection = Batch) then

echo off

rem Use %SendKeys% to send keys to the keyboard buffer
set SendKeys= (CScript E:JScript) "%~F0"

rem Start the other program in the same Window
start "" /B cmd

%SendKeys% "echo off{ENTER}"

set /P "=Wait and send a command: " < NUL
ping -n 5 -w 1 127.0.0.1 > NUL
%SendKeys% "echo Hello, world!{ENTER}"

set /P "=Wait and send an Up Arrow key: [" < NUL
ping -n 5 -w 1 127.0.0.1 > NUL
%SendKeys% "{UP}"

set /P "=] Wait and send an Enter key:" < NUL
ping -n 5 -w 1 127.0.0.1 > NUL
%SendKeys% "{ENTER}"

%SendKeys% "exit{ENTER}"

goto :EOF

## .vbs

Test 6:

Code:

Dim ReturnValue, I 
ReturnValue = Shell("CALC.EXE", 1) 
AppActivate ReturnValue    
For I = 1 To 100    
SendKeys I &; "{+}", True   
Next I   
SendKeys "=", True    
SendKeys "%{F4}", True    

## .vbs+.bat
## ^tried . file extension

And none of 'em got through. Old bird's a piece of crap, I'm sick and tired of this. Save me, someone from dying before I finish.

Thank you

samuria · 07 Jul 2017

You can use the free autoit this has lots of built in functions but it also has a macro recorder that can record keystroke and mouse and it writes the code for you https://www.autoitscript.com/site/autoit/