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Running External Programs

amcnerny (2)
Hello, I'm currently working on a program that will run multiple external programs (camera and image processing software) from my solution. Once these programs are running, I need to select cameras and click "record" within the respective windows using the solution. So far, I'm able to open them one at a time, but I don't understand pixel mapping for Left Click coordinates. If you know how to accomplish this, or a solid resource that might help me, I'd greatly appreciate your help.

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#include<iostream>
#include<Windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string>
#include <fstream>
#include <time.h>
using namespace std;

// FUNCTION REFERENCES
void Prompt (bool);
void LeftClick (double, double, RECT); 
RECT WindowActivate (HWND);

int main()
{
	//Define Window Variables
	HWND thorconsole;

	RECT thorRECT;

	cout<< "Welcome  to the ATSA Interface" << endl << endl;
	

	// CHOOSE CAMERA SYSTEM
	char CCDsys; //Defines CCDsys variable
	
	//OPEN PROGRAMS

			cout << "Initializing ThorCam Software..." << endl; //Text appears on console
		
			WinExec("\"C:\\Program Files\\Thorlabs\\Scientific_Imaging\\ThorCam\\ThorCam.exe\"", SW_SHOWNORMAL); //Opens and runs ThorCam Software
			thorconsole = FindWindow(NULL, "ThorCam");
			thorRECT = WindowActivate(thorconsole);
			LeftClick(15, 30, thorRECT); //selects camera in ThorCam

	return 0;
}

void Prompt (bool show) // hides  the console so it won't get in the way of the other programs
{
	HWND prompt = GetConsoleWindow();
	if(show)
	{
		ShowWindow(prompt, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
		SetForegroundWindow (prompt);
	}
	else
		ShowWindow(prompt, SW_HIDE);
}

void LeftClick (double x, double y, RECT rect) //provides  a left click in a certain location in a specific window
{
	SetCursorPos(rect.left + x, rect.top + y);

	INPUT	Input = {0};
	//left down
	Input.type = INPUT_MOUSE;
	Input.mi.dwFlags = MOUSEEVENTF_LEFTDOWN;
	::SendInput(1, &Input, sizeof(INPUT));

	//left up
	::ZeroMemory(&Input, sizeof(INPUT));
	Input.type = INPUT_MOUSE;
	Input.mi.dwFlags = MOUSEEVENTF_LEFTUP;
	::SendInput(1, &Input, sizeof(INPUT));
}

RECT WindowActivate(HWND console) // Activates the window
{
	RECT rect;
	SetForegroundWindow(console);
	GetWindowRect(console, &rect);
	Sleep(100); //delaying the program for a tenth of a second so that the window has time to come to the foreground before any other action takes place
	return rect;
}
Computergeek01 (5613)
Pixel mapping for ThorCam? That's round peg solution to a square hole problem OP. Check this out instead and save yourself a headache: https://www.thorlabs.com/software/THO/ThorCam/Programming/ITN000563-D02.pdf

Specifically the part titled "Chapter 4: Programming (SDK)". I think you'll find it a lot more useful than guessing where the buttons are.
amcnerny (2)
Computergeek01, thank you!
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