How to run application in hidden or silent mode?

[xuzo]

I want to make a script to change IE options and firefox ect...

Instead of having the client's browser open up, can I make the script run things "hidden"?

For Example let's say the script changes the Homepage, there will be a series of Sends, not sure if clear or not. Can provide and example later on.

Something like this but without opening IE

#include
Local $oIE_basic = _IE_Example("basic")
Sleep("500")
Send("{ALTDOWN}t{ALTUP}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{ENTER}")

Edited July 9, 2012 by xuzo

[JohnOne]

Third param in _IECreate(url, tryattach, visible)

I doubt a hidden gui will accept Sends though, maybe ControlSend, but I'm unsure.

[BrewManNH]

If you're changing the home page for the current user, you shouldn't be doing it with a lot of Send commands, you should go to the registry setting for that parameter and change it there. It's a lot more reliable, and it's also less chancy that things will change in the number of Tabs and Enters etc. you'll need to keep track of.

The home page setting is located in:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

and the key to change is "Start Page", as long as IE isn't open at the time it will be changed the next time it's opened.

[xuzo]

Hi Brewman,

That sounds good but I need this task to work for IE, Firefox, Chrome and Safari, and some of them might be portable....

[JohnOne]

@SW_HIDE will hide a gui (well most of them from Run() function.

But the same problem might exist.

[xuzo]

Hi Brewman,

How can I do this, what function or command to use? Is there a way to open the registry in on step or do I need to use Send commands to run?

HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain

and the key to change is "Start Page", as long as IE isn't open at the time it will be changed the next time it's opened.

Thanks

[OrthodoxyUSA]

RegWrite is what you want. (Figure out where all the values that you wan't to changes and use RegWrite to make those changes.)

; Write a single REG_SZ value

RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareTest", "TestKey", "REG_SZ", "Hello this is a test")

; Write the REG_MULTI_SZ value of "line1" and "line2"

RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareTest", "TestKey1", "REG_MULTI_SZ", "line1" & @LF & "line2")

; Write the REG_MULTI_SZ value of "line1"

RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareTest", "TestKey2", "REG_MULTI_SZ", "line1")

; always add and extra null string

RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareTest", "TestKey3", "REG_MULTI_SZ", "line1" & @LF & "line2" & @LF)

RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareTest", "TestKey4", "REG_MULTI_SZ", "line1" & @LF & @LF & "line2" & @LF)

; empty REG_MULTI_SZ

RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareTest", "TestKey5", "REG_MULTI_SZ", "")

; create just the key

RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareTest1")

Be aware that there can be Group Policies in place that will override your settings.

Paul

[xuzo]

Hi Paul,

Thanks, now I understand!

So send command might be unreliable...

And registry might not work depending on permissions...

So what would be my solution to create a task that will work on multiple browsers?

Edited July 11, 2012 by xuzo

[BrewManNH]

Chrome stores it's home page in the file

"C:Documents and Settings<username>Local SettingsApplication DataGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultPreferences "

No idea where Firefox stores its settings I don't use it myself.

Edited July 11, 2012 by BrewManNH