Acrobat Reader Operations in the Background

[xolomon]

Dear all,

I am using the Autoit to encrypt PDF files. I would like to open several pdf files one by one, encrypt them and save in another folder. I would like to limit the user actions during these operations. I have tried the method,

BlockInput(1)

but in this case, I cannot access to the acrobat reader menu by sending commands as the inputs are blocked. What can be an alternative in this case either to avoid user interaction or run this process in background? Can you provide me examples? Here is my code that basically opens a pdf file and saves in another folder.

O.S. : Windows XP Professional X64

Adobe Acrobat Reader X 10.0 Professional

Autoit: 3.3.8.0

#cs
Define Environment
#ce
;Debugingmodus wird aktiviert
AutoItSetOption("TrayIconDebug",1)
$acrobatPfad= "C:\Program Files\\Adobe\Acrobat 10.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe"

$d = 500 ;Delay between commands
$filepath = "Z:\2013\01_PDF_Schutz\Testdaten"
$file = "262000_____0000.pdf"
$fileopen = $filepath & "\" & $file
#cs
Start Acrobat Reader with file
#ce
$title = $file & " - Adobe Reader"
$handle = WinGetHandle("[CLASS:AcrobatSDIWindow]", "")
Run($acrobatPfad & " " & $fileopen)
sleep($d)
WinWaitActive($title)
Sleep($d)
Send("{ALT}")
Sleep($d)
Send("{DOWN}")
Sleep($d)
Send("{DOWN}")
Sleep($d)
Send("{DOWN}")
Sleep($d)
Send("{ENTER}")
Sleep($d)
Send($file & "_active.pdf")
Sleep($d)
Send("{ENTER}")
Sleep($d)
ProcessClose("AutoIt3.exe")

[water]

A few remarks.

• Please wrap your script in [autoit][/autoit] tags. Enhances readability!
• Don't use Send use Control* functions
• Don't use Sleep after the run statement. Wait for the Window to pop up (WinWait)
• Remove ProcessClose. "Exit" is enough.

[xolomon]

Dear Water,

thank you for your remarks. I have updated my code depending on your remarks as follows:

expandcollapse popup

#cs
Define Environment
#ce
;Debugingmodus wird aktiviert

AutoItSetOption("TrayIconDebug",1)
 
$acrobatPfad = "C:\Program Files\\Adobe\Acrobat 10.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe"

Opt("SendKeyDelay", 500) ;5 milliseconds

$filepath = "Z:\01_PDF_Schutz\Testdaten"
$file = "62000_____0000.pdf"
$fileopen = $filepath & "\" & $file

BlockInput(1)

#cs
Start Acrobat Reader X with file
#ce

$title = $file & " - Adobe Reader"
$handle = WinGetHandle("[CLASS:AcrobatSDIWindow]", "")

Run($acrobatPfad & " " & $fileopen)
WinWaitActive($title)


ControlSend($title,"","","{ALT}")
ControlSend($title,"","","{DOWN 3}")
ControlSend("[CLASS:AcrobatSDIWindow]","","","{ENTER}")
ControlSetText("[CLASS:AcrobatSDIWindow]","","",$file & "_active.pdf")
ControlSend("[CLASS:AcrobatSDIWindow]","","","{ENTER}")

BlockInput(0)

 
Exit

I have the problem that when I use the blockinput, the commands that I sent to acrobat reader starting with "alt" command are not any more executed. Without blockinput works correctly. What can be the problem in this case? (I use windows xp professional sp2)

[water]

Try to remove BlockInput. Shouldn't be necessary any more. Only Send statements can interfere with user input.

[xolomon]

Dear Water,

I want to avoid the user interruption during the script execution. I have thought two possibilities, one to use block input and the second to start the acrobat reader either in minimized version or hide it as here.

Run($acrobatPfad & " " & $fileopen, @SW_HIDE)

The block input function didn't worked correctly, after sending the "alt" command it is stoped. While running in "hide" mode, I didn't get any reaction after running the script. What would you recommend in this case?

[water]

Which command (encrypt PDF files) do you try to automate? I can't find anything about encryption?

[xolomon]

I am doing the encryption (setting password) using the menu operations of the Acrobat Reader. I start the acrobat reader and select the related menu where you can setup a password and then save the file.  

[BrewManNH]

Where in Reader are you able to set a password? Are you sure you don't need Adobe Acrobat for that? Reader is just for reading PDFs.

[xolomon]

I am using Adobe Acrobat X Professional. 

[BrewManNH]

Well, your script is looking for the Reader window, not the Acrobat window, which is probably most of the issue you're having.

[JLogan3o13]

Not to mention you have several times stated you were trying to do this in Acrobat reader. Not exactly helping us help you

[xolomon]

Sorry for the misunderstanding, but the problem is that I am using at work acrobat reader professional and at home acrobat reader. That is the reason for the confusion . Thanks for your help.  

[JLogan3o13]

As has been pointed out though, Acrobat Reader cannot do what Acrobat can - so your script is never going to work the same in both places. Are you trying to encrypt them at work, and then open them and input the password at home?

[xolomon]

I am working on setting the keyword at work with the professional version. For me the problem is to perform acrobat menu actions while acrobat is running in either hidden or minized mode. For this reason I try with acrobat reader more basic operations like opening a file and saving it to a location with another name. Currently I am trying to use the "WinMenuSelectItem" function to send file open command to the acrobat reader and couldn't manage. What can be the reason for that? (I tried with acrobat reader 9)

Run($acrobatPath)
WinWait("Acrobat Reader")
WinMenuSelectItem("Acrobat Reader", "", "&File", "&Open...")

[BrewManNH]

I don't believe that Reader menus will work with that command, you might try doing a ControlSend to the window with the shortcut key that Reader/Acrobat uses. I did this to fire off the File/Open menu item.

ControlSend("Adobe Reader", "", "", "^o")

[xolomon]

Yes, using the control send there is no problem, thanks. I have another question, when I start the acrobat reader in the hidden or minimized mode and send the file open command, acrobat reader becomes visible with the "Open" window activated. I have tried to hide the open file window but it doesn't work.

WinWait("[TITLE:Öffnen]", "", 10)

WinSetState("[TITLE:Öffnen]", "",  @SW_HIDE)

[jdelaney]

Unfortunatly the menu items can only be grabbed on the first level (file, help, etc)...the menu's under them hide all information.  I was playing around with the _GuiCtrlMenu functions...

$hwnd = WinGetHandle("[CLASS:AcrobatSDIWindow]")
WinActivate($hwnd)
$hMenu = _GUICtrlMenu_GetMenu($hwnd)
$iFile = _GUICtrlMenu_FindItem($hMenu, "File")
$hFileMenu = _GUICtrlMenu_GetItemSubMenu($hMenu, $iFile)
For $i = 0 To _GUICtrlMenu_GetItemCount($hMenu) - 1
    ConsoleWrite(_GUICtrlMenu_GetItemText($hMenu,$i) & " " & @error & @CRLF)
Next

ConsoleWrite($hFileMenu & @CRLF)
For $i = 0 To _GUICtrlMenu_GetItemCount($hFileMenu) - 1
    ConsoleWrite(_GUICtrlMenu_GetItemText($hFileMenu,$i, True) & " " & @error & @CRLF)
Next

output:

&File 0
&Edit 0
&View 0
&Window 0
&Help 0
 0
0x0F760E03
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0