Drag & Drog of text from external application

[jerome]

Hi,

I want to be able to drag some text from any other/external application to a gui/program made in autoit.

I found a solution with drag & drop of files but it doesn't work with text (drop refused by gui)...

Is there a solution for that?

Thanks for any help

JD

[MrBeatnik]

I don't actually think Windows allow text to be dragged as an object?

It would have to be converted to a scrap first? Not sure how to go about that; it would be a condition of the program displaying the text I think.

[jerome]

I don't actually think Windows allow text to be dragged as an object?

It would have to be converted to a scrap first? Not sure how to go about that; it would be a condition of the program displaying the text I think.

Yes Windows allows that, you can even drag an URL from IEXPLORER address bar to another application but this kind of things are automatically refused by autoit applications even if drag & drop is activated on window...

Please help, really need it... Anyone?

Thanks

JD

[MrCreatoR]

Maybe someone came up with a solution for this one?

I search the forum, but no results found (only this old topic).

[Siao]

You have to do it with OLE drag and drop, obviously WM_DROPFILES isn't going to cut it. May look in MSDN on RegisterDragDrop, IDropTarget etc.

I don't know jack about COM, so I'm not sure how to implement it, AutoIt or no AutoIt...

Some smarter fellows at AutoHotkey have it figured out so you can take that as a starting point. Since now AutoIt supports DllCallback too, I assume that script would be possible to convert.

Edited November 26, 2007 by Siao

[Richard Robertson]

There are several types of drops. It can contain a number of data types and each one has to be handled differently. Text can be dropped, along with files, and I think even bitmap data.

[ValeryVal]

If you need any help...

This group

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/autoitgroup/

has topic Files/Misc and my old script CalendarRTF.au3 (Translated from Gui4Cli into AutoIt - 20 February 2005) in ACalendar_1.zip

It showes how can you use Drag&Drop action with rich text from CalendarRTF.au3 to

ie

WordPad

[MrCreatoR]

Thanks to all, but i think (after reading tons of stuff about the subject) that it is too hard to do this in Autoit.

I found also this tutorial about the implementation of drag and drop, there also demo available (the first link to zip file), but it's for C/C++ Afaik, and i have no idea how to translate it to autoit (and i tried, realy tried), basicaly i don't understand how to manage the IDropTarget .. and maybe some more stuff...

If someone can translate it, it will be great.

[martin]

Thanks to all, but i think (after reading tons of stuff about the subject) that it is too hard to do this in Autoit.

I found also this tutorial about the implementation of drag and drop, there also demo available (the first link to zip file), but it's for C/C++ Afaik, and i have no idea how to translate it to autoit (and i tried, realy tried), basicaly i don't understand how to manage the IDropTarget .. and maybe some more stuff...

If someone can translate it, it will be great.

I haven't looked at any of the references you gave, but I tried just detecting the mouse down and got something to work. You have to select the text to be copied by dragging over it with the mouse, then drag it into the edit. It's a start maybe.

expandcollapse popup

#include <GUIConstants.au3>

#include <guilistview.au3>
#include <misc.au3>
$Title = "Drag Text to"
$dragInc = 5;set when we decide dragging has started
$Form1 = GUICreate($Title, 353, 256, 303, 219)
$Edit1 = GUICtrlCreateEdit("", 60, 32, 250, 89)
GUICtrlSetData(-1, "Edit1")
Dim $np[2] = [0,0]
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)
#EndRegion ### END Koda GUI section ###
$text = ""
$Dragging = False
While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            Exit
            
    EndSwitch
    CheckDrag()
    
    
    
WEnd


Func CheckDrag()
    If _IsPressed("1") Then
        $mp = MouseGetPos()
        While _IsPressed("1")
            $np= MouseGetPos()
            If Abs($np[0] - $mp[0]) > $dragInc Or Abs($np[1] - $mp[1]) > $dragInc Then
                $dragging = True
                ExitLoop
            EndIf
        WEnd
        
        While _IsPressed("1")
            $np= MouseGetPos()
            Sleep(20)
        WEnd
        $wp = WinGetPos($Title)
        If $dragging Then
            If $np[0] > $wp[0] + 60 And $np[1] < ($wp[0] +60 + 250) And $np[0] > ($wp[1] + 32) And $np[1] < ($wp[1] + 32 + 89) Then
                WinActivate($Title)
                GUICtrlSetState($Edit1,$GUI_FOCUS)
                Send("{END}^v")
                
            EndIf
        EndIf
        $Dragging = False
        
        Send("^c")
        $text = ClipGet()
    ;ConsoleWrite("Copied this" & @LF & $text & @LF)
    EndIf
    
    
    
    
EndFunc

[MrCreatoR]

Thanks martin, that is really a good start for a workaround, but to be unest, i am not like the idea that Clipboard is always used, and also the cursor is displayed as restriction (dropping not allowed)...

Here is a little improvments in your example (it's not really "fix" the mention issues, but it faster and i think more reliable)

expandcollapse popup

#include <GUIConstants.au3>
#include <Misc.au3>

Global $Title = "Drag Text to"
Global $Dragging = False
Global $DragInc = 5 ;set when we decide dragging has started
Global $OldClip = ClipGet()

$Form1 = GUICreate($Title, 353, 256, 303, 219)
$Edit1 = GUICtrlCreateEdit("", 60, 32, 250, 89)
GUICtrlSetData(-1, "Edit1")

GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)

While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            ClipPut($OldClip)
            Exit
    EndSwitch
    CheckDrag()
WEnd

Func CheckDrag()
    If _IsPressed("1") And Not WinActive($Form1) Then
        Local $MousePos = MouseGetPos()
        While _IsPressed("1")
            $MousePosNew = MouseGetPos()
            If Abs($MousePosNew[0] - $MousePos[0]) > $DragInc Or Abs($MousePosNew[1] - $MousePos[1]) > $DragInc Then
                $Dragging = True
                ExitLoop
            EndIf
        WEnd
        
        While _IsPressed("1")
            $MousePosNew = MouseGetPos()
            Sleep(20)
        WEnd
        
        Local $WinPos = WinGetPos($Form1)
        Send("^{Insert}")
        
        If $Dragging Then
            If _ControlIDGetHovered() = $Edit1 Then
                MouseClick("Left")
                Send("+{Insert}")
            EndIf
        EndIf
        $Dragging = False
    EndIf
EndFunc

Func _ControlIDGetHovered()
    Local $Old_Opt_MCM = Opt("MouseCoordMode", 1)
    Local $iRet = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "WindowFromPoint", _
        "long", MouseGetPos(0), _
        "long", MouseGetPos(1))
    $iRet = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "GetDlgCtrlID", "hwnd", $iRet[0])
    Opt("MouseCoordMode", $Old_Opt_MCM)
    Return $iRet[0]
EndFunc

Edited November 26, 2007 by MsCreatoR

[martin]

Thanks martin, that is really a good start for a workaround, but to be unest, i am not like the idea that Clipboard is always used, and also the cursor is displayed as restriction (dropping not allowed)...

Here is a little improvments in your example (it's not really "fix" the mention issues, but it faster and i think more reliable)

expandcollapse popup

#include <GUIConstants.au3>
#include <Misc.au3>

Global $Title = "Drag Text to"
Global $Dragging = False
Global $DragInc = 5 ;set when we decide dragging has started
Global $OldClip = ClipGet()

$Form1 = GUICreate($Title, 353, 256, 303, 219)
$Edit1 = GUICtrlCreateEdit("", 60, 32, 250, 89)
GUICtrlSetData(-1, "Edit1")

GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)

While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            ClipPut($OldClip)
            Exit
    EndSwitch
    CheckDrag()
WEnd

Func CheckDrag()
    If _IsPressed("1") And Not WinActive($Form1) Then
        Local $MousePos = MouseGetPos()
        While _IsPressed("1")
            $MousePosNew = MouseGetPos()
            If Abs($MousePosNew[0] - $MousePos[0]) > $DragInc Or Abs($MousePosNew[1] - $MousePos[1]) > $DragInc Then
                $Dragging = True
                ExitLoop
            EndIf
        WEnd
        
        While _IsPressed("1")
            $MousePosNew = MouseGetPos()
            Sleep(20)
        WEnd
        
        Local $WinPos = WinGetPos($Form1)
        Send("^{Insert}")
        
        If $Dragging Then
            If _ControlIDGetHovered() = $Edit1 Then
                MouseClick("Left")
                Send("+{Insert}")
            EndIf
        EndIf
        $Dragging = False
    EndIf
EndFunc

Func _ControlIDGetHovered()
    Local $Old_Opt_MCM = Opt("MouseCoordMode", 1)
    Local $iRet = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "WindowFromPoint", _
        "long", MouseGetPos(0), _
        "long", MouseGetPos(1))
    $iRet = DllCall("user32.dll", "int", "GetDlgCtrlID", "hwnd", $iRet[0])
    Opt("MouseCoordMode", $Old_Opt_MCM)
    Return $iRet[0]
EndFunc

Good improvements. But still, it's not a proper solution as you say.

I had a look at the link you gave and I decided there are things I'd rather be doing, like the ironing!

[Triblade]

Well, hoe about creating an extra gui/edit control that hovers under you mouse button? In there is the copied text. Then when the mousebtn is release, destroy the gui and copy the text again in the new field.

[BrettF]

Create a new topic if you have a question rather than bumping one more than 6 months old...

[Triblade]

I don't have a new question...

It is a anwser to a old question. It not bumping, just helping people wanting to do something like this and can't find an anwser.

This topic is probably burried anyway at the end of the day, so why not trying to help people instead of keep creating more topics...

[argumentum]

use a Richedit, it will take the dropped text, make it of an edit control size, thats it, solved =)

[prazetto]

The greatest solution I found are here:

[BrewManNH]

Please don't post to 6 year old topics for users that haven't even been here in 2 years. I'm sure he's probably figured it out by this time.