How to deal new(?) kind of control

[wolfbartels]

I want to write an AutoIt-script to switch on and off a certain Add-On in Internet Explorer ver. 6

After opening the window 'Extras / AddOns verwalten...' (in English should be something like 'Tools / AddOn-Manager...') how can I read the lines with the names of the several AddOns? 'AutoIt-Windows-Info' does not show the names. What kind of control is used by Microsoft in this window? Can a certain AddOn be activated/deactivated by AutoIt? And if so, how?

Thanks in advance, Wolf

[Reaper HGN]

If you dont mind using the "Windows Scripting" part of AutoIT (ie macro to interact on top of the window vs code to interact behind the scenes) you can do something like this:

pseudo code

• winactivate an IE window
• send keys ALT T A - send(!TA)
• when the manager window pops up, winactivate the manager window
• send keys TAB (to get to the addon window from the drop down)
• send keys <name of the addon typed in full> - that will select the addon directly. Example, send "RESEARCH" to select the Research addon
• send ALT D - send(!D) - this will disable the addon, or ALT E to enable
• Handle the warning window that pops up and then close the manager

I realize there are a number of ways this can go wrong. That is one of the issues with the macro approach.. I try to use controlclick, controlsend or one of the "control" commands in lieu of macro manipulation when I can.

Good luck.

[tAKTelapis]

The other option is to use the registry:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256

That has a short bit of info in it on where they are in the registry, and it is rather simple to see how it all works.

This (on my machine at least, i am not sure if the CLSID is the same for everyones) Disables the Messenger Addon for Internet Explorer.

Deleting this key appears to enable it.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{FB5F1910-F110-11D2-BB9E-00C04F795683}]
"Flags"=dword:00000001
"Version"="*"

To get the key for the object you wish to toggle, simply goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\

in your registry, then open IE, and disable the item, once you have exited IE, refresh the registry (F5) and the new key should be the one you want..

HTH

/tAK

[wolfbartels]

@ Reaper HGN

send keys <name of the addon typed in full> - that will select the addon directly. Example, send "RESEARCH" to select the Research addon

That's what I didn't know. Thanks!

Me too, I try to use controlclick, controlsend or one of the "control" commands in lieu of macro manipulation when I can, but in this IE-dialog I could not find a control command to select the desired addon. Is it really a new kind of control AutoIt cannot manage (yet) ?

[wolfbartels]

@ Reaper HGN

send keys <name of the addon typed in full> - that will select the addon directly. Example, send "RESEARCH" to select the Research addon

Unfortunately the name of the addon typed in full does not work, only one letter is used by the control for selection on IE6.

I want to select 'Shockwave ...', with Send("S") the selection goes to 'Search ...', if such an Add-On exists.

Thanks anyhow for your good intention.

[Reaper HGN]

Hmm, that is perplexing that you couldnt get it to work. I had to go load Shockwave to test it for myself. Below is my simple approach. It is not without its potential issues, but in its most basic form, this script worked through several tests to disable the shockwave control in Internet Explorer.

expandcollapse popup

Opt("WinTitleMatchMode", 2) ;allows us to look for Microsoft Internet Explorer in a title
If ProcessExists("IEXPLORE.EXE") Then
    ;give focus to "a" single IE window
    WinActivate("Microsoft Internet Explorer", "")
    
    ;open the manager addon window
    Send("!ta")
    
    ;wait for the new window to come up
    WinWait("Manage Add-ons")
    
    ;give new window focus - it should already have it, but I like to be safe than sorry
    WinActivate("Manage Add-ons", "")
    
    ;press tab to move selection from drop down to control window
    Send("{TAB}")
    
    ;select Shockwave ActiveX Control directly
    Send("Shockwave ActiveX Control")
    
    ;wait a micro sec
    Sleep(10)   ;just for good measure.
    
    ;disable the control
    Send("!d")
    
    ;wait for the window to come up
    WinWait("Add-on Status")
    
    ;press the ok button
    ControlClick("Add-on Status", "", "Button1")
    
    ;wait for the window to go away, then give focus to original window and click ok
    Sleep(100)
    WinActivate("Manage Add-ons", "")
    ControlClick("Manage Add-ons", "", "Button7")
    
    Exit
Else
    MsgBox(0, "Not running", "Internet Explorer not running.")
    ;You could actually start IE if you wanted, rather than just reporting it as not running
EndIf