Simple Script to Script Communication

[Stumpii]

I search around the forum for a simple example of script to script communication, but could find an example I liked, so I thought I would write my own.

The end result is a script that I want to run as a context menu item in Explorer. I wanted to be able to only run one script when multiple files are selected and the context menu selected. Normally DDEExec is required to do this, which I don't think AutoIt can do. The result is a methodology that could be extended other type of script comms.

Basic operation is:

1. Instance 1 runs. As no other instance is running, the form is loaded. An invisible listbox exists on the form that will receive commands from other scripts.

2. Instance 2 runs. As another instance is running, a command is set to instance 1. Instance 2 then closes.

3. Instance 1 detects the command and processes it.

Hope someone else find it useful. This process also works if the form @SW_SHOW is disabled, for those that want a program without a GUI.

CODE

Opt("MustDeclareVars", 1)

#Include <GUIConstants.au3>

#Include <Misc.au3>

#Include <GuiList.au3>

Dim $Main_Form, $List1

Dim $File

Dim $ScriptName = StringLeft(@ScriptName, StringLen(@ScriptName) - 4)

If $CmdLine[0] = 0 Then ;No command line args

;Do nothing

Else ;Some command line args

$File = $CmdLine[1]

EndIf

If _Singleton($ScriptName, 1) = 0 Then

$File = "Test.txt"

;Send the filename to the running instance

ControlCommand($ScriptName, "", "ListBox1", "AddString", $File)

;Quit

Exit

EndIf

#Region ### START Koda GUI section ### Form=F:\Programming\AutoIt Scripts\Inter-script Comms\Test Script.kxf

$Main_Form = GUICreate("Test Script", 236, 211, 215, 143, -1, BitOR($WS_EX_TOPMOST, $WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE))

$List1 = GUICtrlCreateList("", 16, 16, 121, 110)

GUICtrlSetState(-1, $GUI_HIDE)

GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)

#EndRegion ### END Koda GUI section ###

WinSetTitle($Main_Form, "", $ScriptName)

Dim $msg

While 1

$msg = GUIGetMsg()

;Check for a new entry in the listbox

If _GUICtrlListCount($List1) > 0 Then

;Process the first entry in the listbox

ProcessNewFile(_GUICtrlListGetText($List1, 0))

;Remove the processed entry

_GUICtrlListDeleteItem($List1, 0)

EndIf

Select

Case $msg = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE

ExitLoop

EndSelect

WEnd

Func ProcessNewFile($File)

MsgBox(0, "", $File)

EndFunc ;==>ProcessNewFile

[trids]

Very clever .. I like it!

[randallc]

Hi,

Looks like a lot of potential!

Can you please do more examples?

Can it fill a huge listview while the script still is working?

What are the limitations?

What are the practical uses you would see?

thanks, Randall