Hooks for DrawText, TextOut & ExtTextOut ?

[teknomage]

Hi! I'm new here, although I have been coding with AutoIT for the past 6 months. I need help with an idea I have in mind. I am writing an application in AutoIT to capture text from a third-party program that does not use standard Windows controls. So, when I use Au3 Info, none of the text on that program shows up under Visible text nor Hidden text. From what I've gathered so far, I understand that creating hooks to capture text from API functions such as DrawText, ExtTextOut, etc is the best way to go.

My question is this: is it not possible to create hooks within my AutoIT exe in order to capture text from the third-party program, rather than creating a DLL in some other language and then calling it from my AutoIT exe??

I've managed to find a couple of neat examples on how to do this for the TextOut API function but the code is in PowerBASIC. And I havent the foggiest idea as to how I can translate PowerBASIC into AutoIT. If anyone's interested, the PowerBASIC examples can be found here:

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums...ead.php?t=23093

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums...ead.php?t=21331

If there's someone here who can shining a guiding light or provide a few AutoIT code snippets, I'd be most grateful. Thanx in advance!!!

[ProgAndy]

To hook functions in external applications, you need a DLL. Since AutoIt can't be compiled as DLL, this it not possible to install a hook in an external appliaction. You always need a DLL in another language. What you can do in AutoIt is to inject the e.g. powerbasic-DLl into another process and receive messages from it.

//Edit: Here is an example: http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=87240

Edited April 2, 2009 by ProgAndy

[Deito]

Trying to get a text from a non standard component.

One way textout hook.

Has anyone tried to connect third-party dll? For example DLL written in Power Basic...

Maybe all the same through the Autoit?