Simulate a menu interaction

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Hi,
Here's what i want to do:
i have a software that only has a manual export function. It exports in cvs form some temperature values.
I need to automate this process.
The export function is pretty simple, it only requires a few buttons clicked, and maybe a date written into a textbox.
I want to make an application that runs at the same time as this software, which simulates these manual commands whenever it receives a command, or at fixed interval (every minute... 10 minutes). As far as i understand, i could simulate mouse clicks with API calls (with which i don't have experience), but i want to ask where to start, like what language and IDE to use, and so on.
The exported data should go into a database.
I am searching for solutions but if someone with actual experience could point me in the right direction and prevent me from doing this in the most complicated way possible i would be grateful.:)

If it is relevant, i've worked with c++, c#, delphi, VBA, basic, and java, not a lot with any of them. The software runs under windows, and i use Win7 64bit.
Thank you for your time.

Posted 3-Apr-13 7:19am

Raveneye

Updated 3-Apr-13 7:20am

v2

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Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 3-Apr-13 13:31pm

You don't have source code for this software, do you? It would makes your problem extremely unpleasant. First of all, I would think about stopping to use it...
—SA

Raveneye 3-Apr-13 23:00pm

no, if i had access to the source code i probably wouldn't need all this at all. And not using it isn't a solution.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 4-Apr-13 1:09am

Well, then you are in a pretty good trouble, sorry to say so...
—SA

Bernhard Hiller 4-Apr-13 3:07am

Could the Windows Automation API for UI Automation (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms753388.aspx) be useful? Of course, the program to be automated must be compatible with that.

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Maciej Los · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-04T09:59:00

Solution 1

Please, read this: How do I simulate a mouse click in an inactive window[^] - Crazypennie's answer - and follow the instructions. I belive it will help you to solve your problem ;)

Posted 4-Apr-13 9:59am

Maciej Los