Thread: C++ and WinAPI?

Hello All,

I'm after a bit of advice...

I want to write a windows program capable of the following:

start notpad
write some predetermined text to notepad
let the user edit the text in notpad
read the text back from notpad
end notepad

I'm assuming that the way to go is C++ and WinAPI calls, but I'm open to suggestions. I am reasonably familiar with C, but not very with C++ or the WinAPI calls yet. Has anyone done something like this before who can give me a few pointers?

thanks in advance
Matthew

Wow - didn't expect a response so soon!

Thanks for the info Fordy.

What I'm trying to do is make a fairly generic shell program, I'm just using notepad as a starting example. Theoretically, once I get it working for notepad, I should be able to modify it to run Word/Excel/Access and other windows programs (I'm assuming).

regards Matthew

start notpad
write some predetermined text to notepad
predetermined how ? is it text in a file ?
let the user edit the text in notpad
do you mean change it ?
read the text back from notpad
??
end notepad
closing it or through the program ?

Do you mean something like :

#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void)
{
system("C:\\WINDOWS\\notepad.exe myfile.txt");
return 0;
}

Hello GertFaller,

In answer to your posts (my answers are in italics):
__________________________________________________
start notepad
write some predetermined text to notepad
predetermined how ? is it text in a file ? Yes
let the user edit the text in notepad
do you mean change it ? Yes
read the text back from notepad
?? I want to be able to store the changed/edited text in a file
end notepad
closing it or through the program ? through the program
__________________________________________________ _
Do you mean something like :

#include <stdlib.h>

int main(void)
{
system("C:\\WINDOWS\\notepad.exe myfile.txt");
return 0;
}

This would certainly start notepad with the contents of myfile.txt, and allow the user to edit. However, I am trying to write a fairly flexible shell, and am only using notepad as an example application. (If I can get it working for notepad, then other windows applications should be possible).

So I suppose I need to write generic routines to:
start a windows application
write text to a windows application
read text from a windows application
save text to disk
end a windows application

regards, Matthew

Thanks Adrianxw and Fordy

I will look at VBA - I've had a bit of a play with it in the past (macros in Word etc). I'm not sure I will want to limit myself to M$ Office in the long run, but it will certainly take care of my immediate needs.

regards, Matthew