) (04/15/91)
I'm looking for some sort of program that will create .cmd files. A .cmd file is one that will supply a program with forced input. What I want to do, is to run a program that normally uses user input, but to use forced input instead. I've seen this done before, so don't tell me that it isn't possible. Here's an example: <C:\> program < program.cmd the program doesn't accept: <C:\> program %1 %2 %3 ... etc... Any help about this will be greatly appreciated!! ============================================================================ Daniel Goodwin | \\|/ Smiley next to Worcester Polytech fornax@wpi.wpi.edu | --:-) a Van de Graff Box 1159 fornax@OACdev2.wpi.edu | //|\ generator! 100 Institute Rd. "Da Fornax" | Read my MIPS, no new VAXES. Worcester, MA 01609-2280 | May the root be with you... ============================================================================
paulg@bhpmrl.oz.au (Paul Gallagher) (04/17/91)
If you're really talking: C:\..> program <file.cmd Then file.cmd will be a plain ASCII file (created with anything from edlin to Word for Windows) and contain literally everything a user will normally type (including carriage-return/line-feed i.e. <enter> sequences). To make such a file, the best way is probably to enter the command: C:\..> copy con file.cmd and then type the expected user respoenses _exactly_. End the session with <control-Z>. This will make a file called file.cmd containing all the keystrokes you entered. HOWEVER, this only works with program that read user input from "stdin" to use C terminology (alias CON). Not many programs (worthwhile ones at least) fit into this category. If this doesn't work, there are a number of public domain programs available that emulate user input by running in the background and stuffing characters into the keyboard buffer, or intercepting either int9 or int16. Off hand, I seem to remember one called "AUTOKEY" or "KEY-something". I can't tell you where they maybe available by FTP. Again, these may or may not work, depending on how deep into DOS/BIOS the program goes to get it's input vis the way the "macro" program works. Hope this helps, Paul Gallagher.