Re: Interact with another program (ala VB)?

Yes, it is possible using either Win32::OLE or some of the built-ins of the active state distro. (use OLE;)

use OLE;
$ActiveSession = CreateObject OLE "MAPI.Session" || 
        die "CreateObject: $!";
$Message = $ActiveSession->Outbox->Messages->Add();
$Recipient = $Message->Recipients->Add();
$Recipient->{Name} = "Erik Olson"; # to address
$Recipient->{Type} = 1; # ugly constant, means this is a To address
$Recipient->Resolve();             # resolve name - hope it's there
$Message->{Subject} = "A Message From Perl";
$Message->{text} = "Perl does automation!";
$Message->Update();                # save it
$Message->Send(1, 0, 0);           # send it - don't show UI
$ActiveSession->Logoff();          # end session
[download]

This code is from learning Perl on Win32 systems. It should give you an idea how this all works.

Once you find the Object defs for the AOL client, you should be golden.
~Hammy

Comment on Re: Interact with another program (ala VB)? Download Code

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Re: Re: Interact with another program (ala VB)? by EvanK (Chaplain) on Aug 15, 2001 at 08:41 UTC
thanks a bunch, now i just need to find those object definitions... ______________________________________________ RIP Douglas Noel Adams 1952 - 2001	[reply]
Re: Re: Re: Interact with another program (ala VB)? by jplindstrom (Monsignor) on Aug 15, 2001 at 14:57 UTC
For the MS Office suite, the reference can be found here (look at the ToC in the left frame): http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/vbawd10/html/wotocObjectModelApplication.asp Not too sure there is an OLE interface to the AOL software though, which makes Win32::OLE rather ineffective in this case :) But if you find any docs at some AOL site, please post the URL here so we all get to know. /J	[reply]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Interact with another program (ala VB)? by MZSanford (Curate) on Aug 15, 2001 at 16:07 UTC
There is no OLE interface to any of the existing versions of the AOL software. I would take a look at jplindstrom's suggestion. Thus spake the Master Programmer: "When you have learned to snatch the error code from the trap frame, it will be time for you to leave." -- The Tao of Programming	[reply]
Re: Re: Re: Interact with another program (ala VB)? by John M. Dlugosz (Monsignor) on Aug 15, 2001 at 09:36 UTC
The object defintions are documented somewhere or another by Microsoft, and the typelib is self-describing and there are programs to browse it. In my experience, it takes both to figure out Office because the docs are incomplete from a technical point, and the defs don't tell you what the function is really for.	[reply]
Re: Re: Re: Interact with another program (ala VB)? by joefission (Monk) on Aug 15, 2001 at 17:14 UTC
You might look at Win32::OLE Browser in the local docs. For me, it is : file:///C:/Perl/html/lib/site/Win32/OLE/Browser.html Not that it has tons of documentation for the objects (dunno if it even has the AOL objects), but it's pretty cool. It actually browses objects from the web page.	[reply]