VFP 6: Cut/Copy of Output

I wrote a small test program which outputs to _screen. I decided
that I would like to copy this to a file. Unfortunately, I can not
cut/copy this text. If I send the output to a form, I can not
cut/copy from there either.

For this case, I can simply set alternate or I can output to a
editbox, but I would like a more general solution to this problem.

I have had this general problem in the past with other output.
One example of this is the text on a message box for which neither the
alternate nor editbox approaches apply.

Yes, I can cut/copy as graphics, but is there a way to capture
screen/form output text AS TEXT? I am not concerned if I lose
graphics content: I simply want the text.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
I have preferences.
You have biases.
He/She has prejudices.

Sietse
Tue Nov 30 17:30:07 CST 2004

Hi Gene,
You can do a couple of things.
If the result you're sending to the _screen is just for debugging purposes,
i would suggest using the DEBUGOUT command instead of the ?
This will result of sending the string to the Debug output window, provided
it's open.
Using the SET DEBUGOUTPUT TO <filename> ADDITIVE command you can also send
it to a file if you want to, so you can copy & Paste the text. The SET
DEBUGOUT command will work unregardless the fact of the debugout window
being open.

Another thing you can do is using the SET ALTERNATE command
This should send the strings that are send to the _screen using the ?
command to a file. This file you can again use to copy & Paste from

HTH,
Sietse Wijnker


"Gene Wirchenko" <genew@mail.ocis.net> wrote in message
news:dbupq01mktg7c4gggpi5gb4ve3oeh2bksn@4ax.com...
> I wrote a small test program which outputs to _screen. I decided
> that I would like to copy this to a file. Unfortunately, I can not
> cut/copy this text. If I send the output to a form, I can not
> cut/copy from there either.
>
> For this case, I can simply set alternate or I can output to a
> editbox, but I would like a more general solution to this problem.
>
> I have had this general problem in the past with other output.
> One example of this is the text on a message box for which neither the
> alternate nor editbox approaches apply.
>
> Yes, I can cut/copy as graphics, but is there a way to capture
> screen/form output text AS TEXT? I am not concerned if I lose
> graphics content: I simply want the text.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gene Wirchenko
>
> Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
> I have preferences.
> You have biases.
> He/She has prejudices.

Gene
Wed Dec 01 01:10:07 CST 2004

"Sietse Wijnker" <sietse.wijnker@ATsw-software.nl> wrote:

>You can do a couple of things.
>If the result you're sending to the _screen is just for debugging purposes,
>i would suggest using the DEBUGOUT command instead of the ?
>This will result of sending the string to the Debug output window, provided
>it's open.
>Using the SET DEBUGOUTPUT TO <filename> ADDITIVE command you can also send
>it to a file if you want to, so you can copy & Paste the text. The SET
>DEBUGOUT command will work unregardless the fact of the debugout window
>being open.

I forgot about those. Thanks. debugout worked just fine for my
current situation.

I was really hoping for something more general though. It really
would be nice to be able to capture the text from a message box. Oh,
well.

[snip]

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
I have preferences.
You have biases.
He/She has prejudices.

Sietse
Wed Dec 01 01:44:14 CST 2004


Hi Gene,
> I was really hoping for something more general though. It really
> would be nice to be able to capture the text from a message box. Oh,
> well.
Then you'll have to use your own created messagebox. AFAIK this brings more
troubles as it solves. FI some form activation events that didn't occur when
showwing a messagebox, occur when you've got your own messagebox defined.

Regards,
Sietse Wijnker

Gene
Wed Dec 01 11:22:47 CST 2004

"Sietse Wijnker" <sietse.wijnker@ATsw-software.nl> wrote:

>> I was really hoping for something more general though. It really
>> would be nice to be able to capture the text from a message box. Oh,
>> well.
>Then you'll have to use your own created messagebox. AFAIK this brings more
>troubles as it solves. FI some form activation events that didn't occur when
>showwing a messagebox, occur when you've got your own messagebox defined.

I was thinking of this even more generally than just VFP message
boxes. I suppose that I will just have to capture the graphics and
retype it from that.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
I have preferences.
You have biases.
He/She has prejudices.

Dan
Wed Dec 01 12:05:00 CST 2004

Gene Wirchenko wrote:
>
> I was thinking of this even more generally than just VFP message
> boxes. I suppose that I will just have to capture the graphics and
> retype it from that.
>

I almost always have an instance of Word open with an empty/junk document
just for pasting these kinds of screen captures. <shrug>

(for lurkers) Remember that ALT-PRTSCRN will capture JUST the currently
active window (such as a Messagebox), instead of the entire surface of your
monitor. (And teach this trick to your users too! You should see some of the
support faxes we get ... whole Windows screens at a high resolution with a
tiny little messagebox in the middle. <g>)

Dan

Eugene
Wed Dec 01 20:04:06 CST 2004

Dan Freeman wrote:
> Gene Wirchenko wrote:
>
>> I was thinking of this even more generally than just VFP message
>>boxes. I suppose that I will just have to capture the graphics and
>>retype it from that.
>>
>
>
> I almost always have an instance of Word open with an empty/junk document
> just for pasting these kinds of screen captures. <shrug>
>
> (for lurkers) Remember that ALT-PRTSCRN will capture JUST the currently
> active window (such as a Messagebox), instead of the entire surface of your
> monitor. (And teach this trick to your users too! You should see some of the
> support faxes we get ... whole Windows screens at a high resolution with a
> tiny little messagebox in the middle. <g>)
>
> Dan
>
>
there is a free utlity out there too called Printkey that works very
well, I am sure a Google search will turn up some hits

Gene
Thu Dec 02 15:15:43 CST 2004

Paul <paul.hill@[NOSPAM]clara.co.uk> wrote:

>Dan Freeman wrote:

[sniiip]

>> (for lurkers) Remember that ALT-PRTSCRN will capture JUST the currently
>> active window (such as a Messagebox), instead of the entire surface of your
>> monitor. (And teach this trick to your users too! You should see some of the
>> support faxes we get ... whole Windows screens at a high resolution with a
>> tiny little messagebox in the middle. <g>)
>
>Or (anoyingly) both monitors if you have a dual monitor setup...

Oh, my. Get rid of that disturbing second monitor. Shipping
instructions to follow. <EG>

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
I have preferences.
You have biases.
He/She has prejudices.

Dan
Thu Dec 02 15:19:57 CST 2004

Paul wrote:
> Or (anoyingly) both monitors if you have a dual monitor setup...

<g>

Andrew
Fri Dec 03 03:33:53 CST 2004

Gene Wirchenko wrote:
> I wrote a small test program which outputs to _screen. I decided
> that I would like to copy this to a file. Unfortunately, I can not
> cut/copy this text. If I send the output to a form, I can not
> cut/copy from there either.
>
> For this case, I can simply set alternate or I can output to a
> editbox, but I would like a more general solution to this problem.
>
> I have had this general problem in the past with other output.
> One example of this is the text on a message box for which neither the
> alternate nor editbox approaches apply.

I have a program called "Revelation" that can capture text from messageboxes
but it couldn't grab the console text [I'm only using FPW2.6 though, it may
have changed in later versions but I doubt it.]
You can download it here
http://www.snadboy.com

--
HTH
Andrew Howell

Gene
Fri Dec 03 19:53:49 CST 2004

"Andrew Howell" <ajh@work> wrote:

[snip]

>I have a program called "Revelation" that can capture text from messageboxes
>but it couldn't grab the console text [I'm only using FPW2.6 though, it may
>have changed in later versions but I doubt it.]
>You can download it here
>http://www.snadboy.com

I did. There are a few oddities:

1) It does not catch all text. Even on its own form, it does not
pick up some of the text (labels). It does pick up from a VFP message
box, but does not pick up anything but the title from a VFP form or
toolbar. It does not pick up the _screen output. This makes it only
a part solution. But thanks: every bit helps.

2) ZoneAlarm caught it trying to access the Net.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
I have preferences.
You have biases.
He/She has prejudices.

Anders
Sat Dec 04 09:57:10 CST 2004

You can capture text from a MessageBox() with Ctrl+C. I'm not sure
since when.
-Anders

"Gene Wirchenko" <genew@mail.ocis.net> wrote in message
news:6t52r0dei0nogs1dt43882o3v3pfg2d2r8@4ax.com...
> "Andrew Howell" <ajh@work> wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> >I have a program called "Revelation" that can capture text from
messageboxes
> >but it couldn't grab the console text [I'm only using FPW2.6 though, it
may
> >have changed in later versions but I doubt it.]
> >You can download it here
> >http://www.snadboy.com
>
> I did. There are a few oddities:
>
> 1) It does not catch all text. Even on its own form, it does not
> pick up some of the text (labels). It does pick up from a VFP message
> box, but does not pick up anything but the title from a VFP form or
> toolbar. It does not pick up the _screen output. This makes it only
> a part solution. But thanks: every bit helps.
>
> 2) ZoneAlarm caught it trying to access the Net.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gene Wirchenko
>
> Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
> I have preferences.
> You have biases.
> He/She has prejudices.

Gene
Sat Dec 04 22:17:12 CST 2004

"Anders Altberg" <x_pragma@telia.com> wrote:

>You can capture text from a MessageBox() with Ctrl+C. I'm not sure
>since when.

It works in neither VFP 6 nor the 9 beta. I did
=messagebox("Error")
<Ctrl-C> then gets me an error ding.

I tried selecting the text, and I tried other keys. I got no
better than the error ding.

[snipped previous]

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
I have preferences.
You have biases.
He/She has prejudices.

Stefan
Sun Dec 05 02:14:14 CST 2004


"Gene Wirchenko" <genew@mail.ocis.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:rk25r056qsskgd15k72cd1mjrlb4hm83md@4ax.com...
> "Anders Altberg" <x_pragma@telia.com> wrote:
>
>>You can capture text from a MessageBox() with Ctrl+C. I'm not sure
>>since when.
>
> It works in neither VFP 6 nor the 9 beta. I did
> =messagebox("Error")
> <Ctrl-C> then gets me an error ding.
>
> I tried selecting the text, and I tried other keys. I got no
> better than the error ding.

The error ding is irritating but afterwards _cliptext contains:
---------------------------
Microsoft Visual FoxPro
---------------------------
Error
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------


hth
-Stefan

Anders
Sun Dec 05 10:56:43 CST 2004

Gene
I also tried in VFP6 and VFP9.
Messagebox('Error')
hit cltrl+c, then
DEBUGOUT _Cliptext
There it is.

FOR i = 1 TO MEMLINES(_cliptext)
? MLINE(_cliptext,M.i)
NEXT
There they are.

-Anders


"Gene Wirchenko" <genew@mail.ocis.net> wrote in message
news:rk25r056qsskgd15k72cd1mjrlb4hm83md@4ax.com...
> "Anders Altberg" <x_pragma@telia.com> wrote:
>
> >You can capture text from a MessageBox() with Ctrl+C. I'm not sure
> >since when.
>
> It works in neither VFP 6 nor the 9 beta. I did
> =messagebox("Error")
> <Ctrl-C> then gets me an error ding.
>
> I tried selecting the text, and I tried other keys. I got no
> better than the error ding.
>
> [snipped previous]
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gene Wirchenko
>
> Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
> I have preferences.
> You have biases.
> He/She has prejudices.

Gene
Sun Dec 05 15:34:06 CST 2004

"Anders Altberg" <x_pragma@telia.com> wrote:

>I also tried in VFP6 and VFP9.
>Messagebox('Error')
>hit cltrl+c, then
>DEBUGOUT _Cliptext
>There it is.

Not for me it is not. I tried a few times.

Is this capability possibly not of VFP but of Windows? I am
running Windows 98 Second Edition.

[snipped previous]

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
I have preferences.
You have biases.
He/She has prejudices.

Anders
Sun Dec 05 17:31:09 CST 2004

That might be. I'm running W2K and XP Pro
-Anders

"Gene Wirchenko" <genew@mail.ocis.net> wrote in message
news:3du6r0heteanev44er9oempcgd24ldq862@4ax.com...
> "Anders Altberg" <x_pragma@telia.com> wrote:
>
> >I also tried in VFP6 and VFP9.
> >Messagebox('Error')
> >hit cltrl+c, then
> >DEBUGOUT _Cliptext
> >There it is.
>
> Not for me it is not. I tried a few times.
>
> Is this capability possibly not of VFP but of Windows? I am
> running Windows 98 Second Edition.
>
> [snipped previous]
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gene Wirchenko
>
> Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:
> I have preferences.
> You have biases.
> He/She has prejudices.

Andrew
Mon Dec 06 05:42:37 CST 2004

Gene Wirchenko wrote:
> I did. There are a few oddities:
>
> 1) It does not catch all text. Even on its own form, it does not
> pick up some of the text (labels). It does pick up from a VFP message
> box, but does not pick up anything but the title from a VFP form or
> toolbar. It does not pick up the _screen output. This makes it only
> a part solution. But thanks: every bit helps.

Yes, it's a shame - if one is moved to use a kludgey solution like this
[after all it's main design aim is for obtaining hidden passwords] it would
be nice if it worked for everything.

You may find better tools if you google for "screenscrape".

>
> 2) ZoneAlarm caught it trying to access the Net.

It runs the "check for update" when you first start it - just block it.

--
HTH
Andrew Howell