Read properties of another running .NET program

Question

Can program a.exe read some values/properties (e.g. button's text) of currently running program b.exe? If it is possible, how can it be done?

Both programs are written using .NET framework.

More details: I'm writing unit tests for another program. I need to somehow obtain legend text from one DataVisualization.Charting.Chart control.

You will have to implement an interface through which requests are handled. Something like WCF or so allows you inter-application communication. — SinisterMJ
– SinisterMJ, Commented May 29, 2013 at 23:00
What exactly are you trying to accomplish? What information do you need from the other program? Is it your program? Can the two programs cooperate? — John Saunders
– John Saunders, Commented May 30, 2013 at 0:02
If a button's text is what you are after then a UI Automation library is the way to go. Like Project White. The question is too vague. — Hans Passant
– Hans Passant, Commented May 30, 2013 at 0:44
Actually I need to obtain some text from Chart control. Any idea how I can do that? I can't modify the program that contains the Chart control. — xx77aBs
– xx77aBs, Commented May 30, 2013 at 7:49

Stefan Szakal · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-29 23:58:34Z

0

You can do it with inter-process communication (IPC).

Hope it helped!

answered May 29, 2013 at 23:58

Stefan Szakal

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2 Comments

Unfortunately, I can't modify the program that contains the Chart control, so this solution won't work.