External Programs

Overview

You can run External Programs (External Programs) and pass variable values to the program ( examples: .bat batch Scripts, .exe executable files, etc.). In general, any script or executable that you can start from the Windows Start -- Run dialog). External Programs can be started by a Start External Program Step from a Script in the Automator . The External Program could also be a Macro Recorder program that starts a desired program and simulates manual menu selections or button presses. AutoHotkey is a free, open-source utility that will perform Macro Recorder operations. It can also be document file if the document type is associated with an executable program. For example, if "txt" files are associated to Notepad, you could specify a text document in the Run field (ie Mydoc.txt). When invoked, Notepad would open Mydoc.txt.

There is a two Step setup process.

First, you define the External Program to Video Mill in the Tools > Automation > External Programs > Edit menu.
Then create a Start External Program Step in an automation Script to start the External Program. This Step can have its own Variables if the External Program accepts command line variables.

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External Programs Editor

Menu Locator: Media List Editor > Tools > Automation > External Programs > Manage .

When the External Programs pops up, click the Add button to create a new External Program definition. Next click the Edit button to configure the new definition in the External Programs Editor dialog (see Figure 1). See the "External Programs and Active Window Focus" section below for an overview of the Window Focus items.

Name - This field is filled in with the name of the program, but you can change it to any logical name you want.
Description - Add more details about what the program does.
Id - This field is a unique identifier used to locate the External Program definition. Don't change it unless you have a need to do so. The Automator uses the Id to find the External Program at execution time. If you delete the External Program definition and create a new one, it will have a different Id. If you have Script Steps referencing the old Id, the easy fix is to set the Id in this dialog to the old Id value.
Run - Browse to the file location of the executable file (exe, bat, etc).
Restore active window focus after starting. - When checked, Video Mill will restore active window focus back to Video Mill after a specified amount of time. When unchecked, no action for 'active window focus' is taken.
Use Standard Wait Time. - When checked, the "Standard Wait Time for Restore Window Focus" is used. When unchecked, the "Custom Wait Time" (below) is used. See the Program Options dialog for "Standard Wait Time" setting.
Custom Wait Time - Wait time before active window focus is restored back to Video Mill . A value less than 20 milliseconds may be insuffient to allow the external program time to open. Click the Set Time button to change it.

Note on IPC Send

IPC Send External Programs are created automatically when you create a new IPC Remote Client profile. Some fields are not editable. You can delete IPC Send External Program if you don't use IPC.

Figure 1. External Program Editor

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How to Run an External Program

In the Automator , open any Script with the Script Editor.
Pick Start External Program in the Step type list, then click the Add a Step button.
You'll be prompted to pick the target External Program.
Then you are prompted to enter any Variables you want to pass to the program.

When you run the Script and this Step is executed, the External Program will be started and the Variables passed as start-up variables (parameters).

You can change the Variables later, by editing the Step with the Step Editor (see Figure 2).

Media Item Filename Keyword

If you add this keyword for the Variables, %MediaItemFilename%, when the step is executed, it will substitute the Video Filename (including folder path) of the selected Media Item from the Media List Editor.

Figure 2. Step Editor

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External Programs and Active Window Focus

When you run an external program, it typically open up its own program window and that window becomes the active (focused) window. In Windows, keyboard keystrokes and mouse clicks are directed to the active window. Video Mill provides a way to automatically return focus to itself after invoking an external program. And allows for a preset amount of time to expire before returning focus so that the external program can complete some work if necessary. This is especially important to Sound Mill Easy Player users who are operating the player with a remote control since the Easy Player window must be the active window to receive button push signals from the remote. See the the External Programs Editor above for details on these settings.

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