How do java use Windows API

[kok seong chen]

can someone tell me how java can call Windows API.
for example, i wanna open Winamp application on windows 2000
how should i code that ?

[Peng Yaodong]

Are u from china?

[Dirk Schreckmann]

Welcome to JavaRanch, kok seong chen and Peng Yaodong!
I'm moving this thread to the Intermediate forum...

[Donny Nadolny]

Well, if you simply want to be able to execute files, you can just use this code:

import java.io.*;
try {
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("calc.exe");
}
catch (IOException e) {
System.out.println(e);
}

If you want to actually call windows API's (for example the BitBlt function or other functions from dll's), you'll need to look into JNI (Java Native Interface)
Hope this helps.

[kok seong chen]

Thks donny ~
Before i look into JNI, i want to ask you one question.
is it possible to activate any function of winamp or even power point by calling Windows API via java?
actually i m developing a mobile phone remote PC system.
i plan to send some signal using Bluetooth stack then a server on PC that received the signal will then call Windows API to activate Winamp function according to the signal sent.
Is it possible to do that? or is there another way to do so ?
and thanks for the idea & thks for the coding as well~

btw.. Peng Yaodong. i m from Malaysia

[Robert Paris]

Why not use sockets and send either SOAP messages or your own made-up message format. On the phone (or bluetooth machine) have java and send info to a socket on the target machine. On the target machine just have a C, C++ or VB component listening to the socket. Then that windows program can directly talk to the windows API.

[Donny Nadolny]

Well, one way of activating some WinAmp function would be using the SendMessage API to make WinAmp think that a button has been pressed (eg play, pause, next, etc).
You'll need to find a program to spy on the messages winamp recieves (eg Spy++ included with MS Visual Studio 6 (perhaps lower vers too)). Then you can find out what message to send winamp. If you need more help, just post. Good luck.

[kok seong chen]

thks to Robert and Donny ~i will look into what you guyz suggest ~

[kok seong chen]

Mr.Donny,
can you tell me more about spy++ ?
i still cannot figure out what is spy++
By the way, how the server on PC can initially understand(read) the message?