How to open an Effects dialog?

Anyone know how to programmatically open a PP X5 effects dialog box, specifically the "Bump Map" effect dialog?

[runflacruiser]

HI.
Only with SendKeys as far as I know.

There is a CorelScript Command for BumpMap (CorelScript.EffectBumpMap)

Since my BumpMap effect causes PP to crash it would be interesting to see if this is a work around.
-John

Originally Posted by runflacruiser

HI.
Only with SendKeys as far as I know.

There is a CorelScript Command for BumpMap (CorelScript.EffectBumpMap)

Since my BumpMap effect causes PP to crash it would be interesting to see if this is a work around.
-John

Thanks for the pointer. I tried calling a CorelScript function in another AddIn (I'm working in C#, as you know ) and it didn't work -- I had to find another way to get at that function and I'll need to do the same for this. But that's a good starting point, thaaaanks for the info!

You're exactly right about what I'm trying to accomplish: PP X5 crashes on my Win7 x64 machine whenever I try to use the BumpMap effect and I want to see if launching the BumpMap dialog in the AddIn's process will, by chance, prevent the crashes.

Update:
The CorelScript.EffectBumpMap() method requires a couple dozen parameters and apparently is meant to apply those params as a BumpMap effect to an object without displaying the BumpMap dialog.
I'll keep plugging away at this. There has to be some sort of PhotoPaint Object or Selection or ? that has a method to call the dialog....

[shelbym]

Here is how you would do it (unfortunately it still crashes X5, so it does not work as a workaround)

Sub TestBumpMap()
    Dim cs As Object
    
    Set cs = Application.CorelScript
    cs.BitmapEffect "Bump-map", "BumpMapEffect BumpMapPath=C:\Program Files\Corel\CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5\Custom Data\Bumpmap, BumpMapFile=Veins.cpt, Mode=0, TileWidth=300, TileHeight=300, Invert=1, Smooth=0, ScaleFactor=10, Floor=0, Ceiling=255, Highlight=0, Direction=315, Declination=25, Brightness=75, AutoAmbient=1, AmbientBrightness=68, Tint=5:255:255:255, AmbientTint=5:255:255:255"
End Sub

-Shelby

Hi Shelby,
Thanks for the reply, but I'm unable to use any CorelScript functions in an Addin written in C#. Keep getting errors about unsupported COM object casts and non-existent interfaces.

Are you saying that the code you posted displays the BumpMap dialog, or does it simply apply the effect? And are you using that code in a VBA macro or a VSTA Addin?

[shelbym]

Hey Ken,

I used VBA, no it does not open the dialog, it just crashes the app. :-) I did test in X4 just to make sure I have my syntax correct and it does work there. (changing the path for X4)

So its not going to work as a workaround, since you get the same crash.

-Shelby

Originally Posted by shelbym

I did test in X4 just to make sure I have my syntax correct and it does work there. (changing the path for X4)

When you ran it under X4, does that CorelScript function open the dialog or does it apply the effect without opening the dialog?

Originally Posted by shelbym

So its not going to work as a workaround, since you get the same crash.

I agree that it doesn't look hopeful, but what I still want to test is if opening the BumpMap dialog from within the VSTA Addin process will somehow prevent the crash.
Thanks for your input. I'll keep bashing away at this, but right now I'm at a complete dead end.

[runflacruiser]

Hi.
The feature does work for some. It would be great to find the common denominator. What makes it work for some but not others?
-John

Originally Posted by runflacruiser

It would be great to find the common denominator.

From what I've seen in the forums, it appears to be limited to X5 on Win7. Not sure if 32- or 64- bit makes a difference. (I'm on Win7x64 with the crashes.)