WinCheat / WinSpy-like tool for C++ Builder exes

Question

I just came back to C++ Builder after 5 or more years away. I seem to remember a nice tool where I could drag its pointer over the GUI of my running application and get lots of info about what was pointed at - handle, size, text, parent, children, etc

IIRC, if the exe include debug info I could also get the actual variable name as used in the source.

Does anyone know what program I am talking about? Thanks

Answer 1

There are several options:

Winspector

This is the program I've used the most of these Spy++ like programs, it has all the features I needed and worked without complaints on my developer machine, it has been quite some time since I've used it though. And the official site seems to be down for some reason ( http://www.windows-spy.com/ ) but luckily you can get a version from softpedia: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Security-Related/Winspector.shtml

WinSpy

I have used this program for debugging, and finding out which messages was sent to different windows, it worked quite well, and was a good alternative to Spy++, besides it is free. You can download it from here: http://www.catch22.net/software/winspy

SpyStudio by Nektra

I have never tried this program but it actuall seems to do what you asks, and it is free. It can be found here: http://www.nektra.com/products/spystudio-api-monitor/

_{(source: nektra.com)}

WinID

From what I've heard WinID should be able to perform much of the same, but I have never tried the program myself. You can download it from here: http://www.dennisbabkin.com/php/download.php?what=WinID this program is not compatible with Windows Vista though (and probably not Windows 7 either).

The challenging option

If there is a bit of a pioneer in you, you might want to create your own utility, although this is most likely not what you want, but if so you can check out these codeproject pages:

• http://www.codeproject.com/KB/graphics/screen_capturing.aspx
• http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dialog/windowfinder.aspx

These are all a lot like the Spy++ program that came with Visual Studio. Last but not least you might find other programs in this thread: I want Spy++ but I don't have Visual Studio

Answer 2

A very decent effort to revive the beloved but defunct winspector is window detective : http://windowdetective.sourceforge.net/