Easy way to send an HTTP request with GET

Projects Interfacing w/ Software on the Computer
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Hi all and thanks in advance for any help provided.. I'll apologize in advance for the lengthy post but I want to give as much info as I can..

Working on a project for operating the garage doors at my work, on one side we have 3 doors and they are currently operated by switches mounted on the wall in multiple locations.. Do to the remodel the switches are not in optimum locations and also it has been requested for the writers to have the ability to open/stop/close the doors from their workstation as they do have a view of the doors..

I know I can add multiple switches in each location and wire them all up, this is feasible and if required I can do it this way.. However I am turning this into a personal project for myself.. Read below if your not too bored yet..

Using an Arduino,Ethernet shield, and a relay breakout I am able to control the doors with no problems.. I have a working simple web server with buttons for control for two of the doors so far, no problems if I wanted to add a third.. This is working fine, no issues.. I can post the code if requested, but it is very simple.. just serving a page off the SD card and turning digital outputs on/off according to data coming in..

Now the problem lies in that the service writer would have to minimize his current tasks to get either to his/her desktop to open an internet explorer window open, or maximize one he has currently open to operate the doors.. This is workable, but not something I am content with.. If I make something involving more than one step,, at least one of them will lose concentration,lol

I have done some homework(googling) and worked out a .bat file that operates the doors perfectly by sending a Wget command.. This works out great by clicking each file on the desktop and has no issues.. Again, this is a workable solution but I am not yet content..

I created a shortcut for each .bat file and gave them keyboard shortcuts.. so now a cntrl+alt+key will operate the doors no matter what program is on the screen, no need to minimize, or go to a web page or anything.. Sounds great, right?? well here's a few issues..

  1. This would require installing Wget onto each service writers computer(not difficult, but I am looking for a streamlined approach compatible across windows 7 and windows XP(yes I know obsolete but waiting on approval for upgrade)..

  2. 3 doors each require an open,stop, and close command.. I could attempt to automate the commands using the arduino so it would cycle the commands but I want/need to give the writers to decide to operate the door as they need.. someone else may operate the controls and cycling thru open/stop/close just isn't feasable.. Doing it this way I would need to install Wget, then copy over 9 .bat files, and then create a shortcut for each one then assign key shortcuts for each one.. little tedious, doable but as I replace computers I will need to remember all the steps and files needed..

  3. for some reason on my computer and another I tested with the response of using a keyboard shortcut on windows 7 is SLOW.. anywhere from 3 to 4 seconds.. This doesn't sound like a lot, but picture a customer decides/thinks they can sneak in a garage door that is coming down from a previous customer(has happened before and will happen again).. This means writers are scrambling to get over to the controls to stop the door as quick as they can.. You add up 3 writers and I can see them hitting the commands multiple times.. The commands aren't lost in Windows, but they are delayed and then they come about 3 seconds apart.. This is just asking for trouble..

Now I've explained everything I'll re-iterate a little.. The Arduino code is functioning perfectly, andI get instant response using my computer opened up to a web page, or clicking a .bat file on the desktop.. My phone works great opened up to the web page as well.. I just don't like the way windows 7 shortcuts are working..

What I am looking for is a solution to sent something like "wget --spider -T 1 Http://192.168.5.11/ajax_inputs/d1=1" using defined shortcuts.. I would prefer to use the '1' or '2' or '3' on the keyboard along with the up/down keys for open and close and the '1' or '2' or '3' along with the space bar to stop.. My programming ability is self taught and pretty rough, I can google pretty good, research another language,etc.. Looking at processing but the ability to detect multiple keys pressed at once seems a pretty weak area, so does the http library..

Ideas anyone?? Again, thanks for any suggestions!!!!

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Just updating my own post in case anyone is wondering about a similar solution..

I had a suggestion from someone to try out autohotkey.. http://www.autohotkey.com/

This works fanatastic!!! I simply edited the script with the control button with the 9 number keys on the number keypad on the right.. Hold down the control button and 7-4-1 keys control the left door open,stop, and close.. The 8-5-2 buttons control the middle door and the 9-6-3 operate the right door.. Let go of the control button and everything is back to normal..
I can call a run command right from the script and it's working flawlessly..

I also read the manual and worked out the solution to also include the wget.exe right into a compiled exe so I have the autohotkeys and the wget built into one program I can simply copy over and paste into the start folder of each writers computer... done..

Waiting on some hardware to finish this project, and maybe refine the code a little to only allow known ip's to operate the doors and this one will be complete and finished..