How is this old interface called?

[kalos]

Hello

How is the legacy interface called of some programs that you run them using TAB, F1, F2 etc keys to navigate to different fields and type text? The whole interface is MS-DOS-like text only with text inputs and no graphics.

How are these programs called?

Also, how do they work? Do they write/read from a file? How is the data stored?

How can we automate them and can we inject data into them by-passing their tedious interface?

Thanks!

[ConstanceJill]

Hey there.

I suppose you mean these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_user_interface ?

[kalos]

Exactly, I had the impression they are called mainframe/blueframe.

[Ath]

How can we automate them and can we inject data into them by-passing their tedious interface?

You can try to feed the application using my WinSendKeys tool.
It will probably take some trial and error, but as it mimics keyboard entry pretty well, it should work. Be sure to have a look at the delay options (f.e. between characters sent) to fix issues when characters are missing on input, as some DOS type programs have their own keyboard input routines that can be a bit finicky.