How to write a program that controls programs in windows.

I know how to program in C++ and VB.
There are a few things that I would like to do. These are just some examples.
1. I want to open SolidWorks (a 3D modelling program), and "print as" and print as pdf.
2. I want to open IE/Firefox, go to a certain webpage, and record this number on the page. (check every 30min for statistical analysis type thing)
3. Same thing as 2, except I need fill in this form and submit it every time to choose what I want it to give me.

Mostly, I just want to open a program, do an action from the manual or something simple over and over again.

Thank you very much.

 

# 2 is fairly easy.
look into the VB6 browser control. You can have the form hidden or not it does not matter. Run an if instr function on a timer. Here is where you might have issues.
1. max timer event is every 60 sec. or 60000 milli seconds. You wanted it every 30 minutes.

One way to overcome this is have the timer in a function that checks the clock time and when your 30 minute criteria has been met it fires the refresh on the page and checks the instr for your number on the page.

I have code snippets for all this. Let me know if you need more assistance and Ill do what I can