Controlling other windows applications

I am new to this forum, and hope to become a regular.

I am self taught on VBA and I have written many useful macros. Being self taught has its cons because there is still a lot that I dont know.

I want to know how to control other windows programs using VBA from excel. I want to run the macro, have it open a program that is installed in windows. be able to move the mouse in that program and type using the data in excel. Is this possible?

Pls can you keep the answer simple... thanks in advance.

It is software used internally that was developed specifically for the company I work for... so thats not going to help.

However lets maybe use the following programs so that I could see the difference and learn this new skill. Pls use what ever scenario you would like, the below is just an example.

Open notepad,
write text from text in excel,
then print and close the application.

Open paint
draw a line
make a selection
copy a selection
paste copied selection into excel
exit paint

mudraker you say excel can control other programs, how about internet explorer??

Internet Explorer would be a great example too.

Come on guys... someone must know

PilotC !
Are you writing a new Windows ?