Sometimes it's easy to read a control's text.  Other times, it's a lot harder.  Many times it's impossible.  This page documents all the "a lot harder" fallback things you can try.

<ul>
<li>third-party programs
    <ul>
    <li><a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site%3Askesoft.com%20TextCatch%20&btnG=Google+Search">Skesoft TextCatch</a>
    </ul>
<li>SysListView32
    <ul>
    <li><a href="http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=142703#142703">LVM_GETITEM</a>
    </ul>
<li>utilities
    <ul>
    <li><a href="http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic32142.html.">AHK Messenger</a> &mdash; lets you test out specific messages (for instance, I need to try "LVM_GETITEMA")
    </ul>
</ul>